Welcome to Hanson Reserve Velodrome

Welcome to Hanson Reserve Velodrome! It’s a great place to race and train away from cars, under lights, all year round. After a 13 year hiatus, the 404.48 metre velodrome returned to service by the City of Port Adelaide Enfield in April 2019, with a new concrete track with velodrome surfacing, safety fence and gates, and there is a new playground, picnic areas and coin operated BBQ at Turn 3, and a fitness track and lawned areas surrounding the track. We have fully equipped and recently volunteer-renovated clubrooms adjacent (shared with Kilkenny CC), including a canteen, toilets, showers and change rooms for your comfort and convenience while riding at one of our sessions. The clubrooms and car parking are at the corner of Fifth Avenue and The Parkway, Woodville Gardens. For driving, cycling or public transport directions, click here or the map below.  

Note that our sessions give us exclusive use of the velodrome and infield and riders must register/sign-on for each session. Similarly, other sports or coaches may book the track or oval, which means the velodrome is for their use (the oval and track cannot be used by cycling and ball sports simultaneously).  Outside of those times, the oval and velodrome are free for general community use. General community use means you may use the track during those times, but be aware of other people and animals using the space - they have as much a right to be there as you do, so be aware of the hazards other people and pets create, as well as the hazard you are to them.

Before getting on track, even if you have ridden at another velodrome often, we ask you please read ‘Hanson Reserve Riding Etiquette’ as there may be some differences to other velodromes. You can find out what the track markings mean here.

Hanson Reserve Riding Etiquette

The trick to riding safely is to ride predictably. There are a few simple rules to follow and signals to make to other riders so they understand your intention. Confusion is the track rider’s enemy and the cause of most crashes!

Entering the track – use a gate. If there’s no gate attendant, close the gate after yourself. Mount your bike at the fence, and start rolling high near the fence.

There are only three “virtual lanes” where you should ride during open track or warm-up sessions:

  • Faster riders on the black pole line (bottom)
  • Slower riders on the blue stayers line (middle)
  • Very slow - eg starting off or stopping only – high, right up near the fence.  

Do not ride in random “No Mans Land” positions elsewhere on the track as people will be unsure which side to overtake you.

When changing between the “lanes” always check for other riders, including fast ones (that can travel a quarter of the track in under 6 seconds) before moving across the track.

When riding near the fence, be aware someone might be stopping or stopped on the fence.                 

The faster rider is responsible for passing safely. Slow riders are responsible for riding straight allowing faster riders to pass predictably. NEVER try to get out of the way of a faster rider. Maintain a straight line, parallel to the track’s lines.

Turn your head in the direction you want to move and glance back as you gradually move up or down the track paying attention to where you are going and any overtaking traffic at the same time. If you are swinging off the front of a bunch, flick your right elbow out before swinging up so people following you are aware you are about to go up the track, and as you swing, maintain the pressure on the pedals, otherwise riders behind you might clip your real wheel.

As you approach a slower rider with their head turned in the direction you want to pass, sound off with the command STAY in order to make the slower rider keep from moving into your passing line.

If you hear STAY keep riding straight (parallel to pole line). If you are maneuvering up or down the track and you hear STAY immediately correct your line so you are riding straight.

If you think you are going to run up the back of the rider in front, ride to their right, up the track slightly. This washes off your speed and is the direction those behind you will expect you to overtake someone. As a bunch slows, expect the whole bunch to fan out up the track.

No drinking or feeding on track – remove your bidons/bottles and food/drinks from your pockets before getting on the track and anything else that may fall off your bike or bounce out your pockets. A dropped item may cause a crash. Exit the track to eat / drink / play with your phone.

What do the Track Markings Mean?

Duckboard/Blue Band/Côte d'azur 

this separates the infield from the track racing area. The duckboard is not technically a part of the track; although it is not illegal to ride there, moving into it to shortcut another rider will result in disqualification. During time trials, pursuits or other timed events, the blue band is obstructed with sponges or other objects so it's difficult to short-cut the track. It also serves as a warning to riders, as travelling fast in that area can result in a crash, from sliding out or clipping a pedal.

Pole Line

The black measuring line at the bottom of the track. The length of this line is the length of the track.

Sprinters Line

The red line just up from the pole line. It forms the Sprinters Lane, which is the space between the black and red lines. During a sprint, only one rider can occupy the lane, eg you cannot undertake a rider who is below the red line, or overtake them and try to push them down the track.

Stayers Line

This is the blue line about half way up the track. This line serves in races behind motorbikes as a separation line, stayers below the blue line may not be overtaken on the inside. In Madison (team of two riders) races the team's relief rider rests above the stayer's line by riding slowly until his or her teammate comes around the track and throws him or her back into the race. It is also used in training to provide another lane for a second bunch to form independently of the pole line. The area between the red line and the stayers line (blue) is NO MANS LAND. Use it to cross into or out of the sprinters lane. Do not ride or do efforts here as it is too confusing and dangerous as riders on the pole do not know whether a No Mans Land rider is going to drop down the track onto them. This does not include bunch racing, it only applies to training and warm up.

Start/Finish Line 

The big white band with a central black line painted perpendicular to the bike traffic near the end of the home straight is the START/FINISH LINE (not all races actually start here though, see the pursuit line for other options!)

200m

The black perpendicular line marked in the back straight is the 200m line. The 200m line is the starting point for the 200m time trial, which is the qualifying and seeding event for the match sprints.

Marks

These are the distances written at the bottom of the track. They indicate the distance, in meters, in front of the finishing line and are used for handicap racing. The Mark you are given is how much head start you have on the Scratch marker (scratch = zero).

Pursuit Lines

These are red perpendicular lines exactly bisecting the track. Two riders (or two teams of riders) can ride against each other over a set number of laps. Someone sitting on the outside of the track can judge the winner as the two pursuit lines line up by eye. These lines are also used for one-lap time trials and the team sprint event (you start and finish at that line, instead of the finish line).