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VELODROME HISTORY

Minnesota is lucky enough to have one of the very best bicycle tracks (velodromes) in the world. This track routinely attracts the best track riders from the US and Canada, sometimes even Europe. It's 250 meters long, with corners banked at 43 degrees. The NSC track is a copy of the one used for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

 

The NSC Velodrome was built in 1990. Designed and built by Herbert and Ralph Schurmann from Munster, West Germany, its surface is made from Afzelia wood from Cameroon, Africa. This incredibly dense wood, a tropical hardwood similar to teak in density, does not absorb much moisture nor does it expand or contract with changes in weather conditions.

 

Twenty foot long strips of wood 30mm X 40mm are laid narrow side up, 241 strips wide. The strips are nailed sideways one to another so that there are no exposed nails. If laid end to end, the strips would stretch 47 miles!