Velodrome Offers New Angle On Bike Riding

Halfway up the first bank at Marymoor Park's velodrome, I looked down and was amazed to discover that my bike seemed to be defying the laws of gravity.

There I was at a 27-degree angle, and yet somehow I was staying upright. Any minute, I thought, the bike would slide out from under me and I would tumble down the steep bank. But magically, I stayed up.

When you ride the turns at the Marymoor Velodrome, you're using the laws of physics, not defying them, no matter how it feels. Once I got over my fears, I had an exhilarating two hours of riding.

Many people come to watch the bike racers speeding around the velodrome during the summer. What you may not realize is you can go there to learn yourself.

This spring, I took the first session of a six-session bike-handling class offered at Marymoor Park to get a feel for riding the velodrome. Classes are offered throughout the summer for $45.

Not only do you learn how to take the turns, you also learn how to ride a fixed-gear bike. The bikes have no brakes and only one gear, and they cannot coast. When the bike moves, the pedals move too. To stop you must pedal more slowly, which can take a lot of muscle if the bike is going fast and you're fighting the resistance. This actually is easier to ride and control than it sounds.

Bikes without brakes are used on the velodrome to minimize the chance of an accident; someone can't suddenly slam to a stop in front of you. The bikes also have pedals set higher off the ground than those in a normal bike so the pedals don't scrape against the roadway when you take the turns.

Dick Rayray and his wife, Shan, taught the class I attended. Over the course of six classes, they teach riders how to ride in a single-file pace line, how to race, how to bump against another cyclist and not fall, how to avoid accidents and how to steer clear of obstacles in the roadway.

During the first class, for example, the Rayrays had us ride in pairs around the track, with one rider gripping the handlebars with the right hand and holding onto his or her partner's shoulder with the left. That exercise builds confidence in riding very close to another bicyclist.

During bike races, bumping is common - if you don't lose your nerve, you're unlikely to fall.

Graduates can use this knowledge to feel safer when they're doing casual bike riding around the neighborhood, or they can pay $32 to the U.S. Cycling Federation to buy a racing license and join the races at Marymoor.

The eight people who showed up for Rayray's classes had a variety of skill levels, but none were novice bikers. One man rode mountain bikes and wanted to learn better bike skills; another man already did some racing and wanted to learn more.

Rayray said the Marymoor track is considered an easy velodrome to ride, with a minor slope to its banks. To make the turns at Marymoor, you have to be riding a mere 5 miles an hour. However, no speed is safe when the outdoor track is wet; it is impossible to stay on two wheels around the turns in the rain. That's why all racing and practicing is done in the summer.

Even if you don't have a fixed-gear bike, you can take your touring bike or mountain bike out on the track and give it a whirl. The track is open to all users during certain times of the day. Be careful, though - when you take the turns, the pedals on regular road bikes may scrape on the ground. Going faster may prevent this. --------------------------------------------------------------- Velodrome information -- Watch the races: Top bicycle racers in the Northwest compete every Friday at 7:30 p.m., May 22-Sept. 11. Admission is $3, children under 12 free. Gates open at 6:45 p.m. Season passes are available by calling 523-3270. Bring a picnic dinner and watch the action. No races July 10.

-- Racer training: Licensed bike racers who want to develop their racing skills and strategy in a competitive situation are invited to practice Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. May 21-Sept. 10 at the Velodrome. Free admission for spectators. No racing July 9.

-- Beginners: Learn how to ride a fixed-gear bicycle on the same track used by Olympic medalists at a six-session class at the Velodrome. Participants are provided with a bike. Must be age 12 or older. Meets Monday and Wednesday evenings.

-- Call 389-5825 for information on all Velodrome programs.