GETTING ON TRACK

We’re always grateful for support from the community that helps connect TRACTION participants to ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experiences. Fifteen TRACTION mentors, participants and family members were fortunate to see an elite field of cyclists racing at the new Anna Meares Velodrome on Friday night. The brand-spanking-new cycling circuit at the Sleeman Sports Complex in Brisbane is a seriously impressive facility, and it was fantastic to see it put through its paces at the race two of the 2017 Friday “Track Racing League”.

Special thanks to Jamie Share of the Ipswich Cycling Club for securing complimentary tickets to the event for the TRACTION team and being generous enough to take us on a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the facility. Jamie even took the team up close to the riders and their machines in their Riders Only section at the centre of the track, to see the riders warm up/cool down and make adjustments to their bikes.

It was the first time that many of the TRACTION team had attended an indoor cycling race event. There was a range race formats on show, including scratch races, elimination events, heart starters, keirin races, sprint derbies and a highlight was seeing current individual pursuit world champion Jordan Kerby  have a crack as a world fastest lap!

We also met other characters of the local cycling scene, including Keith Ham who showed his pride and joy, an old school racer which he still impressively rockets around the track, and Scott Smith whose impressive beard poses no hinderance to slick times.

For more information about Cycling Queensland’s “Friday Night Tracking Racing League”, visit http://qld.cycling.org.au or Facebook @cyclingqueensland. Cycling Queensland provide opportunities for the public to ride on the velodrome at “Come and Try” sessions. Click here for more details.

For more details about the Ipswich Cycling Club, visit online at http://ipswichcyclingclub.org.au, on Facebook or email Jamie Share, Club Secretary, at secretary@ipswichcyclingclub.org.au