I haven’t been on a track in decades, but…it was like riding a bicycle

The last time I rode on a velodrome I lost the elite national individual pursuit championships in spectacular fashion. By that point, you might say I was used to it. I had been in the finals twice before, always with the fastest qualifying time, but always managed to screw up the race for the gold medal. I was pretty good at losing national championship jerseys, tbh. One year i got second in the under-23 cross nationals, second in both the under-23 RR and TT, and, another second in the elite pursuit (there was no under-23 on the track back then.)

Anyway, on that fateful day I was riding against my friend Alexander Cloutier from Quebec. I was feeling great, and with a lap to go I heard someone say I was up. I remember feeling a surge of euphoria that finally, I was going to win. And then I made the cardinal sin of looking across the track. It was then I lost the race. Alex came across the line and I heard the gunshot signalling he had crossed the line, and a millisecond later, I heard mine.

Built for the Pan Ams

So yeah, it’s been a while. The Milton velodrome was built in 2015 for the Pan Am Games and it was a welcome addition to the tracks in Canada. I’ve ridden most of them–although some, like Bromont and Calgary, have been updated or replaced. The track in Winnipeg was sort of hilarious. It’s 400 m long and had way too much banking for that length: 38 degrees. It’s long gone now, but the other thing was the concrete was full of bumps and irregularities. Rumour has it that nearby construction rattled the concrete when it was settling.

Certification process

To ride on the track in Milton, you have to do a certification process. Doesn’t matter who you are, you have to. (Steve Bauer even did it.) This two-part program begins with a two-session course, which serves as the initial stage. Tailored for beginners without prior track cycling experience, the program comprises Part A and Part B. The objective is to acquire track cycling skills, working towards achieving certification at levels A and B, ultimately gaining the certification to confidently navigate the track. If you don’t own a track bike yourself (and if this is the first time riding the track, why would you) bike rentals are available free of charge. My ride was a steel Mariposa loaner bike, which felt great.

Get comfortable on the banking

I spent many, many, many summers living in Trexlertown, Penn. riding the track there, so it took 200 m to feel comfortable again on the…