Upcoming Events

Interested in learning more about the Fort Collins Velodrome project or track racing? Join us at one of the events listed below - it's a great way to meet other folks interested in bringing world-class cycling to Fort Collins.

6-Day Racing on The Oval

On May 11, 2008, Fort Collins Velodrome kicked off a 6-Day Race series on the CSU Oval. The racing continues each Sunday for six weeks. There will be categories for fixed-gear and freewheeling bicycles, so come down and try it out!

• What is Track Racing?
  Traditional velodrome racing involves a banked oval track, with racers pitting their speed, endurance and tactics to the test in multi-lap races. Fort Collins doesn't have a velodrome (yet!) but the CSU Oval offers the next-best thing to demonstrate a bit of the excitement and fun of track racing.
• Sign Up to Race
  Our race schedule is now online. Read the event flyer for more about race categories, etc. And here is a printable version of the participant waiver, required of all race participants. (Returning racers do not need to bring additional copies of the participant waiver on subsequent weeks.)
• Sign Up to Volunteer
  If you'd like to get involved as a volunteer official, you can sign up at V Outdoors Colorado. Volunteers get a free sandwich from Eliot's Mess, or a free burrito from Chipotle! Just print and fill out a copy of our volunteer waiver and give it to volunteer coordinator Silas Rappe to get your meal ticket. (Returning volunteers do not need to bring additional copies of the waiver on subsequent weeks.)
• Come & Watch
  Of course, everyone's welcome to come enjoy the atmosphere of the races and watch the action for a while. One of the great things about track racing is that you're never far from the action! Spread out a picnic on the oval, or mention the 6-Day Races at Eliot's Mess or Chipotle for dinner specials.

Greg Moody from Denver CBS affiliate KCNC (channel 4) had a ball at last Sunday, and plans to be back this week with a camera crew. Read Moody's blog entry about the races, see the slideshow at CBS-4's site, or just sign up to race in front of the TV cameras this week!

The Fort Collins Velodrome's Six-Day Races began on May 11th. If you've been thinking about testing your skills in the races, you should know that a safety inspection is required for all Citizen class racers.

The good news is that these inspections are being provided free of charge at Lee's Cyclery, just a block from the CSU Oval, and at the Oval during race registration. Call for more information about when free inspections are available. The free inspection is valid for the entire series unless you change bikes - just present your signed inspection form at registration for subsequent races.

Riders who can show a current or recently expired USCF or ACA membership card are elligible for the licensed events, and exempt from the bike inspection requirement.

If you'd like to not only enjoy the racing, but also help us ensure that great bike racing is here in Fort Collins to stay, please consider volunteering at the races. We are looking for volunteers to be race officials (cycling officiating experience needed), Marshals (helping with set-up and break-down as well as crowd control), and Registers (to help with registration). This is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about track racing and the many positive impacts that it could have on our community.

To find out more or sign up, visit V Outdoors Colorado. Come out, help out and have fun as we kick off the 6 day race series at the oval!

We have a special announcement for Sunday's racing! Free entry fees for volunteers! We had talked about this for CSU Rams team members, and Jason from Lee's said his mechanics were itching to get in on it too. Here's the deal we came up with.

Setup/Teardown, Mechanics, and Registration/Awards Volunteers (check in at 2:30 PM, work 'til 5:00 PM, then again from 7:30 to 8:00 PM) will receive a meal ticket from Eliot's Mess or Chipotle, AND the sponsor will pay your $ 10 entry fee to race! Marshalling (3:15 PM to 7:45 PM), plus Scoring, Picking, Referees, Announcers etc. (4:15 to 7:45) Volunteers get this "sweetheart" deal. Since you cannot leave your post during the races, you still get your meal ticket, AND you may designate your boyfriend, girlfriend, son, daughter, husband, wife, mom, dad, spiritual advisor, priest, rabbi, pastor, imam, etc. to receive your free $ 10 race entry. We have to limit this offer to the first 30 volunteers, but hope this helps drive bigger, faster fields.

Visit www.voutdoors.org or link to that site via www.fcvelodrome.org to input your registration to volunteer this Sunday. With the free race entry fee offer, we may fill the 30 needed slots quickly. Don't get shut out!

Be there or be square (not oval)! Remember to tell your friends about the need to be there early (say 3:30) to register, have your bike inspected (citizens) and try the course. Also remind all to pay close attention between 5 and 7:30 for their heats. We think we will have an easier-to-follow format this week, but you need to be ready to race anytime your category letter is announced.