New Indoor Track - Dublin

Beasty

morana wrote: »

We (the broad cycling family) have a number of projects at an early stage for velodrome ....

Indoor? Tell me more (please!!!!). Is this the one previously proposed for the North (now shelved)?

Really cannot understand how this would be funded, although would be delighted to find out if there was some way of getting a decent indoor track

morana

I am claiming all the kudos for this one!!

I came across the Swedish velodrome on youtube after Frederik Ericsson (Pezula) told me they had their first ever track(search for Falun velodrome).
ElPresidente contacted the Swedish guy who gave us details of the cost etc. We contacted letting agents outlining the type of disused factory we wanted and came up with the Fruitfield Jam Factory in Tallaght. We contacted the guy who constructed the velodrome in Sweden and he is happy with the dimensions etc that we have in factory.

I dont want to talk about the length of the lease or the specific amounts of money but we are looking at enough to see me out of cycling. Funding will be sought from isc as well as from some reserves we have, sponsors etc. We will save money by not having to send track squads abroad like the women and men to aigle for 6 weeks.We estimate that thissaving will cover the rent for the year!!!

We have a 4 person delegation off to the swedish track today or monday. We will be asking for some of the members to vounteer with the construction but I guess that wont be a problem.

So in short yes we are in the early stages of the project but dont foresee any showstoppers at the moment. I would like to think that we should be looking at next september, fingers crossed

Beasty

Fantastic news

I'm not too bothered about the length of the lease, but would certainly be interested to hear about the length of the track!! I presume it will be tarmac?

morana

Not tarmac just some cobbles!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPuaEcEbiB8


It will be a wooden track like this one and will be a minimum of 200m long. The width will be decided later.

It will be good enough for racing and training but not to the UCI's standard for World Cups!

GlennaMaddy

[QUOTE=morana;71223761
]...Fruitfield Jam Factory...[/QUOTE]
Track racing in a jam factory, sweet!

morana wrote: »

Not tarmac just some cobbles!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPuaEcEbiB8

That video gives the impression that the track is between 50m and 100m long, took me a while to realise it was a team pursuit (post Paddy's day head on me I suppose).

morana

GlennaMaddy wrote: »

Track racing in a jam factory, sweet!



That video gives the impression that the track is between 50m and 100m long, took me a while to realise it was a team pursuit (post Paddy's day hard on me I suppose).

I think it is 195m

Caroline_ie

I love Jam and I love track cycling! This is Sweet!

... apologies

chakattack

Great news

Well done Morana

Harrybelafonte

morana wrote: »

I am claiming all the kudos for this one!!

I came across the Swedish velodrome on youtube after Frederik Ericsson (Pezula) told me they had their first ever track(search for Falun velodrome).
ElPresidente contacted the Swedish guy who gave us details of the cost etc. We contacted letting agents outlining the type of disused factory we wanted and came up with the Fruitfield Jam Factory in Tallaght. We contacted the guy who constructed the velodrome in Sweden and he is happy with the dimensions etc that we have in factory.

I dont want to talk about the length of the lease or the specific amounts of money but we are looking at enough to see me out of cycling. Funding will be sought from isc as well as from some reserves we have, sponsors etc. We will save money by not having to send track squads abroad like the women and men to aigle for 6 weeks.We estimate that thissaving will cover the rent for the year!!!

We have a 4 person delegation off to the swedish track today or monday. We will be asking for some of the members to vounteer with the construction but I guess that wont be a problem.

So in short yes we are in the early stages of the project but dont foresee any showstoppers at the moment. I would like to think that we should be looking at next september, fingers crossed

You, my friend, have just made my year!


BTW, any idea what the angle is for the bends (on the Swedish one I mean)?

Beasty

180 degrees at each end. (Sorry, I couldn't resist )

GlennaMaddy

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I love Jam and I love track cycling! This is Sweet!

... apologies

^got there before ya!

Harrybelafonte

Beasty wrote: »

180 degrees at each end. (Sorry, I couldn't resist )

F'nar, f'nar

I think this is absolutely great news. The idea of being able to train all year round is great. I've missed loads of training sessions so far this year cos of the weather (shoulder injury also an excuse) and surely it'd help the national teams in some way (even if they do still need UK etc for)

goldencleric

bloody southsiders get everything :rolleyes:

Beasty

Had a chance to look at the video now - here's another:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBGcml4Gxfo

Wonder whether you get the same quality of splinters as in Manchester;)

In terms of the banking, for a short and narrow track it needs to be steep - I would guess that one is 45 degrees or possibly more (Manchester is 42)

Jawgap

Coooooool -time to go track bike shopping....


Hopefully it won't have a sticky end:D:D:D

JacksonHeightsOwn

thats bloody amazing, plus being in jacobs old factory, its about 2 minutes from my house

im genuinly excited about this

as a matter of interest, will there be a big construction job inside the old factory, or is it simply going to be a training facility for our olympic hopefuls, i.e, no spectators etc....

morana

Everybody just calm down a bit...dont go buying anything. We are in the initial stages of this project and while afaik there is no huge impediments to it proceeding these things can derail.

Lets wait until we see the sign go up over the door "The Morana Velodrome":D. I dont think there will be rows of seating just standing room.

I dont think it will be sustainable if its only for potential olympians.

Here is some footage of the construction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9NrRzWgipM

markdrayton

Beasty wrote: »

In terms of the banking, for a short and narrow track it needs to be steep - I would guess that one is 45 degrees or possibly more (Manchester is 42)

The indoor track at Calshot (Southampton, UK) is 143m long with 45 degree banking. It's like riding inside a biscuit tin.

Beasty

morana wrote: »

Everybody just calm down a bit...dont go buying anything.

Too late ...

morana wrote: »

Lets wait until we see the sign go up over the door "The Morana Velodrome":D.

I think the "Beasty Bowl" has a nice ring to it:D

morana wrote: »

I dont think it will be sustainable if its only for potential olympians.

I would be delighted if such a facility could be opened up to local kids - this is what they do in Manchester (hundreds get a chance to ride the track every week), and that's how they discovered the likes of Jason Kenny. It's the perfect environment for young riders to learn about bike racing

Harrybelafonte

markdrayton wrote: »

The indoor track at Calshot (Southampton, UK) is 143m long with 45 degree banking. It's like riding inside a biscuit tin.

Calshot banking is very steep

Beasty wrote: »

I would be delighted if such a facility could be opened up to local kids - this is what they do in Manchester (hundreds get a chance to ride the track every week), and that's how they discovered the likes of Jason Kenny. It's the perfect environment for young riders to learn about bike racing

An expansion of what track cycling Ireland do would be great. I'd also love to see what Rollapaluza have done in schools in UK done here:

kumate_champ07

Im very happy about this and it would be great for Tallaght. It really is needed to improve the sport in Ireland, the weather wont effect it and should be safe from vandalism. not many people know about Sundrive, Tallaght seems like a place where track cycling would get more notice

rp

Jawgap wrote: »

Coooooool -time to go track bike shopping....

So you think they won't let me out on the boards on my Pompino commuter, then?

Harrybelafonte

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

not many people know about Sundrive, Tallaght seems like a place where track cycling would get more notice

I'm not being smart, but why do you say this?

JacksonHeightsOwn

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

I'm not being smart, but why do you say this?

Tallaght is bustling again, first we got the Square, then the Hospital, then the Luas, then Rovers stadium and now the Veloodrome!!!!!!

Tallaght rules gain!!!!

trad

You could call it the "Mar Malade"

CuchulainnCC

We are in the process of developing a Velodrome here in Dundalk (www.cuchulainncyclingpark.com). We have secured a site and are in the process of putting a planning application together.

The site is 50 minutes from Dublin Airport on the M1 and 1 hour from Belfast. The park will contain the following:

- 250m Velodrome
- BMX Track
- Club House with Showers, Bike Washing & Coffee Shop
- Secure Parking
- 1km Closed Road Circuit

In addition to the above the site is also part of a 400 acre estate which will include access to the following:
- 10km Off Road Trail (Already in Place)
- 5km Family Trail
- Private Access to the Cooley Mountains
- In addition the surrounding area has some of the best cycling roads in the country.

In relation to the Velodrome we are working with one of the worlds top track designers. The track will be constructed from Concrete and will be to full UCI dimensions.

The track can be roofed for relatively small money and as it is concrete ongoing running costs would be considerably less than that of a wooden track. In order to achieve this we would need the full support of Cycling Ireland.

We believe we can build a national cycling centre that can cater for all cyclists regardless of discipline, the site is also beside a 4 Star Hotel and the estate owner plans to construct budget accommodation on site.

kumate_champ07

it says on the website 333m velodrome,
250/333m which is it?

kumate_champ07

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

I'm not being smart, but why do you say this?

larger population of youth

Beasty

CuchulainnCC wrote: »

We are in the process of developing a Velodrome here in Dundalk (www.cuchulainncyclingpark.com). We have secured a site and are in the process of putting a planning application together.

That proposal is covered here

Let's not turn this thread into a Dublin v Dundalk debate

Thanks

Beasty

CuchulainnCC

The track will be 250m.

JacksonHeightsOwn

CuchulainnCC wrote: »

The track will be 250m.

well ours will be 251!!!!!!

trad

There'll have to be one in the Peoples Republic as well.

recedite

morana wrote: »

Here is some footage of the construction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9NrRzWgipM

It might be worth getting that builder over as the foreman; a lot gets learned during a one off building process, even for experienced builders. He seems to speak good English too.

CuchulainnCC wrote: »

The track can be roofed for relatively small money and as it is concrete ongoing running costs would be considerably less than that of a wooden track.

That's not quite true, now is it? Roofing a stadium costs a lot. A concrete track costs a lot. That's why its only a plan, not reality.

Anyway the outdoor track at Sundrive sees little use in winter or at night. Even if it was floodlit it would still be bleak.

An indoor track with PA system and music and warm dry conditions could open up a whole new era for Irish track cycling.

morana

I think its great what Cuchulainn are trying to do and hopefully that comes thru because a top notch facility like this can only help the local cycling scene and the scene on the eastern seaboard.

I dont think it should ever become a competition between dublin and anywhere else. All of these development shave to be applauded.

Harrybelafonte

morana wrote: »

I think its great what Cuchulainn are trying to do and hopefully that comes thru because a top notch facility like this can only help the local cycling scene and the scene on the eastern seaboard.

I dont think it should ever become a competition between dublin and anywhere else. All of these development shave to be applauded.

Agree. I have one question though, hopefully you can answer it. One of the points raised here was about encouraging more youth involvement in track cycling, but I wonder why CI didn't try and do anything about the BMX track in Marlay or open another in the Dublin area. Reade, Kenny, Kanis and a few others came from a BMX background and in a way in makes more sense for younger kids to be into it. Plus it's an Olympic sport now. Do you have any idea what CI's take is on it?

Staro

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Agree. I have one question though, hopefully you can answer it. One of the points raised here was about encouraging more youth involvement in track cycling, but I wonder why CI didn't try and do anything about the BMX track in Marlay or open another in the Dublin area. Reade, Kenny, Kanis and a few others came from a BMX background and in a way in makes more sense for younger kids to be into it. Plus it's an Olympic sport now. Do you have any idea what CI's take is on it?

+ 1 on this point, from memory (a long time ago) there were 2 tracks on the north side, finglas & Balbriggan, bmx is a great introduction to racing and also appeals to the youth.

kumate_champ07

any updates?

JacksonHeightsOwn

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

any updates?

I was talking to a guy at a race on Thursday just gone and he was saying they're hoping to have it completed by September,

As far as he was aware it's nearly finished

Oh, and it's in he old Nestle factory on the Tallaght bypass, so about 500 metres from my house, I can't wait to see it

Beasty

As I understand it the actual track building has not yet started. There are one or two legalities concerning the property to be sorted out, but the plan remains to actually build it during September and have it operational for the winter

Harrybelafonte

Beasty wrote: »

As I understand it the actual track building has not yet started. There are one or two legalities concerning the property to be sorted out, but the plan remains to actually build it during September and have it operational for the winter

That's fantastic news. This, along with the Ratoath BMX track are real signs of progression. But do remember that Sundrive is still there and supporting it would also help. Getting accredited there would have you l set up for the indoor velodrome.

kumate_champ07

chrisbonnie wrote: »

I was talking to a guy at a race on Thursday just gone and he was saying they're hoping to have it completed by September,

As far as he was aware it's nearly finished

Oh, and it's in he old Nestle factory on the Tallaght bypass, so about 500 metres from my house, I can't wait to see it

I think I know where that is, I used to live in Springfield when I was younger

morana

chrisbonnie wrote: »

I was talking to a guy at a race on Thursday just gone and he was saying they're hoping to have it completed by September,

As far as he was aware it's nearly finished

Oh, and it's in he old Nestle factory on the Tallaght bypass, so about 500 metres from my house, I can't wait to see it

unfortunately thats not 100% true. No agreements have been signed as of yet so until that happens the project is still in the air. Other things have been progressed which I dont really want to go into here.

The BMX track is great to see happening add that to Sundrive, Orangefield and Kanturk as well as the new MTB facility in Shronaboy, Kerry shows things on this front are progressing well. Corkagh park is well on the way to be completed in the next few weeks so its another great facility we will have at our disposal.

I am hopeful of an anouncement re Fruitfield in the next couple of weeks.

JacksonHeightsOwn

morana wrote: »

chrisbonnie wrote: »

I was talking to a guy at a race on Thursday just gone and he was saying they're hoping to have it completed by September,

As far as he was aware it's nearly finished

Oh, and it's in he old Nestle factory on the Tallaght bypass, so about 500 metres from my house, I can't wait to see it

unfortunately thats not 100% true. No agreements have been signed as of yet so until that happens the project is still in the air. Other things have been progressed which I dont really want to go into here.

The BMX track is great to see happening add that to Sundrive, Orangefield and Kanturk as well as the new MTB facility in Shronaboy, Kerry shows things on this front are progressing well. Corkagh park is well on the way to be completed in the next few weeks so its another great facility we will have at our disposal.

I am hopeful of an anouncement re Fruitfield in the next couple of weeks.

What exactly is that track in Corkagh park for, bmx? I walk my dogs there quite a bit and was wondering what the track was going to be, it's bloody massive!!!

And Kumate, it's it's the factory just next to where the newish woodies and maldron hotel is, I'm from Springfield myself, so just a stones throw!!

morana

chrisbonnie wrote: »

What exactly is that track in Corkagh park for, bmx? I walk my dogs there quite a bit and was wondering what the track was going to be, it's bloody massive!!!

its just a circuit which will be mainly used for Youth and Underage racing. Dont know if it would be big enough for senior racing though

Pat Kavanagh

Any updates?

CuchulainnCC

The Dundalk Velodrome and Cycling Park is still very much alive however most of the work is going on behind the scenes. We would hope to be able announce further details before the end of the year.

Caroline_ie

I heard the wood has been received. Looks like some ikea track we're getting

Harrybelafonte

It'd be so cool if this was sorted for the Winter, the Summer was a washout for my trying to get to training in Sundrive. It'd be nice to get some laps in again.

JacksonHeightsOwn

any more news on the tallaght velodrome lads?

Beasty

Last I heard they were still formalising a few things

I'm sure we'll be amongst the first to find out when there is some further news;)

morana

As announced at the AGM we are aiming to be open for business before the Olympics. I will try keep you informed as developments happen. We have the raw materials so its a good start.

We havent signed the lease but I am sure we will announce it when it happens.
as always I will respect board confidentiality but i will let you know almost as soon as I know.

On another topic the BMX track in Ratoath! Open for racing on November 27th. Great kudos to the local club who did the fund raising and delivered this project. I must stress that CI had nothing to do with it except to endorse it and lend support. The reason being we were pursuing the MTB DH trail, Corkagh Park and the (Morana) Velodrome!!!! I would hate to be seen as "jumping on the bandwagon". well done to the club.

Added to this the Corkagh Park "Mick Lawless" raceway has been signed off by an independent consultant. I believe some landscaping has to be done but that is ready to go.

And finally shroneboy downhill facility will start next year! Phew what next!