Track Racing at Hellyer Park
The Q&A on San Jose's own Hellyer Park Velodrome
Go to: www.ridethetrack.com, the Hellyer Velodrome website, for specific information about events, records, training and more.
(The following information is from Mike Hardaway, former Hellyer Track President)
I'm interested in racing on the track, how do
I get into it?
The best way to start is by attending Saturday
AM beginner sessions. These are every Saturday
morning at 8:30 a.m. You may rent bikes
and will receive basic track instruction. $6
track usage fee, plus $6 to rent a fixed gear
track bike if you don't have one.
Do I need a special bike for this? Does it really
have no brakes?
There are occasional special training sessions
in which the track is open for riding with "road" bikes.
However to race and do the majority of the training
sessions on the track you'll need a special track
bike. And yes, they don't have brakes but you
can still control your speed by resisting gently
the motion of the pedals and by adjusting the
path of the bike on the banked surface.
Are there special sessions for Juniors?
Yes. With signed parental release, juniors can
ride the track in any session whose purpose
is matched to their skill level. Additionally,
There are two regularly scheduled sessions
on afternoons, with very different goals and
functions.
The most important facts specific to riders
under 18 are:
1) Parents/Guardians must sign a release annually
on behalf of minors who use the track.
2) Juniors can ride the track for free, and get
free use of the fixed gear rental bikes for training.
How big is Hellyer Velodrome?
Each lap is 335 meters - or about 0.2 miles.
The corners have about 25 degrees of banking
to them.
How do I get to the Velodrome?
Getting to the Hellyer Park Velodrome is easy.
The track is located just off of Highway 101
at the Hellyer Ave. exit. From the 680/280/101
interchange take 101 south for 5 miles to the
Hellyer Ave exit. At the bottom of the off-ramp
turn right. At the stop sign go straight into
Hellyer Park and follow the signs to the velodrome.
The spectator gate is located on the south
end of the velodrome ( from the parking lot
walk counter clock-wise around the track to
get to the gate).
See ridethetrack.com for more info. Rain cancels
all track sessions.