Walking In
I didn’t know what to expect when I first stepped into the velodrome in Detroit. It’s indoors, all wood, and way steeper than I thought it would be. The corners look like they belong on a roller coaster, not a bike track. I just stood there for a second thinking, “There’s no way people actually ride on this.”
The Bikehttp://Cycling Experience at the Detroit Velodrome Scary at First, But Totally Worth It Situation
So, here’s the weird part — the bikes don’t have brakes. At all. You can’t just coast either. Once you start pedaling, you have to keep pedaling, or the whole thing kind of jolts back at you. I wasn’t expecting that. I kept instinctively reaching for brake levers that just weren’t there. It threw me off for the first few minutes.
Trying It Out
Before they let you ride the full track, there’s a little intro session where they teach you the basics. That helped a lot, especially when it came to starting and stopping safely. The first few laps? Wobbly and slow. But then I picked up speed and weirdly, it felt easier. Something about going faster helps you stick to those steep turns better. Still a little nerve-wracking, though.
Would I Recommend It?
If you’re into cycling and want to try something totally different, this is worth checking out. It’s not casual, but you don’t need to be super experienced either. Just open to learning something new.
Final Thoughts
My cycling experience at the Detroit velodrome was a mix of nerves, excitement, and a small feeling of “I can’t believe I did that.” Definitely not your average weekend ride — but in the best way possible.