Saffron Lane Velodrome, Leicester

[Goldie87]

Visited here today with Mr Sam.

Saffron Lane Velodrome was built in 1978, boasts a capacity of 3100 and has a International-Standard 333 metre wooden surface with 37 degrees banking. It hosted the first International cycling championship that was held in England.

The velodrome also has an all weather pitch within the middle of it that has been used for numerous sporting events. The arena was also the home of Leicester Panthers who played American Football (Gridiron) on the surface.

 

[Mr Sam]

oooh some nice history i didnt know been past it enough times so glad to finally get in which in a shame was not hard as can be seen by the state of the place, such a shame to see it in that state, cant be many propper wodden tracks in the country, and trust me its ruddy steep i ran up it under the steps got half way up and slid back down

ill stick some pics up in a mo

 

[Foxylady]

How bizarre seeing all those seats piled up in the second pic! Good pics, Goldie. Somewhat different, too!

Cheers

 

[Mr Sam]

the running track looked active




ooh forgot one pic..

thats my field bike, had 14k on the clock when i got it 10 or so years ago most of which were done round this track, chap down the village his sons were and still are in the british cycle team and he used to be the pacemaker for them

 

[Foxylady]

More good pics Mr Sam.
I had visions of you then, sliding flat-out and face down like a spider off an ice-cube. Shouldn't laugh!

Cheers

 

[Mr Sam]

nah got up stopped....then started going back down, the comedy misshap of the day was elsewhere in some mud i lost my shoe

 

[smileysal]

what a great place, its a shame it's closed. Why did it close? Will have to search out the history now.

How come all the seats are all piled up at the bottom of the track? Do you know what the plans are for the place? it would be a shame if they couldn't do it up and be able to be used again for cycling.

Cheers,

Sal

 

[Goldie87]

Basically I think the council said it was too costly to maintain. They didn't maintain it properly for a few years, then closed it because they said it was unsafe. Now its supposed to be being torn down and having houses and flats built on the site soon.

 

[smileysal]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!! thats not good, but typical of councils. grrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

The Government keeps going on about getting people into fitness and trying to overcome the obesity, then on the other hand, local councils are closing things like this all the time, its ridiculous.

Cheers for that Goldie.

 

[Reaperman]

Looks like a unique explore I've never seen an abandoned velodrome before! It looks very bleak. Were you able to get up the camera / comentary tower?

 

[King Al]

Very nice, don't see many sports centres on hear, that track looks very steep and love the mega-phones

 

[Mr Sam]

The Government keeps going on about getting people into fitness and trying to overcome the obesity,

the really funny thing is earlier that day i saw on a phonebox Leicester has been named the 2008 European Sports capital........

Were you able to get up the camera / comentary tower?

we thought the 2 big boxes were just water tanks but i guess they could of filmed from up there, the first 10 foot of the ladder is non egsistant though

 

[Lightbuoy]

Lovely photos Golds

Like the one pic with all those seats, with just the one singled out and smashed! Good to see something a bit different. Cheers matey!

Lb

 

[Goldie87]

Thanks for the comments people

Like the one pic with all those seats, with just the one singled out and smashed!

Yeah thats definitely my favorite pic of the day, quite pleased with that one

 

[Mr Sam]

Goldie87 and Kezza

myself.........and yes this time i really did end up on my bum sliding down there

and up the tower

 

[Goldie87]

Wheres my head gone?! lol

That was so funny when you went down that slope, in fact the whole evening was hilarious

 

[Foxylady]

Great to see those night time shots Mr S. Excellent.

 

[Wishmaster]

nice report, liking the woodeness of the track.

Love that old Honda pic, does the bike still run?

 

[sheep2405]

Just seen it on TV, and had to re watch it a couple of times, but Im sure the new Seat Leon advert is filmed there.

 

[krela]

I very much doubt it, if I recall correctly velodromes are 250M ovals with 45degree banking on the curves. I doubt even the sporty leon would be able to go more than 15mph around it!

They're designed to make bicycles go fast, not cars.

Newport has the national welsh velodrome but alas it's still very much in use.