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The 24.5 metre track has 45 degree banking and will be engineered in Germany by Velotrack, the team which built the velodromes for the Atlanta Olympics and the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
The Red Bull Mini Drome track will maintain race-worthy dimensions in the smallest possible size to enable a single pursuit, says a statement from Red Bull.
"Red Bull Mini Drome will challenge both body and mind as riders will need to navigate themselves around a unique and technically challenging course reaching speeds of up to 80 km/ph," says the Red Bull info.
Andy Ellis from Fixed Magazine will be one of the first to test the track in Germany.
He said “I think you should expect an atmosphere not unlike the legendary six day races held at Madison Square Garden roughly 100 years ago. Red Bull have gone and executed this precisely how it should be done. It could be the beginning of something much more for the scene.”
The event will be open to all fixed gear riders and trackies. York Hall has a 500 person capacity. Registration for the minidrome event will be operated as a first come, first served basis. There is no entry fee but organisers recommend a donation to Herne Hill Velodrome.
Qualifying is open to 100+ competitors in a single timed race. Riders will be timed using Velotrack’s timing system. The racers with the quickest time across 10 laps will progress through the competition to the finals which will be a single pursuit race format.
Pre-register at the Red Bull website or in-store at fixie-friendly bike shops 14 Bike Co., Tokyo Fixed Gear, Look Mum No Hands, or Brick Lane Bikes. After 15th January the diddy ‘drome will be deconstructed and will be used for further events across the UK, although Red Bull have yet to confirm any further dates or venues.
Want to know what a diddy ‘drome looks like? Earlier this year one was for sale in America. Circulus was an installation designed and built by Sam Starr as his final project as a Fine Arts major at Pomona College in Los Angeles.
Here’s a video of Starr in action on his velodrome.
