July 1, 1893 – It was a beautiful day for a bike ride! At least in San Francisco where on this day they opened the first American wooden bicycle race track. Velodrome is the proper name of the venues that started popping up all over the world in the late 19th and early twentieth century as people racing bikes around a wooden oval track was all the rage.
According to Wikipedia, the first such cycling stadium was built in 1877, the Preston Park Velodrome in Brighton, United Kingdom, constructed by the British Army. Some of these sites after that were purpose-built just for cycling, and others were built as part of facilities for other sports; many were built around athletics tracks or other grounds and any banking was shallow.
We have talked about football fields being placed in the infield of these velodromes on many of football history podcasts on SHN.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
Why Golf Shoes Are One of the Most Important Pieces of Golf Equipment
Golf is a game built on balance, control, and consistency. While many players spend
The Evolution of Betting Activity Around Major Sports Events
Sports betting has existed for centuries and has evolved alongside some of the world’s
How The 1996 New York Yankees Shocked Baseball and Saved The Bronx
After winning four American League Pennants and two World Series in six years (1976–1981),
How Sports Betting Changed From Cash Windows to Digital Payouts
For much of the twentieth century, sports betting was tied to physical places and
Roulette formats available in online gaming platforms
The casino industry is undergoing a digital revolution, transforming traditional table games into cutting-edge
How Sport Learned to Prove It Was Fair: A Short History
Every contest rests on a single fragile assumption: that the result was honest. From
The Decade of New and Improved Stadiums
If you would be asked to name one particular decade where the pro football
Big Ten Men’s Basketball Best Season (1988-89′)
As a lifelong fan of the Big Ten Conference, particularly a fan of the