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
Discussing the 1975 NFC Championship Game
On January 4, 1976, the Cinderella Dallas Cowboys traveled to the Los Angeles Memorial
Free Hit: 3 Teams with Big Odds that Can Compete in the NBA this Season
As the 2024/25 NBA season gets underway, it’s not exactly a secret that the
Memorable Moments in Manchester Derbies: Best Goals and Saves
There are few more intense rivalries on the English schedule than Manchester United vs.
The Clint Longley Game (Thanksgiving 1974)
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, my friend Dave DePaola and I have a
Breaking Barriers: 5 Pioneering Trainers of the Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby, often called “The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports,” is not
The Historical Impact of the Champions League on Modern Betting Trends
The UEFA Champions League has captivated soccer fans worldwide and transformed the landscape of
Bucky Lew: The Man Who Single-Handedly Integrated Every Single Role In Pro Hoops
As the man who single-handedly integrated every single role in pro hoops, Harry “Bucky”
The Joy of Collecting Sports Memorabilia
I began collecting sports memorabilia around 1968 or 1969, mostly football and baseball cards.