ManchesterVelodrome.com

Cost includes bike & helmet hire for Taster Sessions (£9.60, £7.50 concessions). Must be booked and paid for in advance. Cancelled sessions can only be transferred or a refund made if more than 7 days notice is given.

If you want to progress to becoming an accredited rider, ask the coach at the start of a Taster session for advice, or to assess you on the session for a "blue slip", which will allow you to progress to the next stage - the Taster Skills Improver session. Please ask for the printed information available in reception that explains the Adult and Youth accreditation process.

The route to track Accreditation is via the Skills and Induction sessions, for riders 15 years or better. Access to these is obtained via the Taster sessions Taster timetable>> . There is also a Taster “skills improver” session as a progression to the Skills and Induction sessions.
Riders wishing to progress to the Skills and Induction sessions must first be assessed during a Taster session. They should inform the Coach they wish to be assessed at the beginning of the session.
The skills required to gain a blue slip are that a rider must be able to ride safely and easily ride in a line of riders on the blue Stayer's line for 20 mins. They must ride closely to the rider in front and not kick back. They also must be able to change from the front of the line to the back cleanly, with confidence and not before looking back to ensure it is all clear. Only then may the coach issue the rider with a (blue) slip enabling them to book onto the Taster Skills Improver session.
Riders who demonstrate the required skills level will be issued with the requisite (blue) slip which enables them to book onto Taster “skills improver” session, and then progress to the Skills session Skills timetable >> by gaining a (pink) slip. All these sessions need to be booked and paid for in advance with reception – 0161 223 2244, option 3.
Riders successfully completing the Skills session will be issued with a (green) slip that enables them to book onto the Induction session Induction timetable>>. Unsuccessful Skills riders will be asked to ride another session or, in exceptional cases, asked to ride more Taster or Taster “skills improver” sessions to practice their basic track skills.
These blue, pink and green slips are retained by reception, not by the candidate.
Successful Induction course riders will be issued with full track accreditation. Candidates will need to provide a passport photo before the accreditation card is issued. The issue fee is £2.50.
Riders between the age of 9 -15 years, have a separate Youth accreditation procedure. If a youth rider has had previous Manchester Velodrome track experience of at least 2 hours, they can be booked onto the Adult Taster Skills Improver on a Friday night (without a blue slip), 6:00 – 7:00pm to gain their Youth accreditation, with at least 5 x 1 hour sessions described below.
To achieve Youth accreditation, there is a 5 part process, starting with Skills analysis and skills taster improver over 1 hour, progressing with a further 4 x 1 hours of skills and induction, within the Adult Taster Skills Improver session.
Progression through each stage needs to be signed off by the Velodrome Coach, and the rider must have the skills report sheet available for the coach’s signature at each session. Youth riders 15 years or better can attend the adult Skills and Induction sessions, after gaining their blue and pink slips.
Ask for the information leaflet at reception, or on display, to take this advice home with you!
Once you have gained your accreditation, you can progress to:

Structured Quality Training - SQT sessions . As the name implies, these sessions comprise structured, quality training in a group. Various track training exercises to suit riders who participate in all disciplines. There are two levels - "A & B" or "B". You decide your speed and ability, and book accordingly. Riders must be track accredited. SQT timetable>>>

Veterans SQT - 40 years or better? Want to ride with others in your age group? If so, these sessions are for you. Run at a suitable pace to suit those between the age of 40 & 80! Vets SQT timetable>>

Youth & B SQT - Between 9 and 16? Join you accredited friends or family on this session. Run on a Friday 8:00 -10:00pm during the summer, otherwise youths can Contact Eastlands Velo! for other youth cycling opportunities.

Derny-paced SQT - Want to hone you leg speed? This session takes place behind our dernys, on alternate Wednesdays. You will need to book this session in advance. 8:00 -10:00pm Riders must be track accredited and have experience of riding A & B SQT's. Derny-paced timetable>

Madison SQT - Currently running every Saturday fortnight - this is ideal for improving your bike handling. If you haven't done it before, you will be paired with an experienced rider - and likely to be Madison mock racing before the end of the two hour session!

Sprint/Keirin SQT - Want to improve your sprint? This session takes place behind our dernys for sprint leadouts, 200 metre leadouts and mock Keirin racing, on alternate Wednesdays 8:00 -10:00pm. You will need to book this session in advance. Riders must be track accredited and have experience of riding A & B SQT's.

Other SQT sessions - Veterans & B SQT on Tuesdays 10:00 -12:00 noon, A & B SQT on Tueday evenings 5:00 -7:00pm, alternate Saturdays 11:00 -1:00pm and Sunday night 6:00 - 8:00pm. There is a "B" only session on Thursdays 6:00 - 8:00pm, which needs to be booked and paid for in advance.