Modern velodromes, indoor arenas for cycling, are steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights. When travelling through the turns, the racing speed may exceed 85 km/h. Track cycling events fit into two broad categories: sprint races and endurance races and those are competed on the Olympic level too.
During 2020 Graswoodwide from Holland was commissioned to deliver a new and unique wooden indoor cycling track to Amsterdam. The wood of Afzelia Doussi, more than fifty-year old cycling track, needed to be replaced. The velodrome was designed by Sander Douma Architects, one of the only three architects in the world who is capable to designing and building a track.
– This track, meticulously designed with precision and craftmanship, was meant to be crafted entirely from high-quality Northern Pine, tells Robert Tjeerds from Dutch company Graswoodwide.
The pine wood is commonly known for its strength and lightness, and it provides excellent grip and speed during cycling while maintaining a warm, authentic feel. Robert Tjeerds has been working with Finnish Kuhmo sawmill for over 20 years and knew that the Pekka Sainio from Kuhmo Oy would be the right contact in order to find the best suitable pine sawn timber for the project.
– All the pieces had to be of vertical grain and kiln dried to 8 % moisture content. Only small and tight knots were allowed and 60 % of the volume had to be more than 5100 long. Because the end product was so demanding, drying and sorting had to be spot on right away, Pekka Sainio recalls.
The total volume of the delivery was 110 m3 and 50×50 mm pine was planed in to 42×42 mm with maximum tolerance of 0,5 mm. Planed goods were delivered in three separate batches as the construction work progressed.
During 2021 the project was successfully completed. As a finishing touch and as the first indoor track in the World, the 200-meter-long and 6,5-meter-high velodrome got 600 LED lights mounted along the zero line that are adjustable according to speed from 20 to 80 kilometers per hour. In a final outcome combines the natural durability and flexibility of Finnish pine with modern construction techniques.
– This project was and still is the most challenging one that I’ve been working with. Thanks to top-quality Finish pine delivered by Kuhmo Oy the track is now not only ideal for professional competitions but also offers a safe and comfortable environmental for recreation cyclists and training sessions, Robert Tjeerds concludes.
Photos: Sander Douma Architecten (www.cyclingtrack.com)
