Northern California has a rich yet forgotten history of velodromes and track racing. This history dates all the way back to the dawn of bicycle racing when the new sport of track racing burst into the public consciousness. In the late 1800s there were many velodromes in the region and track racing was mainstream news in the daily papers. For example, in the 1890s there were 15+ velodromes in Northern California. Many of them existed for only a few years, as they were replaced by tracks in a better location, or constructed to be faster, or just a natural consolidation of a sport in its infancy.
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Once the initial craze faded, velodromes and track racing were left to fend with the shifting market and cultural forces of the day. The number of velodromes was greatly reduced. There were times in the early 1900s when Northern California had no active velodromes at all.
By collecting the news articles, illustrations, and photographs - and sharing the stories of our past velodromes - this website aims to preserve their history and remind us that velodromes and track racing truly have their place.
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ABOUT
While this website focuses on the tracks and velodromes used for bicycle racing, beyond that remain many dimensions of related topics waiting to be explored. These stories range from individual racers, builders and promoters, to collective clubs and communities, and broader historical perspective - with many layers in between. If someone should choose to explore any of those topics, this website aims to serve as a helpful starting point.
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Speaking of starting points. Thanks go to Bill Luecke for his web crawling and data gathering which provides the basis for each of the velodrome stories featured here. Also, thanks to Steve Remy of Digital Worx Hub for the classy design and well-structured site that makes it easy for me to do my thing.
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Please reach out if you have any comments or suggestions.
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It is a work in progress.
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Erik Salander
ABOUT
Northern California has played a pivotal role in the history of American velodrome racing, with tracks that once stood at the center of their communities and cycling culture. From the earliest wooden board tracks of the late 19th and early 20th centuries to modern concrete and asphalt velodromes, these venues produced champions, hosted legendary races, and inspired generations of riders. Many of these tracks have since disappeared, leaving behind stories, photographs, and memories scattered across archives and personal collections.
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This project exists to gather, preserve, and share that history in one living archive. Through carefully researched timelines, imagery, and firsthand accounts, we aim to honor the builders, racers, volunteers, and fans who kept track racing alive in Northern California. Our goal is not only to document the past, but to ensure that the legacy of velodrome racing continues to inspire future cyclists, historians, and communities.
Resources
General Resources​
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University of California - Riverside, California Digital Newspaper Collection.
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University of California, Calisphere.
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FoundSF - the San Francisco digital history archive.
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Cycling Periodical Archives​
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The Bicycling World, 1881-88. Internet Archive and Smithsonian Libraries.
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The Bicycling World and L.A.W. Bulletin, 1888-94. Internet Archive and Smithsonian Libraries.
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The Wheel and Cycling Trade Review, 1888-1900. Internet Archive and Smithsonian Libraries.
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The Bearings: The Cycling Authority of America, 1892. Google Books.
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The Referee and Cycle Trade Journal, 1892-97. Internet Archive. and Smithsonian Libraries.
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The Bearings: The Cycling Authority of America, 1893-97. Internet Archive and Smithsonian Libraries.
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The Cycling West, 1893, 1897-99. Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection.
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The Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review, 1900-11. Internet Archive and Smithsonian Libraries.
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Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated (formerly Bicycling World), 1917-22. Internet Archive and many other motorcycling archives.
Cycling and Velodrome Online Resources
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Morgan Fletcher. wooljersey.com - Bicycling in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Joel Metz. blackbirdsf.org - Bay City Wheelmen History & Scrapbook.
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John L. Weiss. American and Canadian 19th Century Cycling Periodicals.
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Peter Dreesen. San Francisco Velodrome, Facebook Photo Album.
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Shaun Wallace. Yesterday's velodromes, Facebook Group.
Velodrome Books
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Michael Wagner. Fast Digs: Bicycle racing Venues of Greater Los Angeles, the Early Years, 1880-1899.
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Michael Wagner. Fast Digs, Vol 2: Bicycle Racing in Greater Los Angeles, 1900-1929.
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Michael Wagner. The Winter Garden Velodrome.​
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