Cycle Speedway, The History and the Racing

Singlespeed Bicycle Racing Oval Track Thrills and Spills

Aug 3, 2009

Cycle speedway was once a big sport in the UK, and is growing in popularity once again. This article looks at where the sport has come from, and how to compete today.

Coming out of the Second World War fuel wasn’t in plentiful supply which meant that ‘normal’ speedway, which was hugely popular at the time, couldn’t be run as often as people would have liked. Cycle speedway filled that gap, starting officially in 1946, and mirroring the motorised version. At its height in the 50s every city in the UK had a number of cycle speedway tracks, and crowds running into the hundreds, and sometimes thousands, would turn up to watch race meetings (in 1950 ten thousand watched an international race between England and Holland).

There are now around 40 clubs in the UK still competing, with the sport starting to grow in popularity again. As well as the UK the sport is very popular in Poland and Australia especially (with Poland providing many of the world’s best riders).

The Cycle Speedway Track

Cycle Speedway tracks are roughly oval in shape, and can be between 60 and 90 metres in length. They are raced around in an anti-clockwise direction. The surface of the track is usually loose shale, which can see bike wheels sliding out during races.

There is a starting gate on the home straight, generally a concrete area within the shale, which makes accelerating away from the start easier. The corners are tighter than in motorised speedway (as the speeds are somewhat lower) and bunching up on the corners, especially the first from the start, often occurs.

To get round the corners riders will lean the bike over as far as grip will allow, taking the inside foot (the left) off the pedal for balance.

The Bikes Used to Race

The bikes that are ridden in cycle speedway are singlespeed, i.e. a single gear and freewheel. They are generally quite short frames, but strong, more akin to a mountain bike frame than a road bike. And they have handlebars which curve up and back towards the rider.

Pedals are flat, with an abrasive surface to help grip, and tyres have a light tread to enable the riders to get traction on the loose surface. There are no brakes.

Clothing Which Must be Worn to Race

Riders must wear long sleeved tops and trousers to protect against injuries, given the close contact nature of the sport, and a helmet is also a requirement in order to race. Occasionally riders will wear padding for elbows and knees.

The Requirement Riders Need

Because of the close and physical racing involved in cycle speedway cyclists who have good bike handling skills generally excel. Many of the younger riders have gained these skills mountain biking or riding BMXs.

Despite the need to be physically fit to take part, clearly giving something of an advantage to younger riders, there are a large number of participants still competing at the highest levels well into their 60s. Having ridden for a number of years they have the experience to know how to control a race, and the ability to get away from the start (to ‘gate’) very quickly and take the lead into the first corner.

The Cycle Speedway Races

A race meet can have anything between 8 and 24 races, each between four riders, with points awarded for 1st to 4th place in descending order from 4 to 1. They are fast and furious affairs, usually over 4 laps, although the length of track can determine a different number. The racing is also very close, with contact often made between riders, and falls occurring regularly.

Tactical riding often also comes into play with two riders from each team in a race (where the meet is between two teams, if it is between four then there is one rider from each team in any single race). Deliberate blocking, or moving another rider off the track, can result in disqualification from the race with no points, but still frequently takes place.

Conclusion About Cycle Speedway

To take part in cycle speedway riders have to be physically fit enough to race a number of sprints on the straights of the track, with the bike handling ability to make the turns at speed while very close to other riders. Bravery plays a part as well. Good sportsmanship can be seen at the end of particularly close fought races, with riders shaking hands as they do their warm-down lap, with everyone appreciating hard, but fair, riding.

The copyright of the article Cycle Speedway, The History and the Racing in Bike Racing is owned by Anthony Robson. Permission to republish Cycle Speedway, The History and the Racing in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.