Did You Know?
New Chicago cycling facility announced
Active Trans is excited to learn that Chicago may soon be home to North America's newest state-of-the-art cycling facility, The Chicago Velo Campus.
The Chicago Velo Campus is the brainchild of local cycling entrepreneurs Emanuele Bianchi and Michael Quintos. Born out of a wish to provide junior cyclists the structured training taken for granted by young athletes of other sports, the facility will feature both indoor and outdoor velodromes (racing surfaces dedicated to the track discipline ), space for BMX and mountain bike training, as well a running track, pool, and gym.
Bike-commuter amenities and a community center are also planned.
Chicago kids have ready access to basketball courts, soccer fields, and all sorts of teams or clubs, says Bianchi, who is an amateur bike racer. With cycling, there is only the velodrome in Northbrook, which is not very accessible to city kids without transportation. Bianchi continues, Young cyclists are pretty much on their own to train on open roads and with clubs that don't have the expertise to provide adequate instruction.
A number of Southside locations are being discussed but nothing is yet final. Bianchi and Quintos hope to announce the groundbreaking on the community center and interim velodrome soon, while planning for Chicago Velo Campus to be complete in 2013.
Connect with Chicago Velo Campus on Facebook and meet them at our upcoming Chicago Cycle Swap.
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