Palmer Park Stadium, Sports stadium in Reading, England
Palmer Park Stadium is a sports complex in Reading that features an outdoor velodrome with a 459-meter track alongside an athletics stadium. Both facilities share the site and provide training and competition spaces for track cycling and field sports.
The velodrome track itself originates from the early 1900s and ranks among England's oldest cycling facilities. The stadium complex was added later in the 1980s as a companion facility for athletics.
The venue serves as home to the Palmer Park Velo cycling club, where young riders between ages 4 and 18 train in track cycling disciplines. Visitors often witness training sessions and can see the community of local cyclists using the facilities.
The complex provides around 131 parking spaces, with 7 designated for disabled visitors and free parking available for the first few hours. Most visitors find it straightforward to access and park their vehicles on site.
Until 1955, the velodrome track was covered with loose red shale, which caused riders to slide sideways when navigating the steep banked turns. This made racing far more unpredictable and hazardous than on modern surfaces.
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