Valley Preferred Cycling Center

Valley Preferred Cycling Center is a professional outdoor velodrome and community cycling facility in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania. Commonly called the Lehigh Valley Velodrome or T-Town, it serves as the principal track-cycling stadium for Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and is operated by Velodrome Fund, a nonprofit organization focused on competitive cycling, youth fitness, and adult wellness. The facility grew out of an early-1970s initiative by Robert Rodale, the publisher of Rodale, Inc. Rodale developed an interest in cycling after competing in the 1967 Pan-American Games in Winnipeg. Construction began in 1974 on land owned by Robert and Ardath Rodale, and the first race took place on October 12, 1975. The venue was initially known as the Lehigh County Velodrome and became widely associated with the nickname T-Town because of its proximity to Trexlertown. Over time, the site expanded beyond a basic racing track. Improvements added spectator seating, restrooms, a race podium, showers, changing rooms, and other athlete and event amenities. A major renovation valued at $2.5 million was completed in 1995 in preparation for the 1996 Summer Olympics cycling trials. The track was repaired and resurfaced in 2008. In the same period, Breinigsville made land available for a broader cycling and fitness complex, and the venue became part of the 103-acre Bob Rodale Cycling and Fitness Park. The facility hosts professional, elite, junior, regional, national, and international track-cycling events. Its calendar has included UCI Track Cycling World Cup competitions, the UCI Juniors Track World Championships, the World Series of Bicycling, and USA Cycling Elite Nationals qualifying events. The 2016 USA Cycling Elite and Junior National Track Championships were also held at the venue. The World Series of Bicycling is presented as a recurring Friday-night racing series running between Memorial Day and Labor Day. VPCC also has a development and participation mission. Programs such as Try the Track, the Bicycling Racing League, and the Air Products Development Program provide entry points for young riders, developing racers, and members of the broader public. The center states that its activities have introduced tens of thousands of people to cycling and helped produce more than 140 national champions, seven world champions, and three Olympic medalists. The venue also houses a Cycling Hall of Fame and hosts VeloFest, a large cycling marketplace held twice annually in May and October. The uncovered concrete track is 333.3 meters long, with 30-degree banked turns, 12.5-degree straightaways, an eight-foot concrete apron, and painted time-trial lines. Through its combination of high-level competition, athlete development, public programming, and cycling commerce, Valley Preferred Cycling Center functions both as a specialist sports venue and as a regional cycling institution.

Valley Preferred Cycling Center originated in the early 1970s through the efforts of Robert Rodale, a publisher based in nearby Emmaus and an advocate of cycling and healthy living. Rodale's personal interest in the sport was strengthened by his participation in the 1967 Pan-American Games in Winnipeg, Canada. He and his wife, Ardath, owned the land on which the facility was developed. Construction began in 1974, and the first race was held on October 12, 1975. The venue was initially known as the Lehigh County Velodrome. It also became known as T-Town, a reference to nearby Trexlertown, and later gained the broader identity of the Lehigh Valley Velodrome. From its early years, the site was intended not only as a competition track but also as a place where the regional public could encounter track cycling. The facility was progressively upgraded with athlete and spectator amenities, including restrooms, seating, a podium, showers, and changing rooms. Its most significant early modernization took place in 1995, when a renovation reported at $2.5 million was undertaken in advance of the 1996 Summer Olympics cycling trials. Further repairs and resurfacing were carried out in 2008 to maintain the outdoor concrete racing surface. The venue's institutional scope expanded during the 2000s. In 2007, Valley Preferred Health Network purchased naming rights and the facility adopted the Valley Preferred Cycling Center name. In 2008, Breinigsville offered land for expansion connected with a cycling hall of fame. The site subsequently became part of the 103-acre Bob Rodale Cycling and Fitness Park. Operations are associated with Velodrome Fund, a nonprofit organization whose stated purposes include promoting competitive cycling, youth fitness, and adult wellness in the Lehigh Valley. VPCC has hosted a wide range of track-cycling events, from regional and national championships to international competitions. Its event history includes UCI Track Cycling World Cup races, the UCI Juniors Track World Championships, USA Cycling qualifying competitions, and the 2016 USA Cycling Elite and Junior National Track Championships. The World Series of Bicycling provides a recurring summer racing program, with Friday-night events traditionally scheduled between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Community development is another central part of the center's history. Try the Track introduces newcomers to the sport, while the Bicycling Racing League and Air Products Development Program support youth and developing riders. The organization reports that the venue has introduced tens of thousands of people to cycling and has been connected with more than 140 national champions, seven world champions, and three Olympic medalists. The facility remains an uncovered, 333.3-meter concrete velodrome. Its turns are banked at 30 degrees and its straightaways at 12.5 degrees, with an eight-foot concrete apron and painted time-trial lines. In addition to racing and instruction, the center houses a Cycling Hall of Fame and hosts VeloFest, a large cycling marketplace held twice each year. These activities give the venue a mixed role as an elite sports site, a public recreation facility, and a gathering place for the cycling trade and enthusiast community.

• 2016

  USA Cycling national championships hosted

  [1]Valley Preferred Cycling Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The center hosted the USA Cycling Elite and Junior National Track Championships.

• 2008

  Track resurfacing and site expansion planning

  [1]Valley Preferred Cycling Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The track received extensive repairs and resurfacing, while Breinigsville offered land associated with development of a cycling hall of fame.

• 2007

  Naming-rights partnership

  [1]Valley Preferred Cycling Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Valley Preferred Health Network acquired naming rights, giving the venue its current brand name.

• 1995

  Major renovation

  [1]Valley Preferred Cycling Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A major renovation was completed in preparation for the 1996 Summer Olympics cycling trials.

• 1975

  First race held

  [1]Valley Preferred Cycling Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The first race at the new velodrome took place on October 12, establishing the facility as a regional track-cycling venue.

• 1974

  Construction began

  [1]Valley Preferred Cycling Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Construction started on land owned by Robert and Ardath Rodale.

A nonprofit-oriented regional cycling hub that combines elite track-racing infrastructure with youth development, public participation, wellness programming, and cycling-community events.

• Sports venue · 1975

  Velodrome track and event venue

  The core offering is an uncovered 333.3-meter concrete track designed for track cycling. It has 30-degree banked turns, 12.5-degree straightaways, an eight-foot concrete apron, and painted time-trial lines. The venue supports professional, amateur, junior, regional, national, and international racing, as well as spectator events and training activities.

• Cycling competition

  World Series of Bicycling

  A recurring race series that forms a central part of the venue's annual calendar. Events are traditionally staged on Friday evenings from Memorial Day through Labor Day, creating a regular public-facing competition program for racers and spectators.

• Cycling education and development

  Community cycling programs

  VPCC offers programs intended to lower the barrier to entry for track cycling and support developing athletes. Try the Track introduces newcomers to the velodrome, while the Bicycling Racing League and Air Products Development Program provide structured opportunities for youth and emerging riders.

• Cycling marketplace

  VeloFest

  A large cycling flea market and marketplace held twice a year, in May and October, on the velodrome infield. The event brings together vendors, collectors, cyclists, and enthusiasts for bicycle-related commerce and community activity.

• Cycling heritage and visitor attraction

  Cycling Hall of Fame

  A cycling heritage facility located at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome site. It complements the racing venue by preserving and recognizing cycling history and notable participants.

• Try the Track

  Lehigh Valley · United States

  An introductory community program designed to let members of the public experience track cycling at the velodrome.

  Outcome. Supports VPCC's participation and public-access mission; specific participation figures are not provided.

  Source
• Bicycling Racing League

  Lehigh Valley · United States

  A spring and fall racing program that provides a structured pathway for developing cyclists and young riders.

  Outcome. Contributes to athlete development; detailed program results are not specified in the available reference.

  Source
• Air Products Development Program

  Lehigh Valley · United States

  A development initiative associated with the center's effort to cultivate new and improving cyclists.

  Outcome. Supports rider development and youth participation; specific outcomes are not stated in the available material.

  Source

• 2007

  Adoption of the Valley Preferred nameStrategy

  Background

  The velodrome sought naming-rights support while continuing its role as a regional cycling facility.

  Action taken

  Valley Preferred Health Network acquired naming rights, and the venue changed its public name to Valley Preferred Cycling Center.

  Aftermath

  The Valley Preferred Cycling Center name became the facility's principal formal identity, while Lehigh Valley Velodrome and T-Town remained associated names.

  Source

• 1995

  Renovation for Olympic trials preparationOther

  Background

  The venue required modernization ahead of its role in preparation for the 1996 Summer Olympics cycling trials.

  Action taken

  A major renovation was undertaken, including improvements to the facility and its event infrastructure.

  Aftermath

  The upgraded venue was positioned to host higher-level competition and larger cycling events.

  Reported renovation cost. $2.5 million (1995)

  Source

• 2016

  VPCC hosted the USA Cycling Elite and Junior National Track Championships[1]Valley Preferred Cycling Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The venue hosted the USA Cycling Elite and Junior National Track Championships, reinforcing its role as a national-level track-cycling facility.

• 2008

  Velodrome track repairs and resurfacing completed[1]Valley Preferred Cycling Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The outdoor track underwent extensive repairs and resurfacing as part of continuing facility improvements.

• 2007

  Valley Preferred Health Network acquired naming rights[1]Valley Preferred Cycling Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Valley Preferred Health Network obtained naming rights, after which the venue adopted the Valley Preferred Cycling Center name.

• 1995

  Major renovation prepared the velodrome for Olympic cycling trials[1]Valley Preferred Cycling Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The facility completed a major renovation reported at $2.5 million in preparation for the 1996 Summer Olympics cycling trials.

1. 1Valley Preferred Cycling Centeren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Valley Preferred Cycling Center websitethevelodrome.com