Something makes the venue feel special, being next door to the National Cycling Centre. The park is a fairly traditional medium-sized urban park with tarmac paths galore. These sound fast, but tend to be mossy (Manchester only has three dry days per year). The grass is the softer kind and borders on boggy on some parts. You”ll do well to avoid the pressure hose after racing here. Your bike might need a clean, too. Courses are short, c. 4 to 5 minute laps. Expect to be lapping people (or to be being lapped by people) from about lap 2 !! Watch out for those gate posts. Top Tip: Don”t ride into the hedge in search of the best line.

Toilets Y

Showers N

Refreshments N (but you can always nip into the velodrome and use the vending machine)

How to get there: Head for Manchester and follow the signs for ”Sport City”, then look out for signs to the national cycling centre. It”s next to a huge Asda Walmart off Alan Turing Way