Hillingdon Cycle Circuit
Encyclopedia
Hillingdon Cycle Circuit is a purpose-built road cycling circuit situated in Minet Country Park, Hayes
in West London
. The 0.93 mile long, 6 metre wide circuit is used for year-round racing, training and leisure riding.
, the local British Cycling Facilities Officer, organised cycle racing on the unopened Hayes Bypass for several years in the 1990s. Triple Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins
started his racing career on this prototype circuit as a schoolboy.
Once the bypass opened to traffic, Messenger and Bill Bannister began searching for another closed road circuit in the area. After some abortive suggestions had been investigated, Minet Park emerged as a possible solution. What is now the park had been used to dump waste earth from the construction of the bypass. The area was, however, zoned for sports activities and community use.
Paul Barker, a member of the Westerley Cycling Club
and a London Borough of Hillingdon
councillor was a key figure in steering plans for the circuit to a successful completion.
The circuit was designed by Don Wiseman as a fast, easy to ride course: it is possible to pedal all the way round the circuit's corners. The circuit opened to riders in 1997.
The early circuit headquarters were temporary huts. There are now permanent storage facilities (part funded by the Kenton Road Club) and riders have access to changing rooms, showers and other facilities at the local football centre.
Barker suggested to local cycling coaches Brian Wright and Ray Kelly that a children's club be started. The Prime Coaching organisation, together with others and the parents of the children created and developed the Hillingdon Slipstreamers. The group still meet at the circuit every Saturday morning. Bradley Wiggins is now the Slipstreamers' president.
There are formal and informal training sessions three or four days per week.
A women only leisure cycling group meet at the circuit on Friday afternoons.
Duathlon
events are run on the circuit on selected Mondays from April to August.
The circuit is also used by the London Nordic Ski
Club, for In-line skating events, for Human Powered Vehicle
races, and for charity fun rides.
Hayes, Hillingdon
Hayes is a town in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. It is a suburban development situated west of Charing Cross. Hayes was developed in the late 19th and 20th centuries as an industrial locality to which residential districts were later added in order to house factory workers...
in West London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The 0.93 mile long, 6 metre wide circuit is used for year-round racing, training and leisure riding.
History
Chas MessengerChas Messenger
Charles William "Chas" Messenger was a British cyclist, a former Milk Race organiser and British road team manager.Messenger was born in London...
, the local British Cycling Facilities Officer, organised cycle racing on the unopened Hayes Bypass for several years in the 1990s. Triple Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Marc Wiggins, CBE is a British professional track and road bicycle racer, currently riding for Team Sky. Wiggins' career began on the track, where he specialised in the pursuit and madison disciplines....
started his racing career on this prototype circuit as a schoolboy.
Once the bypass opened to traffic, Messenger and Bill Bannister began searching for another closed road circuit in the area. After some abortive suggestions had been investigated, Minet Park emerged as a possible solution. What is now the park had been used to dump waste earth from the construction of the bypass. The area was, however, zoned for sports activities and community use.
Paul Barker, a member of the Westerley Cycling Club
Westerley Cycling Club
The Westerley Cycling Club is based in Ealing, West London. It was founded in 1924, and has played a prominent role in the development of time trialling in the United Kingdom.- Early :...
and a London Borough of Hillingdon
London Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...
councillor was a key figure in steering plans for the circuit to a successful completion.
The circuit was designed by Don Wiseman as a fast, easy to ride course: it is possible to pedal all the way round the circuit's corners. The circuit opened to riders in 1997.
The early circuit headquarters were temporary huts. There are now permanent storage facilities (part funded by the Kenton Road Club) and riders have access to changing rooms, showers and other facilities at the local football centre.
Barker suggested to local cycling coaches Brian Wright and Ray Kelly that a children's club be started. The Prime Coaching organisation, together with others and the parents of the children created and developed the Hillingdon Slipstreamers. The group still meet at the circuit every Saturday morning. Bradley Wiggins is now the Slipstreamers' president.
Usage
The circuit is used regularly for racing and hosts an annual round of the national circuit race championship. There is a regular Winter series running from December to February. During the season there are races on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and most weekends.There are formal and informal training sessions three or four days per week.
A women only leisure cycling group meet at the circuit on Friday afternoons.
Duathlon
Duathlon
Duathlon is an athletic event that consists of a running leg, followed by a cycling leg and then another running leg in a format bearing some resemblance to triathlons. The International Triathlon Union governs the sport internationally....
events are run on the circuit on selected Mondays from April to August.
The circuit is also used by the London Nordic Ski
Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing is a winter sport that encompasses all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski, as opposed to Alpine skiing....
Club, for In-line skating events, for Human Powered Vehicle
Human-powered transport
Human-powered transport is the transport of person and/or goods using human muscle power. Like animal-powered transport, human-powered transport has existed since time immemorial in the form of walking, running and swimming...
races, and for charity fun rides.
See also
- Redbridge Cycling CentreRedbridge Cycling CentreRedbridge Cycling Centre is a new permanent road cycle circuit and mountain bike course at Hog Hill – near Hainault Forest Country Park and directly opposite the Forest Cemetery & Crematorium. The £5m cost of the facility was funded by the London Development Agency as a replacement the...
- Crystal Palace (circuit)Crystal Palace (circuit)Crystal Palace circuit was a motor racing circuit in Crystal Palace, London, England. The circuit was located within Crystal Palace park. The route of the track can still be seen on maps providing access to the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre that is also located in the park.- History :The...
- Fowlmead Country ParkFowlmead Country ParkFowlmead Country Park is near Deal, in Kent, England.-History:This park is situated on the site of a former spoil tip of the former Betteshanger Colliery, one of the largest collieries in Kent. The colliery opened in 1924-30 and closed in 1989. The spoil tip, was located to the north east of the...
- CycloparkCycloparkCyclopark is a purpose-built facility for cycling and other outdoor activities, located on the south side of Gravesend, north Kent in south-east England, adjacent to the A2 dual carriageway.-History:...