For anyone who ever wanted to take cycling to a new level in Sacramento – or see some exciting bicycle track races – a local group has the answer: build a velodrome. A velodrome, for those not yet immersed in the world of bicycle racing, is a stadium with a 250-meter oval race track – banked at 25 to 45 degrees – where cyclists race at speeds up to 50 miles per hour in front of nearly 1,000 spectators in the stands. Most velodromes have track lengths between 150 and 500 meters, according to local cycling coach and bicycle mechanic Dean Alleger. And, since there are only four velodromes in California (Carson, Encino, San Jose and Los Angeles) – and 22 in the nation – Alleger and a group

For anyone wanting an energizing bike ride in January that won’t take them into the freezing winter cold, Hot Italian on 16th and Q streets has just the thing: Savage Sprints. For the second year in a row, the Midtown restaurant is hosting a series of stationary bike races free to anyone who wants to show up and ride. The next racing event will be Jan. 8. “They are small interval races of about 10 to 12 seconds (each),” Alisa Kuwabara, a supervisor at Hot Italian, said Friday. “It sounds short, but it’s really intense and gets your heart racing like crazy.” The head-to-head races start with little kids on smaller bikes, and progress to adult races on larger bikes, Kuwabara said. Accord

Photos from the February 6th Savage Sprints Roller Races, a fundraiser for the Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association at the Hot Italian pizza and panini bar in Sacramento. The event was held during the Super Bowl and was billed as the "Sooper Bowl Schmooper Bowl." Participants were encouraged to wear costumes.

12 photos from the January 9th and 23rd Savage Sprints Roller Races. [text below is from: http://sacvalleyvelodrome.org/?p=109] Press Release – Savage Sprints Fundraiser for Sacramento Valley Velodrome January 18, 2011 Press Release SAVAGE SPRINTS FUNDRAISER FOR SACRAMENTO VALLEY VELODROME The Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association is holding a series of stationary bike races, or Roller Races, to raise awareness and funds to build an outdoor bicycle racing track called a velodrome in the greater Sacramento area. Supporters are hopeful considering the strong support from the local bike community and area businesses. “After a solid turnout of more than 100 supporters and 40 race parti