I took this somewhat shaky video standing outside the Hua Mak (หัวหมาก) velodrome in Bangkok. The video starts and ends on the velodrome – other buildings shown are part of the larger sports complex.
Aug 022012
Aug 022012
I took this video of Hua Mak Velodrome using my friend’s BlackBerry Bold 9900 phone. The video is very clear and should give you a good idea of what it’s like inside the Bangkok velodrome.
Aug 022012
Yesterday I dropped in at the National Stadium sports complex to check out the Hua Mak Velodrome. I had read that access is free for track and road racing cyclists and it was the venue for the 2007 Asian Cycling Championships.
When I arrived at the Ramkhamhaeng Hua Mak campus I made the mistake of asking for (and believing) directions to get the velodrome. I should have known better. Rather than admit they had no idea, I was greeted with a smile and pointed in completely the wrong direction until eventually I found the correct way. It is a very big site and I therefore advise you follow my directions.
The Hua Mak Velodrome is actually very easy to find if you enter the access road almost directly opposite Ramkhamhaeng Soi 65. You may be familiar with the FTB Sport Complex (เอฟ.ที.บี.สปอร์ตคอมเพล็กซ์จำกัด) shop on the corner — you can’t miss it.
The velodrome is set back about 300m from the notoriously busy Ramkhamhaeng Road but suffers none of its pollution or congestion. When I visited, there were a couple of Thai lads with their cheap steel fixies chilling out on the stands, while some more serious Thai cyclists were preparing their cycles. Everyone was friendly and you should have no problem if you want to tag along.
Aug 012012
Earlier today I visited the Rajamangala National Stadium (ราชมังคลากีฬาสถาน) at Ramkhamhaeng Huamak Campus to check out the cycling velodrome. I took some photos and video footage at the velodrome (to be posted in the next couple of days) but here are some photos of other buildings to whet your appetite. As you can see from these snapshots, the stadium buildings and architecture are quite impressive.