Dolan Precursor Bicycle

Dolan Precursor bicycle, donated to the National Cycling centre by Dolan's of Ormskirk for use as a hire bike.

The Precursor has a 7005 aluminium double butted frame and carbon fibre forks. A total of ninety are available for hire at the Velodrome, in varying frames sizes, though all have an 84 inch gear 650C fixed wheel. Six Dolan tandems are available for

visually impaired riders.

National Cycling Centre, opened in 1994 on the site of the demolished Stuart Street power station, was the UK’s first Olympic-standard indoor velodrome track. It was a keystone in the city’s ambitious plans to regenerate East Manchester. It spearheaded a scheme that has gone on to create Sportcity, one of the largest concentrations of sporting venues in Europe, including the City of Manchester Stadium (also known as the Etihad Stadium) and English Institute of Sport. It has played host to countless international competitions, including the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

The velodrome’s unique community comprises everyone from Britain’s elite cyclists to novices and youth riders. It claims to be the busiest venue of its kind in the world, and it continues to grow and improve. It was extended in 2010 with the addition of the UK’s first indoor BMX Centre, while in July 2021 it was announced that £26 million was going to be spent on the site in order to maintain its reputation as one of the world’s most accessible velodromes.