Every Which Way

With the first quadrant of Cyclodrome done, our next task has been to set up a process of construction that builds upon the existing work while keeping everyone busy. Setting up any one frame element or piece of track involves only a fraction of the working hands that we have available, so we have begun construction in both directions. To keep both groups from competing for a single wood shop, we've also set up multiple sawing stations right outside of the King Pavilion, which give us the added benefit of making the innumerable trips between the velodrome and the shop faster.

While most of the group has formed into teams cutting frame or track, some of us have set to work dealing with some of the many small technical problems that have been discovered in the process of building the first quadrant. Edge misalignment between the large bottom pieces and small top pieces of track has been corrected by fixing both to extra backing. Some have been working on the more serious problem of reinforcing the longest and steepest sections of frame. Under extreme pressure these frame elements are prone to noticeable bowing, so we've devised braces to stabilize the frame at the center of the track, giving it strength where it is weakest.

Even with some of us working on smaller issues, going both ways has allowed us to accomplish a lot in little time. The development of the first quadrant has taught us much about the issues that we face in a project like this, and allowed us to build that much faster. We've done a lot of productive work in a little time, and are ready to do a lot more.

Above: Cyclodrome one day after the top picture was taken.