The Valley Preferred Cycling Center, celebrated in modern American cycling history, grew from publisher Bob Rodale’s vision and the achievements of champions who began on its 333-meter track. Rodale conceived the concrete velodrome in a cornfield after falling in love with track cycling while competing in skeet shooting at the Mexico Olympic Games in 1968. As president of Rodale Press and later publisher of Bicycling and Mountain Bike magazines, he believed the sport’s excitement and colorful action could capture American interest. Construction began in 1974 on land in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania, owned by Bob and Ardie Rodale, and as the track took shape, Rodale worked with community leaders to create programs such as the Air Products Developmental Cycling Program to develop young local riders. He enlisted celebrated cyclists Jack Simes III and David Chauner, who, with Artie Greenburg and announcer Brian Drebber, quickly attracted top international cyclists and events. When the first race was held on October 12, 1975, the facility had no locker rooms, no fan seating, and no railing at the top of the track. From those early days, athletes including Jerry "The Gentle Giant" Ash, Leigh "the Tree" Barczewski, Gil "Gabby" Hatton, Sheila Young, and Connie Paraskevin helped reignite track cycling in the United States, and Rodale donated the land to Lehigh County in return for a pledge of continued support for the track and its programs. In 1979, the Trexlertown Velodrome, known as "T-Town," was renamed the Lehigh County Velodrome. It is now managed by The Velodrome Fund, a nonprofit 501(c)3 foundation, and with support from Valley Preferred, it continues to lead the nation in competition, racer development, and community programs for track cycling.
