The Bicycle Capital of the Northwest, the city of Redmond is a vibrant suburb of Seattle and a recreational crossroads. It’s home to a slew of annual festivities that revolve around cycling, including a street race and competitions at the venerable Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome.

Featuring a 400-meter long track, the velodrome is the only one of its kind in the state of Washington. It’s one of the longest cycling tracks in the nation too, earning it the nickname of “The Gentle Giant.” The ‘drome – inaugurated in 1975 and renovated thirty years later – is located in the heart of Marymoor Park, a large swath of greenspace that’s juxtaposed against Redmond’s suburban developments.

The venue has multiple sets of bleachers situated along the home stretch, and berm seating is available the rest of the way around the track. Impressive vistas of Mount Rainier are afforded from the north side of the track near turns 3 and 4, making it one of only a few venues with a view of a Cascade volcano.

The track is famous for being the hub of activity during Redmond Derby Days, a cycling-focused festival held each summer. It has also hosted several cycling championships, including the USA Junior Cycling Nationals and the US Master’s Track National Championships.