By Sapna Pathak
Staff Writer

Bedford’s Paige Kenealy makes her way around the Londonderry Raceway during a recent training session. Though she was originally frightened because the bicycle used in velodrome racing has no brakes, Paige’s father, Philip, an instructor, helped her relax and understand the banked turns control the bicycle’s speed. “Now I love riding,” said the 13-year-old. (Bedford Bulletin/Bruce Preston)

After sitting on a dream for more than 20 years, Tony Eberhardt finally saw his vision come to life.

Last year, Eberhardt launched a youth cycling program for children wanting to learn to track-race. Eberhardt himself learned while growing up in Pennsylvania through a similar program.

“We had one of the best velodrome tracks in the country,” said Eberhardt. “I loved it and moved up the ranks until I was a couple steps from going pro, but then school brought me to Maine. But I always wanted to bring velodrome racing to New England.”

Velodrome racing is bike racing on an oval-shaped track with banked turns. Since track bikes have no brakes, riders use the steepness of the turns to slow down.

Eberhardt, a physical therapist in New Boston and a Goffstown resident, teamed with the Manchester Police Department’s PAL program in co-sponsoring the cycling program.

Attendance at the two five-week sessions each summer has almost doubled to more than 40 riders.

While Eberhardt runs the first session, every Tuesday from 3:30 to 5 p.m., he leaves the second session to his co-instructor, Philip Kenealy.

Kenealy, a former professional cyclist in Florida and current Bedford resident, met Eberhardt in a local bike shop.

Kenealy’s two daughters, Paige, 13, and Aislyn, 10, are in their second year with the program. Paige Kenealy said her first impression was not very good.

“When I heard the bike had no brakes, I was pretty nervous,” she said. “But then once you try it, it’s not bad. My dad helped me and now I love riding.”

Aislyn agreed with her sister, saying once she learned the basics she wanted to spend more time on the bike.

Riders practice how to ride in a straight line, one foot behind another rider, without touching his or her back wheel.

A non-bicycling related broken arm sidelined Aislyn after the first week of this session.

Both Eberhardt and Kenealy’s wife, Tracey, highlight the program’s inexpensive introduction to a dynamic sport. Eberhardt said the program he learned in was largely a volunteer effort.

“Where else can you have the kids taken care of for $30 for five weeks in the summer?” said Tracey Kenealy. “It’s affordable even for large families.”

Indeed, fees can be waived for parents with financial burdens and a child who wants to try racing.

Eberhardt said each session is capped with a race in front of the adult riders, parents and friends. It’s the only race for the children; Eberhardt said his focus is teaching the young riders to be comfortable on the bikes.

“Everything’s soccer, football or baseball,” said Tracey Kenealy. “Not everyone is coordinated to play soccer, but they still have big, powerful lungs. This way they can use those lungs and stay in shape.”

Kenealy added the program was also a chance for her daughters to meet people from other communities. In fact, riders from across the Granite State and as far as Plymouth, Mass., are part of the program.

As the program grows, Eberhardt’s dream of bringing the sport to New England will do the same.

“In the ‘20s, bike racers were paid more than baseball players,” said Eberhardt. “There was a velodrome in New York and people would spill into Yankee Stadium if they couldn’t get into the race.”

For details on biking for children and adults, as well as pricing, visit leadcycling.com.