Clydebank lies a few miles north-west of Glasgow, a drop off along the lengthy Great Western Road, slimly separated from the urban sprawl of Scotland's largest city. It's not necessarily the kind of place a cyclist would gravitate towards. But as I drove towards the town I caught sight of the reason I was there.

To my left, with a cityscape falling away below, and planes above coming in to land a few miles distant, there were hordes of cyclists, all gathered on top of a large mound, getting ready to launch themselves down the only full-length maintained BMX race track in the country.

I had received a press release, issued by the West Dunbartonshire Environment Trust, about an open championship, but had no real idea what to expect. What greeted me was a fantastic swooping track, three massive banked 180 degree berms separated by doubles, triples and tabletops, and a fully-functioning electronic start gate.

Arriving during gate practice there were people of all ages and abilities lining up. Some balancing with wheels pressed against the gate; others waiting until it was completely flat and the path clear before rolling down off the line.

The start hill was mobbed with riders, all wanting their moment on the gate, getting the fast entrance into the first berm. Separating the steep hill from this first turn was a short step up before a quick double which the more adventurous (and explosive starters) were clearing.

The next straight had three tabletops hove into view before turning again into a triple (which once more had the experienced riders clearing). A final turn into the finishing 'straight' and one more double and triple to negotiate.