The first of only two bicycle races reported to have been held at the grounds was a one mile velocipede handicap race on September 6th 1869, which was part of the Gorton Wakes festivities, the meeting included running races and a ball-gathering competition. There were eight starters from fifteen entries in the velocipede race, which was won by D Dixon of Miles Platting off scratch, his prize was a cup. There were around five hundred spectators.
The French bicycle champion J Moore raced against runner J Nuttall of Manchester for £25 a side on August 20th 1871. Moore raced over 400 yards and Nuttall over 390, the betting was 6 to 4 on Moore who won by nearly a yard in 46 seconds.
There were no more bicycle races at the ground and by 1880 the City Grounds were closed.
** Bradford was a suburb of Manchester, about two miles to the North East, the area is now the home of the Etihad football stadium and the National Cycling Centre.
^^ Nurr and spell was a game similar to golf, except that the sole objective of the game was to hit the ball as far as possible.