A short Melbourne update!

[BOcrew member, Gypsy has been in Melbourne since Friday soaking up the vibes and representing BOgear. Here is his first installment on the madness that is Melbourne!]

Melbourne, sunny one minute, windy and raining the next! Landed on Friday morning at about 8am and was greated by the heat and humidity straight away. Making the most of the sunny weather myself and Erik (GearBrisbane) took a tour through Melbourne on the bikes.

Friday included, coffee with Andy White (www.fyxomatosis.com) at Brother Baba Budan (http://brotherbababudan.com.au/), an appointment with Dan at Shifter Bikes (www.shifterbikes.com), lunch at the Victoria Markets, Acclaim Magazine launch party at The Heist and finished it up with spectating the night session at the UCI track world cup in Melbourne. Managed to fit in beers at the Carlton club post World Cup before hitting the hay for the night. [gee Gypsy... sounds like being a rep is a hard job!]

Saturday was by far the best experience I have had in Melbourne. After sleeping in past the alarms we got breakfast and headed to Pony Bikes (http://ponybikes.blogspot.com/) for the Ring Of Fire Alleycat, Roller Racing and all night party. The alleycat was intense. Started at about 2pm and was spread across the whole of Melbourne. I managed to catch a ride with a few of the faster locals which made finding checkpoints a lot easier! I scored $20 + beers + Skin Grows Back hip pouch for my efforts which I was more then happy with! [Gypsy managed to get 1st out of towner, as well as 3rd overall - BOgear represent!] Roller racing kicked off at about 4:30ish about the same time as when the skys opened up and soaked Melbourne. Wicked atmosphere all night with good tunes and epic roller racing til late. Thanks must go Pony bikes, Brenden and Nick and to Lane and Brian for their theatrics. Great event all round and better then any fixed gear event I've been involved in.

Sunday was.... well it was Sunday. Woke up to rain and as myself and Erik found out, when it rains in Melbourne it pours. We sucked it up and made our way to Carlton for breakfast. After multiple coffees and a few hours we packed up and headed into the city for a quick look through some shops before riding out to Chapel street for a coffee with Will and Carola who had just moved to Melbourne from West End, Brisbane.

Since Erik left Sunday, not much has been happening. Just lots of riding and plenty of coffee. I met up with some fixed freestyle riders at the Melbourne museum who I will be riding with hopefully tonight or later this week. I am heading out to the track tonight to watch some Keiren racing. Gotta finish up quickly because my time at the internet cafe is running out fast. I shall blog again hopefully on the weekend after the Australia National Polo Tournament.

Ta.

Gypsy
BOcrew

Wheel Lacing!

BOcrew member Nate took some time out of his day to show us how to lace some wheels. With his firm yet gentle hands (teheheh) the process was quick and painless. It is surprising just how much bicycle knowledge is stashed away inside his head. Need some wheels trued/laced... or a bike repaired... need some help... Nate's your man! Cheers bud!

In other news, Nate has just been picked up/sponsored by Halo & Identiti! He has also managed to score a job couriering in Brissy, so say gidday if you see him kicking around. He's still a little fresh but cut him some slack; once he knows those streets he will be a machine!

Night Polo (again!)

Night game has been and gone, and boy what a sweet evening it 'twas! Despite the cool breeze the humidity was high and so the games were not as fast as previously. Surprisingly I managed to stay on the bike; despite this I am still covered in bruises, grazes and a painful burn from a front wheel... It seems I never learn.

Marty and Kero duel.

L-R: Jamie, Shirts, Kero.

While we are on the topic of Bike Polo, this weekend is the FIRST EVER Australian Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships. Held down in Melbourne in collaboration with the Bicycle Film Festival, it is an event not to miss. Details can be found here on the official website.

Representatives from all around Australia are rocking up for this one. We'll be there so stay tuned for photos and musings about the event. PUMPED!

NIGHT POLO!

Brisbane Bike Polo is hosting its second night time event tonight. Held down at Musgrave Park tennis courts, the place is lit up via generator and three sets of portable floodlights. This arrangement was organised by mad keen polo head and local rider Kero, who couldn't get enough of a fix. If the first event was anything to go by, there are a lot of polo heads around in Brisbane, as a huge crowd turned up! Feel like joining in? Drop by... we don't bite.

Entry to play is $3 which covers the cost of generator, lights, fuel and maintenance. It is the only polo event in Brisbane which we charge for (apart from competitions of course!) but believe me, the $3 is WELL worth it.

Game play takes on a whole new level as there are shadows everywhere. Calling and verbalising play for the ball becomes paramount as it is slightly harder to know who your team mates are. Faster play is slowed down, while those who are usually in control of the ball are left to fall over themselves. I for one seemed to spend more time on the ground kissing gravel than I did on my bike. Thankfully everyone understands that I am a klutz and left me to my own devices.

If my description of the nights events doesn't whet your appetite, here are some photographs from the previous event. There certainly seems to be a LOT of ghosts playing!

So:

NIGHT POLO

Musgrave Park Tennis courts (next to the public pool), West End

$3 entry for unlimited play

6pm for a 6.30pm start

no need for mallet or equipment; we lend to strangers!

BIG, BIG THANKS TO KERO! YOU ROCK!

What we do on weekends.....

We just had a pretty relaxed weekend here at the BOcamp. Saturday was very chilled and Sunday was filled with a trip to Woodridge skate park and a bike polo tournament. Started at 6am at Woodridge and finished at 6pm at polo. Big day, but very enjoyable.

The following pics are a collection from the weekend at Woodridge and Bike Polo. Lots of trick progression happening in Brisbane at the moment, with now more the 5 guys regularly coming out. Nate has scored himself some sponsorship and is now officially getting hooked up with Identiti/Halo products, whilst still spongeing off BOgear of course! Congrats buddy!

Photos above - Luke Reynolds

Photos above - Dave 'Ranga' Bell

Looking forward to Wednesday Night Polo, this week!

For anyone who wants to check it out...

6:30 @ Musgrave Park, West End.

BOcrew.

USA DISTRIBUTION!

We are unbelievably stoked here in the BOcamp, as Chris Fonseca of No Cassettes fame has just come on board to distribute our Strap Ons in the good ol' US of A!

Chris was much considerate in running our Pre-Pro straps and realised that there was definite potential to distribute in The States. After providing us with feedback and then receiving our latest incarnation of the straps, Chris has shot this commercial for us and is in the process of taking pre-orders.

The commercial is a hilarious piss-take on infomercials, yet delivers a genuine sense of authenticity. Our description of this commercial sounds wanky as hell, but we can't express ourselves better due to mental meltdown... In case you can't tell, WE ARE STOKED to finally be in the States!

So if you live State Side, make sure you hit Chris up as the straps are selling fast at $60 postage included. That is the same price as we have here in Oz! Get 'em here while they're hot!