Things to Come.

There is always some thing on the horizon and as always there are a number of events that we are pleased to be a part of. We do our best to keep the sidebar on the left of the blog updated with events where you'll have a chance to get your grubby hands on some Velocity swag. Each event is different so you never know.

A few events on the horizon to note:

- The Last Stand Waterfront Bike Polo Tournament :: Burlington, VT

Presented by Burlington Hardcourt Bike Polo

This Friday, July 9, 2010 - Sunday, July 11, 2010

Rough schedule:

Friday: registration, arrivals, pickup games. Opening event
Saturday: round robin play to determine finals bracket
Sunday: top 8 teams in double elimination format

16 teams. Downtown Burlington. A chance to win a Velocity 700c 48 hole Chukker track/SS wheelset.

- Breckenridge 100 :: Breckenridge, CO

Saturday, July 17th

This race is part of the NUE [or National Ultra Endurance Race] Series we are proud to be a sponsor of. Sure these are races but as most will tell you within the Ultra Endurance scene, they are battles against yourself and this race is no different with the event, stating:

'You've done the rest, now take the test'

- North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships :: Madison, WI

Friday, July 16, 2010 - Sunday, July 18, 2010

96 teams. 8 courts. If you thought Midwest 8 was big, wait until this. Have a chance to win a Velocity 26" 36 hole Psycho track/SS wheelset.

Follow it over on Twitter, I'll do my best to RT notable posts on the Velocity Twitter also.

- Finally, if you're from the West Michigan area, there is the Grattan Race Series. This event has been going on weekly through the summers at Grattan Raceway, for the last 31 years. If you're looking to get a taste of what road racing is or an established vet, the Grattan Race Series offers both A and B races on Wednesday nights.

Of course, if you can't make it to these, remember there is always the First Ever Velocity Temporary Tat Bag-O-Goodies Give A Way you can be a part and have a chance at getting some Velocity gear.

more polo.

6 times year one of our favorite publications comes out, Urban Velo. We really can't express how much we enjoy the magazine itself or how much respect we have for Jeff and Brad for putting it all together and how great they are to work with it. We've highlighted a number of items so far this year in it; from the Halo Reflective Rims, to our ability to custom build wheels to your exact specification and need, and last issue the Bottle Trap. In this installment, since Matt and a few others of the GR crew making it to the Midwest 8 tournament in Minneapolis and being on the verge of the North American Tournament in Madison here in July; we wanted to simply say thanks to everyone in MPLS for a stellar time and advocate a bit for more to join in on this growing subculture of cycling.

Waaay back in June, we had the privilege to be part of another bicycle polo tournament down in Indiana. It was the first ever Indiana Invitational presented by the Bloomington Bike Polo crew, held in Bloomington, IN on the Indiana University campus. With a strong showing of around 60 players representing 7 states it's easy to say that it was a success. The tournament even garnered enough attention that the local paper did a write up on it. Check it out, in what I'll call great polo fashion the article seems to give a great snap shot of the growing polo culture.

We contributed one of our handbuilt Chukker wheelsets to the tournament, which ended up being awarded to the MVP of the day, Ben from St. Louis Dignified Gentlemen. The Dignified Gents also went on to win the tournament by beating the Butt Suckers from Columbus, Ohio. A great day for the Lou', and from all accounts a great event and time for everyone involved. Next time hopefully it works out for us to get a team together and head down.

For more pictures from the event, check out the comment section of their post or see a few here.

GR Polo Night.

Last night was the regular bike polo night here in Grand Rapids. With impending thunder storms and need for refreshment along with some food a few of us headed over to one of our favorite spots in GR, Founders Brewery, for a little pre-game.

Matt really isn't that gruff, this is more of a look of bliss. A Founders sandwich and a brew, it's hard to beat.

After hanging out for a bit there we headed to the courts. Fortunately, where our courts are located are under Grand Rapids' S-Curve near the downtown GVSU campus, so as clouds began to form the court was going to stay dry although that still means people have to venture out in it.

Sorry, had to take a cliche mallet shot.

During a break in the action while we waited for more to join in.

Sorry no action shots, we were all too busy playing. We ended up just having 2 on 2 games for around 2.5 hours, in which we had the privilege of having some of GR's finest come down and watch for a bit. One being the our local CSI officer, apparently no 'back and to the left' crime scenes to investigate.


Flats seem to be the theme of the day. Bob was the first to have one after skidding through his back tire and then what ended up ending the polo session, Casey getting a mysterious flat just before the lights gave out for a moment. All in all, it was a great night for polo.

_

Since we've got polo on the mind today. There are 3 events that we would love to let everyone in on:

- This weekend, June 19th, in Bloomington, Indiana; the Indiana Invitational presented by Bloomington Bike Polo.

- July 10th-11th in Burlington, VT; the Last Stand Waterfront Bike Polo Tournament being put on by the Burlington Hardcourt Bike Polo crew.

At both of these events you will have the chance win some of our polo approved Chukker wheelsets!

Finally, mark your calendars, make your hotel reservations to make your pilgrimage to one of the bicycling Meca's in Madison, Wisconsin for the North American Hardcourt Bicycle Polo Champoinships on July 16th-18th. If you thought the Midwest 8 tournament was big, the North American should probably blow your mind!

Bike Polo: A Cycling Sport from Zach Cost on Vimeo.