Some time ago pro photog Steve Jackson snapped some ace portraits of Rollapaluza racers at our National finals, within 30 seconds of completing a race. We’d nearly forgotten about them but stumbled across them here. Below is the winner that night Miles Stovold.
You can imagine the atmosphere back in this track’s heyday, riders and spectators taking shelter in the shade of the typically French pollarded Plane tress, maybe music, maybe wine, a festival atmosphere. We came across this track on a visit to L’Isle Jourdain near Toulouse for the Ravito Rouleaux Sprint.
Sadly this 333m track with long straights and tight turns is now too dangerous to race on, having been relegated to, it seems, a dog-walking track. What has caused this decline? well as you can see from the photos the element that gives this place it’s atmosphere, the trees. Their roots seem to be what have pushed up sections of the concrete surface.
All is not lost in this small town near Toulouse, the locals are lucky enough to have the fantastic Veloscope, a cycling museum /educational facility which contains what we believe to be the world’s only permanent minidrome.
Possibly the nicest video of a Rollpalauza event ever, big thanks to Ravito for inviting us and Veloscope for hosting us.
Our recent job in France meant we got to try this minidrome at Veloscope, near Toulouse in France…and were shown up by the well-practised locals!
Shows Jake of Rollapaluza UK’s first ever ride on any track, Winston’s first minidrome ride, a crash, local technique, 3-up and 5-up riding!
In 2012 we will be visiting 8 UK towns on our now annual tour of the UK….with the final on Good Friday evening at Herne Hill, London.
For full details visit the National Series site: www.rollapaluza.com/nationals or search go to the facebook page.
Cyclists all over the UK have watched Mark Cavendish the “Manx Missile” dominate the world of professional road sprinting over the last few years. He’s been a sporting superstar in most of Continental Europe for the last few years, as famous as any premier league footballer. Now he he finally gets the recogniton he deserves in his home country, no other UK athlete came close as he claimed 49.7% of the vote with the second placed Golfer Darren Clarke getting only 12.5%.
Cav meets Winston and Caspar
It’s a big moment for cycling and after Chris Hoy’s win in 2008 serves to increase cycling’s profile in British Sport. Though Cav is known for his blunt media style he always highlights the team behind his achievemnent and in his acceptance speech showed characteristic humility even taking time to credit the commuters and regular cyclists in the UK, some of whom may only just recently have heard of him.
Congratulations Mark, not just on this but all you’ve achieved in 2011 and the recognition you have achieved for British Cycling, on these shores and around the world. We’ll be supporting you all through 2012 too!
Mark was a surprise visitor to a round of the Rollapaluza London winter league back in early 2010, he was a genuinely warm and approachable guy, taking time to chat to spectators and competitors who had no idea he was going to be there…we’re regretting not forcing him onto the rollers now!….The full story of that night as told by Simon Warren is here.
“There’s now a new edge to the competition, we’ve all got to perform now, the best sprinter in the world has come to watch us sprint, it’s like Simon Cowell turning up to your local amateur dramatics night. No pressure then. “
Our first public Rollapaluza in Berlin, co-organised between the world’s first ever fixed wheel bike shop “Keirin” and Rollapaluza Germany went down a storm: full report, results, photos and videos here.
pic courtesy of JAWS of Fahrtwind
Although we didn’t realise it at the time we were lucky to have legendary sports and cycling photographer Geoff Waugh turn up at Knog Muddy Hell. We’ve only just seen this mazing image featuring Rollapaluza crew members and some of the best fancy dress riders on the night.
Check out a larger version on Geoff’s Flickr, his main site is here.
Official tee shirts, hoodies, beenies and more now available online and shipped worldwide…Our new “Spreadshirt” shop is here…or here
We’ve been to France before, a polo tournament in Rouen and four days in the Palais du Festival in Cannes, still can’t quite believe that one, but it’s true!….Now we return, invited by the nice chaps at French cycle clothing and accoutrements brand Ravito. The location looks awesome too, my French isn’t good enough to fully undersatndwhat exactly the venue is, but it’s a bike shop / workshop / museum and has it’s own permanent 40m mini-velodrome….check Veloscope.
The world renowned Keirin Cycle Culture Cafe, will be hosting Berlin’s first Rollapaluza event. After a summer of riding, fishing, beer-drinking and sausage eating, Winston has crawled out from under a pile of paperwork and finally get’s his arse into gear…….well not quite true, he launched Rollapaluza Germany (in relative secrecy) at the Scott Eurobike Party in Friedrichshafen earlier in the year, where he bumped into Mo of Keirin who with the help of NYC courier legend Squid, press-ganged him into action and the plot for the Berlin event was hatched…..it’s on December the 9th, a Friday and being Berliners it will go on way past Winnie’s bed time.
Cinelli support plus cheap beer, Winston’s record collection, tons of prizes.
Squid and Mo put the hard word on Winston
Inside Keirin (photo Maria Therese Laub)
Recently surfaced is this video from German TV of Winston and Jos previewing the prologue course of the Tour de France Grand Depart in London back in 2007. Filmed, edited and broadcast just 24 hours before the pros rode it themselves. (note Winston has shaved legs and is thin!)…on the day of the prologue Rollapaluza were at the people’s village at the Prologue and had over 300 participants.
This female majority bike polo tournament was held recently in London and here’s a lovely little video of the weekend. Rollapaluza were proud to sponsor the “most valuable” team member prizes with a custom made frame from Oak cycles.
Hell’s Belles Vol. 1 from Chan on Vimeo.
Outreach News Rollapaluza Germany Blog: Latest Rollapaluza results Latest Rollapaluza race photos On Goldsprint.com
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