Welcome to the DragonDrome - Herne Hill Velodrome bike polo Planning and Discussion

Talking about goals, there were some white ones in the shed at Jess's old place... (When I went to pick the shafts and banner for the LO)

We should at least consolidate the goals not being used.

Up for a repair session but my only availability would be weekday for the next few weeks, failing that a Sunday morning (early).

Who else in for fixing up the courts tomorrow and polo after? Need drills! Otherwise might just stay north and play at Downs.

I can't help this weekend...

I can help fix tomorrow, can bring drill. I don't want to be the only fucker there though, so unless we've got a gang rocking up I don't fancy making my way down from walthamstow

Can help a HH and i can pla at H downs too

I didn't see Phil's post (nice one Phil) and went donw on Sunday to do exactly the same.

His diagnosis is spot on and in terms of replacement wood we need:
2 x 8'x4' OSB boards - one is completely snapped and another is starting to seperate
1 x 1"x4"x? - upright support for netting. It would be good to confirm the exact dimensions of this
8m x 2"x4" - for repairing and reinforcing the corners

Screws - some in the office and I'm sure there are some at Ryan's.

All of this will be a two man job at least as there will be some heavy lifting and supporting to get the screws in cleanly.

Should we look at getting a Travis Perkins order sorted and book a date in for a fixing day?

Did you check the spare boards under the tarp, Tim? A few of those might be usable...

Good stuff...

Was wondering what happened to the spares...

Yep, some of the boards are really sodden but the middle ones look ok. There's some 2x4 as well but we'll have to get a new upright support for the net - that could be added whenever though.

There should be timber left over for net supports.

I have lots of time. If there is anyway I can help please let me know. Herne Hill is the best!!!
Hoping to contribute to getting it sorted out in time for the Halloween bench!

I'm free on Sunday to help too, I'll see if I can borrow the company drill for the weekend.

Going forward,

I've looked into hdpe sheets, with a steel framework. Which I could very feasibly fabricate without outsourcing.

(Aluminium framework is also a possibility and would be more weatherproof but more costly)

It could all be done for around £11-12k

Is anyone interested in trying to source a sponsor/financial backer?

I could (with some graphic whizz help) put together a document/visualisation of the court.

I think it's really quite possible and would make this a far more permanent solution.

Also, with a more long term/professional looking court perhaps HH would be more open to fixing to the ground? Which would solve a lot of problems.

Just to double check, You saying £11-12, per sheet?

If there's less than ten sheets on a short side, I'd pay for the Louis memorial end.

Buy one each, pop a little plaque with our names on. Like theatre seats or dead people benches.

^this even if we did a sixth a month we'd have the full court by april :)

#greatleftiesthinkalike. :)

Sorry, I missed a k..

lol

great work Max, how about crowdfunding it?

Kickstarter is good and Spacehive specialise in built environment projects. It could be a project for the LHBPA for the next year.If we could get donations (im sure we could get polo people from all over the world to give little bits), we could try and get a company to match whatever was donated or something. Or even approach one of the big bike companies (Evans, Wiggle etc) who could have their name all over the court if HH were ok with that. The publicity of it being so visible to a very useful audience (ie cylists who ride at HH) has got to be something that works in our favour

I'd be more than happy over the winter months to get together with a few people to draft up a letter and maybe short film to send out to all the possible sponsors and bike companies/shops!
as for Evans etc I think being so mainstream and HH being quite a specialised cycling community maybe they wouldn't be fussed because their audience isn't there! however smaller companies especially track related would definitely be a good call... stanridge cycles are always doing things like this and maybe cycle PS coffee shops would be the right kind of places to start!

hey guys, sorry to say but the entire North side (long side) has blown down in the high winds today. For some reason I can't upload a photo.

On the surface of it it looks really bad but realistically I don't think there's too much damage. An upright has snapped and a side board possibly needs replacing.

Few of us were planning on playing tomorrow - guessing it wont be fixed by then?

Are you going to fix it Dan?

Not sure we have enough manpower but we'll defo try

Is this Dan Allen?