Think cycling on the roads is dangerous? Try doing this on your bike
FREE kicks using the front wheel and headstands on handlebars – it’s cycling but with an unexpected twist.
Now two of the world’s wackiest new sports, cycleball and artistic cycling, are coming to Scotland for the first time.
Originally played in Germany, the events are closely related to football and gymnastics but the competitors must remain on two wheels at all times.
Fast-paced and full contact, cycleball games see two-player teams battle it out on a small court to score the most goals in only 14 minutes – using their bikes.
Cycleball bikes have long upward ‘bullhorn’ handlebars but no brakes or fixed gears, allowing them to be pedalled back- wards and forwards.
A heavy horsehair-filled ball used in place of a football and slanted perimeter boards mean the ball rarely goes out of play.
Players cannot use their feet or hands to play the ball but instead must use any part of their bike or their heads.
If a foot touches the floor, the rider must leave and re-enter the field of play.
Each player must take turns at being in goal – the only time they are permitted to use their hands, which means they must control the handlebars with their knees.
Meanwhile, artistic cyclists perform elaborate stunts, such as surfing on saddles, while balancing on their bikes.
Riders – solo, in pairs, or teams of four – have five minutes to demonstrate gymnastic routines to music of their choice. Judges score each routine based on the variety of tricks, degree of difficulty and execution. Points are lost for incomplete attempts, mistakes, feet touching the floor, and falls.
Both sports will be in action in Scotland in August when the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships come to Glasgow.
The biggest cycling event ever to take place, the championships will bring together more than 1,000 athletes from across the globe. Track cycling at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, BMX racing at the Glasgow BMX Centre and road cycling events across the Central Belt are expected to draw the biggest crowds.
However, the organisers are hoping Scots will also get behind cycleball and artistic cycling.
‘When people see what these athletes can do on bikes they are hooked. They are super-fit and agile and have to be skilled in so many different sports to compete at the top level as they are doing it all on a bike,’ said Team GB cycleball coach Felix Young.
‘Riders have to be skilled in many sports’