New goals

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andytk
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New goals

The aim is to have some new, metal goals for 2014. We need to look at the different design/build options and cost. Fundraising for this can be discussed/arranged elsewhere, lets keep this thread for discussing design, materials and cost.

Goals:
There are a few resources online about polo goals. The NA 2013 goals looked like this: https://leagueofbikepolo.com/forum/courts/2013/10/23/goal-design-from-na...

Birmingham had Reynolds build some goals and Cambridge and Magic have built goals themselves.

The NAH rule about goals dimensions/construction are:

Quote:

§2.2 – Goals
§2.2.1 – Goals have nets.
§2.2.2 – Goalmouth will be 6’ (183cm) wide by 3’ (91.5 cm) tall by 2.5’ (76.2 cm) deep.
§2.2.3 – Goals have a firm top crossbar.

If there are no amendments to this when the rules are updated (see LOBP for information), we should stick to these dimensions.

Netting:
I may be able to get hold of some used sports netting but need to know what size 'square' is suitable...

Emyr
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We should seek permission to make accurate spot and goal markings using something more permanent than chalk.

The goal markings should match the NAH rules.

We don't have the length to leave a 6' gap as per that ruleset but the wording isn't explicit about which point of the goal is used as the reference for "6' from the back wall".

Alan
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I have priced up some new goals as follows:

Supplier: themetalstore.co.uk
System: Clamp system with 33.7 mm galvanised steel tube, sized to NAH.
Materials Cost: 107.45 Incl. VAT. Includes cutting and delivery.
Cost per person: £7.70 - based on 14 fee paying "regulars".

Nets will need to be carried over from the existing goals and secured with cable ties or similar. We will need to assemble, but this is allen bolts only - meaning that the goals are demountable if required.

Alan
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As a comparison, does anybody have a contact at Birmingham to find out where they got theirs made?

andytk
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snottyotter
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Ah, free stuff. Anyone we can tap up?

snottyotter
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How about cutting up old bike frames, I know there are a couple at work that are too fucked to reuse. Problems would be different sized tubes but I reckon we could shim them to fit the brackets, the longer tubes would also need joining to make the goals big enough too but it could save on materials. Maybe even if we just did that for the shorter supporting poles.

Landslide
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For nets, we in Sheffield used debris netting (the stuff you see wrapping scaffold-clad buildings).
I've got loads spare if you'd like some.

Rincewind
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YORKSHIRE!!!!

andytk
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snottyotter wrote:

How about cutting up old bike frames, I know there are a couple at work that are too fucked to reuse. Problems would be different sized tubes but I reckon we could shim them to fit the brackets, the longer tubes would also need joining to make the goals big enough too but it could save on materials. Maybe even if we just did that for the shorter supporting poles.

While it might save a few quid, I think we'd end up with an inferior product that'd go the same way as the plastic goals after a few years.

Going down this proposed route, we'll hopefully end up with goals-for-life only requiring the occasional re-fixing of nets. With the correct sized tubes/fittings (no shims to lose) they could also be transported and lent out to other local scenes for tournaments (e.g. Hebden's TdF polo spectacular) easily.

I know Alan has priced 'per head' and we're already putting money in for the lights, but there are some semi-regular players who've offered to contribute to the lights outside of the LTBLC - we can put this money towards touching up the boards and the goals. If someone would like to step up and organise an event (polo-cat? apollo-style auction?) this could be used to raise more money for the goals (and possibly bring in some new players).

andytk
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Landslide wrote:

For nets, we in Sheffield used debris netting (the stuff you see wrapping scaffold-clad buildings).
I've got loads spare if you'd like some.

That'd be great! Will make sure you're well beer'd in return.

Neil
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andytk
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When I was looking, the cheaper ones seemed to be PVC, I guess we'd run into the same problem after a few years. Some of the street hockey goals are too high, the ones they have at Westway are almost shoulder height when you're on the bike... maybe ice hockey goals are shorter?

Alan: your price was 107£ for 2 goals right, or was that each?

andytk
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Somehow missed these threads on LoBP before. Not had chance to read the lot yet, some of the posts are a bit old too...

https://leagueofbikepolo.com/forum/courts/2011/04/28/bike-polo-nets-what...
https://leagueofbikepolo.com/forum/rules/2010/03/30/north-american-hardc...

Alan
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The price I worked up was everything except nets and cable ties for two goals.

Galvanised steel - should last forever

Alan
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Unless somebody can get free materials or knows a welder who will work for free, I'm not convinced we could get something durable / polo proof for much less than this.

andytk
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Thanks Alan. I've been looking at other options this morning and you're right, £53 a goal seems to be very respectable price.

Alan
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Another option is that I could maybe do a cut and shut on the existing goals which would probably extend their life for a little while. Reckon about £30 for bits...

snottyotter
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A quick measure of the main tubes on my 3 steel bikes downstairs give me 35mm on 2 bikes and 32mm on one, I reckon there would be few problems either epoxying a shim on the thinner ones or filing a little off the thicker ones to fit, there would probably be a little room for error in the clamps too. The steel itself would probably be better and would add a nice "bikey" touch to the goals. The main problem is the tubes wouldn't be quite long enough for any of the sections to NAH standards, although I think with our limited space it wouldn't be a bad thing to have the goals a little less deep. It wouldn't really save a tonne of money, probably £10ish off the total cost anyway.
I still think it could be nice to include a couple of bike frames, we'd need either 2 or 4 donor frames depending on what depth we decide to go with if anyone agrees with me. If not lets get some sweet stickers and paint up the goals and add the decals of some well known frames, do like a klein fade on one and a raleigh banana looking job on the other or something.

Joe
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How about we paint them orange?

Emyr
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snottyotter wrote:

A quick measure of the main tubes on my 3 steel bikes downstairs give me 35mm on 2 bikes and 32mm on one, I reckon there would be few problems either epoxying a shim on the thinner ones or filing a little off the thicker ones to fit, there would probably be a little room for error in the clamps too. The steel itself would probably be better and would add a nice "bikey" touch to the goals. The main problem is the tubes wouldn't be quite long enough for any of the sections to NAH standards, although I think with our limited space it wouldn't be a bad thing to have the goals a little less deep. It wouldn't really save a tonne of money, probably £10ish off the total cost anyway.
I still think it could be nice to include a couple of bike frames, we'd need either 2 or 4 donor frames depending on what depth we decide to go with if anyone agrees with me. If not lets get some sweet stickers and paint up the goals and add the decals of some well known frames, do like a klein fade on one and a raleigh banana looking job on the other or something.

I had a thought about using two identical frames for the sides of the goal, with detachable tubes to join them.

Problem is finding frames with the right toptube slope so you get a 90 degree angle, and I've never seen a toptube longer than about 60cm.

It's not a bad idea, but to make them work you'd need a pair of dead tandems and the ability to cut, mitre and braze or if lugged, melt out the old solder and redo it.

snottyotter
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That would be a push to find.

Neil
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Actions > Thoughts

Beagle winky...

Dtroll
Dtroll's picture

Has anyone thought of unistrut. It's like grown up galvanised mechano. It costs around £10 for a 3m length. The fittings are cheap. Only issues I can see is it's box section rather than round and some form of protection would be required for the corners.

andytk
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Looks a bit ouchy... Would definitely require full padding I think...

Alan
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I did look at the uni-strut option. As well as problems with sharp edges and protruding bolts, my experience is that the fittings do not deal well with impacts or flexing.

Bear in mind that the galvanised tube I have looked at is currently only £3.50ish more expensive per 3 m length - and we should only need 5.

Moving things on, I think we have three options:

1. Do nothing
2. Spend about £30 now to fix up what we have and look at it again in the spring - £2.20 per head.
3. New metal goals - however we choose to do it - at a cost of £7.70 a head at current prices. If we decide that this is the route we go down, we can then worry about the detail.

I'm new here, so do we vote or something?

snottyotter
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I like the new metal goals idea, however it's sorted. May as well get them done and sorted for good. Maybe budget for a couple of locks for them too so they don't go wandering off.

andytk
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I'm also in favour of metal goals.

I have some ok chain and a half-decent padlock that I'm not using if we want to lock them up, or speak to PH about storage options...

Anyone think there's mileage to a fundraiser event to raise some money towards the goals and bring the cost-per-head down? Happy to just pay and get them built if not.

snottyotter
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Stag do fundraiser?

Rincewind
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gigoloing?

Voidcore
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For now we could cover the existing goals in loads of duct tape. I will bring a full roll on Tuesday and fix them a bit

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