(post is updated below)

alec rottier just sent me the link for this.  if you have not seen it, you should take a few moments to check it out.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8867862777896510907

it's amazing in the same way that cirque du soleil is amazing.  it's sort of numbing, they make it look so easy that you almost take it for granted that it's something anyone is capable of.  maybe this winter, we'll start a junior training program for this kind of stuff.

- - - posted by scott

update: mitch ferro who seems to always come though with interesting tid bits offers up the following in the comments.

You might know this already, but this is a UCI-recognized sport with its own UCI world championships and everything.

http://www.uci.ch/modello2.asp?1stLevelID=C&level1=7&level2=1&idnews=1547  

http://www.uci.ch/modello.asp?1stLevelID=MB&level1=0&level2=0&idnews=3977  

- Mitch

man, that's pretty good stuff.  text from the two links:

The first official artistic cycling World Championships were held in 1956. This sport is most popular in Germany, where there are no fewer than 10000 licence holders. As a sport, artistic cycling is a bit like ice-skating or gymnastics. It is a discipline requiring skill, balance, concentration and courage. The competitors (entering either as individuals or in pairs) offer a 6-minute programme with a musical accompaniment. A jury judges the quality of the figures.

 The first World Cycle-Ball Championships were held in 1930. This is an exclusively masculine discipline, with two teams of two players (who act both as goalkeepers and outfield players). A match is made up of two 7 minutes halves. The ball (approx. 18 cm in diameter), which can be struck with either the front or the rear wheel, is filled with horsehair. It can reach a speed of 60 km/h. Inside the penalty area, the goalkeeper can use his hands to stop shots on goal. The goal itself measures 2 m by 2 m. As in football, fouls are punished with free kicks and penalties.

 

hopefully they do not have problems with electronic registration and getting into these events.