It has been suggested we have bike polo at the Big Bike Bash and I have agreed. Now I need to know what it is. Anyone played this? Anyone know the rules? Anyone want to make some up for me?
Cheers
ooooh, that sounds ace.
I will have to bring my fixed wheel as well as my mtb now!! 😀
found this
http://www.bicyclepolo.org/bprules.html
looks complicated!!
ALSO you will need mallets?
go to Urban Velo website and download some of their magazines....
looks great fun
and you can make your own mallets or buy expensive ones from Fixie Inc
Excellent fun!
Stirling Bike Club used to play this regularly until we all grew up.
Kenny at Johnstone Wheelers is Scotland's bikepolo guru and will probably bring down a van full of players (and gear) at the merest sniff of a game. We even had a guy fly all the way from Arizona to play with us - and one of the kids got to represent Scotland in an international tournament!
Kit:
Grass field.
Goalposts from jumpers.
Ball from Tesco's/petrol station (one of those promo things they give away during world cups)
Mallets from Kenny / some place in ****stan.
Bikes with cut-down handlebars from recycling centre
(we didn't use fixies but the keenies use custom-built fixies)
Lots of spare front wheels.
Rules:
Mallets must be held in the right-hand.
No sharp bits on the bikes.
Brakes are optional
Enjoy!
What kind of bike polo- grass or hardcourt (tarmac)? If it's grass theres loads of rules about priority, passing etc, the hardcourt version is a bit simpler:
* Can't put your foot down (or you have to tap a "penalty spot" on the edge of the middle of the court)
* Only score by hitting the ball with the small end of the mallet
* Don't be a dick (riding at full speed into someone is generally a bad idea)
Though if you've never played before there's nothing to stop you playing hardcourt rules on grass so it hurts less when you fall off. Any bike will do, doesn't have to be fixed, goals can be traffic cones or whatever comes to hand.
I can help you with the rules and what you will need, played for 10 years but not any more. Drom me a message to warrenpfoatgmaildotcom.
It will be played on a hard surface - a couple of Tennis courts I think. We can probably come up with sonme of the gear but if you can bring stuff then great. Not sure how 'formal' it will be though.
I will let the bloke who suggested it know that it is on.
Cheers guys
don't forget 'its a knockout' style outfits for the teams
these boy's are probably your closest bunch of polo player's [url= http://bournemouthfixedgear.ning.com/ ]Bournemouth Fixed Gear[/url] (not a member myself but a few mates who are!) think they do it most sundays if you wanted to go have a taster!
Graham - I think they are the ones who suggested it
check out www.lfgss.com
think there will be plenty of stuff on there. its fixed gear hipster central.
You don't need fixed gear bikes to play polo. The main things are they they should be tough, low geared and have a half decent brake that you can operate with your free hand - so most fixies aren't very suitable at all really.
The surprise "secret weapon" in our games is a Dahon folder belonging to an office bike pool - it accelerates like lightning, turns on a tuppence and no-one cares if it gets crashed a bit.
Ah that'd make sense I guess! only been to one session myself and can't ride fixed to save my life but I'm sure Mark/Wazza/Joe could lend a hand getting it sorted for ya (mail me if you need numbers)
Right then. Hard court surface and no limitation on bike types. That's the rules sorted now buy your BBB tickets and it will be one of the 30ish events run that weekend