London Bike Polo

polo sessions that I've done at HH have never been what i would consider "organised, athletic or legit" far from it....it's a real blast, I don't know why you would think that....did you imagine some guy in a blazer, clipboard and whistle?....I would say HH sessions have been pretty rough and tumble as much, if not more so than clips I've seen from the States....possibly because playing on grass?!

Can't see why you couldn't do any of the above, except maybe amplified music....it would be nice to see these pieces of history being used for their intended purpose more often.....like I say all the kit is there already, or it was last time I looked!

Shits and giggles aren't banned at the track....

yeah i've seen jay zee wearing hats similar to that is it from the puff daddy fashion line?? the new kangols !!

There are slightly different rules and ways of playing bike polo on grass (ie the HH games) and on hard courts (ie American style). By the way, although it's recently become popular in NYC, the West coast of the US has really been leading the bike polo popularity there, especially Portland and Seattle.

Here's some links that explain the two games:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycle_polo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Cycle_Polo

Those HH polo bikes look awesome though.

just found this, might help with the mallet building

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tink20seven/sets/72157594573372516/

Did a DIY bike polo with hockey sticks, and golf clubs, putters and irons worked the best. would be well up for plyaing, and i can 'aquire' some traffic cones if needed. i like the sound of the hoxton arear, will check it out when i ghet the chance.

hopefully this time round i wont hit any security vans while playing!

oh and i woud like to go for a ride with any one from NYC, beacuse im moveing there in December, and i know NO ONE AT ALL in that state. wisper me if interested.

vegansdontneedgears oh and i woud like to go for a ride with any one from NYC, beacuse im moveing there in December, and i know NO ONE AT ALL in that state. wisper me if interested.

Post on http://fixed.gr/nyc/ now, build your profile and when you move you'll have mates there already :)

Word to that David. I'm over in the states already but I'd be glad to meet up as soon as you get here or talk shit over. Anyways, yes gas pipe is hollow, doesn't matter if it's smaller than the ball though. And you'd all be morons not to rock those hh bikes on some grass. Now that looks like some fun shit.

I'd have a go at HH!

down the road. pub afterwards.

I can't be building up a specific bike and trolling up the east end on it really

I'm in. When a venue is decided there should be a new thread for it so that it goes to th etop of the list and we all see the details.

Sounds more fun outside of a track situation to me - just because it makes it more accessible... not to say I would not go along to Herne Hill, tho!

Herne hill sounds fun too. Just really far out for me!
But I'll give it a go - love those bikes too.

The idea is to have a central spot where you can just pass by. In NY it used to be only on sunday afternoons. Now almost every evening you can just roll by and there will be people playing, and a bunch of mallets around. Pop in for a match or two an leave.

Pics of the Brick Lane and Pitfield St. courts would be great. They sound like the most practical ones (remember that close proximity to bagels and beers is a crucial factor)

Pitfield sounds better then Brick Lane, just because of the attention.

you attention-seeking Jos? tss tss..

Anyway in case of collision I wanna be in your team. Otherwise it's gonna be the equivalent of Hummer versus Fiat Panda.

We played it in Melbourne a few years ago. There might still be people doing it? I know someone asked about it recently on an Aussie bike forum.
Our version was different in that it used an small football (indoor soccer ball? not an Aussie Rules ball!) and we played it on a large grass patch in Richmond.
Goals were just dumped bags, bikes were pieces of crap, mallets were anything really - some proper built, some using cricket bats, etc.
It was great fun. The only bike I've ever had stolen was The Tank which was my polo bike. sigh

cheers for the NYC info.

I'm down for makeing a bunch of mallets, and (when i get my bike fixed) i will have a swing around looking to scavange some peices to build them out of... if 2 or 3 others wanted to do the same we could start playing in june.

le car you attention-seeking Jos? tss tss..

Anyway in case of collision I wanna be in your team. Otherwise it's gonna be the equivalent of Hummer versus Fiat Panda.

No, I just mean that none of use have a lot of polo expirience and I would prefer a field less crowded to make a fool out of myself :)

and besides no one is allwoed on birck lane if they can move their legs more then 4inches with out ripping the overly tight trousers.

Pics of the Brick Lane and Pitfield St. courts would be great.

I walked past the pitfield st one today, i didnt take a pic because the fencing is only around the goals at the end and its open in the middle... So wouldnt work there.

Never seen the brick lane one cant imagine where it would be.
edit - found it.

has any of you been around Haggerston Park?
There's a concretey football pitch that might do the job...or the tennis courts across the road ?

Stef has any of you been around Haggerston Park?
There's a concretey football pitch that might do the job...or the tennis courts across the road ?

that links show the British isles...

lol not on my computer..by the way sorry just type haggerston park in googlemaps uk and see...

There's a good court in a little park next to mint st and a couple of good courts in the little park next to tabard st. Both of these are just next to London Bridge and so are well central and are also close to some nice pubs.

Quick note about malletts....

I've noticed in the pics on this topic that the mallet heads are all set at 90 degrees...

all the mallets at HH are angled as are horse polo malletts....apparently the optimum angle for bike polo mallets is different to horse polo mallets....it's called "the indian angle" and is 75 degrees....think the mallets at HH are from India actually.

apparently angled mallets are less likely to clip the ground on your swing and hit the ball flatter therefore harder....although the mallets at HH are old, in my experience they work well, front and backstroke and the angle gives you a larger and cleaner striking surface when doing side swipes too (like a golf putter?).....so there you go.

check these out: http://www.boxwoodbicyclepolo.com/mallets.html

I'd be happy to book and "organise" a session if people are interested, but I'm not around at weekends until after May.

I raise my hand for a Hernia Hill polo session Winston.