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@vikingfixed
For any noobz out there looking to build their first polo bike this cheap and dirty polo steed project of mine may be of interest:
Frame:
21” steel MTB frame salvaged from a skip, with short and quite steep headtube for quick steering and good torsional rigidity. All lugs and braze-ons removed. Rubbish pressed-steel seatclamp ground off and replaced with modern alloy clamp. Chrome, one inch threaded headset with caged ball bearings, which are replacable and cheap.
Forks:
Steel MTB 26” forks. Tried shorter 24” ones, but no real advantage and a bit too quick steering.
Wheels:
Front – 26” alloy hub and rim. 1.5” slick tyre. Home-made wheel disc. Solid, nutted axle.
Rear – 26” MTB front disc wheel, converted to rear use with longer, solid, nutted axle and a cog from a dismantled cassette drilled and bolted to disc flange(Fixed). 1.5” slick tyre. Home-made wheel disc. I tried converting a shimano cassette freehub rear wheel to fixed and, although it worked well, the bolt on method is stronger and is quicker and easier to do.
Bottom bracket/Crankset:
BMX-style bottom bracket and one-piece steel crank for strength and ability to use solid 1/8” BMX chainrings down to very small tooth count which are readily available and cheap. Black plastic BMX 1/2” platform pedals (sacrificial in a spill) with home-made powergrip-style straps.
Handlebar/Stem:
22.2mm stem is super-strong BMX 4 bolt top loader alloy clamp with short reach. Bars are home made from cut down and welded-up BMX bars.
Brakes:
Front cantilever, very powerful, easily adjustable and quick release for easy wheel removal.
Rear – no brake, fixed wheel.
Current gearing – 38:24 giving aroung 39 gear inches and 12 skid patches on 26” wheels. May go to 33:20 in the future when I change chainring and cog for new ones, rather than salvaged ones.
Most parts were salvaged, secondhand or surplus that I had lying around. Only parts I had to buy were the tyres - £12.50 from Ebay.
Total cost - £12.50
Currently being used and abused playing polo in Newcastle. Testing is going well with only a few adjustment needed.
Prepared for a flaming from established members but WTF.
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