Polo Rules

Would this be allowed?

(assume it has at least one brake)

You're arguing that it would.

The rules aren't clear, so the question of what bike is allowed is open to interpretation. Personally, I wouldn't allow the bike above, on grounds of safety. Also speaking personally, I would allow the radball bikes, because I haven't seen them in action, and am not convinced that they are so dangerous that they require special attention.

If safety is the primary concern, there are other things that I would be looking at first, rather than bikes.

However, it seems to me that you are more concerned about being made to look foolish, or that there is the potential for the sport to look foolish. Once again, I would say that there are other priorities in this regard (e.g. trying to make sure that teams in tournaments actually look like teams, having decent scoreboards etc etc).

Legal (Assuming it has one brake)?

Not a common bike. Banned, and owner sentenced to a lifetime of trying to explain the reset rules to Beagle.

BTW, this thread, which is public, makes the sport look pretty foolish. #justsayin

#justsayin

Banned from all competitive polo in the UK for 6 months. Oh, wait....

Is it Friday yet?

it seems to me that you are more concerned about being made to look foolish

Bill, we couldn't look any more foolish if we tried; we kick kids off local playgrounds so that we can release our twenty/thirty/fourtysomething angst by hitting a hockey ball around in hockey/lacrosse/hurling gear, on bikes. It's probably the most foolish thing any of us have ever done.

My aversion to letting the radball guys play is nothing to do with foolishness, it's about progression. The sport is becoming more understandable to the passer-by and we are approaching a common idea of a polo-bike.

There is a video of Edisons playing the radball guys in the videos thread. I think that game would be confusing to someone walking past. It's like watching Arsenal play football against the Dallas Cowboys (something I would love to see actually — as a spectacle, not as part of a football tournament).

I'm not bothered if they play, I just don't think they should.

Is it Friday yet?

I sure hope so.

Banned from all competitive polo in the UK for 6 months. Oh, wait....

ha!

I'm just giving the view as an 'outsider'. I stlll read up on happenings from time to time, but this thread, it's like a bunch of spastics on a field trip to the zoo. So I thought I'd join in.

Which is all very well, but we still haven't made it to the monkey house yet.
#grump

The sport is becoming more understandable to the passer-by

Not when you can't tell the teams apart. That's my point, there are other things to get worried about before we get started on the bikes.

I stlll read up on happenings from time to time, but this thread, it's like a bunch of spastics on a field trip to the zoo. So I thought I'd join in.

Another spastic is always welcome at this party.

Which is all very well, but we still haven't made it to the monkey house yet.
#grump

Twitter

Let them play, the only mandatory thing is that they change the handlebar, the rest must be as "safe" as other polo bikes.
Call them donkey bikes, a lot of polo players are playing on donkey bikes (mostly beginners). Donkey? Yes, because the example of showing up with elephants at a horse polo game is just stupid (this would be a motorcycle at a bicycle game) so a donkey is more suitable. The players eventually notice that their donkey is not fast, etc. enough for the game and change their setup. What results in a "proper" polo bike. Everyone started on donkeys. Some still do and kick your ass, deal with it.

Hi Bill.

if i played on a donkey my ass would kick you.

Hi Bill.

Ha! And big hello to you, sir.

Gosh with all this 26 wheels, straight fork, short frames (aka circus-geo) all around these days, their bikes looks almost standard. Plus these guys are maybe just next level if some fallow this way further.

Honnestly, all other example you post snopps are pointless because they are way too much different than other bike. If these guys come and kick ass with bikes like that, wich i doubt because of the way we play now (body-check, full speed come back etc...) then some gonna follow, if not... they just gonna look creepy on court until they change their setup for something more adjusted.
Don't think we should think to much about how our seriously or standardized our sport look like, this things goes naturally. And we never gonna be a normal or really popular sport, " Vélo polo? quoi?", gonna be the answer for years and years, and most of people don't gonna even notice that these guys have a different setup than a sharp geo 26wheel bike. (what about dirt frame etc..)

body-checks, cool!
full speed come back, cooler!

I think we need an official tapout ruleset.

http://bit.ly/MGTYu2

I think we need to consider banning 'gettin aero'. It's quite obviously a huge advantage on court to 'get aero' and it's making the game too easy, and encouraging a style of play which is centered around parking the bus, waiting for a rebound and 'gettin aero' on the break.
Not to mention that 'getin aero' is potentially quite dangerous, its all well saying "well this team is gettin aero and they look good on it so let them keep playing", when if a beginner tried to 'get aero' they may cause serious high speed havoc on court.
DT himself has reported neck strain from 'gettin too aero', and if seasoned ex-semi-pros like him can be damaged by this maneuver, then the dangerous consequences of this move filtering down to the lowliest of players need not be stated.
Also, we are just getting to a stage in the game when passers by can walk past a game of of bike polo and have a vague understanding of what is going on. However, If there are certain players 'getin aero' and other players not, then the disparity can only cause confusion amongst the general public.
We have worked so hard to build a 'cool' and media friendly sport (perfect for being photographed with your stickered up bike) it would be a shame to throw this away for the sake of a few small rule changes.

Rep'd

Does that mean lo pros are now illegal for polo?

WTF is "getting aero"?

WTF is "getting aero"?

http://mikedanishracing.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/chan-aero.jpg
(src)
Edit: Sorry for the noise, everyone. I thought it was Friday.

hahaha