Polo Bikes

As far as geometry goes, everyone ends up with something conceptually similar (short wheelbase, high b/b, steep head angle) but tweaked to their preferences and size. 14 seem to be different with their 0 rake fork and consequently higher trail.

I think at least as much of the difference comes how you set it up. Seat heights/seat angles are massively adjustable with different seatposts, and stem and bar choice can change the fit as much as a frame change (there's at least you can make your bars 100mm highger/further away with just a stem change, which would be an entire size range on a conventional bike).

At one end you have the high seat/low bar setup (Hugo/Ryan et al) sometimes combined with steep effective seat angle and long stem. This gives you mega reach-around-the-front-wheel abilities and a more balanced weight distribution.

At the other end you have the lowered seat/even bar height setup (Chan/Mat Cosmic maybe/Gabes) sometimes with a shorter stem and slacker effective seat angle.

I'm closer to the latter and find it feels more 'normal' to me, makes playing behind the back wheel/pivoting easier and makes hopping and doing tricks easier. I think the latter is better if you're muscly, fat and/or inflexible too as it's effectively a more upright position.

Ale's frames seem well thought out if you don't mind it coming from Peru (Marino's quality seems ok to be honest, definitely better then the first few frames).

Ryan's a whizz with making the front end feel incredibly predictable and he'll build the bike with your game in mind (turn tighter, hopping, more stable, whatever).

Max's bikes are also very nice and seem to ride well, they're arguably the strongest out there (mega thick Alu).

The three guys above all play polo and in my opinion this puts them in a unique position over everyone else as they know whether (or not) the frame designs are achieving what they want to be able to do on court (they ride them themselves, etc).

Many of the frame geos aren't published Joni, you're best of riding other people's bikes as a test (where possible) and go from there?

If you definitely know what you want (design-wise) then any of the companies can realise it for you and your choice would primarily come down to frame material, price and service.

FYI I just added the two italians so that the list would be more complete, actually there are more I can think of now...

14
£xxx
Geo:
Frame material:
Spec ( v brake mounts / disc brake tabs. Drop outs etc. )
(anything else?)

Oak
£xxx
Geo:
Frame material:
Spec:
Comments:

Hija de la conja
£xxx
Geo:
Frame material:
Spec:

Max Power
£xxx
Geo:
Frame material:
Spec:

Marino
£xxx
Geo:
Frame material:
Spec:

Riding in Circle
£xxx
Geo:
Frame material: steel
Spec:

Dodici
£xxx
Geo:
Frame material: Alu
Spec:

Triton
£less
Geo:
Frame material: Ti
Spec:
Lead time: 8 months.

Faggin
£xxx
Geo:
Frame material: steel
Spec:

Fixcraft
£xxx
Geo:
Frame material:
Spec:

FleetVelo Joust
£xxx
Geo:
Frame material: steel
Spec:
http://fleetvelo.com/

Victoire
£xxx
Geo:
Frame material: Steel
Spec:

too lazy to add websites for all

Wicksie, you're not thinking of a new polo bike already are you?

There is also the other off-the-peg Marino brand, used to be AXL (Angelo has one, Nesbit has just got one too).

But they've changed their name now, Velo something...

Ryan should be 1st preference if you can do that.
But you need to get down there and see him ideally and have a chat about your play.
Supporting local is a nice thing to do.
So far all frames have been complete custom so they all feel different.
Set-up is a whole other thing too.

14 are picking their business back up and use Lee Cooper to build their polo frames.
You would have to spec geo though or ride someones 14 and tell them which one you want. The zero rake thing is optional. Cam has rake. I switched out my forks for a raked fork too. So needs to be considered at least. 14 are building some new polo frames so you might want to hold out and see what they ride like?
It's still supporting a local London company yet they they need to be told what the players need unlike Ryan, Max, etc.
I love the look of the 14's.

With Merino you have to be precise with your geo. Better to get one of Alejandro's. PK's rides really well and I'm excited to try Julias. Always dangerous ordering something you're not so sure about. Seen some odd geo choices with Merino. Cheap though.

I love the feel of the Riding In Circles frames. One of the nicest I've ridden.
Woods' bike is awesome.

I like the look of the Joust wide. Bit more relaxed at the rear which I think is good.

Dodici are good. Heavy?
Max Power are really nice. I'd definitely consider one.
Fixcraft? Not quite there imo. more suited to 700c

Not sure about others except a triton ti frame would be pretty rad.

There is also the other off-the-peg Marino brand, used to be EXS (Angelo has one, Nesbit has just got one too).

But they've changed their name now, Velo something...

Velo Lucuma. Getting one as well, should be here by mid-november ;)

What's the cheapest? I'll have that one please. Sorry there's still quite a gap in the sport between old beaters, pompinos and the new polo specific frames.
I guess that's why Marino is so successful.

Hate to say it, but bike control beats a good frame every time. There are some awesome players playing on little more than geared down road bikes. If you've got the money fair enough, but I say get a cheap shortish frame and play your ass off .

After saying all of that, I'd buy an oak in a heartbeat if I had the money

Velo Lucuma. Getting one as well, should be here by mid-november ;)

Ah that's it

Goalie bike.

the 14 bikes were designed by an old team called BAD polo. I believe two of them still play. I hear rumours that a couple of old guys from a team called COSMIC are designing a new version. One of the young guys from that team designed his own bike, but now plays on a track bike cause girls like that shit.
I love oak. Go see him, he's like a personal chef but with tubes.
Ale plays polo, he designed the Hija.
James Aufmunch plays polo and he designed his green bike.
I'm with Shane, be awesome and it matters not what bike you ride, although i do think that polo specific bikes help your game.

Thats all really good info. I know all the info isn't straight forward and making a list I guess isn't conclusive. I thought guidelines on what's available would help people a bit.

Personally I'm really interested in learning about geo and what's good for polo and why. It can't vary that much between people's ideas / companies? Ie what's a good trail? I understand that the smaller the wheel base the better.

I'm very happy with my bike, Ryan IMO is the best around atm and made my frame awesome. Personally I'd like a lighter bike and apparently there's room for improvement on what I have. He might be just out my budget at £650 f&f painted however, so for the first time I'm considering a 14. I'll wait for the new bikes and price guides but more importantly to see if Melbourne polo is any good. ;)

I really enjoyed the process of looking into the geometry of bikes when I knocked up my marino, I feel like I've learned something about how bikes work, but I'd imagine a lot of people just want a bike that looks perty and works well.

Hate to say it, but bike control beats a good frame every time. There are some awesome players playing on little more than geared down road bikes. If you've got the money fair enough, but I say get a cheap shortish frame and play your ass off .

100% this... Check out a lot of the the top US and European guys playing on bodged together POS mountain bikes or modded OTP track bikes...
The bike does not make the player, my (awesome) bike proves this...
But if you love bikes, and you can afford to do it, you will... Innit?

But if you love bikes, and you can afford to do it, you will... Innit?

Yep :)

It's been said before, but I'll say it again; You can justify the cost of my polo bike because of how much you use it. Mine has cost a bit more than my roadbike to build, but will have had more use in 2 weeks (in terms of hours in saddle) than the roadbike has in a year.

Hate to say it, but bike control beats a good frame every time. There are some awesome players playing on little more than geared down road bikes. If you've got the money fair enough, but I say get a cheap shortish frame and play your ass off .

You can say this,

100% this... Check out a lot of the the top US and European guys playing on bodged together POS mountain bikes or modded OTP track bikes...
The bike does not make the player, my (awesome) bike proves this...
But if you love bikes, and you can afford to do it, you will... Innit?

And you can say that, but there are just as many examples to disprove your points. Of course the player makes up maybe 90% or more of the package, but a shorter wheelbase allows objectively tighter turns*, *and a higher b/b allows anyone to pedal fasterthrough those turns.

Naysayers aren't isolating variables. Better players play better? No shit! Better bikes play better too (but don't expect an average player to be made better by a special bike).

'Some players kick ass on any bike but I think that spending 600quid and cutting a centimetre off a wheelbase probably ain't gonna do shit, nor will loosing 10lbs of bike. Besides, you can butcher almost any 700c bike and make it decent polo geometry. With pretty basic mods, My large create measures <inch longer than a 14, with no pedal issues, I concentrated and spent all my time loosing wheel weight, and it feels lush.
I will end up with a polo spec frame, cos it'd be nice to have something purpose built and designed, but I'm under no illusions that it'll make my game better, and my game needs serious improvement :D.'

Edit: scratch all that, if I had the money if get one, no doubt. if you feel good riding whatever bike you choose to thats all that matters really :).

I kind of get what you're saying, and agree to a large extent, but at the sharp edge of competition, 10lbs makes a huge difference, whether it's skimmed from love handles or paid for via shit loads of nice componentry (10lbs is half a modest bike).

But watch some players doing crazy stuff that's half inspired by the bikes they're riding (Luca, Marc Sich, Ryan)... Their bikes don't allow them to do weird pivots and stuff, but they encourage it. That's the essence of good bike design. It stops being something that defines your limits (pompino, track bikes etc) and instead asks you to go further.

Brick man Industries polo machine v2.0 has been out on its first run. V1.0 was a 26" ladies appollo mtb, which was basic but taught me plenty about bike handling. New one is much lighter and accelerate s a lot easier, its a bit twitchy but so far so good. Cost something in the region of £20, which ain't too bad.
,it

This ^^.
When I was in Cambridge Luca and a few others had a go on the bike I had. They were pulling out all sorts of stuff that I can't yet do. The bike makes it easier but you still need the skill level there.

Don't 'turn on a dime' before you know where you're going.