I think you have to be a fairly mature player to know what kind of bike you want for polo – I don't mean only Bill knows, I mean you need to have played a lot, and on a lot of different bikes. It's only through trial and error that you realise what suits you, and that will not necessarily suit all players.
Currently I'm playing on a Fuji Track, and I couldn't be happier. 12 months ago I was playing on my Marino, and I couldn't be happier. Those bikes could hardly be more different. The small wheelbase, tight turning circle and small wheels of my Marino did everything that I wanted them to do, but what I wanted to do/how I wanted to play changed. My Marino is still a great bike to play polo on but not for me anymore.
I think a few constants have emerged in polo bike design: it seems to be widely acknowledged that a trail in the low 60s and a BB height of at least 285 suit the game. But in terms of wheelbase and the style of the build, it is very much tailored to the style of the rider. If you want to turn tight, get a small wheelbase, but understand that this affects overall stability. It is a balancing act, a decision has to be made at some point – you can't have it all.
It's very hard to advise others on what bike to get when you don't know how they want to play; I think the two are inextricably linked. So I'd start by evaluating your game and considering what it is you want to do differently, with that information it will be relatively easy to specify your whole build: from bar width to wheelbase to saddle position.
I think you have to be a fairly mature player to know what kind of bike you want for polo – I don't mean only Bill knows, I mean you need to have played a lot, and on a lot of different bikes. It's only through trial and error that you realise what suits you, and that will not necessarily suit all players.
Currently I'm playing on a Fuji Track, and I couldn't be happier. 12 months ago I was playing on my Marino, and I couldn't be happier. Those bikes could hardly be more different. The small wheelbase, tight turning circle and small wheels of my Marino did everything that I wanted them to do, but what I wanted to do/how I wanted to play changed. My Marino is still a great bike to play polo on but not for me anymore.
I think a few constants have emerged in polo bike design: it seems to be widely acknowledged that a trail in the low 60s and a BB height of at least 285 suit the game. But in terms of wheelbase and the style of the build, it is very much tailored to the style of the rider. If you want to turn tight, get a small wheelbase, but understand that this affects overall stability. It is a balancing act, a decision has to be made at some point – you can't have it all.
It's very hard to advise others on what bike to get when you don't know how they want to play; I think the two are inextricably linked. So I'd start by evaluating your game and considering what it is you want to do differently, with that information it will be relatively easy to specify your whole build: from bar width to wheelbase to saddle position.