Polo Rules

in the end it is your tournatment and you guys have to decide.

I'm pretty sure these guys will be allowed at the LO.

But this is more of a general discussion about whether radball bikes (or specfically bars) should be allowed.

You are right, technically they are allowed right now.

Would this be allowed?

If we liked the owner and he had mad skillz?
No, purely on the grounds of taste.

But they would be allowed. The reasoning behind radball bars being currently allowed is because no-one has tried to enter a tournament with them yet. There are many types of bars that should not be allowed, we just haven't had to consider them yet.

I think radball bars are more dangerous than drops; but drops are band.

I suggest we stop banning different bars and just list the bars that are allowed. I.e. flat bars and risers, or whatever they are. Flat bars, risers and radball bars...whatever we chose, let's just list what is allowed to avoid ambiguity in the future.

1. when you get hit by handlebars is when the bike has already fallen to the ground/ is falling to the ground and you fall upon it. seeing it like that, this sort of bars is way safer than every sort of risers or flat bars.

2. regarding the position of the rider: you can't ban someone because his shoulders are not on your height! if so, you yould have to ban whether yorgo or me, because there is no way of a safe shoulder to shoulder contact.

This is pure logic, pretty sure that these handlebar are not more, maybe even less, dangerous than usual flat one. This is not because these guys are nice or skilfull, but because it looks like there is no real reason to ban them.

Personally I think it's difficult to judge unless you've seen them play/crash/fall on these bikes. When I first saw them and thought of the scenario of a UK radball team in the Champs, I thought 'no way, too dangerous' but Clement has made some good points and I agree that initially they should be allowed so that we can fairly judge whether the game changes because of this bike. I would hope that no-one got hurt in the meAntime but LO is perfect place to try this...

i always thought it said something in the rules like: every sort of a bicicle is allowed. has this part vanished?

i would not argue with the skill of these players, i would argue with that i think
these bikes have noting dangerous on them.

1. when you get hit by handlebars is when the bike has already fallen to the ground/ is falling to the ground and you fall upon it. seeing it like that, this sort of bars is way safer than every sort of risers or flat bars.

2. regarding the position of the rider: you can't ban someone because his shoulders are not on your height! if so, you yould have to ban whether yorgo or me, because there is no way of a safe shoulder to shoulder contact.

in the end it is your tournatment and you guys have to decide.
but i would find it very sad, if someone is excluded from our game because of overly ambitious rule-making and standartisation.

This.

I've fallen on my bars a lot, turning the wheel sideways is fairly common in crashes, which makes flats way more dangerous than these handlebars (IMHO and ignoring the skill, sobriety and gearing of the rider).

I thought drops were banned because of tangles not falling on them?

Snoops you sound like the UCI after the superman incident. If you are going to specify bars, why not wheels, geo, gearing?

can't read the whole thread, but please guys let me know if short people get banned from polo so I can adjust

If you are going to specify bars, why not wheels, geo, gearing?

Totally agree. I've always called for standardised equipment, it needs to happen to make this game a sport.

I think radball bikes at the LO will be confusing for spectators and confusing for the future of polo and our still-young ruleset.

I'm not really sure why we're entertaining the idea? But I guess we're all bored at work so it's nice to discuss something, right?

Totally agree. I've always called for standardised equipment, it needs to happen to make this game a sport.

I think radball bikes at the LO will be confusing for spectators and confusing for the future of polo and our still-young ruleset.

My only worry is that they play a very different game to what polo is developing to at the moment and that in turn will affect how the opposing team will approach the game and yes that is confusing...

Standardisation is great in terms of safety and quality but polo is also very inclusive and I think sometimes there is a call to standardise to a level that is not always necessary if that makes sense? Maybe this particular situation not the correct example for that though.

No idea why I'm getting involved, today I'm 'working from home'...

Totally agree. I've always called for standardised equipment, it needs to happen to make this game a sport.

Figuring out different equipment set-ups is really good fun and a major part of the game for me. We are all in essence bike dorks and standardising everything would take out this aspect of the game.

I'd rather continue with things as they are and include constant modifications and equipment chat to continue rather than move quicker towards polo being considered a 'real sport'.

Who gets to decide what we are progressing towards?

Snoops, it sounds as if you're keen to specify what a polo bike is and then ask this team to adopt said bike.

Unfortunately no-one's ever done that and reasoned why one setup should be allowed over another.

"Two wheels" and then the safety rules (bar plugs, bar exclusions, etc) are all we currently have.

I agree with most people that the safety side to it seems ok, so they'll probably be allowed at the LO.

I also agree with Snoops that at some point bike polo bikes will need to much more similar and radball bikes would be the first to go in my opinion.

can't read the whole thread, but please guys let me know if short people get banned from polo so I can adjust

Short people were banned in 2011, but you never read the rules, so didn't know, however all the refs & tournament organisers were frightened of your stickers and didn't tell you.

Is that why I've not seen Tom lemon for so long?

Absolutely yes, and let the drinking commence

Breathalysers!

I agree standardisation will come, but it will come once the whole sport has a governing body, not just a series of smaller bodies.

Until then everything, including rad ball, should be tried.

I think we should call it:
The Standardisation Normalisation Of Ordinary Polo Society

Totally agree. I've always called for standardised equipment, it needs to happen to make this game a sport.

Polo Ireland Rules

*Article 5 *- The bicycle
**5.1. **The development of the bicycle may not exceed 3.50 metres (3.828 yards).
**5.2. **The total length of the bicycle may not exceed 1.80 metres (1.968 yards).
5.3Any object intended to prevent the ball from passing through or under the frame is forbidden.
**5.4 **The handlebar must have rubber bar ends fitted.
5.5 Wheels must have a minimum of 32 spokes.
5.6 All equipment which could be considered dangerous (and/or unnecessary) shall be removed from the bicycle. (For example, kickstand, bottle-carrier, toe clips, bell, lights, pedals made of sharp metal).
5.7 The decision as to whether equipment is dangerous and must be removed or replaced shall lie with the referee.

Nobody plays drunk anymore, anyway.

Types of bars should be the first thing we should worry about when playing bike polo. Its the most dangerous thing on court surely!!!

The Ouch bar in Brighton inflicted a lot of damage

Can anyone tell me what that development is in gear inches?

43.86. GI is the diameter and development is the circumference. So just divide by π and convert to inches.

I think that's a bit too conservative. On larger courts I can see 45 or 46 being sensible. I assume there's a matching limit to the size of courts in that rule set.

I think that's a bit too conservative. On larger courts I can see 45 or 46 being sensible. I assume there's a matching limit to the size of courts in that rule set.

I am not proposing that we adopt these, these are the Irish grass court rules.

i just dont know why they would stadartize the gearing!
If I had the legs to ride 50ish and still sprint fast enough, i would!

Snoops, it sounds as if you're keen to specify what a polo bike is and then ask this team to adopt said bike.

Unfortunately no-one's ever done that and reasoned why one setup should be allowed over another.

"Two wheels" and then the safety rules (bar plugs, bar exclusions, etc) are all we currently have.

I agree with most people that the safety side to it seems ok, so they'll probably be allowed at the LO.

I also agree with Snoops that at some point bike polo bikes will need to much more similar and radball bikes would be the first to go in my opinion.

Absolutely, not saying they shouldn't play, I'm just saying they should come and play our sport. Instead of having a go at our sport with their equipment.

With sponsors getting bigger and crowds getting bigger and polo growing, it will cheapen the event and confuse the evolution to have a team on radball bikes. #IMO

43.86. GI is the diameter and development is the circumference. So just divide by π and convert to inches.

I think that's a bit too conservative. On larger courts I can see 45 or 46 being sensible. I assume there's a matching limit to the size of courts in that rule set.

i just dont know why they would stadartize the gearing!
If I had the legs to ride 50ish and still sprint fast enough, i would!

I can't see the point of standardizing the gearing. Anyway, Irish Grass Polo rules again:

Article 1 – Dimensions of the field
1.1. The field shall be rectangular. The dimensions may vary as follows:
Length: Between 80 and 110 metres (87.489 yards and 120.297 yards).
Width: Between 40 and 70 metres (43.744 yards and 76.553 yards).
However, it is recommended that the field’s optimum measurements shall be 100 metres (109.361 yards) in length and 60 metres (65.617 yards) in width.