Polo Bikes

My first polobike. I started on my archie wilkinson with drops and 70/80 Gear inches, then used this from probably Dec 2008. Think this was taken just after the MCR UK champs in 2009. Converted ss road frame with 650 wheels. slack chain too. Too small, enormous toe overlap, Rear brake didnt stop me, the wall often did. Complete mess

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2nd polo bike (late 2009), complete with spokecards, 650 wheels, plenty of toe overlap and still a rear brake only. Slight improvement on the first but still a bag o shite.

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650? What tyres are those? Didn't know you could get 650's bigger than 25/28 and not slicks...Been trying to find some.

can't you just use 26inch tyres?

nope 26 wont fit. they were pretty much slicks Todd, schwalbe somethings, I have some proper speedway ones though. I may still have em in my parents garage (you can have em if they are) so will check next time im there

Good info Ben. Will look into that ;)

There are different 650 (a,b and C iirc) and one is interchangeable with 26, and one of the other two is close enough that it often works... I forget which is which (I have a feeling it's b which is interchangable, and c that sometimes works?)

You can defo get knobbly 650c in France.

Nah blud, 650, a is 590; b is 584; c is 571, 26 is 559 so wouldn't work. 650b is the wonderful size everyone has decided to make MTBs now, little roady bikes are usually c, a is also known as 26 1 3/8 or 1/2, might be what you're thinking of.

Oh yes! You're always gonna take the flack when you break from the pack. Can we credit you as being the first dolphin slapper in London?

Yes please. I'm getting to the age where i'll take any kind of credit.

you get loads of 650B off-road tyres now, as it's the new marketing bullshit MTB tyre size.

Custom Victoire 26" HBP

Here is a picture of what a 26" victoire built up looks like:

^ another beauty from Victoire.

Alu Mister X?! https://leagueofbikepolo.com/bike/noce/noce-mr-x-iride

Is the fork on the 26" Victoire the same as on the 700c or something?!

The Velvet 700c fork is only 390 A-C so can't see why it wouldnt work, I guess?

WANTED:
tiny little Dolan precursa frameset

FOR SALE/SWAP:
58cm Dolan precursa frameset

lulz

#dolantrend

The Dolan 52 is small and just has no toe overlap, wouldn't go any smaller

What are folks' experiences of Hope Trials freehubs vs a decent freewheel set-up?

I have a Hope Pro II trials. I love it, but if building a dream bike with insurance money again, would not spec it on said bike.

It works very well, the engagement is solid and never fails, and I have been very very hard on it (endos mostly, bigger hits to the bearings than hopping) and I play in every weather as well as commute on it 3 times a week.

I've had it two years (well, nearly, since may '12) and only now are the bearings beginning to wear. I reckon I have a year more in them.

BUT. It's heavy. Very heavy. seriously, look up the weight compared to even a regular hope pro II... the steel freehub body coupled with the bigger bearings and axle bolts add some serious weight, I'm not sure we need that strength in the hub, polo wheels need only be strong in the spokes and rim.

Providing you have the spacing I think a quality track hub with a trials freewheel on it is probably the best way to go.

Hope list it as 361g, which isn't super light for a hub, but DMR quote 369g for their single speed Revolver hub and Surly come out at 290g. By the time you add a freewheel (177g for a WI), the Hope doesn't look so porky.

Yeah, the revolver ain't light.

Hopes quotes are off, then. Like some of the other roadies I am so sad I weigh things before fitting them.

My hub, with bolts, sprocket and spacers, was 460-odd grams. I remember exclaiming my disappointment to my colleagues as I was lacing the hub that it would be over half a kilo build before I'd even laced the rim.

Tensile 135mm "fixed" rear, inc bolts,182.5g plus WI @ 177g

360g

£50 http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/135mm_fixed_hubs/tensile_nondisc_rear/c21p12274.html

Is that what you've been using for a while now? The 32 spoke only factor has played on my mind for a bit, but then again I'm using Mavic D521 rims which err on the weighty side of the strength vs weight trade off.