Safety precautions for throw-ins.

After Otters having a pretty nasty crash last night onto a visitors uncapped bars, and taking them directly to his sternum (chest plate). I think it's high time we started policing bikes ourselves.

All I'm suggesting is that, if you see a bike that isn't safe, you tell the rider to sort it out, and people should not allow them to play. If people try and say something along the lines of "it's only a throw-in, it'll be fine", then tell them "NO". It doesn't matter if they're new players, out of towners, or established London players. Make sure the bikes are safe, it's our collective responsibility.

Last night was only a throw-in, and Iain was lucky that it didn't take a core sample of his heart/lungs.

Hope you're OK Iain, get some ice on that!

There really is no excuse for uncapped bars.

Hope you're ok Iain, sounds nasty!

oof ouch, hope your ok today otters.

Good call Gabes

It's pretty basic, but a few of us noticed the bars last night, said nothing, and then 2 games in, bang.

Makes sense, there's a couple of seasoned players I've seen recently with uncapped bars and I've mocked them for it but certainly not tried to prevent them playing.

Same should go for exposed chainrings too.

I'll link this to the beginners thread.
Is there a list of other safety requirements?
Might be worth stating the obvious for noobs.
Is there a place for it in the 'new to polo' section?

Nice work Gabes.
Hope you're ok Iain!

Joni, I think chainrings and bars are the main things on the bike, maybe long axles also.

Mallets at both ends should be checked.

Yeah, cool.
Maybe a list of do's and don'ts at the top of this thread or the 'new to polo' thread so people can find them easily?

I will update the "new to polo"

Ouch, Iain, hope it's not too bad! Get better soon!

Sounds nasty... plenty of folk (myself included) carry tape and normally people can find a penny or something as a temporary fix, but yeah, polo education needed.

hope you're alreet iain :)

Is it just me or does it always happen to Iain!?

Hope your ok!

He's Scottish, he can't help getting involved.

Thanks for the kind words you lot, I'm bruised but fine.

Last night was just a standard falling off when a few bikes got tangled up. I went down awkwardly and landed on the end of the bars. I'm sure it will happen again and, as Gabes says, the only thing we can do to reduce the risk of serious injury from it, is try to take responsibility to ensure all the bikes and equipment on court are as safe as we can make them.

Well stated otters.

Same should go for exposed chainrings too.

Can you clarify that?

Do you mean two chainrings, where one is used as a guard or road gear, and hasn't been filed down, or just any chainring without a guard outside it?

yes, where it's a secondary, uncovered, unused and way bigger than the one carrying the chain.

Nice Gabes. It's mega important to get shit capped and make sure bikes are safe. And mallets too.
I've seen some shockers this year and dread to think what would've happened if they would've caught someones face or had the shaft speared someone.

Also, given the recent brake lever through the foot incident in Minneapolis, I believe that hand brakes should now be outlawed ...

capped bars even back in the day at brick lane were compulsory.

I took a file to my new double lever after reading about the foot incident... made it nice and roundy.

Sorting this out too:

Also, given the recent brake lever through the foot incident in Minneapolis, I believe that hand brakes should now be outlawed ...

or people should wear proper fucking shoes, instead of gym shoes.

or people should wear proper fucking shoes, instead of gym shoes.
But pimpsoles are ever so hip right now.