Birmingham Bike Polo Chat & BS Thread

See above for mine. In writing a paragraph of text i would only be reiterating what I;ve already put in the spec. As i said though, could do with an up-to-date photo to accompany it

Awesome Andy, do it.

Stu, that's cool, it's nice if you write stuff about how it is to ride, strengths/weaknesses on the set up, what you might change, problems you've had, etc etc, but if you want I'll just use that info and post that.

I hadn't thought about mentioning how it rides, will do that now

I've already scheduled my bike check for the first of april.

At the moment I am very happy with my setup and wouldn't change anything, although I have considered and then rejected a couple of modifications.

The first is swapping the ultra-short cranks from a set that are less leverage-challenged. I might be able to accellerate slightly faster with a longer crank arm because of the mechanical advantage but I would run the risk of creating opportunities for pedal strike, which up until now has never been an issue and I can corner as aggressively as I like. The second consideration was to cut down the right hand side of the bars (non-brake-lever side) to facilitate a clearer path for my arm when swinging for the ball as I've caught my arm on the bar-end many times. However, if I ever retire this bike to be used for more conventional duties on the road, I'd like to keep the same bars and having a lop-sided set-up could get annoying, although if I sourced a Dirty Harry lever or similar that you can run on the bend of the bars this could be overcome.

The frame I use had had a seatstay repair done by Ryan of Oak Cycles (top bloke). From what I heard from the few framebuilders I contact when looking for a suitable repairer, many Dawes frames from this era with the trademark leaf-shaped crimp at the seat cluster suffer from this structural failure. Freewheel for to/from the court, fixed for the games. Fixed up polo 4 life!

Spec

Frame: 70s Dawes racer
Ratio: 22:16 FIXED GEAR!! (the only way to play)

Wheel (front): 32h steel (27”)
Wheel (rear): 40h Mavic double eyelet, plain gauge spokes (700c)
Tyre (front): Continental Ultra 25c
Tyre (rear): Vittoria Zaffiro 28c
Brakes: Shimano dual pivot
Lever: Mission Cycles dual
Crankset: unknown wierd MTB ones, 130mm!! (used to have a second set of holes at 170mm but I cut off the excess)
Pedals: Primo Magnesium BMX
Stem: unknown front-loader with quill-ahead adaptor
Bars: unknown
Chain: KMC 1/8"

Cool, I'll copy and paste and stick it up, probably tomorrow.

Did anybody pick up a stray red ball from highgate about two sundays ago, Fin lent it to lil chris and now it's gone walkies - last thing chris remembers is taking it outta his bag at highgate to play with.

Not me - I think my last red one got cracked and now all I have is a yellow. We should all buy balls at Cambridge.

Can't lift my leg higher than an inch off the floor today : (

Oh dear, did you fall off?

Maybe your new bike is just too short and whippy for you...

I flew for a little last night, i remember looking at the floor and seeing my shadow not connected to me. I need new legs.

Who is going to score all our goals on Saturday now then?

Arise Sir Montgomery!

@n3il, bummer. I'll rub some deep heat into it all of sunday.

I'm selling my schwalbe kojak 26x2.0 - £10 (bargain!!! only used thrice, still has injection nibs!!!).

heal up neil! you don't seem to be having much luck with injuries lately...

going back to smaller tyres Hyper, or just changing brand?

I have one of these double-lever conversion kits http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390125825165&clk_rvr_id=328389968699#ht_3585wt_1066 for sale.

I'd like what I paid for it, which is £3. Why would you do that? Because I did all the legwork of finding barrel adjusters for you.

going back to smaller tyres Hyper, or just changing brand?

The kojak is amazing for the size (esp in goal). But i've been using a 559-37 (26x1.5) tyre and it feels good to sprint and hop around. I went for a continental sport contact 559-42 (26x1.6) in the end. Just to push the front up a lil more and get a bit more front wheel protection.

Now all i need is a low/zero rake fork.

On those measurements, your front will only be 2.5mm higher with the 1.6 than the 1.5. You are officially a geometry connoisseur.

'Hopping around' is becoming more and more important, ugly as it is. Non SPDers are missing out.

Non SPDers are missing out.

He says whilst neil struggles through SPD-induced agony...
(i take it they only enhaced the injury)

Also, i don't get this big tyre = more protection theory. Surely it can only protect your rim from shots and I've never seen anyone with a bent rim that occured through a shot no matter what tyres they're running

He says whilst neil struggles through SPD-induced agony...
(i take it they only enhaced the injury)

It was more front brake induced than SPD induced, and I didn't have Raz to land on.

Also, i don't get this big tyre = more protection theory. Surely it can only protect your rim from shots and I've never seen anyone with a bent rim that occured through a shot no matter what tyres they're running

I think that the tyre's deformation soaks up some of the strength of bike-on-wheel impacts, but my front wheel has remained as straight as it was despite losing 1.2" off the tyre size.

Coach Lucas hooked the team going up to Cambridge with shirts - seen here as works in progress ;)

https://picasaweb.google.com/111468399669425906745/20120330?authkey=Gv1sRgCIOx3dLblLXmiQE

Good work everyone, a fun outing darrrnn saarrff.

nice one for the ride Asim, the coaching food a tees Lucas, the 2nd day entertainment Dan, and the play from everybody. Was great to get to watch/play with lots of different people again. psyched now for BHM polo again.

Jess, when do you get the minutes copy from UKHBP meeting/could you relay them to the group?

Jess, when do you get the minutes copy from UKHBP meeting/could you relay them to the group?

+1 for everything matt said, and it'd be nice to get those minutes.

When I wasn't playing I thought matt basically held the whole team together, blocked loads of breaks, saved loads of goals, and even scored one or two. Monty looked confident and nobody would guess it's his first tournament. Same goes for Mya. Jess never loses possession and feeds nice passes and Coach Ross managed all the separate personalities and gave everyone court time really well. We have a lot to be proud of.

The active poloists are going to have to take over the running of our tournament now MG is pretty certain to be moving away. Anyone who wants to be involved should try to show willing at throw ins/on the forum from now on. We look like total dicks at other people's tournaments because we haven't done our own, but it'll take all of us to make it work well.

Sobering up now. Ich habe kopfschmerzen.

Ich habe kopfschmerzen.

What was that website you were on about yesterday?

I'm well up for tournament organising.