Birmingham Bike Polo Chat & BS Thread

Just thought I'd let you guys know I will be back in the polo game from October. I'll be doing a PhD at Cambridge for the next 3 years so I'll be playing there and hopefully see you at tournaments

Dr Stu! Well done mate, are you getting a new polo bike then?

I'm not sure. The Dawes is now too nice to use (always was) so I think I might use the Viscount which I resprayed white/blue, although the angles are quite slack and it's made for 27" wheels so using 700c's in it for strength would make it even more slack.

I'll have a look through the polo bikes thread, might give me some ideas

This frame, stem, seat post and forks are yours if you want them Stu? Free of charge. It's an old road bike, but nice and tight. The forks are v-brake compatible and take a 26inch wheel for good reach over the front. You're a similar height to me so it should fit you well. I also have a 700c, 48h rear wheel you can have, but it will need some work as it was built by Neil and so has predictably broken.

Ah yes please Matt, that would be awesome! Is it with you in London?

Yep. If you are here at all and want to collect that would awesome. if Not I will be bringing it back to Brum in early September.

please let me know if you have that wheel - i'll correctly instruct you how to use it without breaking it!

I probably will, is there a knack?

Just an understanding that cartridge bearings don't need to be tightened...

lolz

Whats your PhD gonna be on Dr Stu?

Just an understanding that cartridge bearings don't need to be tightened...

It had bearings in it??

Whats your PhD gonna be on Dr Stu?

The project focusses on finding a solution to late blight in potato which causes around 80% loss in infected fields. But the same gene which is involved in the pathogenic interaction with late blight is also involved in a symbiotic interaction with soil fungi which over 60% of plants must do in order to survive, so it's a bit of a multi-level project and with a lot of application for crop production and agriculture. Are you bored yet?

Anyway, I'll be working here: The Sainsbury Laboratory - RIBA Stirling Prize Winner 2012 - YouTube

Mmmm potatoes...

Well done Stu - look forward to seeing you at future tourneys.

Some cartridge bearings do accept/require adjustment so Matt is not entirely an idiot. Unlike Neil.

Thanks for your 5p Dan.

I didn't try to tighten anything. I rode it and played polo on it. Then one day the bearings had ripped and shredded into thin air leaving a massive gap between the axel and the hub.

Could the frame have been touching the hub and it got tightened as you rode. I've done a similar thing by not using any spacers between the cones and the frame of a traditional hub, only it does the opposite and undoes itself, leaving you with floppy cones... (oooh errr...)

Matt there's only one way to settle this - we're gonna have to wrestle for it.
You may be young and fast, but i'm old and slow.

I'll bring some jelly and a paddling pool to the london open

I'll bring my tighty whiteys to preserve my dignity.

Its best to wear the shortest shorts you have, hotpants really.
This is me and matt last time, when I came straight from work so just wore my white suit:

.

Ha! Oldschool! Where's that rep...

I just ordered some rod to make mallet heads. Malletesta or Hyperallah any chance your contact would turn some for me?
Nylon Rod HS Blue 65mm dia x 250mm
UHMWPE Natural Rod 60mm dia x 250mm
HDPE Natural Rod 65mm dia x 250mm
Polypropylene Natural Rod 65mm dia x 250mm

Anyway, I'll be working here: The Sainsbury Laboratory - RIBA Stirling Prize Winner 2012 - YouTube

Jealous!