Why don't you play polo?

^ +1

Other.

Polo for one is like masturbation. It's OK, but deep down, you know you're missing out.

On a serious note, I was chatting to Wicksie about starting/ learning polo.

But my missus raped me for a third child last year and have been too busy
looking after the lot of them since :(

Might hopefuly find some time this summer to give it a go!

+1
I have to choose my minimal free time very carefully
Eggpie had me just about there, I think I might pop down in summer for a cas throw in.

:)

I can't afford the ponies and I loathe Tories...

Other.

Polo for one is like masturbation. It's OK, but deep down, you know you're missing out.

I dont get it - if you're comparing polo to jerking off, what equates as digital/oral/anal/genitals sex then?

Fuck you mobile interwebs!

So i say again.

Old dog, new tricks is my thing. Just about got used to this fixie skidding lark.

Tbh I've always thought it looked like a laugh but never enough time etc. That said, given I am unemployed form next week maybe I should give it a go. Further proof to the missus of mid-life crisis.

When I was first in London (summer 2008) I wanted to play and it seemed really intimidating, full of cool people who were good friends and not that welcoming to outsiders. I gave it a go anyway and was pleasantly surprised, although I never felt truly at ease. I moved back to Edinburgh and a few of us started playing for a laugh; it ended up being great fun and one of the few reliable ways we could muster a group of cyclists for anything during the winter. We would head to the pub afterward and I have many happy memories.

I have since moved back to London and I haven't bothered, as I simply don't have the spare time. I may yet change my mind.

Is this some kind of Irish reverse psychology experiment?

We wouldnt be clever enough to do something like that.

We wouldnt be clever enough to do something like that.

...so they wouldn't, to be sure...

I'd quite like to give it a go, but (snip) it's pretty confusing how to get started playing.

Well thats something I was hoping to fix up a bit during the summer, maybe do just once a month sessions in May, June, July & August, with specific fixed dates, for complete beginners to have a go. Then if you like it, you could dip into the polo forum and find out where the more regular games happen.

I'd have a go, but its just going for the first time issues, that and the fear of hurting myself or others through ineptitude.

I think that you shouldnt worry about injuring yourself or others at the beginning. Beginners usually start off slow and unsteady - you're hardly moving fast enough to do yourself or others any damage.

Seems like fun, but with so many things in my life and so much cycling, I already find it hard enough to make free time to see friends/have time to myself/be a real person.

I'm glad it exists and it's cool that people play but it's just not my thing.

Plus, I get injured so much playing football already- I'm sure I'd be a permanent sick note at polo.

I dont get it - if you're comparing polo to jerking off, what equates as digital/oral/anal/genitals sex then?

No, I'm saying that I live on a rock and that there is no one else to play polo with.

#foreveralonememe

also, that pap wiganwill is always there stealing peoples souls with his camera type thing.

Stalker.

From other cities of moderate size with a fgss "scene" (cough), there seems to be a much higher participation of polo amongst said fgss riders in comparison to LDN.

I dont think this is true. London has a pretty large fgss 'scene' but not as big/longstanding as other cities (NYC/SF) and we have the biggest polo community in the world (not an exaggeration. It is)

cue EEI

My wife doesn't let me. Simple as that.

I only have the one bike, and a limited amount of money to spend (on anything), and, basically, shit wheels, massive tyres, tiny chainring, massive freewheel & mtb risers don't feature particularly high up on my list of future upgrades, as neither does getting my bike fucked up. I liked it when I played it, even tho it did seem perhaps a tiny bit too competitive for what it actually was, but if I was to get involved regularly I really would want to have my own bike, and that doesn't look like it's going to happen any time soon, unless I find one in my garden or something (don't have a garden).

I only have the one bike, and a limited amount of money to spend (on anything), and, basically, shit wheels, massive tyres, tiny chainring, massive freewheel & mtb risers don't feature particularly high up on my list of future upgrades, as neither does getting my bike fucked up. I liked it when I played it, even tho it did seem perhaps a tiny bit too competitive for what it actually was, but if I was to get involved regularly I really would want to have my own bike, and that doesn't look like it's going to happen any time soon, unless I find one in my garden or something (don't have a garden).

cough goldtecs cough

;-)

it did seem perhaps a tiny bit too competitive for what it actually was

True that. I can't afford anymore broken bones. I could as well run into the estate nearby I loudly declare I'm from another post code area. Same effect.

I don't have the time
I dont have a beater bike
I'd be just as happy to get involved as not but given that I ride fixed I feel more of a fraud for getting down to Hearne Hill TBH.

Someone mentioned some of the polo peeps coming across as being a little too cool for school/cliquey.
It's understandable; You have a set of friends you hang out with and you can't always be arsed to be ultra smiley to each and every new face that happens to show up, I guess. Like being new to any group, it's you that gotsta make the effort. (unless you're a total sociopath or retard)

Saying that all the tournaments (esp Berlin) have been top fucking notch and I'm definitely looking to go to Spain this year.

Have the bike, the armour, helmet and stick.

just need to get to the court now...

Nah wondering if i should give eggpie the armour (la cross armour)

The first forumengers I met were at Brick Lane polo (remember that?)
If I had started then, when none of them were that good it would have been ok. By the time I did have a go all those people I met were way too fucking good at it for me to stand a chance :-)
I played once, at the Peckham car park. I enjoyed it. I even scored a goal. But I spent most of the time worrying about fucking my bike up or injuring myself. Not the right "fuck the risk" attitude for it I suppose. I am getting old.

Like it or not there is the cliquey thing. The polo players, by and large, do not go to drinks, on rides, rollers or talk on anything but forum 24. If they are not prepared to hang out with the rest of us, why should we make the effort to hang out with them? In the early days the polo people were the forum. Now, not so much.