Bike Polo

The Olympic Dream

Last Friday at the Critical Mass (before we set off) someone piped up to say that a group of people on a Thursday 6.30 in Bedminster meet up to play Polo on bikes.
I spent the whole of yesterday at work discussing certain aspects, Although like me no-one had come across this sport. Even down to the fact with an article I had seen on BBC sports buletin mentioning the potential of it becomming an olympic sport, I was wondering whether to get a tattoo of the Olypmic rings on my forearm or just below my shoulders. However the main discussion was with how to hold the mallet, whether to use my strong arm(left)and hover my other hand over the front brake which could mean I may end up over the handlebars. Or hold it in my right hand and use the back brake which would mean I could struggle hitting the ball. Actually I should edit that to my strongest arm because I probably have the strength of a 12 year old.

So, 6.20 I turned up at Dean Lane Skate Park, a bit early to soak up the atmosphere. This was 2 guys doing some graffiti, some lads pulling off some rad tricks on their skateboards and a pissed/strange man playing 'give us a clue' on his own. I thought I better become cool before everyone turns up, so I took off my cycling helmet and bum bag and put these in my cycling panniers. It was now getting to 6.40, no-one was about so I cycled the park looking around for other athletes, no joy. So I then rang my girfriend to use a search engine to look for Bike+Polo+Bedminster and up came BS3 Ghetto Polo(where I stole the photo!) She confirmed that it was at Dean Lane and after I hung up on the phone three other people turned up. I had a little practice when someone said it would be easier if you took the pannier bags off your bike, smooth.

The sport Polo was the real reason I was blogging so I better mention something of it. Two teams of three compete in a tennis hard court with small goals. It starts with a joust where someone shouts 3-2-1 Polo and you cycle towards a little ball in the centre to contest. Now I saw this as a car crash waiting to happen so everytime we stated a game I held back slightly to save my bike's paintwork. If you put a foot on the floor you had to 'tap out' which consisted of cycling to the mid point and tapping your mallet on the side. The only other rules were no hitting of bikes, no throwing mallets and the only way you could score was from the end of the mallet not the side.

We had a load of mini games as it is the first team to score five wins. Luckily there where two other Polo virgins, so when it came to picking teams I was always picked on one side and one of them were on the other. It was harder than I thought and my Olympic dream was dashed within the 1st game where I spent most of the game tapping out or going round in circles to get the ball. It is harder than you think cycling for a large period of time leaning over your handle bars with your fingers twitching over the front brake and trying to swing a Ski pole with a bit of UPVC tubing at a small ball. It was at this point I now noticed why people had cut Estate Agent signs into the shape of their wheels to attatch to their bikes, to save their spokes!

After around 3 hours my first experience of Bike Polo, it was over, I had scored a couple of goals, set-up a few but most of all I had a bucket full of fun. The highlights for me were looking down at the ball aiming to shoot when I forgot to apply the brake and ended up crashing into an opponent(a lesson learnt quickly). Also when someone tried to shoulder barge me which I anticipated and leaned in at the same time, this meant we locked horns and cycled together for two seconds. When I got off my bike my hand was locked in a claw shape and I had worn away a big bit of my glove but I had seriously enjoyed myself meeting some very friendly people. After the games they invited me back next Thursday and I accepted, however I may try and practice in the garden with a broom and tennis ball.

I cycled back and made myself a well deserved Fish and Chips supper.

Louis