Polo Specific Bikes: The Choice is Yours

Bike polo specific bikes are so tight. Tight in geometry, tight in the way people from California Cascadia say it, as in, “This pizza is so good, it’s hella tight.” There are new specs coming out every month and I, for one, welcome our new bike builder overlords.

If I had the money to build some new 26" wheels, I would get this bangin' bike and all new underwear (because the old ones would be moist-- in a fun way)
If I had the money to build some new 26″ wheels, I would get this bangin’ bike and a 12pack of underwear (because the old ones would be moist– in a fun way)

The mania started last month with the announcement of the 2014 version of the Hija de la Coneja, or as we call it colloquially in Boston, the Rabbit. Personally, I have coveted the Rabbit since Tobi got one last summer. As soon as he saddled up on his new bike, his game instantly stepped up. He dabbed less, he turned tighter, and he biked faster (although sometimes it still takes him forever to get physically onto the court). The only thing keeping me from getting a Rabbit is the cost of building brand new wheels. For some reason, switching from 700c to 26” feels like a big decision. I love the look of the bike, and at $500 for the shipped (!) frame and fork, it is a relatively low price on a huge upgrade. To find the best bikes, we recommend to click here.

In other worldly polo bike news , the European bike builder / power ranger Max Power releases some specs on his 2014 model of a 700c wheel polo bike. At €490, or approximately $665, it is a sleek aluminum alloy machine with smooth welds and pretty colors. Max Power metal was everywhere you looked at Worlds this year, and I would be interested to test ride the XL frame  to see if it can accommodate my long monkey arms. Personally I don’t know too much about the bikes, but clearly they are dope because people are kickin’ up the jams at tournaments riding these sexy steeds.

This is a dank, "buttery" 700c bike, but the price of admission is definitely going to keep some people from taking the plunge, myself included.
This is a dank, “buttery” 700c bike, but the price of admission is definitely going to keep some people from taking the plunge, myself included.

For those who want to stick with their current 700c wheel set, FBM just released the specs and geometry for the Ballista, a “new” polo specific frame that has been three years in the making. Built in America, this is the most premium local polo bike frame set your freedom-dollars can buy. Everything about this bike looks sexy, and everyone that rides one is wicked hella pro (meaning currently on blue chip polo teams). As much as I love the look of this bike and the promise of super tight polo bike geometry, I couldn’t ever see myself dishing out over $750 for a frame and fork that will likely end up in pieces on the court someday. I look forward to reading a review or hearing a friend talk about this bike someday— maybe Charlie Sprinkle, since I know for sure that he threw down on the pre-order.

Rustbelt hasn’t released anything “new” recently, but for those who are able to get a hold of him, Lou makes a pretty dank polo frame, called the Marco for 26” wheels. At every tournament I’ve ever been to, I see a frame snap at a weird place, and someone (usually Nico) yells “Should’ve got a Marco!” and everyone with a Marco frame laughs hysterically for an uncomfortably long time. Either way, I think Rustbelt builds a quality product in the USA, and judging by the way Redbeard rides his, the bike is built to last.

Not a stunner, but she gets the job done. This is my bike, Pake Rum Runner frame with a Soma Cross Disc fork. Cheapest bike on the market, but the most bang for your buck.
Not a stunner, but she gets the job done. This is my bike, Pake Rum Runner frame with a Soma Cross Disc fork. Cheapest bike on the market. Look, I’m still using yellow stuff. I’m a purist, ok?

At the end of the day, there are always budget specials for kids considering new polo bikes. My Pake Rum Runner has been holding up nicely, and despite its extra weight and wonky head tube angle, you can’t really beat the $180 price tag on the frame (before shipping). And despite the warnings, a large percentage of kids will always play polo on Marino and Velolocuma bikes. I’ve seen a lot of snapped forks on the internet, but for a serious looking polo frame I don’t know how anyone could overlook the price ($350 for frame and fork).

If you know of a polo specific bike that I overlooked, or if your budget bike is better than any of the ones I listed, please let me know in the comments section! -ZS

EVENT TONIGHT! The New Amsterdam Project: Human powered cargo trikes

STREET TALK! (Tonight)

The New Amsterdam Project: Human powered cargo trikes; paving the way for sustainable delivery services
Tue. Apr. 29, 7 – 8:30 pm
by Andrew Brown, founder and CEO of the New Amsterdam Project

@ LivableStreets office space, 100 Sidney Street, Central Square, Cambridge

free and open to the public, donation suggested, beer/sodas provided compliments of Harpoon Brewery!

We invite you to attend, learn & be inspired by the recently launched, Cambridge-based bicycle delivery service, the New Amsterdam Project (NAP). NAP provides human-powered pick-up and delivery services for local businesses, organizations and universities. Founder and CEO, Andrew Brown will be discussing the inspiration behind the cargo-trike fleet and how the company will transform the Boston metro area.

When it comes to urban delivery services, the New Amsterdam Project’s fleet of human-powered trikes is quickly becoming a strong competitor to conventional vans and trucks. Thanks to their compact design, these cargo vehicles –which accommodate up to 600 lbs.– can easily navigate urban congestion and require a fraction of the space otherwise needed for parking/ delivery by a car, van or truck. And, as a zero-emissions transportation service; the NAP is able to offer clients and their communities an environmentally sound alternative for their transportation needs. Their clients include: Boston Organics, Taza Chocolate, Petsi Pies, and many others.

The New Amsterdam project was recently featured in a Christian Science monitor article: “Cargo trikes nudge delivery trucks in Cambridge, Mass.; A Cambridge, Mass., delivery company is using industrial tricycles to deliver goods in efforts to curb global emissions.”

This event is sponsored by LivableStreets Alliance

Click here for more information
http://www.livablestreets.info/node/1388

sick wheel covers…and how to make them


quiet thunder, boston

First rule of polo: don’t talk about polo. Second rule: don’t play with your nice wheel set! Everyone knows that your wheelset will be the first thing you have to replace on your polo bike…especially after a few rounds with Sassy. Check back later for a tutorial on redneck truing from Sassy himself!

In the meantime, build yourself a sick wheel cover. Helps keep everyone’s mallet from going through your spokes, including your own.

Build a sick wheel cover!


“bad attitude”, boston

Materials:
How much time and money are you going to invest in this project? Cardboard is quick, easy, and free, but corrugated plastic is going to hold up much better and is rain-proof. Either way, you’ll need:

Two pieces of material about 2′ x 2′ for each wheel you want to cover. Really, only the front is necessary.

Zip ties – I used about 8-12 per wheel, others use more. Don’t skimp.

Materials to decorate your wheel cover and make it sick. Spray paint, stickers, markers, whatever. Don’t skip this part or you are lame.

Tools:

Box cutter

Marker

Drill – only if you are using corrugated plastic

24″ or so of string

Tape measure (or just use your string to measure, whatever.)

Push pin

Make those covers:

Start with your 2×2 square, and mark the center.

Measure your wheel radius – rim to rim. Keep in mind that the wheel cover should not cover the braking surface if you are running a brake! Bad news!

Tie a loop in each end of the string, making sure that the total length is equal to the radius of your rim. Pin one end loop of your string to the center point you just made, and put your marker in the other end, and draw yourself a circle exactly the size of your wheel. Now cut it out.

Cut a 2″ circle out of the center for the axle. Also make a cut along the radius of your wheel cover if using corrugated plastic – this will allow your cover to match the dish of your wheel. This cut isn’t really necessary for cardboard covers.

Repeat above – you’ll need two covers for each wheel.

Decorate those covers to make them sick! Be creative! I’ve included a gallery below to get you thinking.

Mark holes for the zip ties by laying your wheel over the cut out cover and marking every few spokes. A small hole on either side of the spoke will allow the zip tie to loop around the spoke and hold the cover on. Don’t go too close to the edge of your cover, especially with cardboard.

Cut the zip tie holes by stacking your wheel covers on top of each other and cutting through both pieces. For this step you can use an exacto on cardboard, or a drill for the corrugated plastic. What the heck, use a drill for either material, it will turn out better.

Throw those covers on your wheel by running that zip tie through one sheet, through the wheel, then the other sheet, and then back again, making a wheel cover-wheel-wheel cover sandwich. Don’t tighten too much until you have all the zip ties in loosely – then go back around and snug everything up. Trim of dangly zip tie ends.

Play polo! Your wheel cover is awesome and now everyone thinks you are cool! Make them for others that are too lazy and charge in beer!

I’ll keep a running gallery of awesome wheel covers. Email me at editor at boston bike polo dot com if you want your cover pic added. Here’s a start…


gus legit, boston


tink, dc

mystery wheel cover, who claims it? I like.

ken, NYC


veronique in the background and “bad attitude”, boston

Event: Bikeways in the Emerald Necklace?

Boston’s Greenways: Eight Missing Links
Tuesday April 22
6:30 p.m.
Northeastern University

The April 22 event will serve as Northeastern Professor Peter Furth’s civil and environmental engineering students’ official final presentation for their senior design class with five teams presenting. The students have created group projects to design bikeways/walking paths for challenging sections of the Emerald Necklace. The presentations will be in room 108 Snell Engineering Center at Northeastern University. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy is co-hosting this event with Fenway Alliance, Mass Bike, Walk Boston and the Solomon Fund.

They got some press here, and bostonbiker dug up some more info here

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff

Design a bike rack for Mission Hill

Dingleberry, this has your name written all over it… link to the request for qualifications

Deadline: Thursday, April 3, 2008
Eligibility: Open to professional artists/designers based in Massachusetts. Art/design students may also apply for this project.
Budget: Total, all-inclusive bike rack budget including design, fabrication and installation is $7,500.
Mission Hill Main Streets (MHMS) invites qualifications for the design, fabrication and installation of a multiple-unit bicycle rack. Funding for one bike rack is currently available, but a replicable design for potential fabrication of additional racks is desired. A youth component will be integrated in the development of the project. The location of the bicycle rack will be selected in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston prior to proposal development.

rack

Continue reading “Design a bike rack for Mission Hill”

bicycle film festival call for entries

the bicycle film festival is looking for polo and bike films for inclusion in the fest. submission deadline is extended to march 7 – send something in and get famous!

bike film fest

they also suggested that we might have a way to partner with them for actual festivities – any ideas? even just distributing a flyer to their locations might be great and get us some new meat. perhaps a tournament that weekend? their dates are still TBD but apparently they are looking at august.

logo contest!

bostonbikepolo.com needs a logo! for more information, visit the bike polo forums. post your entries on the forums or in the comments below. entries will be accepted until the end of march.

click here to be directed to the logo contest thread:
forum button