the original hardcourt blog
Canada
N. American hardcourt bike polo map
Oct 7th
This may not be 100% complete but it does give a reasonable idea of where bike polo is popular in North America.
Added four more, Boise, Bozeman, Baltimore, & Blacksburg,VA
The Montreal Gazette ran a bike polo story this week.
Sep 30th
The Montreal Gazette ran a bike polo story this week.
Bike polo is very likely, the best game you have never played.
At 9:00pm on Tuesday evenings in Point St. Charles you can join in on the the highly entertaining and exceptionally enjoyable game of bicycle polo. Hidden in Parc Leber on Rue Fortune just east of Wellington is a nearly perfect regulation hockey rink which serves admirably in ice-free weather as a bike polo venue complete with sideboards, lights and bleachers.
To the uninitiated, mallet swinging and manic one-handed pedaling might seem a difficult (emphasis on cult), frustrating and potentially painful pseudo-athletic diversion into sado-masochism. However, I submit to you that any able bodied person with a bicycle and a shred of curiosity will rediscover the simple joy of playing which was taught out of us from the time we learned to keep score.
In bike polo, everyone wins.
Beyond the compulsory bicycle there is little in the way of special equipment necessary to get in the game. A polo mallet can be assembled for next to nothing or borrowed from someone who is giggling so uncontrollably that they need to sit out for a few minutes. A ball, goal markers, as few as three other people and you’ve got a polo match.I have had the good fortune to play with different groups in different cities and each has its individual local flavor. Whether on concrete, grass, dirt or ice using street hockey balls, lighted whiffle balls or mini soccer balls riding fixed gear bikes, tall bikes, BMX bikes, tandems, mountain bikes or mini bikes the glee-factor is always off the charts. While cycle polo has long existed and there are official international rules, the regional differences and house rules are what make life interesting.
In Montreal’s Tuesday night games (also Sunday afternoons at Chambord/Marie Anne, @5pm), players tend to use fixed gear bikes, street hockey balls and small cones about one bike length apart as goal markers. Teams are chosen at random and are changed up to provide balanced play. Players can use either hand to hold a mallet and goals count only when scored with the circular mallet end, not with the tubular mallet length.
Emphasis is on skill, finesse and encouragement rather than aggression and violence which makes for an approachable game accepting of men and women experienced or not. The penalty for touching the ground with your foot is to ride out and tag a designated location before re-entering the field. As with most things in Montreal, helmets, wheel guards, eye protection and keeping score are optional.
If any other groups are out there playing in different parts of town, a tournament is in order.
Ottawa sits on top of N. American bike polo…That's What She Said!
Sep 2nd
Ottawa Wins NACCC Bike Polo Tournament!!!!
OWN YOU, originally uploaded by Doug D.
Brian, Alexis, and Robbie (That’s What She Said) take the prestigeous title of North American Bike Polo Champions at the 2008 Chicago NACCC. Kings of the sport, I respect Ottawa players the most (ever since seeing them win ESPI I in 2005) and they deserve the win, but did not go undefeated. Phillys Mark, Montana, and Alex (Hoagie Rollers) did fight out of the losers bracket to meet That’s What She Said in the final. And that game went up to 4 – 0 Philly!! Then Ottawa brought it back to 4 – 4 !!!! after a few more minutes of top notch play Philly won!!! forcing a Final, Final. This next game started and during most of it I was helping others chase two thieves who stole a bike and bag and ran off. I did get back in time to see Brian score a beautiful game winning goal. Way to go man and congratulations!
I want to thank all of Chicago Bike Polo, everyone who had a hand in this event did a super job. There is no doubt that this was the largest bike polo event to date! And it was excellent!
For me this whole weekend was great, so many friends and new faces. I got to relax in the shade, as Johnny bandaged my head, (thanks Johnny, thanks Lee). Everyone was great to let me take their photo. I think there were only 5 people I missed, out of 34 + teams (please give me some time to work on them, I will post them all). Thanks to Lucky for a personalized custom Mallet (I still need your address). Thanks to the Hunters for giving me a sample of the “Mid-West Red”. Thanks to Wil Mills of La Carrera Cycles for flowing me some clothing. I’m not sure of his name but the mechanic who set up a work shop at the courts, that was very generous thing to have all those spare tubes available for free and lending tools for two days. Just awesome, Thank You.
So Many Sponsors and tons of prizes. If you guys want to take the time to send a thank you to the people who gave products as prizes I think that would be a really good thing! Thanking the small companys that give to the bike polo events can go a long way. I want to list a few of the sponsors.
Waterford Precision Cycles
Milwaukee Bicycle Co.
Seagull Bags
Steelwool
TrackstarNYC
Kozie Prery
DQM
Sonadei
Crumpler Bags
And Many Others….
Results:
2008 North American Bike Polo Champions: “That’s What She Said” (Brian, Alexis, Robbie) Ottawa
2nd Place: “Hoagie Rollers” (Montana, Mark, Alex) Philly
3rd Place: “East Vanier” (Jen, Martin, Pieter) Ottawa/East Van
MVP: (highest goals per game avg.) Drew of Portland
35 teams with players from Ottawa, East Van, Chicago, Milwaukee, Philly, St. Louis, Madison, Seattle, Richmond, Lexington, New York City, Columbia, Minneapolis, DC, Baltimore, Boston, Orlando, Dayton, Portland, and Cleveland. 20 cities!!
2 days, 2 courts. 10 min games in round robin and bracket games up to the semi-finals. 15 min semi. un-timed Final. all games first to 5 points.
NSPI 2008 (photo recap part 2)
Aug 12th
The 2008 North Side Polo Invite Bike Polo Tournament in Ottawa, Canada.
All Photos © Doug D 2008
NSPI 2008 (photo recap part 1)
Aug 11th
The 2008 North Side Polo Invite Bike Polo Tournament in Ottawa, Canada. Hosted by The Mallets Of Mayhem, enjoyed by all.
All Photos © Doug D 2008
les assassins des fauteils rollents v. mother's baby snakes in quarter's
Aug 8th
les assassins des fauteils rollents v. mother’s baby snakes in quarter’s, originally uploaded by max.pritikin.
I really like this photo. Lief is sweeping around the goal and that’s me in pursuit during the North Side Polo Invite. Later in the event Lief took a spill and caught his calf on his exposed chainring after his rear wheel malfunctioned and caused him to crash. Yesterday here in New York, Leif joined us for our weekly Thursday night game. I didn’t get any photos but I had a chance to talk with him about things like the upcoming polo events, the Milwaukee Polo Guard, Madison, New York and some other stuff, I don’t know where I was going with all this I just wanted to…. Oh yeah! I never got to ask, what the hell was up with your team name??
Terrible Twos
Aug 8th
Terrible Twos
Bike Polo Tournament
August 23rd, 2008
Vancouver, Canada
Two on Two. Fun as hell!
10:00am sharp
Strathcona Park, Vancouver, B.C.
$5 per player ($10 a team)
Prizes in many categories!
Party following the tournament
For more info contact Martin, mrmartinhauck (rat) hotmail (period) com
Results:
21 teams
Winners: “Seattle Stars” (Soren and Leon)- Seattle
2nd: “Aces High” (Martin and Alex) – East Van
3rd: “2 Live Crew” (Adam and Ken)- East Van
4th: “Triplets of East Van” (Bob, Faron, Lisa – rotated) – East Van
5th: “Team Helmet” (Lee and Ryan) – Victoria
6th: “All Balls No Joint” (Rory and Justin) – East Van
7th: “Gruesome Twosome” (James and Lora) – East Van
8th: “Coolest Guys Ever” (Justin and ?) – Calgary
Alleged bike theft kingpin in court
Jul 31st
The Peterborough Examiner ran this story today.
Toronto man now facing drug charges too
A Toronto bike shop owner facing dozens of charges related to a massive stash of stolen bicycles stockpiled at several locations across the city is now facing numerous drug charges as well.
As Igor Kenk, a self-proclaimed former Slovenian police officer, waited for his bail hearing to begin yesterday on numerous bike theft charges, police charged him with four more drug offences, bringing the total to 21.
That’s after more than six kilograms of marijuana was found hidden among bikes in two garages. Previous police seizures included marijuana and 85 grams of crack cocaine and cocaine powder allegedly found in the home Kenk shares with his wife, concert pianist Jeanie Chung, said Det. Const. Aaron Dennis.
Police have recovered 2,700 bikes mostly from garages around the downtown city core, said Dennis.
Kenk made a brief appearance in bail court before he was sent to a special court because of the long list of charges.
A publication ban has been placed on the evidence heard.
Kenk remains in custody and will take the stand again tomorrow, while his co-accused, Jean Laveau, 47, appears in another court on charges related to bike theft.
Several biking enthusiasts were on hand to watch the bail hearing. Kenk’s ramshackle Bicycle Clinic was well known among Toronto cyclists.
“Bikes are finally getting the respect they deserve,” said Navid Taslimi, 36, a former messenger who’s had two bikes stolen and plans on going to the police viewing of recovered bicycles in hopes of finding the polo bike he fashioned from old parts.
Alex House, 21, who started a Facebook group on the subject, came to court to “rally the bicycle community to attend (Kenk’s) trial.”
So far, he said, more than 300 confirmed guests have visited the site.
Navid get that polo bike back!
Global National's "hardcourt" bike polo video news story
Jul 27th
Brian of The Mallets Of Mayhem sent me this.
This is the best bike polo news story ever but it’s a pain in the neck to link to so…
1. Follow the link to Global National
2. Do a SEARCH for “bike polo”
3. Select top listing
HERE
I’m impressed! Even though they talk about New York more than the bike polo tournament next week.
Ange, I’m putting you on my do not hurt list, you’re too damn good looking. Nice hat by the way.
Ramsay Bowl 2008 Promo Video
Jul 24th
- Calgary AB. First Annual Hardcourt Bike Polo Tournament. September 12-14th 2008. Be there!!!
