Gear
NOTE: Many people think we ride fixed. There are very few bike polo people (less than 1%) that still ride this way. Traditionally, in the early 2000s, people did indeed ride with a fixed gear
- the wheel and pedals always stay rotating... aka feet always move
But due to fast stopping and ability to hop, people moved to single speed freewheels!
- basically a normal bike with 1 gear at back that can coast
Start by buying a bike frame
Can buy a starter frame from FB marketplace for ~$100
A great deal is to buy an Enforcer frame
- Runs at $300 for new aluminum frame from Portland
- Built out in China & Peru
- Made 4 polo
General bike specs
- Gear Ratio
- Single speeds with gear ratios of 1.5 to 1.8
- So the gear on back wheel would have around 15 teeth
- multiply that by 1.5 to 1.8 to get front chainring size
- so then the front chain ring will be around 22-27 teeth
- Smaller gears will make your bike a little lighter too
- Frame
- Strong frame (steel or aluminum)
- I personally prefer aluminum cause it b lighter
- Single speed/track frame
- No derailler, because its heavy and might break
- So these frames have the back wheel slide horizontally into frame
- Allows tensioning chain by pulling wheel backwards
- Effective top tube length being roughly 1 size smaller than recommended
- Backwheel close to bottom bracket
- closer wheels makes bike feel less sluggish
- smaller bottom bracket gap, so better for blocking
- Short bike trail
- quicker handling, aka can turn more quickly
- Wheels
- Strong wheels (>=32 spokes, double walled rims)
- Cover for front wheel (and optional back wheel)
- Prevents ball from going between spokes when playin as goalie
- Also can prevent spokes from breaking
- Any size diameter of wheel (does not matter much)
- bigger wheel makes it slightly better as a goalie
- Any rim and tire width
- Brakes and Handlebars
- Brake on nondominant hand for front wheel (no need for back brakes)
- Flat bar
- Disc brakes
- Rim brakes are good to start
- but does not provide enough stopping power
- more brake power for wet weather
- and for certain tricks
- Pedals
- Flat pedals to start
- Plastic pedals because metal might cause injury to yourself
- Clipless once better
- Some people who are used to straps, run straps
- BUT straps are rare/dangerous due to hard to remove feet
- Mallet
- People have tried building mallet heads in the past but very complicated.
- Most people try 3d printing the head
- But essentially all 3d print filament (PLA, PETG, etc) is too brittle and will shatter after a couple hits
- Some of us have old/spare mallets to donate to newbies
- But at some point just buy parts on hecklersalley
- Will run around $100 for parts :(
- Balls
- We have dozens of balls available in the shed on the courts
- No need to buy your own, just ask on slack!
- The balls are color coated, because they are suited to certain temperatures
- In hot weather, the cold weather balls become to bouncy
- In cold weather, the warm weather balls become to brittle
- Safety Equipment
- Helmet (required in tournaments)
- Rotor Guard (required in tournaments)
- It is a sheild in front of disc break ring
- Disc break gets very hot from breaking and if someone falls on it, it can burn skin
- Many people make their own and are very unique instagram
- Purchasable on hecklersalley
- Bar End Caps
- At each end of the handlebar, you need a cap to protect someone from landing on it
- Gloves
- something with knuckle protection
- generally ppl use lacross gloves (rather than hockey gloves)
- they have more thumb mobility
- Knee pads
- Eye protection
- Elbow pads
- Wrist guards
- Mouth guard
- Face shield
- Nard Guard
- Top Tube Sheath
Calculate your Gear Ratio
# of Teeth on Back Gear:
--------------------------------
# of Teeth on Front Gear:
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QUOTIENT: NaN
- Manditory:
- Common: