Tuesday, September 29, 2009

October

1. Some folk would like to play this month at Mt Pleasant. To change it up, to practice for the giant court at the midwests, to get the ghetto flavor back into StL Bike Polo. Opinions?

2. About those Midwests: They are November 7-8 in Columbia. Any and all StL players are welcome to form up teams and come along. It will be a good time. We should start practicing with teams of who is going, so we can make a competitive showing, yeah?

3. The weekend of Oct 17th a bunch of our regulars are taking what sounds like an awesome motorcycle trip up to Chicago. For those of us staying in town, the new K.C. crew has offered to host friendlies with us, CoMO, K.C., and Lawrence, KS on that Saturday. Anyone want to take a cross-state polo trip with me?

41 comments:

Lucky said...

And by play at Mt Pleasant, I mean on Sundays. Wednesday evenings should still be done at whatever court we can get light to.

Evan said...

1. i'm totally ok with testing out Mt Pleasant. thats actually closer to my house and i think the bigger and just generally different court would be good practice and fun.

2. i plan on at least coming along if not playing on one of the lower teams. i think a 'competitive showing' would be pretty cool.

3. i'm game. i don't have a motorcycle but i do have a polo bike...

4. this isn't 100% related but does anyone have an old 20" tire they could bring for me tomorrow. i don't need anything fancy and in fact the weirder the better. just as long as its good enough to ride on and is more towards the non-knobby end of the tire spectrum. i've spent only $2 on my 'little' bike for sunday and don't want to spend much more if i don't have to. thanks!

nick said...

2. We should talk about proposed teams Wednesday or Sunday.

3. I can't make it to friendlies on 10/17. I have a prior commitment. A bicycle bar crawl that lasts all day.

4. I have one, let me look around for it. I will drop it off on Wednesday.

5. Ben do you still have my lights?

Ben said...

A. I still have Nick's lights and Evan's lights. They can be delivered to either of you if you need them.

B. A cross-state trip to KC could be fun. I will need some convincing though. Driving across Missouri doesn't sound appealing right now (I was traveling all weekend...Traveling is the last thing on my mind right now).

C. Polo at Maplewood tonight? The lights there + the generator + Nick's lights + Evan's lights could provide a good playing environment regardless of the slick surface. The four lights we've been taking to Tilles aren't enough to safely play a top level of Polo (rage ensues due to the poor play). I think Maplewood would be better...Just watch out for those tight turns!!

D. Sunday Polo at Mt. Pleasant sounds good to me. I am ready for a big rink. I am ready to flip the switch into “tournament mode.”

E. If Anchovy (or anyone else) has a pair of nice Scott poles sitting around…or if you find some at a thrift store, I could be in the market for some new personal mallets for Midwests. A quiver of Tournament mallets. Serious business.

F. I agree with Nick and think we should start trying out team arrangements for the Columbia tournament...If not tonight, Sunday at Mt. Pleasant.

G. The successful strategy seems to be leave one guy at Top Center (think blue line in hockey) that can get back quickly...one guy in the anus...one guy digging balls out of the corners. Then, within that setup, communicate when you’re rotating those positions (like you do when you tell your teammates you’re leaving the goal on defense). This is what Columbia did in Lexington…It worked for them. Maybe we’ll have success with it too.

H. The weather is nice and cool. Perfect for Polo.

I. Cuddlers, let’s get cuddlin’.

J. "Juggy Broads" - Brian

Anonymous said...

Everyone should work on bringing juggy broads...

Lucky said...

I'll do whatever the majority (or the mass text) says; but I vote against Maplewood tonight and every night. It's in the suburbs, yo. The suburbs.

Looks like we've got at least one car interested in a K.C. polo trip. I'll email the boys and tell 'em to set up friendlies.

Anonymous said...

i dont care where we play tonight, just let me know as early as possible. If its maplehood can i get a ride if possible? Im behind Target on Hampton.

Poles are per pair, $6 for low end ones or $10 for nicer ones. I have some Scott ones.

Im all about teaming up and practicing moves, plays etc.

I havent fixed my motocycle yet so im not 100% of what im doing that weekend of the ride.
-Anchovy

Ben said...

Maplewood is only a few miles away from Lindenwood. If we were talking about Hanley Industrial, I'd understand. Maplewood has the best lighting, and we can add to the lighting with the generator and floodlights.

Anchovy, I'll buy some quality poles this week or next week (I'm broke at the moment). I can also give you a ride to Polo tonight...Just let me know.

I'm also willing and eager to do some extra practicing with Polo Pals on days other than Sundays and Wednesdays.

Anonymous said...

i see no advantage to playing at Maplewood. The slick court makes it unrealistic to other playing surfaces and changes the game too much. I would rather play lindenwood or tilles.

Anonymous said...

Who said that? I agree pretty much. But also, like Ben said, those night games with lights at Tilles are still not ideal. I guess what Ben is getting at is Maplehood might be the best bet. I like Tilles cuz its close and the court isnt slick. Those 2 are big plus to me. I truly hate that slickness. Ugh
Anchovy

Ben said...

We can play at Maplewood on the slick surface and see the ball well with the park's lights and the generator-powered lights.

-OR-

We can play at Tilles with only the generator-powered lights.



We all agree that Tilles, Lindenwood, and every other rink has better surfaces. But a quality surface is worthless without decent lighting.

The past two weeks at Tilles have be subpar.

Anonymous said...

I dont care i guess. I will give maplewood another chance i suppose.
Anchovy

Toph A. Loaf said...

i would love to participate in friendlies again! that was awesome last time. note to self... NO STEEL RESERVE.

Anonymous said...

OK. i sent the mass text out. 6:00 at the Maplewood courts.
Anchovy

Anonymous said...

Uh oh, bad news Toph. From my research looks like Chrome shoes are made in China.
Anchovy

Ben said...

Chrome shoes are made in China??

Doesn't Toph have to drink 8 Steel Reserve back...

...to back...

...to back...

...to back...

...to back...

...to back...

...to back...

...to back...

...for losing that bet?

That's what you two agreed upon, right?

Toph A. Loaf said...

well dont i look silly. Chrome, ya let me down. ya let me down. no steel rezerv.

houvenagle said...

[SAVE THE DATE]

Ben said...

^^

Why would you schedule an alleycat during our regularly scheduled Sunday afternoon polo fun??

Lucky said...

The K.C. friendlies are a go! They've reserved a court with the city parks dep't from 11am to 6pm. They assure us that it'll be available after that, too. The reservation costs 7/hour, so bring a few dollars for the K.C. crew.

Drive out early Saturday morning and back Sunday? Or out Friday evening and back Saturday night? Places to stay are hooked up for either/both nights.

Toph A. Loaf said...

i propose. stay over saturday night and party like there's no tommorow, and by tommorow i mean sunday.

Toph A. Loaf said...

somebody tell me how to get to mt pleasant.

Ben said...

so there's that alleycat on sunday, stupidly scheduled during polo. i'd like to participate in the race and support people willing to organize such events; i'm sure a few polo players wanna do the same. i'd also like to play polo and continue sharpening skills for midwests. can we play polo later on sunday the 11th?? like, after the alleycat?? i'm trying to have my cake (alleycat) and eat it too (polo).

thoughts?

Anonymous said...

I played Bike Polo for the first time over a week ago and had an awesome time! I will be up for playing at 2PM on Sunday, or later, or both.

i switched the brakes on my brother's Fixed Gear mountain bike, can't wait to try this again with a more compatible bike

Also, I'll bring a large push-broom from work in case there is water on the court again.

Are you guys playing at Mt Pleasent park now, instead of Lindenwood?

-Patrick

Toph A. Loaf said...

hey dudes...
- i work on sunday so i am all for maybe playing later. i know the poloverse does not revolve around me but that would be great if some of us could take part in a local alleycat. no cake(alleycat) for topher though. too bad. i vote for later polo on sunday.
-did you say you had another BMX frame\bike? i may be intersested in that.

Ben said...

Patrick,

We're playing at Maplewood Park (Manchester & Big Bend) at 6pm on Wednesdays. Join us.

In preparation for the larger rink in Columbia, we'll probably be playing at Mt. Pleasant on Sundays throughout October.

Welcome to polo!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Ben,
unfortunetly I have class Wedsday evening at 5:30, so I'll just have to look forward to Sunday's bike polo

Do you guys ever play Tuesday evenings? (no class)

Topher,
my brother's bike is a P1 Specialized. I wasn't planning on bringing the Trek bike I used last time because it still has the old brake setup, the P1 was fairly easy to switch because it only has 1 (rear) brake.

-Patrick

Toph A. Loaf said...

i would love to play on tuesday. seeing that i have been getting scheduled to work on wed. lately. anybody up for adding another day to the poloweek. not monday or thursday. maybe friday, or..gasp. saturday?

Ben said...

Are people bringing their lights tonight?

(a statement disguised as a question)

nick said...

My lights will not be present. I am out of town, and they are locked in my basement.

-Nick

Anonymous said...

So do we have no lights then? That means no polo right? I need a ride, but if we arent playing i guess it doesnt matter.
Anchovy

Ben said...

I went and bought lights today.

Polo is a go!

I can also give you a ride, Anchovy.

Anonymous said...

Polo is 6 at maplewood courts then!
Ben is giving me a ride!
See you all there.
Anchovy

Toph A. Loaf said...

dirty phrase of the day.
anchovy, your mallet shaft is safe from whacking...today.
ps
i believe that is what SHE said.

Ben said...

Polo on Saturday (10/10)?

Alleycat on Sunday (10/11)?

Midwests teams?

Thoughts?

Lucky said...

Either Saturday or before the race on Sunday. I'm open to either.

As for teams, I dunno. We have a lot of strong players going to CoMO, but not many proven combinations.

If we can get everyone out some Saturday or Sunday in the next coupla weeks, we can try some combinations.

Ben, if we don't play as a group on Saturday, I'd like to practice my goaltending, if you'd like to work on your shot. I need to get better about covering my 5.

Anonymous said...

I'm up for polo this Saturday and/or Sunday.

Is there somewhere that I can buy a mallet? a sporting goods store?

or should I just make one? since i can't make Wednesdays' games, i'd like to practice whenever I get the chance.

-Patrick

Toph A. Loaf said...

it is supposed to be really nice saturday. we should maybe try and hit up mt. pleasant on sat? maybe a regular/semi regular thing at least til midwest. i can almost always play on saturday and friday nights. tuesday could possibly become an option as well. we may have some new faces who are willing to play on different days. lets try and make it happen.

Ben said...

Lucky, Saturday works for me. I'm always down for practice. I know that Anchovy is too. Regardless of whether we can get some pickups going on Saturday, I'd be down for some practice. Just name the time and place.

Patrick, I have a bunch of mallets, and I'd be happy to loan you one. Or you can make one of your own. The easiest way to go about making your own is by getting a pair of ski poles from Anchovy. He has a stash of them and sells 'em for $7-$10 a pair. I have HDPE mallet heads that are free to STL polo players, or you could buy a fancy capped mallet head from Lucky (I believe his mallet heads come with a guarantee that you'll score goals).

Toph A. Loaf said...

saturday is always good for the topherramma. we shall all wear our neck scarfs and trucker hats for all of time on saturday! 321 polo bitches! lindenwood? the ghetto? i say the ghetto on saturdaze.

Toph A. Loaf said...

saduhdayze.
saht-uhr-dah-jays.(pro. saturdays)
!!!!