Bike Polo in LA

Bike polo was created as a fresh twist on a classic game and is a mash-up of polo, biking and hockey.

“It’s nice to take things that have a real history and then kind of make them your own,” said Mike Bell, a Seattle bike polo player.

The sport started in 2007 and the League of Bike Polo now estimates there are nearly 5,000 players in over 70 cities. In Los Angeles, the Bike Polo League has about 20 members.

On a horse, a rider can’t use hands or his body to shove the other player. With bikes, the game can be more aggressive despite it being a co-ed sport.

The contact rules for bike polo are body-to-body, mallet-to-mallet and bike-to-bike.

“I like that the rules are simple, there is not a lot of stopping and starting like other sports tend to be,” said Remac, a Los Angeles bike polo player.

The equipment is simple and most bikers wear helmets and bike shoes. They also use wheel covers for style and to protect their bike.

“It protects your wheel, so if a pedals gets in there it can really rip up your spokes and that’s a very expensive repair,” said Mike Bell, Seattle Bike Polo Player.

The reasons people play vary; some people play to master their biking skills, while others just want to enjoy the game.

“Usually when people start making up weird things, they tend to be more fun,” said Remac.