Machine Politics vs Beaver Boys, May 2011. Photo by Bruce Carver
I'm not sure if many people saw this but natasha richardson died because of a pretty small impact to the head. This makes me pretty sick to the stomach to think about. I have seen more head injuries then i want on the court and the fact that she got up and laughed it off makes it even more scary. I wear an helmet everytime i play and most of the players in madison do as well. Can anyone give a good reason not too?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/health/20braincnd.html?hp
RE: the article If the fall 'tore' an artery in her head, would a helmet have helped?
"Ms. Richardson — who was not wearing a helmet — fell on soft snow, did not appear to have hit her head, did not lose consciousness and joked about falling."
i always wear a helmet, but I don't think it should be a law.
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urbanbicyclist.org
It is possible that wearing a helmet would not have changed her accident but the chances are very high that she would have survived the accident if she was wearing an helmet. That is the general consensus from what i have read.
In tournaments why should it not be law? They prevent concussions, concussions can be really dangerous. I was put in a really tough position this winter at NYC in Madison when i had a player hit his head and it was my call to let him play or not let him play. If he wears an helmet i have to make that call a lot fewer times, that is a net benefit for everyone involved.
Skiing and polo are very different, and from what it sounds like, she did survive the accident. Just not the complications.
Helmets do not prevent concussions (not even the foamy bike helmets that break on impact). They might change how an impact is distributed, but you don't gain a special immunity from head injuries by strapping a helmet to your head. The brain can still strike against the inside of the skull.
It's a trade off. In polo, we would probably want a hard hat (something capable of taking multiple impacts, mostly redistributing an impact force over a larger area) because most of time we aren't diving head first into the pavement.
The same kind of helmet is less than ideal for cyclist vs. road impacts for the same reason it's good for player vs. mallet impacts.
"Helmets do not prevent concussions (not even the foamy bike helmets that break on impact). They might change how an impact is distributed, but you don't gain a special immunity from head injuries by strapping a helmet to your head."
This statement is a bit misleading, yes helmets do prevent most concussions, just not all, but that doesn't meant people shouldn't wear them. This was a skiing accident but the reason i posted it was that a fairly random accident where someone hit their head (skiing on a bunny hill) and then died a few days later. I think that the payoff of a helmet makes too much sense to not wear one.
The statement that helmets prevent concussions, or even helmets prevent most concussions is also misleading. I am not arguing against helmets; only that folks understand what specific helmets can and can't do.
Also, many statements about helmets are emotionally loaded.
Use helmets, but don't go asking for miracles.
Helmets do prevent concussions. The most conclusive study that i read stated that helmets reduce the risk of head injuries by 85%. That seems like a really good reason to wear one. I agree that there is a lot of emotional debate around this issue but we should stand back and look at the benefits which is huge given the consequence. Helmets are not a complete safety net, but they do reduce head injuries. That is not misleading.
sorry to put you in that spot jonny. and sorry to my team. it was in the finals of the winners bracket, and it sucked having to stop that game while tied at two, even if we were able to resume it later. i wear a helmet now. i said it in a different thread, but it bears repeating i guess: (one of) the reason(s) to wear a helmet is to lessen the chances of letting down your teammates. any decrease is a good one with respect to this.
I used to never wear a helmet except when riding trails until six months ago when I crashed hard while wearing a helmet on the trails and was knocked out for a good ten minutes. Spent the night in the hospital with a severe concussion and a lacerated face. Now I wear a helmet pretty much every time I get on the bike even if its a short trip to the store and especially when playing polo. I don't see any reason not to and would provide helmets for a tournament
ps- I would be dead or a vegetable had I not been wearing one, that put things in perspective for me.
Sean, I completely concur,
I too prevented major brain damage by wearing a helmet when I used my front brake while landing a jump on the front wheel, You can pretty much imagine the catapult action aftwerwards. I limped home leaning on my bike, suffered only road rash and soft tissue damage to my lower back and some strained ligaments in my neck - minor in my mind - freakin amazing considering I landed head first, nothing broken. The helmet split in half but my head was unscratched. I was laid up in bed for 4 days though but that had nothing to do with wearing a helmet.
The worst sound in the world is that hollow coconut thunk of an unprotected head hitting the pavement or concrete.
Bell helmets said it best back in the 80's (sorry to date myself) "isn't your brain worth 100 bucks?"
....... __o
........\<,
.... ( )/( )
$100? nope. maybe $29.98
TOP CENTER 4-EVA
jonny, currently i am wearing a helmet for polo in all games. It's the only time i'm wearing a helmet right now because it's a black version of Paul's "HEY WHAT'S UP" helmet, minus the face shield, and i aint gonna messenger and run food in that dip shit looking thing. But polo, Yes I wear a helmet and dont like not wearing it. Learned my lesson at NACCC.
Warning: BLOOD in image http://www.flickr.com/photos/falcon_awesome/3027081388/
Doug D
Brooklyn, New York
http://www.hardcourtbikepolo.com/
When I was a kid, I had a friend who was hit by a car. He lived, but got brain damage. The first time I saw him after that was lesson enough for me to wear my helmet.
Sasha
says the guy who streaks down the court in his profile pic like guy lafluer...
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Well ain't you a perceptive one... for a while I did take my helmet off to play polo (I would ride to the court with it on) but no longer. Guess I need a new picture lest I look the hypocrite.
Sasha
Shut the fuck up Martin. I hate you
3...2...1...GO!
Mallets Of Gayhem
i wear one now whenever I'm on a bike.
we talked about making a rule for helmets for the ESPI's, but decided against. mostly cause so few boston players actually wear them, i guess... not the best reason, but so it goes.
maybe you should create an incentive for people to wear helmets. Like charge people who don't want to wear an helmet an extra five bucks per player who doesn't want to wear a helmet.
yeah... if it were solely up to me they'd be required.
and if minors were showing up to play, i'd make them wear them. fact is we're all adults. people have to take responsibility for their own safety.
but i'm happy to see the trend overall going towards everyone wearing helmets. once the cool kids are all wearing them, the rest will tag along. and with how fast and physical the game is becoming this is a good thing.
jonny, thanks for posting this. i read this article yesterday and was also sickened. everytime i play polo i think, "damn, i should be wearing a helmet." and then i never do. i am ordering a cute little green bern one right now that i will be proudly sporting at the spring fling/world of coeds.
Thanks for posting this Jonny.
The Madison Tourney was the first tournament in which I wore a helmet for every match I was in, even if it was an easy game. I felt a sense of security from having my head covered, and I never once thought it was inhibiting my ability to play. After watching both Chris from NYC and Joe P smack their heads on the ground, I became a believer in the damn things. Its going to be a very important step in our sport to require head protection because we can either be preemptive an require helmets, or we wait until after one of our polo siblings dies or is prevented from ever playing polo again from an accident.
Also with the integration of closed head mallets, balls are being shot a lot harder and faster than ever before. We have all witnessed the lift a shot could put on a ball and how close them can come to the face. Guards and helmets would prevent a lot of accidents
As far as non helmet wearers;
If you don't want to wear a helmet, thats your choice, but if you care about your fellow polo players, wear a helmet so we don't have to see the day you eat shit while track standing and have to be taken away in a stretcher because you smacked your head.
Plus everyone hates waiting in Hospitals. When Chicago Abe got a third eye installed over the bridge of his nose via mallet head, we had to wait in Stroger's waiting room for 5 hours instead of playing polo. If my buddy Abe wore a helmet, polo would have been had and he wouldn't need to sew up the massive gap in his forehead.
Also the helmet less glory is not worth the potential of sitting in a hospital bed, getting a sponge bath from some unimpressed nurse that smells like pal mall cigarettes and hairspray, waiting until 4 o'clock when they bring you Jello and shitty mac n cheese that you later get to watch come out your catheter while you try to stay occupied with Different Strokes re-runs that you watch on one of the hospitals four channels.
I wear one sometimes during local games, but more so for tournaments. Some of the Chicago players have switched to wearing them all the time and thats awesome. I've been playing for almost 4 years now and I am at a point where I feel better with one than with out one.
helmets will be required at the MMI 2v2 and the COG tourney in MKE
so are shoulder pads for clavicles....well at least for me
Jake, are you 100% on that?
Doug D
Brooklyn, New York
http://www.hardcourtbikepolo.com/
yes i am
are you gonna be here? you could be on my team but i cant play so you can win the whole thing 1 v 2 right?
www.mkebikepolo.com
Helmets are also required for the Golden Spring Fling.
Golden Polo
that's the last straw...I'm not coming now
Yep, bunny ears are required too.
--
urbanbicyclist.org
hairnets ok? i gots a sweet cinelli one.
Gussy, are you 100% on that?
Doug D
Brooklyn, New York
http://www.hardcourtbikepolo.com/
Beer helmets required at NSPI09.
DUH DUH DUH roey bear poped me the head one time by mastake with his mallet i got on my bike {ya i am the man i am the mantrying to shake it off} Road half way down the court fell off my bike had a lump the size of my tow balls
F^^&***&^CK still owe you for that F5^&&*8ck your GOING DOWN
it's really refreshing to read through this discussion about helmets and not have it dissolve into a contentious debate, with a lot of knee-jerk comments like I've seen happen on so many other bike-related forums.
{}------- lexington -------{}
Thats true,
I think in part it's because we're moving into the realm of sport, which is different to the more general area of bicycle advocacy where this debate normally occurs.
--
urbanbicyclist.org
Jav said it best "but i'm happy to see the trend overall going towards everyone wearing helmets. once the cool kids are all wearing them, the rest will tag along" seriously once most of the younger kids see the guys who've been city riding for 10+ years wearing helmets and not looking like old men on hybrids they'll come around. Just another accessory to put your stickers on
I started wearing one recently too. Although it's kind of nonsensical that I wear one for polo and not for day-t0-day city riding, which is WAY more dangerous I think...
Yorgo
LONDON: http://bricklanebikepolo.wordpress.com/
PARIS: http://panambikepolo.blogspot.com/
i almost always wear a helmet riding in the city but when i first started playing polo i almost never did-which also makes no sense. either way if you go down on concrete and hit your head its not gonna be awesome. i've smacked my chin on the polo court here, not wearing a helmet but obviously that wouldn't have covered my chin anyhow. one of the few times i didn't wear a helmet riding on the street (and yes there was alcohol involved) i wound up going to the er and have a little scar on my forehead where i received some stitches. when i broke my arm riding along one day i *almost* didn't wear my helmet cos i wasn't going too far and it was a gorgeous weather day and whatever i was dancing to outkast in my room and then had an energy high and as i was racing out the door i thought..'maybe its ok' but then 'nope, you thought about it so now you have to get it'. 6 blocks later i was staggering up from the street, having fallen right over and smashing my shoulder into the curb-my head did a nice bump against it. if i hadn't been wearing my helmet i am certain i wouldn't just have a kick ass scar on my arm-thinking what my head would've done bouncing on the curb without a helmet is pretty freaky.
Anyhow...its not for me to tell grown people that they should wear an effin helmet(but ask any of my friends who often don't and they'll tell you i constantly order them to wear one), its common sense. even if you're the safest, best cyclist in the whole world(and lets face it guys and gals-you aren't)you can't control accidents. and obviously in polo it is far more likely you might go down, for any number of reasons, or take a mallet to the head so it seems best to protect your noggin.
who will be the last player to wear a helmet or retire. will there be a grandfather clause for those that played before helmet rules were put into effect?
who will be craig mactavish?
I've seen a few falls on the court where someone has hit their head. What is disturbing about what recently happened to the actress and how it relates to the falls I have seen at polo, is the reaction that follows: The player gets up (thankfully in the cases I've seen), laughs it off, but tries not to let everyone know they hit their head. Or they act as if their injury is no big deal and wants to get back on their bike & play immediately. They might just be embarrassed, or feel like they might be a burden to their team by sitting out, or their adrenaline keeps them from realizing an injury. Reading the news articles about the injury that caused the actresses death made me feel uneasy about the moments I witnessed above. Of course we all stopped playing, made sure the player was okay, but the player ends up on the bike again and when the day was over, rides their bike home. In some cases we do need to pay better attention.
I wish I (we all) had a little understanding about the seriousness of head injuries that may occur. We need to have good judgement about what to do when there is a possibly severe injury on the court. Is it just a bump on the head, or do we need to go to the hospital? Follow up with person who hit their head, see how they feel in an hour, later on that night, ect... A similar injury or something worse could happen to someone wearing a helmet too (as Dumptruck mentioned above). We don't always have a Johnny Midwest on our court to assess the situation.
Oh yeah, I absolutely hate wearing a helmet, but I always do while on my bike in the streets, playing pickup & at tourneys. I'm for requiring helmets @ tourneys, but we have to be upfront & firm about what's required to play. You cannot make someone wear a helmet. You can, not allow him or her to compete without a helmet. I'm also surprised the insurance companies do not already insist to require helmets, but I have not planned an event myself & do not know all the details.
Has anyone gone a step further than helmets and tested face shields for effective defense while maintaining maximum visibility? I've seen Paul's (NY) but no further improvements or uses.
Most of RVA has started wearing helmets in high octane games. We were in Charlottesville recently with DC and others playing non-octane games and for the most part not wearing helmets. I hit JT in the face with a shot from about ten feet away and knocked him off his bike. I'm not talkin' about no lil bitch chip shot bullshit either.
Helmets should be mandatory in tournaments. No contest.
Don't bring cake to a donut fight.
Along with the helmet, I wear RecSpex sports glasses, so I look like a real dork when I play. I mostly use them because I broke a good pair of glasses playing polo. The RecSpexs are huge and worked out for me once when I collided with Dumptruck (Chi) and face-planted into his wheel. This would have crushed a normal pair of glasses & may have injured my eye. I got a shiner, but the sports glasses held up w/o breaking into my face (I believe a pair of plastic safety glasses would have broken & done more harm that good). If you don't wear glasses RecSpex come with non-prescription polycarbonate lenses for use as safety glasses. Not an inexpensive option, but it works for my eyeballs. the rest of my face is protected by my beard.
thanks for bringing up eyewear, i just started another thead: http://bikepolo.ca/forum/stuff-that-breaks/2009/03/23/eyewear-safety-gla.... These look good but maybe too much frame for me, even tho it's see-thru.
this is why im happy dumptruck is on my team in DC!
Along with the helmet, I wear RecSpex sports glasses, so I look like a real dork when I play. I mostly use them because I broke a good pair of glasses playing polo. The RecSpexs are huge and worked out for me once when I collided with Dumptruck (Chi) and face-planted into his wheel. This would have crushed a normal pair of glasses & may have injured my eye. I got a shiner, but the sports glasses held up w/o breaking into my face (I believe a pair of plastic safety glasses would have broken & done more harm that good). If you don't wear glasses RecSpex come with non-prescription polycarbonate lenses for use as safety glasses. Not an inexpensive option, but it works for my eyeballs. the rest of my face is protected by my beard.
GOOD SHIT !
like Thunder
like Thunder
its ok keith-dorky is the new cool, haven't you heard? :) i have a pair of rec specs i found at the goodwill somewhere..i should find them and bring them to polo...
i think we all know that head injuries can be serious-but a lot of cyclists like to overlook the fact that they may be possible of hurting themselves(or get hurt by others).
i am happy to say i've never seen anyone get seriously injured at polo(the whole billdozer thing was before my time)and i hope i never will, but i'm all for people protecting their heads. i think it probably should be mandatory at tournaments, just like it is if you race. you could have people sign a waiver if they refuse to wear a helmet and you are worried about any issues if there were to be an accident but that's not really the point, nobody wants to see our friends/peers get hurt during a tournament or on your pick up game day.
I used to wear a hair net to polo only because i couldnt wear it anywhere else do to the fact i always wear my helmet. but then i got a new all purpose helmet this winter and stickered the hell out of it and i cant play without it. plus look at all the downhill dj and xc riders out there they use there helmets at ad space or team logo space thats money in the bank right there all purpose helmets rock.
www.polohaus.blogspot.com
AXLES OF EVIL
i haven't read everything in here (i have no idea how people do), but here are some articles that you could read, if you wanted to, provided you have the time. they don't deal with polo, but apply (or don't) as you see fit...
http://www.momentumplanet.ca/node/172
http://www.vehicularcyclist.com/StatsCan.html
http://www.vehicularcyclist.com/lobby.html
peace, love, paternalism.
I don't believe that there is a warming pattern that can be attributed to human action either.
i find it amazing that we still have to talk about helmets being required in tournys
I think you look pretty badass, Keith.
{}------- lexington -------{}
I am yet to wear a helmet on the polo court due to the fact that im BROKE AS! and cant afford to be replacing it if i break it due to a malletting or even a fall. In many crashes i have never experienced a head injury. My worst crash of all was in the rain at over 40km/h and i smashed my right elbow and suffered road rash all down my right side and back but my helmet was not even scratched, however i have witnessed many mallets to the head so i agree with dumptruck, a sturdy helmet capable of sustaining multiple knocks is what is really needed for polo. But for road use (outside of sanctioned races) i never wear a helmet. A helmet isn't going to help you if your cleaned up by a semi-trailer.
If your mum gave you 2 dollars to buy three ice creams, how many ice creams could you buy before you get shot in the back with a harpoon?
the helmet conversation had already been starting to work it's way around the Cleveland crew then this past sunday Lou-Jack-City's forehead smacked into Karate Jon's temple during a crash and they both got damn near KO'd. I expect to see a few folks sporting helmets next week. If nothing else they'll be a great place to put club logo stickers.
Dammit, that means we have to get club logo stickers.
In East Van we've had the same thing. Bad crash on week and more people are wearing helmets the next week...but generally it's a 1 or 2 week conversion before they are again riding with the wind blowing in their hair. But over time more and more people are using, maybe half our players wear helmets.
i just picked up a used hockey helmet with a metal cage, 20 bucks. picked up used hockey gloves while i was at it, as i seem to take mallets to the hand more than anywhere else. thankfully we've never had any serious injuries in como, excluding the roadie who came out and broke some ribs on his second game.
has anyone played with the face cage? i'm a little worried it'll obscure my vision.
Columbia, MO
hey Angelo
look i have my helmet on!!!!!!
J
ps confirm or deny? ron shearman called you and asked about a new EA sports polo video game... then asked if he could touch your wife at 3 oclock a.m. richmond time
O.G.D.C.
I am the WEAR A HELMET guy in LA.
Skateboard helmets work but I am looking for a hockey style helmet. You can’t play polo if you’re in the hospital from a head injury.
Quick like Thunder
I just Ordered my helmet, I went with a Hockey helmet, no joke with cage and all.
think about it , there no one to blame if you getz hurrt , except yurself ...
think about it , there no one to blame if you getz hurrt , except yurself ...
THAT IS COMPLETE BULLSHIT! how many mallet injuries are there out there?
If your mum gave you 2 dollars to buy three ice creams, how many ice creams could you buy before you get shot in the back with a harpoon?
BULLShit
This is good. I like this talk. another little story for y'all, Dumptruck & I had an "encounter" on the court a couple weeks ago, and being the towering apocalypse that he is, sent me sprawling. I landed on my back and smacked my head on the pavement. All i've got to say is I'm grateful I was wearing my helmet. Brains isn't a good color for a tennis court.
helmets = good.
BULLSHIT
Ah, sir Boards...
You have surfaced again
You have not yet played againts Dumptruck, this is the man that will tear you down
Helmets required!
O.G.D.C.
thats ok i have my own way of dealing with people that like to take people out for fun ask around
I PLAY A GENTLEMEMS GAME
What's a Gentlemem? Anyhoo, Robbie, Truck is like BunnyBear + 50lbs + sloppydrunk = get outta the fucking way. he is, however, a cuddle monster off the court...
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i know thats what every body says but like i said before
IF YA WANT TO BE NICE STAY ON THE STANDING SIDE OF THE BOARDS
YA PLAYING TODAY MARTIN
I can agree that pretty much any physical contact with Dumptruck is going to put you on your ass. Probably the most appropriate nickname I've yet to come across.
That said, I freakin love my helmet. Bern Watts. It just looks "bike polo" to me.
{}------- lexington -------{}
Straighten that fork.
If you live in MN, IA, MO, WI, IL, MI, IN, KY, and OH why not join the Midwest Club page?
just got my new helmet in the mail today:
looking cute cecily!
that's a lot of foam in there
Yorgo
LONDON: http://bricklanebikepolo.wordpress.com/
PARIS: http://panambikepolo.blogspot.com/
i know, right?!
a bit more than i expected, but gotta keep the noggin in tip top shape.
yorgo, when are you coming to visit?
I'm looking for a helmet that can withstand multiple falls and knocks to the head without breaking like a road helmet, this is what I'm thinking of...
BOOM!
how do i get my hands on one of those????
EVBP
Daaam!
Another advantage of helmets (although not occuring often), is playing a popped up ball off of your head. I had this happen the other night, where the ball flew up in a clash between two mallets, and flew right at my face. I had enough time to react, throwing my head down and forward and it cracked off of my helmet and out in front of me. Also, out of control mallet swings (accidental or not) flying at my head are enough of a reason to sport a skid lid.
I saw a few mentions of Bern helmets, and another few about face shields. Last night I combined the two:
Bump.
So many photos lately of people not wearing helmets makes me ascared.
Got media, tournament, or bike polo news? DM me at twitter.com/bikepolo
i'm frightened to open this thread everytime it gets bumped, just like watching someone without a helmet fall. i'm ascared i'll look up and see goriness.
Columbia, MO
since this thread first started helmets have become comon in Cleveland. Last week I saw the first all helmet pick up game. There had been some talk of helmets, but people started wearing 'em after a couple of bad head knocks and near concussions were felt by Lou-Tastaphie, Karate Jon, and Prince Charles....
Two weeks before the NA's Ang and I got tangled up. I ended going upside down over the back of his bike. Back of the head straight to the ground. Fucked up pretty good and almost missed the tourney because of it. Lesson learned. I will not play with out one now. Everyone should do the same. All tournaments should require helmets.
agreed brian. i was reffing a game last weekend and chris roberts waltzes onto the court with some ridiculous straw hat and i told him to grab a helmet or he couldn't play. he rolled his eyes but i think, deep down, he understood that it was for his own good. (ironically, that was about an hour before i walzed onto the court looking cool and suave just before i took a spill with no helmet on and got mildly concussed). helmets will be required at the east van crown.
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i would be a vegetable after my 'big crash' if i wasn't wearing a helmet this weekend in seattle. didn't even hurt versus rory feeding me warm peas for the rest of my life, pretty easy decision.
I agree completely.
I've been an advocate of helmets for a while after watching head on collisions and mallet hacks to the forehead at local and tournament games.
My biggest epiphany came recently after catching a back swing to the mouth and cracking two of my front teeth. I started playing with a lacrosse helmet by Cascade that includes a face mask. I chose this helmet because I was thinking about sports that address issues considered when playing bike polo.
With my new helmet I now have a completely protected face, it doesn't shake on my considering the excess weight, and My vision is as good as ever ( it took me a minute, but you learn to ignore the cage, and your peripheral vision isn't sacrificed at all). Plus it has a fuck ton more ventilation then a Bern Watts, another helmet i bought for polo.
NSPI was my first tournament that i used the helmet and ironically nothing touched my face the entire tournament until my last game where I caught a shoulder in the mouth in an unexpected collision. Not knowing that I would be coming home to emergency double root canal two days after the tournament anyway, I appreciated not cracking my freshly glued teeth for a second time.
At that point I realized that you can't always choose the time or the severity of an injury (unless you are ben hunter), and taking precaution is the best way to avoid injury. By giving myself more protection, I cut out the variables that could lead to great consequence and so increase my longevity as a player.
Its simple: The less hurt you are, the more polo you get to play.
Love from New Gotham,
Tucker
I'm really happy to hear all of this talk of how important helmets are. They definitely won't prevent all injuries, but they can help against some pretty awful ones. In victoria helmets have pretty much been the norm from day one but I've seen many people from other cities playing without one and it always makes me uncomfortable. I'm glad to hear that this is starting to change. Even those foam or cloth "helmets" that team Smile wore in Seattle do not look adequate in my opinion... I'm not sure if I would allow players on the court with those in any tournament that I run in the future.
I wear a helmet because my girlfriend tells me that she doesn't want to date a retard. I don't blame her. I wouldn't like to date someone that had a slow fucked up brain. I think about how much it would suck to lose cognitive abilities. that definitely brought me around to the helmet side.
x2 for girlfriends reality check.
A couple of years ago in my 2nd game of polo ever I copped a ball on the front of my helmet from a blistering back-swing shot. It jerked my head back, made a wierd noise and cracked my helmet. Other than that I was fine. Had I been helmet-less I reckon I'd have been out cold + plus whatever injuries I'd have sustained falling off a bike at speed unconscious. Never mind what my girlfriend would have said, I'm not sure I would have been that keen on polo had that been my intro to the sport. Keep your "look at me ain't I pretty" posturing. Wear a fricken' helmet.
Ps. EEzy (who posted above) now wears a helmet....
I have been playing polo for about 5 months now. At first, I was like, "Nah, its cool, I can deal with a few bruises." Plus, being a noob, I didn't have any serious crashes. My first tournament, we played in a roller hockey rink. My opponent had me sliding against the wall as we chased after the ball. I had my left knee out against the wall as support and to push back against him. Well, this hockey rink ain't perfect, as the door that leads into the rink wasn't flush with the wall; My knee cracked that seam so hard (insert Peter Griffin: Sssss Aaaagghhh Ssssss Aahhhhgh) I was out for the rest of my first tournament game. :(
Anyways, now I wear these cool one strap hockey shin/knee pads. People say I look like a storm trooper, but I dig them. I would still be playing without a helmet if it wasn't for the Long Beach friendlies, they required a helmet to play. So I picked up a cheap $15 mongoose helmet from WalMart that is a little small and makes my head look like a billiards ball, but hey, I am glad I picked it up. I had one of those scary falls where you land on your back and your head comes crashing down like a sledge hammer. Even with the helmet I was seein spots. So x100 for helmets. Unless all you do is sit in goal or ride in circles in polo, everyone should have a helmet. Drool runnin down your chin and a T-Rex posture ain't a good look.
Also, who ever runs a tourney, do you want to deal with the bullshit that comes with serious skull crackin' injury? Believe me, that finger is going to come back at you so fast because certain rules weren't in place, or wavers weren't signed. Oh! and parks and rec would really love to have someone back who just sued their asses cuz their courts were too hard.
Plus, being a noob, I didn't have any serious crashes.
Well since you are a self-described "newb" let me tell you this, new players are more than likely to be involved in serious crashes than veterans. New players don't know the flow of the game and end up in unexpected places.
true dat
i have noticed i haven't been involved in a good one in a while. now they are just from kamakazi runs to the goal or screening someone who doesn't look up from the ball. i've learned to be very verbal when i screen lol
i contacted Nutcase Helmets and enlightened them on the game. since they can do custom designs, i was thinking, we might have a sponsor for next year's worlds. would you grace your skull with a special limited edition polo helmet from world's? esp if it were free? or at least at a very reasonable price?
just a thought...
At our last tournament Cherri fell backwards right onto her skull...but got right back up because she was wearing a helmet. The thought of someone as sweet as her getting dain bramage makes me shudder. Ive seen countless sad cases in the ER/ICU where I work that coulda been prevented with a helmet. NO reason to not wear one. That being said..we're adults & in charge of our own brains..but I still rag people about it tho..specially newbs. Poopin in a bag aint cool. (or fashionable)
I wear a helmet coz once was enough. http://i34.tinypic.com/2djz9jo.jpg I didn't embed coz gross.
Another reason to wear a helmet!
Yesterday Pete was going full bore at the goal to defend. Slammed on his brake, he heard a PING(which was his cable snapping, he crashed his tire head on into our heavy metal goals, he was thrown over his bars and cracked his head on the ground. Broke a huge piece right off the temple area of his helmet.
He hit the goal so hard that he bent his steel fork backwards into a negative rake.
If he wasn't wearing his helmet he'd probably be in the hospital right now but instead he was able to laugh it off and coast his fucked up bike home to his family with nothing more than a sprained wrist.
Please consider wearing a helmet if you don't now. No matter how great of a cyclist you are there is always mechanical failure to worry about.
this also sounds like another reason not to have heavy metal nets on your polo court.
how you gonna cross river jordan?
Had that happen once too, split a helmet from a crash, convinced me right after as well.
When you play hard shit happens, why not protect yourself?
Update, Pete ended up visiting an Ortho specialist after he discovered he had two broken bones in his hand.
Its pins and 2 months of no bike polo for him. :(
did the other team score?
OMFG. Look at these photos. Do not click if gore bothers you.
http://www.mplsbikelove.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=18659
Pete got to watch his hand surgery on a video screen as it was happening and they gave him a DVD of it after. Fuuuuuck.
Totally agree. I have worn one pretty much every time playing sport since having a fractured skull when i was 7.
Scary shit.
Golden Polo
Golden/Victoria/Golden Polo