It happened gradually at first—and I resisted. I didn’t actually want to quit. The idea danced around the edge of my mind, but I was in denial. During the slow hours at work, I saw people playing bike polo in grams on my Instafeed and I would think to myself, begrudgingly, “That looks like a good time. I wish I were there.” The cuts and bruises on my knees healed, and I lost every ounce of already-scarce muscle tone in my arms. My quads became flabby and weak. Dust collected on my saddle and tires where my polo bike sits stationary in my room. My tires went flat from neglect and underuse. After about a month of ignoring my bike, it finally dawned on me: I accidentally quit bike polo. I suck.

But tomorrow is a new day. I’m wiping the rust and dust off my polo bike and I’m hitching a ride down to the Eastside Regional Qualifier in Lancaster, PA and I am expecting my team to qualify for the North American tournament later this summer. Everyone in Boston has a legitimate shot at making it to the big show. Sure, there is some serious talent going to Lancaster, and right now I’m the worst kind of out-of-shape (as of this writing my dinner tonight was two hot dogs wrapped in bacon and a sriracha-infused cheeseburger, all washed down with a Mountain Dew Baja Blast), but maybe I can use this opportunity to focus on becoming one of those people that can have fun playing bike polo without having an aneurism if my team loses an important game.

I haven’t thought about anything other than work for the past month. There was a time when every fiber of my being and dollar in my wallet went towards bike polo, but that feels like eons ago. Once upon a time, I drove down towards Austin, TX to party with some complete strangers in every city along the way. Maybe I can get back to that state of mind. Or maybe I’m growing up. Maybe I’m finding better ways to spend my time and money. Regardless, I’m getting sucked back into the bike polo partysphere this weekend; I’m finally following my own advice: What Would Ruben Do? -ZS

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