Axles to grind: bike polo laying siege to Shanghai

If you see a Chinese and a Westerner charging at each other on bicycles outside Shanghai Indoor Stadium this weekend while wielding home-made mallets, do not be alarmed - they are just engaging in a friendly game of bike polo.

Although it may look like inner-city warfare, the weapon-toting gangs are actually well-organized teams that together make up the first Bike Polo League in Shanghai, headed by architect and part-time artist Tyler Bowa.

"We have beginners who have never even heard of bike polo, and then we have experienced, competitive players who throw elbows and get rough during the game," said Bowa, adding that combatants often bring speakers or even food for a barbecue to add to the festive atmosphere.