Tire questions

[Paul Halter]

I've had my unicycle just over a month now and I find myself in need of a new
tire. I think it's safe to say that the rapid rate at which I've worn out my
first one is due in large part to the fact that during the time I've been
learning to ride, I've made countless sharp twists either as sloppy intentional
turns or as sudden recoveries when I would get off balance to the side or while
I was learning to free-mount. I now turn much more smoothly and the sharp twists
(that no doubt grind a lot of rubber off on the asphalt) are much less frequent.
It was also my intention to reposition the tire to put an area with more tread
in the spot that seems to get the most abuse, but I haven't gotten around to it,
and now I see the first sign of threads showing on the tire.

So now the questions: How much difference is there between a 'real' unicycle
tire and the more readily available bike tires? If I were to buy a bike tire
for use on my uni, would I regret it and end up ordering a better tire anyway?
And how fast do experienced riders wear out tires when riding on asphalt, or
more to the point, if I do order a new 'real' unicycle tire, should I order
several at once?)

TIA!

Paul
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Paul Halter o o "I can't remember when I've felt Software Engineer and o o o
better!" - Ralph Wilson after Juggler-in-Training o O trying new Norecog
vitamins with (paulha@postalsoft.com) _/[ ]\_o special memory inhibitors

[Rick Plavnicky]

paulha@psoft.postalsoft.com (Paul Halter) writes:
> I've had my unicycle just over a month now and I find myself in need of a new
> tire. I think it's safe to say

[chop]

> So now the questions: How much difference is there between a 'real' unicycle
> tire and the more readily available bike tires? If I were to buy a bike tire
> for use on my uni, would I regret it and end up ordering a better tire anyway?

I tried this when my tire was on its last legs and it didn't work out so well.
Notice how your unicycle tire has a round tread? A tread that, no matter what
the contact angle, still presents the same contact area to the road? Bicycle
tires are designed differently, so that (generally) they roll easier when they
are vertical and 'dig in' when leaned into a turn. And that was my problem. As
the uni would come off vertical (as in a turn) the friction would increase. It
wasn't a smooth transition either, so I'd find myself tooling along fine
straight, then lean into a turn, unexpectedly slow down, overcorrect.... On the
other hand, riding offroad (on dirt or grass, for example) where the tire
contact is less consistant than on asphalt, was decidedly easier, I guess for
the same reasons. (It was a 'mountain-bike-style' tire that I had tried, perhaps
that's why I had the experience I did.)

> And how fast do experienced riders wear out tires when riding on asphalt, or
> more to the point, if I do order a new 'real' unicycle tire, should I order
> several at once?)

I've been riding now about a year - does that count as 'experienced'? Adjusting
for the seasons, I'd say a tire lasts *me* about 4 months.

Sure, order several. Tom Miller of the Unicycle Factory has quite a few of those
great looking blue-with-whitewall tires that my Schwinn 24-inch came with.
Couldn't find 'em anywhere else.

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# Rick Plavnicky plav@shell.portal.com <URL:http://www.portal.com/~plav/