Adjustments for the uni.

[TOM@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU]

Reading the position of the foot on the pedal thread and Bill pointing out that
my seat may be too low. I have a few questions about adjustments for the uni.
Bill points out that the uni adjustments are the same as for a bicycle: Knee
over the pedal spindle in the horizontal position of the crank?, ball of the
foot on the centerline of the spindle?,eighty percent extention of the leg in
the vertical position of the crank? I guess that's it since there is no
handlebars...chain to clean, brakes to adjust, derailleurs to deal with. I used
to think the track bike was the simplist form of a cycle.

Funny, I was in a local bike store the other day and purchased *one tire tube*.
The clerk looked at me when I got to checkout, laughed and said; "What do you
have a unicycle?" Also while I was practicing at a neighboorhood school, some
kids were watching me while taking a break from shooting hoops and humming
circus tunes. My cycling friend saw me practicing and yelled; "Where's the rest
of it?" The next day he yelled; "Are you sure about that?" I guess uni's are a
pain in the ass in more ways than one.

-tom

[Ken Fuchs]

Tom <TOM@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU> wrote:

>Knee over the pedal spindle in the horizontal position of the crank?,

That seems about right.

>ball of the foot on the centerline of the spindle?,

That's it exactly!

>eighty percent extension of the leg in the vertical position of the crank?

I'm not sure what exactly is meant here, but the leg should be absolutely
straight when the heel is placed in the bottom pedal position. When the foot is
moved the the proper ball of the foot directly over pedal spindle, the knee will
be ever so slightly bend.

Seat height should be adjusted either up or down if the seat height test
above fails.

Hope that helps.

On One Wheel,

Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com>

P.S. To those who think there is a better foot position than the ball of the
foot directly over the pedal spindle: Have you seen any national or
international unicycling champion use a different pedal position? I could
easily be wrong about this, since due to anatomical differences, different
positions may work better for different people. What are your opinions on
foot position?

[Doug Borngasser]

>Tom <TOM@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU> wrote:
>>eighty percent extension of the leg in the vertical position of the crank?

Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com> replied

>I'm not sure what exactly is meant here, but the leg should be absolutely
>straight when the heel is placed in the bottom pedal position. When the foot is
>moved the the proper ball of the foot directly over pedal spindle, the knee
>will be ever so slightly bend.
>
>P.S. To those who think there is a better foot position than the ball of the
> foot directly over the pedal spindle: Have you seen any national or
> international unicycling champion use a different pedal position? I could
> easily be wrong about this, since due to anatomical differences,
> different positions may work better for different people. What are your
> opinions on foot position?

I tend to keep my seat a little lower than that now that I am trying to learn
more of the seat out tricks. I used to ride with the seat higher when I was
going more for distance and over rougher terrain, but now I've lowered it about
2.5 cm (1"). I've never really seen a unicycling champion in action, for
adjusting the seat and moving it in and out while working on the tricks.
Although it does tend to lead to a more tiring ride over distance, I'm much
happier trying to work on many of the newer tricks for
me.

I do agree though that riding with the ball of the foot closer to the spindle is
a good idea to work as a shock absorber protecting the knees and I normally ride
closer to that position. Since I have recently twisted my ankel slightly though,
I ride closer to ball of foot at front of pedal for ankle protection until I
have had more time to heal. (I've also tried to stay away from the tricks that
send me down hard when I fail.) :-)

Just my 2 cents.

_ _ Doug Borngasser
(m)(f) San Diego CA db db@ucsd.edu \__/ You know you're a
unicyclist when walking feels strange.