Triton 36er w/KH Schlumpf Hub

[osmundo]

I've ordered what I believe will be the first Triton Sponge 36 inch titanium unicycle frame. I will pair it with the new KH/Schlumpf hub w/a nimbus rim and tire. Right now the wheelbuild is sitting idle in the bedroom awaiting a compatible frame. Dmitry sent me great drawings last week of the frame and dimensions last week, (see link). As soon as it arrives I'll post picture and let you know how it rides!
I signed up for a century ride in May so I REALLY hope it gets here by then. The last 40 miles are flat or a gradual descent so it should make a perfect tour for a GUNI. Here is a link to the race
http://www.bvbf.org/

[saskatchewanian]

Those drawings look awesome

Is that an integrated post clamp I see?

[1-wheeled-grape]

that looks cool and is that a built in seatclamp? has no one else got a 36'' Triton? i thought someone did. That 100mile ride looks fun too, is it a race or just a fun ride??

[osmundo]

Those drawings look awesome

Is that an integrated post clamp I see?

Yea, the drawings look great. The guys at Triton know what they are doing. I forgot to mention the integrated seat post clamp. That should be very cool.

[osmundo]

has no one else got a 36'' Triton? i thought someone did.

I don't think anyone else has. Ken (GizmoDuck) is set to order two 36ers. I'd love to hear from others if they are out there.

race?

No, you're right it is a tour, not a race. It is sponsored by my favorite brewery in Colorado, New Belgium Brewery, makers of Fat Tire and other great beers. It was voted best "(bi)cycling event of the year" in 2007. It should be a ton of fun.

I'd rather be doing the Lobster, of course, but I can't swing the time off.

[semach.the.monkey]

I've ordered what I believe will be the first Triton Sponge 36 inch titanium unicycle frame. I will pair it with the new KH/Schlumpf hub w/a nimbus rim and tire.

I think that will be the first 36" Triton Sponge guni made. My 29" Triton Sponge frame with Schlumpf hub should be the first titanium guni. Hopefully I should get that back next week. Can't wait!

STM - counting the days

[osmundo]

I think that will be the first 36" Triton Sponge guni made. My 29" Triton Sponge frame with Schlumpf hub should be the first titanium guni. Hopefully I should get that back next week. Can't wait!

STM - counting the days

Cool! Let me know how you like it.
You sent the frame back for brake mounts, right? How did the hub seem to fit?

[semach.the.monkey]

Cool! Let me know how you like it.
You sent the frame back for brake mounts, right? How did the hub seem to fit?

Yes, I ordered it with Magura mounts, but it was manufactured without any, so I had to send it back.

The hub fitted great. I think I may have to file out the hole on the torque arm a little to bolt that in though, but other than that it looks perfect.

STM

[osmundo]

I just heard from Dmitry that he can't get me the frame in time for the century ride on May 17. Very disappointed. I hope it happens soon!

[gazza]

Sorry Mark :(

I used some bad russian swear word in order to speed up the process.

I have just declined 3 prospective orders.
You guys are waiting for too long.
Hopefully I will be getting a position in investment banking soon, so probably bye-bye to Triton.

I may continue it with my assistant in future. But dunno yet. Nobody speaks English here.

Triton is interesting, but hardly any good money. I have to buy a house and a new car. Like any normal man. Triton won't get me that.
And I have virtually the best education I can get in Russia. I must use it for big moves.
Russia is an emerging market. I gotta get on top.

erm..

[Probailer2]

Sorry Mark :(

I used some bad russian swear word in order to speed up the process.

I have just declined 3 prospective orders.
You guys are waiting for too long.
Hopefully I will be getting a position in investment banking soon, so probably bye-bye to Triton.

I may continue it with my assistant in future. But dunno yet. Nobody speaks English here.

Triton is interesting, but hardly any good money. I have to buy a house and a new car. Like any normal man. Triton won't get me that.
And I have virtually the best education I can get in Russia. I must use it for big moves.
Russia is an emerging market. I gotta get on top.

erm..



So your stopping selling trail bike and unicycle frames?
Thats to bad, because Ti is the future.

Peter M

[gazza]

I have got the position. YEAH!
I am starting mid-May. Hopefully I will be visiting UK and US soon :)

Yes, I have declined both unicycles and bike frame requests.

One of the unicyclist community members (thank you!) has advised me on possible changes in Triton unicycles production so it would make it quick (you pay - you get it. No need to wait), and it would be interesting for me (money/time wise).
That's a good idea and I appreciate it. I actually had it before, but had no spare money to realise it.
May have it later this year.

Titanium is great, I know. I love riding it. That's why I started the whole Triton thing. But it was my part-time project while I was studying at university.
I want to spend all my full-time now on some serious stuff.
Though, I have an assistant. He can sort out the whole shipping/payment process.
I will only be there for translating issues and quality control (I hope I will have time for that).

So let it freeze for a moment.
I'll be back (c) Arnold :)

[uniaddict]

No more titanium unicycles!!!Bummer:eek:

[Brian O.]

No more titanium unicycles!!!Bummer:eek:
The previous owner of trialsin, Tim, was talking about starting to me Ti uni frames. I think he still plans on it.

[lpounds]

I guess this makes people like nathan and ken elite owners of one of a kinds.

[osmundo]

Still no word on my Triton Frame. Dmitry must be too busy to repond to my email. Apparently May is a big Russian holiday and unicycle frame manufacturing comes to a complete halt. STM, did you ever get your 29er back?

[lpounds]

It must be eating you up inside... seeing that beautiful COLO weather coming into season... and no 36 triton guni to use.:(

[osmundo]

It must be eating you up inside... seeing that beautiful COLO weather coming into season... and no 36 triton guni to use.:(
YES! I have been busy training for this century ride on my "other" coker, which is still a nice ride. I've recently upgraded to Wellgo Magnesium pedals and I should be getting my new Scott Wallis saddle in the mail this weekend. But...to not use the geared hub sitting idle does cause a dull ache.

[madc-ccc]

Hi guys,

I personally gave up buying a Triton frame (for this year, at least)...

After having PM'd twice Dmitry (like one big big month ago) and received no answer at all from him - and even though I had some very friendly and fruitful MSN discussions with Sponge on that subject.

Too bad, really... I am now looking forward at buying the new KH36, which is great -don't get me wrong!;) - but perhaps not exactly as great as the 36er Triton frame would have been. The good side of it is that it is going to be... well... less expensive for sure!

Ohhh... and guess what??? I am now having doubts about the KH/Schlumpf hub (after the recent threads I read on this forum). At least I am no longer convinced that it will be a good investment on a 36er, BASED UPON MY OWN PRACTICE... It might actually be a better investment on a 29er, and I could travel with it more easily. But I'm going off-topic, there...

Anyway, I can't wait to read your review, Osmundo (and hopefully see the pictures of your beast) - and hope you will get your frame really soon!!!!!!

Cheers, MadC.

[lpounds]

Hi guys,

I personally gave up buying a Triton frame (for this year, at least)...

After having PM'd twice Dmitry (like one big big month ago) and received no answer at all from him - and even though I had some very friendly and fruitful MSN discussions with Sponge on that subject.

Too bad, really... I am now looking forward at buying the new KH36, which is great -don't get me wrong!;) - but perhaps not exactly as great as the 36er Triton frame would have been. The good side of it is that it is going to be... well... less expensive for sure!

Ohhh... and guess what??? I am now having doubts about the KH/Schlumpf hub (after the recent threads I read on this forum). At least I am no longer convinced that it will be a good investment on a 36er, BASED UPON MY OWN PRACTICE... It might actually be a better investment on a 29er, and I could travel with it more easily. But I'm going off-topic, there...

Anyway, I can't wait to read your review, Osmundo (and hopefully see the pictures of your beast) - and hope you will get your frame really soon!!!!!!

Cheers, MadC.
Just an advanced warning: The KH36 will only be available at first as a whole unicycle. I'm not sure how long it will be until you can buy the frame separately

[osmundo]

Hi guys,

I personally gave up buying a Triton frame (for this year, at least)...

Anyway, I can't wait to read your review, Osmundo (and hopefully see the pictures of your beast) - and hope you will get your frame really soon!!!!!!

Cheers, MadC.

I understand your hesitations. I am still confident that when it arrives it will be worth it, but, as Tom Petty says, waiting is the hardest part. I will post pictures and a review for sure.

[madc-ccc]

Just an advanced warning: The KH36 will only be available at first as a whole unicycle. I'm not sure how long it will be until you can buy the frame separately

Not good news :( - even if that's generally how things work: "off the shelf" models come first, then spare parts come after...

Thanks for the info, lpounds!

I guess I will buy the whole thing, then - and then sell the parts in excess...

Cheers, MadC.

(...and sorry to all for being off-topic...)

[lpounds]

Not good news :( - even if that's generally how things work: "off the shelf" models come first, then spare parts come after...

Thanks for the info, lpounds!

I guess I will buy the whole thing, then - and then sell the parts in excess...

Cheers, MadC.

(...and sorry to all for being off-topic...)
My thinking exactly, and probably what I'll end up doing.

[Paulo]

I have got the position. YEAH!
I am starting mid-May. Hopefully I will be visiting UK and US soon :)

Yes, I have declined both unicycles and bike frame requests.

One of the unicyclist community members (thank you!) has advised me on possible changes in Triton unicycles production so it would make it quick (you pay - you get it. No need to wait), and it would be interesting for me (money/time wise).
That's a good idea and I appreciate it. I actually had it before, but had no spare money to realise it.
May have it later this year.

Titanium is great, I know. I love riding it. That's why I started the whole Triton thing. But it was my part-time project while I was studying at university.
I want to spend all my full-time now on some serious stuff.
Though, I have an assistant. He can sort out the whole shipping/payment process.
I will only be there for translating issues and quality control (I hope I will have time for that).

So let it freeze for a moment.
I'll be back (c) Arnold :)
Just tripped on this post and now I'm worried, I ordered and paid for a 29" Triton back at the end of March before Dmitry left Italy, and have not heard from him since despite sending 2 emails.

Has anyone received stuff ordered before he "froze" Triton, but after his post above?

Thanks,

Paulo

[osmundo]

Just tripped on this post and now I'm worried, I ordered and paid for a 29" Triton back at the end of March before Dmitry left Italy, and have not heard from him since despite sending 2 emails.

Has anyone received stuff ordered before he "froze" Triton, but after his post above?

Thanks,

Paulo

I have to believe that Dmitry is trustworthy, although a bit slack on the communication. I'm sure he hasn't ripped us off...(???)! He did say that this May Russian holiday is the biggest of the year everything grinds to a halt. I would bet we'll hear from him soon and things will be shipped later this month. Right?!

[Paulo]

I have to believe that Dmitry is trustworthy, although a bit slack on the communication. I'm sure he hasn't ripped us off...(???)! He did say that this May Russian holiday is the biggest of the year everything grinds to a halt. I would bet we'll hear from him soon and things will be shipped later this month. Right?!

I also believe you're right. When I say I'm worried, I'm not questioning Dmitry's integrity, I have absolutely no basis for that. It's principally because I know what joining the investment banking world entails, at least in the west. People's time, attention and basically their whole life get sucked into something of a black hole; lots happening in there but not visible from the outside :)

I suppose all we can do is wait a little longer. In my case, I have two more weeks to go before the 8 weeks of the "6 to 8 weeks" he told me it would take.

Perhaps, if people who receive frames could post and say so we would know that things are still moving.

Paulo

[napalm]

Hey, kris said the KH frame will be available seperately in the thread named:
New KH36 frame (~June'08) => can't wait for it!!! 8-D
I'm assuming that means from when the stock KH36er goes on sale or a short while after. Might be an option if the triton thing falls through.
mark

[gazza]

Dear Mark and Paulo

I replied to both your messages. As I wrote to Paulo:,
"Dear Paulo,

I am sorry for the late reply.
I remember about you. Your frame is in the first priority with Mark's 36".
Though they haven't been built yet. I will let you know asap when it's ready to be shipped. My assistant will ship you the frame.
I have your money in cash and it will not be a problem for me to return it.

Sorry for not letting you know for such a long time. Just after my trip back to Russia I went to Ukraine to organize the biggest trials comps in the exUSSR.

It's very late now here, I am the last guy in the office. So there is finally an opportunity to write you a message".
As you can see, I am here. Though the frames aren't. I am looking forward to emailing you soon with nice messages about completed frames.

Sorry guys... 2madc-ccc
Sorry, but I did reply. Yes, it was a late reply, but I found it in the sent messages. Here it is:


18/04/2008, 00h08
Re: Price/delay for a Triton 36" frame delivered to France?

Bon soir ou bonne nuit, je ne sais pas

Pardon pour ma reponse trop long.
I was driving back home from Italy to Russia via France. J'aime beaucoup votre pay!

As far as frames are concerned, I deal with Western Union payment method.

Anyways. It has began taking tooooo long with frame production. People are waiting for months and emailing me for status of their orders.
So far I have decided to suspend production of Triton frames. Maybe I will continue this later, but for now it just doesn't work as efficient as it should be.

Sorry about that...

Toujours a votre disposition.

Yours sincerely,

Dmitry


All right, I am going back to my M&A stuff...

[osmundo]

I finally received a very lightweight package in the mail yesterday. It took almost two months longer than was estimated but it was finally here! My initial impressions were one of disappointment looking at the sloppiness of the welds. Dmitry said that Triton had lost its main welder and was training some one new. Apparently they decided to practice on my unicycle. These welds are no where near as clean as other Tritons I have seen on this forum. http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27483&stc=1&d=1215184473
If this were not such hassle and if Russia were not so far away and if Dmitry still worked at Triton I would probably send it back. Look at the top of the crown and how wacked it is!!http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27486&stc=1&d=1215186173 ...but alas after 16 weeks of waiting my main concern was riding the geared hub that had sat idle in out bedroom. The hub fit well on the frame but it does look to be slightly off center, (is there something to be done about that?)
Here is a a couple more pics...http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27484&stc=1&d=1215185111
http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27485&stc=1&d=1215185649
Despite the sloppy welds it does look cool, it is very light and very stiff. I love the integrated seat post http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27487&stc=1&d=1215187055and the muted Triton lettering. I went out for a sixty mile ride yesterday. Geared riding has proven to be a more difficult transition than I anticipated. I expend a lot more energy balancing and maneuvering that I do on my old coker. It feels similar to when first started riding 125 cranks. The 165 mm cranks are way too long and unless I riding on the tips of my toes I cannot easily reach the shift button with my heels. When I do finally change I often UPD trying to adjust to the new ratio. I can shift on the fly going slow maybe 1 out of 5 times. I've ordered some 145mm cranks and hopefully they will be better. For the first time in my uni career I passed a bike on a descent!! What a rush!! The weight of the hub is noticeable, but still it weighs in just under 19 lbs, pretty good for a geared machine.
I have a problem with my right crank. It has developed a significant wobble and I was sure that the bolt had come loose, but when I stopped it was very tight and I couldn't tighten it more. I noticed that compared to the KH moment cranks the lightweight Quax cranks screw much further into the hub. The bolt even interferes with the threaded gear shifter. Is there a spacer that would pull the crank out and allow for a tighter fit? Has anyone else had this problem?
Anyway, I love my new GUNI despite the aforementioned issues. I think when I get better at shifting and with shorter cranks I will be able to rock out! I am still undecided about adding a brake...so far it seems unnecessary but when I start descending mountain roads with the 145 cranks I may change my mind.

[UniKid2]

:mad: you made me Drool on my Keyboard :D

[jamessd]

Nice ride, finally. All that stuff with Triton really is a liberty.

[lpounds]

Oh my god. I love it so much. I see what you mean about the frame. A lot of the nimbus frames are whacked like this. I have had 2.

Only thing missing is a custom handle. Maybe something like Munivision has.

[patsandy100]

That 36'er is STYLIN! Man wish I could efford one of those for my kh20 :D love the "triton" on the side :P hope it works for you. Happy riding :)

[GizmoDuck]

Wow, that is a beautiful 36'er.

I wish I'd ordered one now, before they halted production :(

[Ducttape]

yummy 36'er..... I want.....

[unicyclist.ca]

welds look good to me, where are they sloppy? what an amazing unicycle, i am very jealous.

[osmundo]

welds look good to me, where are they sloppy? what an amazing unicycle, i am very jealous.
The top of the crown is not symmetrical, one side bulges, the welds on the crown are drippy and sloppy looking compared to Ken's 29er and the Sponge trials that I saw. Maybe my expectations were too high. HOWEVER, I do love the uni. Thanks for all the nice compliments. Anyone visiting Colorado is welcome to give it a spin.

[lpounds]

Osmundo, are the Kookas compatible with the geared hub?

[osmundo]

Osmundo, are the Kookas compatible with the geared hub?
Nope. Kookas are square tapered and KH/Schlumpf is ISIS. By the way, I f@*#ed up the Nimbus lightweight aluminum cranks I started out on. I originally had a set of moments on and they fit really nice and tight. Based on Siafred's recommendation I went to the lightweight, cheap Quax aluminum, (which for some reason came with a Nimbus label...same factory probably). They never really fit well and after my first and only long ride the right side came loose a couple of times. Now it has a hitch in it that is permanent...I probably rode on them when they were loose and there was play in them and damaged the ISIS groove on the crank. The play is present on both sides of the hub. The hub naturally has a slight amount of back-forth play, so it is hard to notice when a crank has come loose. Anyway, those cranks were too long anyway and they are out but meanwhile I am going to go back to a pair of moments (dual 150/125) because the fit just seemed to inspire confidence. SO...my SuperGuni is out of action for a couple of days.
I am going my old hub/wheel (bent spoke and all) with the Triton until my UDC shipment comes in.

[siafirede]

Nope. Kookas are square tapered and KH/Schlumpf is ISIS. By the way, I f@*#ed up the Nimbus lightweight aluminum cranks I started out on. I originally had a set of moments on and they fit really nice and tight. Based on Siafred's recommendation I went to the lightweight, cheap Quax aluminum, (which for some reason came with a Nimbus label...same factory probably). They never really fit well and after my first and only long ride the right side came loose a couple of times. Now it has a hitch in it that is permanent...I probably rode on them when they were loose and there was play in them and damaged the ISIS groove on the crank. The play is present on both sides of the hub. The hub naturally has a slight amount of back-forth play, so it is hard to notice when a crank has come loose. Anyway, those cranks were too long anyway and they are out but meanwhile I am going to go back to a pair of moments (dual 150/125) because the fit just seemed to inspire confidence. SO...my SuperGuni is out of action for a couple of days.
I am going my old hub/wheel (bent spoke and all) with the Triton until my UDC shipment comes in.

Yeah, the Qu-Ax seem to be a good choice due to the weight difference, but I actually have not tried them out on my guni yet. Tom has lightweight qu-ax cranks on his kh/schlumpf 29er and he seems to get on with them quite well. I think that if I were to upgrade my KH/Schlumpf 29 I would try out the lightweight qu-ax cranks since I keep it in the 125mm slot on the moments anyway.

Also...you said that your right crank came loose a lot. That seems to be a common problem with the KH/Schlumpf hub. I had to tighten my right crank a bunch before it finally set in place. Get proper tools to tighten the crank bolt because with the allen key that was originally sent out with the hub I seemed to round out the custom isis bolt. The allen key had a little play in the bolt, so I bought a nice set of proper fitting hex adapters to put on a socket wrench. Also, make sure that when you are tightening the bolts that before you do, the shifting mechanism is pushed in on the side that you are trying to tighten. You don't want that interfering with you trying to tighten the bolt.

When I build up a kh/schlumpf 36er with the new KH 36 frame (when it comes out), I think I will stick with the KH dual moments 125/150, but I also heard he is coming out with dual 110/137s which might be great on the geared 36. 137s for geared riding and if you just wanted to keep it in low gear you could use the 110s. From what I have tried so far on geared 36ers briefly...the 150s feel pretty nice, but seem a little bit too long, the 125s seem rather nice but harder to controll and push, so I think somewhere in the middle (137) would be ideal.

For the wheelbuild did you just do 4 cross with the 14g spokes available on unicycle dot com?

[osmundo]

When I build up a kh/schlumpf 36er with the new KH 36 frame (when it comes out), I think I will stick with the KH dual moments 125/150, but I also heard he is coming out with dual 110/137s which might be great on the geared 36. 137s for geared riding and if you just wanted to keep it in low gear you could use the 110s. From what I have tried so far on geared 36ers briefly...the 150s feel pretty nice, but seem a little bit too long, the 125s seem rather nice but harder to controll and push, so I think somewhere in the middle (137) would be ideal.

For the wheelbuild did you just do 4 cross with the 14g spokes available on unicycle dot com?
Yep. 4 cross w/14g spokes. I do a lot of climbing so I like the 150's, even though 137 for pushing of flats would be nice. Someday I might go back to the aluminum cranks. Sorry I spelled your name wrong...SIAFIREDE...I'll try to get it right.

[siafirede]

Yep. 4 cross w/14g spokes. I do a lot of climbing so I like the 150's, even though 137 for pushing of flats would be nice. Someday I might go back to the aluminum cranks. Sorry I spelled your name wrong...SIAFIREDE...I'll try to get it right.

No problem, its a common mistake, it isn't a very memorable screen name, which is why I am going to switch my SN to FlexYourHead very soon, so that I can have a screen name that is pronouncable.

Have fun with the geared 36, it looks like a great uni! Be sure to post updates on this thread as to how you are adjusting to it.

[unicyclist.ca]

No problem, its a common mistake, it isn't a very memorable screen name, which is why I am going to switch my SN to FlexYourHead very soon, so that I can have a screen name that is pronouncable.

Have fun with the geared 36, it looks like a great uni! Be sure to post updates on this thread as to how you are adjusting to it.

we could just call you AFI

[siafirede]

we could just call you AFI

Even more reason to switch my screen name. hah.

[Ken Looi]

Even more reason to switch my screen name. hah.

NOOOooooo!!!!

Siafirede sounds cool.

Flexyourhead just sounds naff.

We know you as Siafirede...why change it?

It would be like me signing on as something else other than Gizmoduck :p

[unicyclist.ca]

How does the hub work with ti dropouts? does the bearing spin at all?

[Ducttape]

NOOOooooo!!!!

Siafirede sounds cool.

Flexyourhead just sounds naff.

We know you as Siafirede...why change it?

It would be like me signing on as something else other than Gizmoduck :p
Ahhh! Who is that! haha

[oneisenough]

well its cool i guess....quite a bummer with the welds, anything on an exterior edge looks horrible. the inside edges look nice, but that crown...wow...srry about that:rolleyes:

[osmundo]

How does the hub work with ti dropouts? does the bearing spin at all?
The hub and frame fit beautifully. It is very tight and solid fit. I actually am liking this frame a lot the more I have it. It is stiff, strong and light. I do really notice the weight of the hub, compared to non-GUNI, when climbing...more than I thought I would. I am going to build up another wheel, from my old airfoil rim, with a lightweight hub and crank set that I can slap on when I need a light, nimble climber or off road Coker. Unfortunately my standard extra-wide hub/wheel set doesn't fit the Triton. Has anyone ever built up a 36' wheel from a KH moment hub? I've never heard of such a thing but with the new KH 36 frame that may become more common.

[rob.northcott]

Has anyone ever built up a 36' wheel from a KH moment hub? I've never heard of such a thing but with the new KH 36 frame that may become more common.
My new 36" wheel is a Nimbus ISIS hub (almost the same as a KH) with Stealth Pro rim and stainless spokes. I'm using Qu-Ax straight aluminium cranks. Very nice wheel.
I'm not a fan of short cranks (I mostly use 145s, occasionally 125s), but if you are it's probably best to check the availabilty of short ISIS cranks - I've got a feeling they're not that common at the moment.

Rob

[madc-ccc]

A little off-topic, sorry, but a short answer anyway :D to rob.northcott => I will use the following Qu-ax cranks (http://www.cdk.fr/equilibre/monos_pieces_detachees/moyeus_et_manivelles_canneles/manivelle_isis_100_114_125_145_170_article5872.html) (100mm version) on my future KH36.

I tested them on a KH Moment hub, and they do seem to work fine. Will see whether or not they support a daily use, and the special mechanical constraints of a 36" wheelset.

Cheers, MadC.