oww my "boys" (handlebars?)

[UNO]

johnfoss - is the handle you use the "shadow"?

http://www.unicycle.com/unicycle-har...ow-handle-set/

[Dane M]

Originally Posted by UNO

thanks for all the advice. i bought bike shorts today. they did help. . i also tried to tackle my first hill. i did not make it. i was hoping that bars might help with hills, and you confirmed it. i am definitely buying one. the question now is which.

Well learning to ride flat ground is different than learning to ride up hills, and learning to ride down hills. It's a whole different way of treating the pedals for both situations.

You'll enjoy those bike shorts.

[Buddy]

I just got my KH T-Bar handle and I love it. You have to fix it if you get it because of a known problem. But all you need is a drill to do that and once it's fixed it's awesome.

[Tirving]

Originally Posted by Buddy

I just got my KH T-Bar handle and I love it. You have to fix it if you get it because of a known problem. But all you need is a drill to do that and once it's fixed it's awesome.

You shouldn't have to if it's a new one, they fixed the problem in the latest KH bar.

[magnustudios]

Handlebars make distance possible for me, especially when I'm carrying weight. I don't particularly like the t-7, but I do think it gets an overly-bad chance. It was my first bar, and took me on a little 4700km jog with a 40-lb backpack. (I didn't have bike shorts, but that's another story). Would not have been remotely possible without some kind of handlebar. I added some mountain-bike bar-ends that faced down, which helped a ton.

I'm putting all my weight behind (or rather, on?) the handlebar as the best investment for this problem. I now do long rides with triathlon aero-bar mounted on my KH t-bar. It's really amazing. I was able to consistently do 20-40km stretches without break on my last tour. I did snap the t-bar a couple days before the end. It's not perfect, but it's the best I know of.

Yeah, proper shorts do help, significantly. Get those too. If I had to pick one though, handlebar, no question.

[Buddy]

Originally Posted by Tirving

You shouldn't have to if it's a new one, they fixed the problem in the latest KH bar.

All I know is that I ordered my KH bar only two weeks ago from UDC and it still needed fixing. So maybe mine was just part of the old faulty batch. Who knows. I just meant to warn UNO that it might happen but that it's completely fixable so no freaking out will occur. ;D

[johnfoss]

Originally Posted by UNO

johnfoss - is the handle you use the "shadow"?

http://www.unicycle.com/unicycle-har...ow-handle-set/

That's the one. A bit pricey, but the various parts give you lots of flexibility. you can also set the seat/handle angle, though you have to take the seat off to do this.

I don't recommend using a handle until your riding gets more solid and comfortable. Your initial handle should be the one built onto your seat. Those were once a luxury as well; before the 90s, no unicycle had one! Holding the seat handle will get you started in using it for extra leverage/power, and getting used to the idea of isolating your upper body from the pedaling.

At first, holding the handle may seem strange, or even impossible. Don't worry. As you get more comfortable in your riding, you will need your upper body less and less. At the same time, you will be freed up to to add more power into the pedals. This is where a basic seat handle comes in; it lets you pedal hard without lifting yourself up off the seat.

A touring handle mostly does the opposite; providing a place to rest some of your body weight while cruising. If you tried one right now, you probably wouldn't be able to do much with it other than slam it into the ground a lot (not recommended). In time you will also be able to pull up on it for greater stability and power in a more aerodynamic position.

[UNO]

johnfoss - i rode my uni about 3 miles today with only one break... and i have not fallen (yet). i have also stopped flapping my arms. so in your opinion the "shadow handle" IS a good one for touring and relieving pressure off the saddle? i saw a set that are long and slender with a gentle upcurve, where they meet(?). i think i saw them on a unigeezer vid. do you know which these are? if so, any experience with them? thank you for all you help and advice everyone... my boys thank you.