A bit of racing... ok not a uni, but almost

[onewheeldave]

That's a nice looking unicycle

The reason I asked if it was a bit treacherous was cos I've personally ridden on a 28" with a skinny tyre to do a comparsion with my 29-er (same rim but with a fat tyre) and found that the skinny tyre was not so much less comfortable, but just dodgier to ride as little holes/pebbles in the road would throw you off, whereas the fatter tyre 29-er just rolled over them unhindered.

I Know Mike Fule had a couple of unis with ultra skinny tyres and enjoyed the different type of riding where he'd have to keep a lot of focus and spotting and negotiating/avoiding road defects that a normal tyre would just roll over.

So I was wondering if the same issue would be present with either a penny farthing, or, with a unicycle like yours which seems to be a penny farthing minus the rear wheel and handlebars.

Originally Posted by johnfoss

Because unicycles can turn pretty hard and be leaned pretty far over, you want a really tight tire. Generally I think it needs to be tighter that it would for a penny-farthing, especially if you use that video as an example. In fact, the best feature of my 45", aside from its visual impact, is doing spins and pirouettes on it. Pneumatic 36" tires are very spin-resistant; they are much better at going straight. On a hard tire big wheel, you can curve, swoop, do frontspins and backspins all you want. That's what makes mine an excellent parade unicycle. That and the fact that you can then zoom back to retrieve the car afterward!

What are frontspins and back spins?

[johnfoss]

Yes, what you said on the avoidance of smaller objects and debris in your path. Smaller stuff can have an effect on you, probably in proportion to the narrowness (and hardness) of your tire.

Frontspin/backspin is a trick where you "flick" the unicycle into the opposite direction, with minimal loss of your riding momentum in the line you are following. So while the wheel makes a little "spike" out to the side, if it's done well it just looks like you flicked around to face the other way, without stopping.

[redwelly]

Originally Posted by johnfoss

I do not consider my big wheel to be dangerous going around corners, unless I'm going really fast. Then it's already dangerous before you start turning; it's a heavy cycle! Mine is made from old Schwinn tubular 1 3/8" rims, plus the heavy wheelchair rubber, plus lots of long spokes, plus an all-steel Schwinn-style frame and Schwinn seat. I think it weighs 28 lbs. But it grips just fine on (clean) pavement. The only thing you have to worry about is hitting a round rock or something. Skinny as the tire is, it does happen from time to time!

John, do you find that the skinny wheel is badly affected by road camber? Is your solid tire similar in shape to standard 23mm road bike tires (i.e. pretty round)? I'm tinkering with narrow, solid tires and finding camber the biggest problem.

Sam

[johnfoss]

I'm not aware that my big wheel is affected by road camber. That is to say, it doesn't seem to bother me. Note that I don't ride it like I ride a 36"; I'm generally not going in a strait line, especially in a parade.

The tire's cross section is round, at least when the tire is new. Mine is worn, so it's more of an ellipse shape; less round now. The rim also rides fairly low to the ground, and occasionally snaps small rocks away from me if I ride over them just right. That tends to make little divots in the rim, which can then scrape up your legs if you turn or stop too hard.

[tveit]

Originally Posted by rogeratunicycledotcom

oh... one thought.

How about having a unicycle race in the Nocturne races? I get the impression that if we ask for a 36" unicycle race to be added to this event... it would be. There certainly is an amazing buz to this event!

So.
How many people would be interested in coming to the event?
30 minutes + 3 laps? (they are 1km laps)

Roger

I would like to be there on one wheel next year, if it should turn out to be an option.
Actually, I guess it could have been fun with a support wheel too, but I dont have the right equipment... yet...

Cato

[monocyclism]

Originally Posted by tveit

I would like to be there on one wheel next year, if it should turn out to be an option.
Actually, I guess it could have been fun with a support wheel too, but I dont have the right equipment... yet...

Cato

'Include me in'. What better way to see the event than also taking part in it!

[rob.northcott]

Originally Posted by rogeratunicycledotcom

How about having a unicycle race in the Nocturne races?
So.
How many people would be interested in coming to the event?

I'd be up for it in principle, travel arrangements and time allowing. I'm not normally much of a road unicyclist (that's what bikes are for!) but I really enjoyed racing at Warwick, and the marathon + 10k at unicon in Denmark.

If it happens I'll make the effort to be available.

Rob

[unicycle6869]

I rode a 42" hard rubber uni 500 miles across Minnesota awhile ago...OUCH is all I can say. Note that this was before 36" air tires.