A Uni Project

Hi all

I am a recent uni convert and am considering building myself a uni using
'rockshox' suspension forks (the type designed for mountain bikes). I
wonder if anyone here has tried anything simalar, and if do do they have
any info or advice they can offer.

Many thanks, sorry my first post here is a request. If anyone has any
circus, juggling, trapeze, acrobatic or stiltwalking questions I would be
happy to help.

David Straitjacket

www.straitjacketcircus.co.uk

Hi David, My cousin and a friend of mine have both experimented with
rockshox suspension forks.

There are a couple of problems with using fork suspension with a unicycle.
As you ride you tend to alternate pressure from the right pedal to
pressure on the left pedal. With non rigid forks this often results in one
side of the shocks compressing and not the other. This causes the wheel to
rub against the shocks and makes the unicycle unrideable. This problem can
be minimised by using high pressure shocks which are quite stiff (and also
more expensive).

The general practice in the unicycling community regards suspension is to
use a combination of the following factors:

Oversize tyre: 2.5"> width tyres with a large depth. For 20" unicycles
Monty trials tyres are good providing about a 3" thick tyre. on a 26" a
Gazziloda is a good choice. The idea is the oversize tyres allow you to
run at a lower pressure with out bottoming out and can provide up to 2"
travel. You usually need an expensive rim as well to accomodate the
larger tyre.

Airseat: more comfortable and a little more forgiving. Miyata and semcycle
seats are fairly easily coverted.

Seat suspension: Not so useful for drops but definately smooths out the
ride. Available with some production unicycles like the Telford.

Feel free to play around with fork suspension but if you want something
useful rather than a gimmick you are probably best off considering
other options.

"David Straitjacket" <straitjacketcircus'DELETE'@totalise.co.uk>
wrote: Hi all

I am a recent uni convert and am considering building myself a uni using
'rockshox' suspension forks (the type designed for mountain bikes). I
wonder if anyone here has tried anything simalar, and if do do they have
any info or advice they can offer.

Many thanks, sorry my first post here is a request. If anyone has any
circus, juggling, trapeze, acrobatic or stiltwalking questions I would be
happy to help.

David Straitjacket

www.straitjacketcircus.co.uk

o o Peter Bier o O o Juggler, unicyclist, programmer and mathematician.
o/|\o peter_bier@usa.net

[darrell]

I have never tried a uni with shocks, but I recall seeing a uni project with the shox on it somewhere on the web. Maybe you have already seen it.

Jeff Lutkus has a page describing how he constructed his own unicycle. I think it is on RIT's website... You can also get to it through a link at http://wobbling.unicyclist.com along with other links to uni stuff. That might get you more info to get started.

Since John Foss is in his car driving to Idaho for the Muni weekend (or
maybe he is there by now) I don't know if he will see this soon, so I will
jump in . Dan Hopkins build several Rockshox Mountain unicycles back in
the late 90's and rode them at the Muni Weekends and NUC's. I'm sure there
are pictures of a couple of them on Foss's web site:

http://www.unicycling.com/muni/

Exactly where I can't say, but I think they are there.

Dan's machines were interesting to ride and he put a great deal of
research, design and effort into them. However, I seem to remember that he
eventually went back to a rigid frame when the big Gazzalodi tires
appeared. They provide a fair amount of suspension in and of themselves
without the mushy feel of the shock fork.

One interesting thing about Dan's Munis. The front of his saddles were
radically tipped up so that his body weight rode on the wide part of the
seat. It was really difficult to mount. We all thought is was a bit too
strange, and I don't know of anyone changed the angle of their saddles.
This year Kris Holm arrived at NUC with his saddles mounted the same way
that Dan had 4 years earlier, for the exact same reason.

All the best,

John Hooten

David Straitjacket wrote:

[color=blue]> Hi all[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> I am a recent uni convert and am considering building myself a uni using[/color]
[color=blue]> 'rockshox' suspension forks (the type designed for mountain bikes). I[/color]
[color=blue]> wonder if anyone here has tried anything simalar, and if do do they have[/color]
[color=blue]> any info or advice they can offer.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Many thanks, sorry my first post here is a request. If anyone has any[/color]
[color=blue]> circus, juggling, trapeze, acrobatic or stiltwalking questions I would[/color]
[color=blue]> be happy to help.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> David Straitjacket[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> www.straitjacketcircus.co.uk[/color]

Check out Daniel Hopkin's RockShox and HeadShok unis:

http://home.earthlink.net/~dmhopkins...dshokmuni.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~dmhopkins/pages/rspage.html

---Nathan

"David Straitjacket" <straitjacketcircus'DELETE'@totalise.co.uk> wrote in
message news:tq2mu5fgg63mda@corp.supernews.com...
[color=blue]> Hi all[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> I am a recent uni convert and am considering building myself a uni using[/color]
[color=blue]> 'rockshox' suspension forks (the type designed for mountain bikes). I[/color]
wonder
[color=blue]> if anyone here has tried anything simalar, and if do do they have any[/color]
[color=blue]> info or advice they can offer.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Many thanks, sorry my first post here is a request. If anyone has any[/color]
[color=blue]> circus, juggling, trapeze, acrobatic or stiltwalking questions I would[/color]
[color=blue]> be happy to help.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> David Straitjacket[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> www.straitjacketcircus.co.uk[/color]

John Hooten wrote:
> Dan Hopkins build several Rockshox Mountain unicycles back in the late
> 90's and rode them at the Muni Weekends and NUC's.

Details about Dan Hopkins suspension unicycles can be found on his website
at: http://home.earthlink.net/~dmhopkins

<html><div style='background-color:'><P>I would love to see a unicycle
made from a cannondale "lefty" fork! If I had the money to play around
with something like that... I'd go wild!!</P>
<P>Kate</P>
<Q>&nbsp;</P>
<R>----Original Message Follows---- </P>
<DIV></DIV>From: Peter Bier <PETER_BIER@USA.NET>
<DV></DIV>Reply-To: Peter Bier <PETER_BIER@USA.NET>
<DVI></DIV>To: "David Straitjacket"
<STRAITJACKETCIRCUSDELETE@TOTALISE.CO.UK>
<DVII></DIV>CC: unicycling@winternet.com
<DVIII></DIV>Subject: Re: [A Uni Project]
<DIX></DIV>Date: 14 Sep 2001 14:30:45 NZST
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<DXXII></DIV>Precedence: bulk
<DXXIII></DIV>
<DXXIV></DIV>Hi David,
<DXXV></DIV>My cousin and a friend of mine have both experimented with
rockshox suspension
<DXXVI></DIV>forks.
<DXXVII></DIV>
<DXXVIII></DIV>There are a couple of problems with using fork suspension
with a unicycle. As
<DXXIX></DIV>you ride you tend to alternate pressure from the right
pedal to pressure on
<DXXX></DIV>the left pedal. With non rigid forks this often results in
one side of the
<DXXXI></DIV>shocks compressing and not the other. This causes the
wheel to rub against
<DXXXII></DIV>the shocks and makes the unicycle unrideable. This problem
can be minimised
<DXXXIII></DIV>by using high pressure shocks which are quite stiff
(and also more
<DXXXIV></DIV>expensive).
<DXXXV></DIV>
<DXXXVI></DIV>The general practice in the unicycling community regards
suspension is to use
<DXXXVII></DIV>a combination of the following factors:
<DXXXVIII></DIV>
<DXXXIX></DIV>Oversize tyre: 2.5"&gt; width tyres with a large depth.
For 20" unicycles Monty
<DXL></DIV>trials tyres are good providing about a 3" thick tyre. on
a 26" a Gazziloda
<DXLI></DIV>is a good choice. The idea is the oversize tyres allow you
to run at a lower
<DXLII></DIV>pressure with out bottoming out and can provide up to 2"
travel. You usually
<DXLIII></DIV>need an expensive rim as well to accomodate the
larger tyre.
<DXLIV></DIV>
<DXLV></DIV>Airseat: more comfortable and a little more forgiving.
Miyata and semcycle
<DXLVI></DIV>seats are fairly easily coverted.
<DXLVII></DIV>
<DXLVIII></DIV>Seat suspension: Not so useful for drops but definately
smooths out the ride.
<DXLIX></DIV>Available with some production unicycles like the Telford.
<DL></DIV>
<DLI></DIV>Feel free to play around with fork suspension but if you
want something useful
<DLII></DIV>rather than a gimmick you are probably best off
considering other options.
<DLIII></DIV>
<DLIV></DIV>"David Straitjacket"
<STRAITJACKETCIRCUS'DELETE'@TOTALISE.CO.UK>wrote:
<DLV></DIV>Hi all
<DLVI></DIV>
<DLVII></DIV>I am a recent uni convert and am considering building
myself a uni using
<DLVIII></DIV>'rockshox' suspension forks (the type designed for
mountain bikes). I wonder
<DLIX></DIV>if anyone here has tried anything simalar, and if do do
they have any info
<DLX></DIV>or advice they can offer.
<DLXI></DIV>
<DLXII></DIV>Many thanks, sorry my first post here is a request. If
anyone has any
<DLXIII></DIV>circus, juggling, trapeze, acrobatic or stiltwalking
questions I would be
<DLXIV></DIV>happy to help.
<DLXV></DIV>
<DLXVI></DIV>David Straitjacket
<DLXVII></DIV>
<DLXVIII></DIV>www.straitjacketcircus.co.uk
<DLXIX></DIV>
<DLXX></DIV>
<DLXXI></DIV>
<DLXXII></DIV>
<DLXXIII></DIV>o o Peter Bier
<DLXXIV></DIV>o O o Juggler, unicyclist, programmer and mathematician.
<DLXXV></DIV>o/|\o peter_bier@usa.net
<DLXXVI></DIV></div><br clear=all><hr>Get your FREE download of MSN
Explorer at <a href='http://go.msn.com/bql/hmtag_itl_EN.asp'>ht-
tp://explorer.msn.com</a><br></html

[color=blue]> Dan's machines were interesting to ride and he put a great deal of[/color]
[color=blue]> research, design and effort into them. However, I seem to remember that[/color]
[color=blue]> he eventually went back to a rigid frame when the big Gazzalodi tires[/color]
[color=blue]> appeared.[/color]

Dan told me he quit riding his suspension Muni because the axle broke.

Chris

Hi Peter..

Oops..sorry, didn't see the new thread about my message. Many thanks for
your reply, I hope you didn't think i was ignoring it and being rude!

David Straitjacket www.straitjacketcircus.co.uk

Peter Bier <peter_bier@usa.net> wrote in message
news:20010914023045.24985.qmail@nwcs...ddress.usa.net...
[color=blue]> Hi David, My cousin and a friend of mine have both experimented with[/color]
[color=blue]> rockshox[/color]
suspension
[color=blue]> forks.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> There are a couple of problems with using fork suspension with a[/color]
[color=blue]> unicycle.[/color]
As
[color=blue]> you ride you tend to alternate pressure from the right pedal to pressure[/color]
on
[color=blue]> the left pedal. With non rigid forks this often results in one side of[/color]
the
[color=blue]> shocks compressing and not the other. This causes the wheel to rub[/color]
against
[color=blue]> the shocks and makes the unicycle unrideable. This problem can be[/color]
minimised
[color=blue]> by using high pressure shocks which are quite stiff (and also more[/color]
[color=blue]> expensive).[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> The general practice in the unicycling community regards[/color]
[color=blue]> suspension is to[/color]
use
[color=blue]> a combination of the following factors:[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Oversize tyre: 2.5"> width tyres with a large depth. For 20" unicycles[/color]
Monty
[color=blue]> trials tyres are good providing about a 3" thick tyre. on a 26" a[/color]
Gazziloda
[color=blue]> is a good choice. The idea is the oversize tyres allow you to run at a[/color]
lower
[color=blue]> pressure with out bottoming out and can provide up to 2" travel. You[/color]
usually
[color=blue]> need an expensive rim as well to accomodate the larger tyre.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Airseat: more comfortable and a little more forgiving. Miyata and[/color]
semcycle
[color=blue]> seats are fairly easily coverted.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Seat suspension: Not so useful for drops but definately smooths out the[/color]
ride.
[color=blue]> Available with some production unicycles like the Telford.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Feel free to play around with fork suspension but if you want something[/color]
useful
[color=blue]> rather than a gimmick you are probably best off considering other[/color]
[color=blue]> options.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> "David Straitjacket" <straitjacketcircus'DELETE'@totalise.co.uk>[/color]
[color=blue]> wrote: Hi all[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> I am a recent uni convert and am considering building myself a uni using[/color]
[color=blue]> 'rockshox' suspension forks (the type designed for mountain bikes). I[/color]
wonder
[color=blue]> if anyone here has tried anything simalar, and if do do they have any[/color]
[color=blue]> info or advice they can offer.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Many thanks, sorry my first post here is a request. If anyone has any[/color]
[color=blue]> circus, juggling, trapeze, acrobatic or stiltwalking questions I would[/color]
[color=blue]> be happy to help.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> David Straitjacket[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> www.straitjacketcircus.co.uk[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> o o Peter Bier o O o Juggler, unicyclist, programmer and mathematician.[/color]
[color=blue]> o/|\o peter_bier@usa.net[/color]