brakes

[danger_uni]

Yes I have. I think this is a good potential solution for getting around the narrow flange issue, but burning is still a potential problem as you say, as is vulnerability of the disk. Because I find that a Magura rim brake is lightweight and works very well, it just hasn't been a big priority to work on this. The other aspect of rim brakes is that the braking torque scales with rim diameter, so rim braking on a 36'er has quite a lot of power.

Kris

[steveyo]

Originally Posted by GizmoDuck

Hi Kris...the possibility of mounting it on the crank (for instance can a bicycle crank spider bolt onto a disc brake so it's on the outside of the fork legs instead of the inside? You would need some ankle guards so it doesn't burn your legs.

Like this.

Originally Posted by danger_uni

...a Magura rim brake is lightweight and works very well, it just hasn't been a big priority to work on this.

KH: Have you thought of making an adaptor for V-brakes?

[danger_uni]

The first time I ever used brakes, in Fall 1998, I had V-brakes. But I switched to Maguras in 1999 and have been really happy with them. I think they have a very good place on mid-range unis, but personally I'd prefer to stick with hydraulics because of the slightly better control and also because there's no chance of accidentally activating them with your knees.

[saskatchewanian]

Originally Posted by GizmoDuck

Hi Kris,

I almost never use a brake, but just have a comment regarding disc brakes. There is no need to mount it on the hub on a unicycle, because there is no freewheel. Have you thought about the possibility of mounting it on the crank (for instance can a bicycle crank spider bolt onto a disc brake so it's on the outside of the fork legs instead of the inside? You would need some ankle guards so it doesn't burn your legs.

I really think that crank mounted disks have great potential. I would advocate for a 6 bolt adaptor that would thread onto a crank like a freewheel (chain-ring) threads onto a bike trials crank. Who knows, if you use the same thread for interchangeability, trials bikers may adopt both KH rims and cranks

Here is an example of threaded trials cranks

My Echo cranks have the same thread and have been awesome on my unicycle.


I don't think that burning your leg would be that much of an issue, Sure I have had pants get caught but I have never had a chain-ring bite my leg.

[GizmoDuck]

Just a slight off topic observation here...but is it correct for unicyclists to use brakes? I've never seen a unicycle with more than one brake, although I guess there could be potential for using two or more brakes.

And whilst I'm at it, all unicycles have at least two gears (forward and reverse).

Heh

[Rowan]

Originally Posted by GizmoDuck

all unicycles have at least two gears (forward and reverse).

It is the same gear just a different direction. You could also say it goes sideways if you put the seat on sideways if you want to get really pedantic. The two gears in reality are the cranks and the wheel- regular riding and wheel walking which uses a different ratio. There are additional modes too- gliding is like cruise control and coasting like overdrive. You can't really call skills a gear though.

Originally Posted by GizmoDuck

is it correct for unicyclists to use brakes?

Yes it is. Unless they all have to share the same unicycle with a brake.
I don't see any harm in calling a single brake brakes. You have two brake pads even if it is only one brake. It just seems natural to say brakes and everyone knows what you mean when you say it.

[cuzican]

I remember my mini bikes & go carts as having scrub brakes that rubbed against the tire, could these work on a uni or would it require to much force?

[Rowan]

Originally Posted by cuzican

I remember my mini bikes & go carts as having scrub brakes that rubbed against the tire, could these work on a uni or would it require to much force?

I wouldn't want to add any unnecessary tire wear, big tires are expensive. Rim braking would be more sustainable than tire scrubbing. In unicycling we use our feet like scrub brakes- gliding! On steeper hills it can cause unwanted friction between the shoe and tire. Benoit said he likes to use his hydraulic brake to reduce the friction on his shoe while gliding- another positive aspect for brakes.

[kb1jki]

Originally Posted by saskatchewanian

I really think that crank mounted disks have great potential. I would advocate for a 6 bolt adaptor that would thread onto a crank like a freewheel (chain-ring) threads onto a bike trials crank. Who knows, if you use the same thread for interchangeability, trials bikers may adopt both KH rims and cranks

Here is an example of threaded trials cranks

My Echo cranks have the same thread and have been awesome on my unicycle.


I don't think that burning your leg would be that much of an issue, Sure I have had pants get caught but I have never had a chain-ring bite my leg.

I have a design to retrofit most isis and square taper cranks to disk brakes, as well as produce a kit with mount and spacer for steel uni frames to be made available on MountainUni.com. So, who's interested?

[lobbybopster]

Well, I have a Disc on my 24" Muni and when bouncing, hoping, sliding and raging offroad I would never ride without it. You bend a rim and you may have to walk. But to run up to the store I use a 1957 Columbia 42-520 (24"x1 3/4) and its a simple stripped down beauty. No brake, wouldn,t want one. So this is only my opinion but that is how I like it and no one cares.

Rowan, as an instructor you are to educate your students in the SAFE use of a Unicycle. But this "Know it all, Arrogant attitude" I'm to good for use of helmet, brakes, safety gear. You are a minimalist, Fine. That does not mean anything to anyone else. Maybe your students would benifit from some of these other options, even avoid some pain but I guess you know the best. Your probably just a withered old fart with no other life, and can't aford a decent Uni with a brake.

[Rowan]

Originally Posted by lobbybopster

Rowan, as an instructor you are to educate your students in the SAFE use of a Unicycle. But this "Know it all, Arrogant attitude" I'm to good for use of helmet, brakes, safety gear. You are a minimalist, Fine. That does not mean anything to anyone else.

Safety gear is optional. You can get confident riding while staying safe if you practise good techniques and have a nice learning area. Safety gear inspires fear and is restrictive. Unicycling doesn't have to be all about fear.

So you speak for anyone else? Who said I'm too good? That was you. The style of riding I do does not require safety gear, except in Unicon where they have these silly rules which people follow. The rules were originally for other countries where laws about suing cause fear in the organisers, but in New Zealand where you are not required by law to wear a helmet on a unicycle, the organisers didn't bother to change the rules. All safety gear in freestyle is optional, even though some injuries occur.

Instead of safety gear I use common sense- if something looks too dangerous to ride I do not ride it. I don't like injuries.

Originally Posted by lobbybopster

Your probably just a withered old fart with no other life, and can't aford a decent Uni with a brake.

Are you trying to make a point? So what if I am? Doesn't matter if you are too.
I don't have another life - I have just one. I could afford a Unicycle with a brake if I chose to. John Foss has no brakes on his Wilder (and a horribly flexy old KH seat), and Ken Looi doesn't seem to think brakes are correct for unicyclists to use- I've never seen him with them.

[lobbybopster]

Originally Posted by Rowan

Safety gear is optional. You can get confident riding while staying safe if you practise good techniques and have a nice learning area. Safety gear inspires fear and is restrictive. Unicycling doesn't have to be all about fear.

So you speak for anyone else? Who said I'm too good? That was you. The style of riding I do does not require safety gear, except in Unicon where they have these silly rules which people follow. The rules were originally for other countries where laws about suing cause fear in the organisers, but in New Zealand where you are not required by law to wear a helmet on a unicycle, the organisers didn't bother to change the rules. All safety gear in freestyle is optional, even though some injuries occur.

Instead of safety gear I use common sense- if something looks too dangerous to ride I do not ride it. I don't like injuries.
Are you trying to make a point? So what if I am? Doesn't matter if you are too.
I don't have another life - I have just one. I could afford a Unicycle with a brake if I chose to. John Foss has no brakes on his Wilder (and a horribly flexy old KH seat), and Ken Looi doesn't seem to think brakes are correct for unicyclists to use- I've never seen him with them.

Well Off topic but,
Safety equipment does not inspire fear, It protects from injury. And also allows a rider to try new tricks/ tallents without "FEAR" of injury while practicing and gaining skill and good technique. This is "COMMON SENSE"

As I stated previously ,This is my opinion, not speaking for anyone else.

As far as you being "arrogant" your inference of how John Foss must not ride down hills is showing how unfamiliar you are to these people outside of the forum.

And "Too Good" is a reference to an earlier statement about no need for helmet, or other protective equipment because of "common sense" this tells me you miss out on all offroad and trials riding. and I might add that even tho I "Always wear my helmet" (Old fart in Fear) I have mainly used it to keep tree limbs and stickers from ruining my ageless beauty.

Now if we go back to my post I also do not ride with a brake on my street Uni, Also of the over 40 something uni's/ tandem, girraffe's(Shaft driven) and odd tricksters that I have built only 3 have disc brake and 2 rim brakes, I am not an expert, but I would not attemp to ride some of my favorite trails without one. Of course your common sense would prevent you from riding them any way so you would not be able to build up your legs to handle this kind of down hill (never used a shuttle eh?)

and I leave you with this "Yeah, so what? Do you know who I am?" Check out the poll results Rowan, And please have a good and safe time at the Marathon.

Lobby

[Rowan]

Originally Posted by lobbybopster

As far as you being "arrogant" your inference of how John Foss must not ride down hills is showing how unfamiliar you are to these people outside of the forum.

Maybe you are not familiar with John Foss's riding style yourself. He is quite capable of defending himself if he thinks the hills he rides are steep- but they are not and he knows it. The MUni course at Unicon has lots of walkable sections for me and John.

Originally Posted by lobbybopster

And "Too Good" is a reference to an earlier statement about no need for helmet, or other protective equipment because of "common sense" this tells me you miss out on all offroad and trials riding. and I might add that even tho I "Always wear my helmet" (Old fart in Fear) I have mainly used it to keep tree limbs and stickers from ruining my ageless beauty.

What you need according to Sugra, is "TITS", or time in the saddle. A helmet can not fully protect you from stickers. You read way too much into a few words if you think I miss out on all offroad riding. I do the easy stuff, and trials is not my style so I don't feel like I am missing out. You can still be injured in many ways while wearing safety gear.

Originally Posted by lobbybopster

Now if we go back to my post I also do not ride with a brake on my street Uni, Also of the over 40 something uni's/ tandem, girraffe's(Shaft driven) and odd tricksters that I have built only 3 have disc brake and 2 rim brakes, I am not an expert, but I would not attemp to ride some of my favorite trails without one. Of course your common sense would prevent you from riding them any way so you would not be able to build up your legs to handle this kind of down hill (never used a shuttle eh?)

I have used a shuttle- doesn't mean I need brakes. Your logic is pretty faulty.

Originally Posted by lobbybopster

and I leave you with this "Yeah, so what? Do you know who I am?" Check out the poll results Rowan, And please have a good and safe time at the Marathon.

You are some imaginary internet person who doesn't exist in my world apart from a few uninteresting words on my screen. So what at the poll results? Knowing how brakes work does not mean people are necessarily using them all the time. I will have a safe time at the marathon with no brakes- hopefully everyone will make it through the MUni course safely with or without them (it is definitely good brake territory).

[bouin-bouin]

Is it mandatory to wear an helmet at the Marathon ? If so, unfortunately, Rowan will have to conform .....
From an Helmet and brake addict

[Mark 42]

I'm a bit surpriesd to see hydraulic brakes on such a lightweight machine.

I would have expected cable actuated brakes in order to keep the weight down
It doesn't seem like you could apply the brakes really hard on a unicycle
since you would end up on your face, wouldn't you?

I still don't ride a Unicycle yet, but the engineering involved caught
my eye (I think the first post assumes that cable actuated brakes
are a subset of hydraulic brakes).

It would be easy to add BMX brakes in such a way that they could be
installed and uninstalled in a matter of minutes for differing situations.