Comments for http://www.adventureunicyclist.com Sat, 15 May 2010 09:29:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Mt Coot-tha Challenge by John Connolly http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=358&cpage=1#comment-3346 John Connolly Sat, 15 May 2010 09:29:17 +0000 http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=358#comment-3346 Great article. I hope to do it in 2011 if all goes well. For this ride what do you estimate that your average speed would have been? Great article. I hope to do it in 2011 if all goes well. For this ride what do you estimate that your average speed would have been?

]]> Comment on Total Gear Ratio by Bruce Dawson http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=319&cpage=1#comment-2977 Bruce Dawson Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:31:34 +0000 http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=319#comment-2977 I like the TGR concept as it summarizes multiple elements quite nicely. However I think that RPM is also a factor in top-speeds. I now ride a Schlumpf 29" with 165 mm cranks. Previously I rode a 36" with 125 mm cranks. The 36" with short cranks has a higher TGR, but I can unquestionably go faster (peak speed and cruising speed) with less effort on my Schlumpf 29". I think that is because the higher cadence required on the 36" is both tiring and harder to control. I think that energy expenditure on a unicycle is somewhat related to the distance that your feet travel (and thus is affected ty TGR) but is also related to the number of revolutions your feet make, probably because quickly switching from pushing to not pushing uses energy. I've recently switched my Schlumpf to 135 mm cranks, which now gives it a better TGR than my old 36" unicycle, but still not as good a TGR as a 36" with 120 mm or shorter cranks. And yet, I love my Schlumpf and can beat most people on an ungeared 36". FWIW. I like the TGR concept as it summarizes multiple elements quite nicely. However I think that RPM is also a factor in top-speeds. I now ride a Schlumpf 29″ with 165 mm cranks. Previously I rode a 36″ with 125 mm cranks. The 36″ with short cranks has a higher TGR, but I can unquestionably go faster (peak speed and cruising speed) with less effort on my Schlumpf 29″. I think that is because the higher cadence required on the 36″ is both tiring and harder to control.

I think that energy expenditure on a unicycle is somewhat related to the distance that your feet travel (and thus is affected ty TGR) but is also related to the number of revolutions your feet make, probably because quickly switching from pushing to not pushing uses energy.

I’ve recently switched my Schlumpf to 135 mm cranks, which now gives it a better TGR than my old 36″ unicycle, but still not as good a TGR as a 36″ with 120 mm or shorter cranks.

And yet, I love my Schlumpf and can beat most people on an ungeared 36″.

FWIW.

]]> Comment on Road Unicycle set-up and T7 Handlebar Modification by » New articles online http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263&cpage=1#comment-81 » New articles online Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:56:04 +0000 http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263#comment-81 [...] The first article is about setting up unicycles more like bicycles…particularly for road riding.  The reasoning is that as unicyclists start riding faster and over longer distances, the most comfortable set-up is one refined over a century by our two wheeled cousins.  There is already vigorous debate on the forums and many new designs coming forth.  Read about it here: Road Unicycle Set-up and T7 Modification. [...] [...] The first article is about setting up unicycles more like bicycles…particularly for road riding.  The reasoning is that as unicyclists start riding faster and over longer distances, the most comfortable set-up is one refined over a century by our two wheeled cousins.  There is already vigorous debate on the forums and many new designs coming forth.  Read about it here: Road Unicycle Set-up and T7 Modification. [...]

]]> Comment on Road Unicycle set-up and T7 Handlebar Modification by Scott Wilton http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263&cpage=1#comment-78 Scott Wilton Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:41:27 +0000 http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263#comment-78 I agree with the fact that it isn't long enough still, even though I have only rode it around the block (due to weather and flat tire, no spare 29er tubes). It will be interesting to see how climbing goes. I agree with the fact that it isn’t long enough still, even though I have only rode it around the block (due to weather and flat tire, no spare 29er tubes). It will be interesting to see how climbing goes.

]]> Comment on Road Unicycle set-up and T7 Handlebar Modification by admin http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263&cpage=1#comment-77 admin Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:57:25 +0000 http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263#comment-77 Nathan, I'm using the T7 to try out a the concept. It was never designed for this sort of thing, and is still too short. When I get around to it, I'll design a proper T-frame or V-frame setup. Nathan, I’m using the T7 to try out a the concept. It was never designed for this sort of thing, and is still too short.
When I get around to it, I’ll design a proper T-frame or V-frame setup.

]]> Comment on Road Unicycle set-up and T7 Handlebar Modification by Nathan Hoover http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263&cpage=1#comment-75 Nathan Hoover Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:19:46 +0000 http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263#comment-75 Looks great Ken. I would love to try riding a setup like that. It's funny how you're using two rail adapters! I am a little concerned about the T7 welds breaking as many people have had problems. The heavier you are, the more stress on that back one where the seat is mounted. You're so light that maybe it will never be a problem, but I wonder how it would do with a heavier rider. I am very interested to see how this works out and how you like it after more testing over all kinds of terrain. Looks great Ken. I would love to try riding a setup like that. It’s funny how you’re using two rail adapters!

I am a little concerned about the T7 welds breaking as many people have had problems. The heavier you are, the more stress on that back one where the seat is mounted. You’re so light that maybe it will never be a problem, but I wonder how it would do with a heavier rider. I am very interested to see how this works out and how you like it after more testing over all kinds of terrain.

]]> Comment on Road Unicycle set-up and T7 Handlebar Modification by admin http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263&cpage=1#comment-74 admin Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:43:01 +0000 http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263#comment-74 Thanks Michael, I'm not sure what you mean by 'bottom bracket offset'. You are still balanced over the axle (you have to be!), the only difference is that your torso is lower down. In fact, for me the position changes little. I ride exactly like this anyway. The only difference with a short handle is that my arms are bent in an uncomfortable position and there is little support for my back! As for spending money on this sort of design...you can wait for others to experiment, or you could be one of the pioneers of unicycle design. Like the guys who stuck fat tyres on their clunker bikes 30yrs ago...that evolved into todays mountainbikes. The bike seat is perfectly stable as long as you ride it like a bike. Unicycle seats were designed for freestyle unicyclists. They rely on a curved seat wedging agains't their crotch to steer with. There is no need for that on a road unicycle with a handlebar. Thanks Michael,

I’m not sure what you mean by ‘bottom bracket offset’. You are still balanced over the axle (you have to be!), the only difference is that your torso is lower down. In fact, for me the position changes little. I ride exactly like this anyway. The only difference with a short handle is that my arms are bent in an uncomfortable position and there is little support for my back!

As for spending money on this sort of design…you can wait for others to experiment, or you could be one of the pioneers of unicycle design. Like the guys who stuck fat tyres on their clunker bikes 30yrs ago…that evolved into todays mountainbikes.

The bike seat is perfectly stable as long as you ride it like a bike. Unicycle seats were designed for freestyle unicyclists. They rely on a curved seat wedging agains’t their crotch to steer with. There is no need for that on a road unicycle with a handlebar.

]]> Comment on Road Unicycle set-up and T7 Handlebar Modification by michael menghe http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263&cpage=1#comment-73 michael menghe Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:48:43 +0000 http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263#comment-73 Neat idea! I do however have a concern about all "V" type frames and any other extension mod. Although I do agree that simply increasing the length of your handle bar accomplishes little and weighs a little too much, when you move the seat behind the center of the wheel, it creates a bottom bracket offset, which I feel to be inferior in terms of efficiency. Just a hunch, I can't prove it and have been looking for information on this topic. I recently inquired a few high profile bicycle companies about what they thought about the offset, and hope to hear from them soon. What is your opinion on my concern? Like I said, I'm not too confident that there even is a downfall to this design, I'm just a little skeptical and would like to be rested assured that my cash dollars will not have been spent in vain. thanks, Michael Menghe Ps: what do you think about riding a typical bike seat? is it any less stable? Neat idea!
I do however have a concern about all “V” type frames and any other extension mod. Although I do agree that simply increasing the length of your handle bar accomplishes little and weighs a little too much, when you move the seat behind the center of the wheel, it creates a bottom bracket offset, which I feel to be inferior in terms of efficiency. Just a hunch, I can’t prove it and have been looking for information on this topic. I recently inquired a few high profile bicycle companies about what they thought about the offset, and hope to hear from them soon. What is your opinion on my concern? Like I said, I’m not too confident that there even is a downfall to this design, I’m just a little skeptical and would like to be rested assured that my cash dollars will not have been spent in vain.
thanks,
Michael Menghe
Ps: what do you think about riding a typical bike seat? is it any less stable?

]]> Comment on Climbing by Chris Lombardo http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=214&cpage=1#comment-44 Chris Lombardo Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:19:54 +0000 http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=214#comment-44 Exactly. It seems that the energy expended to do this is less than energy used to "push" leg weight up on the opposite pedal. Exactly. It seems that the energy expended to do this is less than energy used to “push” leg weight up on the opposite pedal.

]]> Comment on Road Unicycle set-up and T7 Handlebar Modification by admin http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263&cpage=1#comment-42 admin Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:30:11 +0000 http://www.adventureunicyclist.com/?page_id=263#comment-42 Hi Steve, Yes, I think so. And also, with it being a round rather than a square crown, it should be less painful if it does rub on your legs. Hi Steve,

Yes, I think so. And also, with it being a round rather than a square crown, it should be less painful if it does rub on your legs.

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