Just a few questions.

Tom Nakashima asked:
[color=blue]>If some of you commute, how do you carry water bottles, spare tubes, lunch,[/color]
[color=blue]>pump, spare tube? Back Packs? Messenger bags?[/color]

I commute, but I've only got a ride of a little over a mile, so all I carry for
the uni is a socket and ratchet to tighten the often-loosening left crank nut
(though I think the superglue (!) has got that problem fixed.) I wear a backpack
for lunch, juggling props, etc. I'm a software engineer, and I often juggle on
my lunch break. I don't wear a cycle helmet, but the area where I ride has only
minimal traffic, and I'm tend to move at about jogging pace, so for me wearing
one seems like it would be about like wearing one to jog. I've been riding since
about the end of March, and loving it. One of the advantages over a bike is that
I can park my wheel in my cube, just hanging the seat over the top of one of the
cube walls. Speaking of juggling on my lunch break... my practice time is
slipping away.

Cheers!

Paul Halter

Do most of you uni's ride with a cycling helmet?

If some of you commute, how do you carry water bottles, spare tubes, lunch,
pump, spare tube? Back Packs? Messenger bags?

-tom nakashima

TOM@slacvm.slac.stanford.edu (Tom) writes:

Tom> Do most of you uni's ride with a cycling helmet?

Always. I don't think the risk of head injury is very high, but the cost would
be extremely high in terms of lost time and possibly lost ability. Wearing a
helmet is a small inconvenience.

Tom> If some of you commute, how do you carry water bottles, spare tubes, lunch,
Tom> pump, spare tube? Back Packs? Messenger bags?

I don't commute on my uni (can't handle 9km yet), but I do carry things on
shorter trips. I often carry a tiny double stroke pump, though since I don't
carry a spare tube I'm not sure how useful this would ever be.

In the past I've carried a large backpack full of laundry. The balance takes
some getting used to, but isn't as hard as you might think. Make sure that
whatever you carry won't shift around. (For example, a sack full of cats thrown
over your shoulder might not be very stable.)

Sometimes I also carry a horn in a pouch on my belt. I leave the bulb sticking
out so I can honk conveniently. Good for getting people's attention or just
saying hi.

[color=blue]>Do most of you uni's ride with a cycling helmet?[/color]

Basically never. I'm not up to the 8 mile ride in to work over some big hills
yet, so I mostly ride around campus or in my neighborhood and on the empty roads
I just don't think its worth it.

[color=blue]>If some of you commute, how do you carry water bottles, spare tubes, lunch,[/color]
[color=blue]>pump, spare tube? Back Packs? Messenger bags?[/color]

I do carry a large backpack full of books when I'm cruising around campus. After
riding around with a pack for so many years, its just like walking with one.
Only it doesn't bounce around as much when you're on the wheel. On the few
longer trips I've taken, I just risk the flat and figure I can always carry it
home if necessary.

_ _ Doug Borngasser
(o)(o) San Diego CA db db@ucsd.edu \__/ You know you're a
unicyclist when walking feels strange.

On Fri, 9 Jun 1995 TOM@slacvm.slac.stanford.edu wrote:

[color=blue]> Do most of you uni's ride with a cycling helmet?[/color]

Personally I don't bother, nor do I know anyone who does. In some ways it may
seem to make more sense than wearing one on a bike, since it's been said that
in most accidents over about 10 mph (and I certainly don't ride my bike that
slow) the only difference a helmet will make is that between serious brain
damage and death. I'd be inclined to choose the latter.

Still, on a unicycle if you fall off you should usually fall off forwards and
land on your feet. In the 11 months I've been riding I've taken 2 bad
backward falls (one on my first day of practise). If I hadn't developed good
breakfalls from judo and aikido, either of those falls may easily have landed
me in hospital. There's certainly an argument for safety equipment, but
anyone who spends time on the cycling newsgroups knows how complex (and
heated) these arguments can become.

[color=blue]> If some of you commute, how do you carry water bottles, spare tubes, lunch,[/color]
[color=blue]> pump, spare tube? Back Packs? Messenger bags?[/color]

I carry a water bottle in a rack on the front of the uni. After some
experimentation, I took to fixing the rack on with plastic plant ties. If I'm
riding long distances (my commute is only 3 1/2 miles, so no problem) I use a
rucksack big enough to hold whatever I need (I rode home from Sainsbury's
once with 24 litres of milk on my back). On rides under about 5 or 6 miles,
if I'm not carrying much, I may just use a carrier bag.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
[color=blue]| Danny Colyer | bs1dwc@bath.ac.uk | To drop is human, | University of Bath |[/color]
[color=blue]| ----------------- | To juggle is divine. |[/color]
-------------------- http://www.bath.ac.uk/~bs1dwc/ --------------------

I always wear a helmet on my bike for safety reasons and because my kids would
question wearing theirs if dad didnt. As for the uni, i am just learning and
feel that it is more dangerous than a bicycle so I wear mine on the uni as well.
I strongly recommend the wearing of helmets on both bicycles and unis.

Carl from Sunny Shilo Manitoba Canada roth@brandonu.ca
H: (204) 765-4409 W: (204) 765-3731 Fax: (204) 765-3803