UNICON XV MUni Race Results & Uni Setups

[GizmoDuck]

Originally Posted by SkierAlex

Mountain bikes have gears for one (yes I know there are single speed mountain bike races but it's always going to be easier to climb on a bike because you don't have the problem of losing power when your cranks are verticle and you are less likely to skid).

I wouldn't mind if walking was allowed in uphill, just not running.

I was referring to the XC race, not the hillclimb race. What do you prove by walking up a hill when it's an endurance event? You're trying to show off your skill level at hillclimbing when the clock is ticking? Gears have nothing to do with it...when it gets too steep to ride a bike fast up a hill in low gear...they get off and run. Unicyclists should too.

In terms of Hillclimb races....there are two types according to the IUF rulebook. One is super steep and about being able to crank up something as steep as possible. I can see the sense of a no walking or running rule in that. That is focussing on skill level. The other is more of a endurance type event- I had Hawkins Hill in mind for if 495m climb from sea level, but in the end we didn't have enough people to run something like that. We have never had the latter at UNICON.

[tomtrevor]

I think we should all just get along

[SkierAlex]

Originally Posted by GizmoDuck

I was referring to the XC race, not the hillclimb race. What do you prove by walking up a hill when it's an endurance event? You're trying to show off your skill level at hillclimbing when the clock is ticking? Gears have nothing to do with it...when it gets too steep to ride a bike fast up a hill in low gear...they get off and run. Unicyclists should too.

In terms of Hillclimb races....there are two types according to the IUF rulebook. One is super steep and about being able to crank up something as steep as possible. I can see the sense of a no walking or running rule in that. That is focussing on skill level. The other is more of a endurance type event- I had Hawkins Hill in mind for if 495m climb from sea level, but in the end we didn't have enough people to run something like that. We have never had the latter at UNICON.

Yeah I agree with that. However I thought we were referring to the unicon uphill which was one of the super steep type, am I right?

[GizmoDuck]

Originally Posted by SkierAlex

Yeah I agree with that. However I thought we were referring to the unicon uphill which was one of the super steep type, am I right?

Yes...and I have no problem with that.

But for Cross-Country events- I race mountainbike events regularly on a unicycle. No way am I going to walk my unicycle up a hill when mountainbikers are off and running! Conversely, when you do run, you pass them because it's easier to run with a Uni than it is with a bike.

Come and do the Karapoti this year...you'll see what I mean. It's one of the few races where you can quite easily come in the top 1/2-2/3 of the bike field.

[joemarshall]

About running speeds - for reference, in a 7.2km fell race I took part in, I did 37:35, or about 12km an hour. I was in the top third. The winner did 28:43, or almost exactly 15km an hour, and he is one of the faster runners in the area (which probably makes him one of the fastest in the UK, given how many fell runners are from round here).

That was for a pretty open course with what the organiser reckons is 200m of climbing, but I reckon is 150m at most. Roots and rocks obviously, but nothing super technical. It'd make a great unicycle race course, although I reckon I'd be pretty close on time. I'd certainly run one section.

I don't think chicken lines make much sense in xc unless you can really make the technical section worth riding by making the chicken run much much longer, otherwise the only sensible tactic is to chicken out. When it comes down to it, safety is another reason to allow running - as it makes dismounting and walking a section more tactically sensible, so people are less likely to hammer over stuff they can't ride and injure themselves.

Joe

[Rowan]

Originally Posted by SkierAlex

I think this needs it's own thread. I will make it if noone else wants to.

Did you make that thread yet?

Originally Posted by SkierAlex

I suggested a new thread to discuss the unicon muni but this thread has become it now :P

Oh so this is it!

Originally Posted by GizmoDuck

I was referring to the XC race, not the hillclimb race. What do you prove by walking up a hill when it's an endurance event? You're trying to show off your skill level at hillclimbing when the clock is ticking? Gears have nothing to do with it...when it gets too steep to ride a bike fast up a hill in low gear...they get off and run. Unicyclists should too.

Why should unicyclists run because bikes can't make it up a hill? If a rider can get an advantage by riding their unicycle up a hill in a cross country event and not be passed by running unicyclists then that makes more sense. Not everyone walks the same sections. The focus is mainly a unicycle riding endurance event not a unicycle pushing endurance event.

Originally Posted by GizmoDuck

But for Cross-Country events- I race mountainbike events regularly on a unicycle. No way am I going to walk my unicycle up a hill when mountainbikers are off and running!

You will not face that problem at Unicon as the competitors will be on unicycles not bikes- and the rules tell them to walk not run. Of course you will run at the mountainbike event- but don't bring your mountainbiking buddies to Unicon unless they are really good at wheelies and don't mind trainer wheel jokes.

Originally Posted by GizmoDuck

If unicycling wants to see itself as a decent means of transport, then it must get past the fact that everything must be ridden.

You speak of unicycling like it is a conscious entity with only one voice or perception. I don't think unicycling has ever wanted to see itself as a decent means of transport- it is just the riders wishing that. The more things that can be ridden the more decent a form of transport the unicycle is, so unicycling must ride more things not walk or run them. I think unicycling is proud of the fact that it is an indecent form of transport which is why it turns so many heads being seen used for that.

Maybe you mean we should raise the bar a little- by not riding you mean use other skills. Coast everywhere! Offroad downhill coasting! The new exclusive race.

Unicycling just wants simplicity and for people to be happy!

[jogi]

XC running:
if sektions are to steep - up or down - for all to ride
then make longer bypasses for runners
so the rider gets allways a better chance!

[From the Woods]

I completely agree with Rowan. Unicycle races are about riding unicycles and not pushing them. If you allow running you simply favor running over riding therefore better riders will loose against better runners (again, we are still in an unicycling event). Walking is alright and has to be allowed from the safety point of view.
In my opinion it shouldn't be allowed to run during a mtb race. To me this seems like it should also be allowed during swimming competitions to run along the edge of of the pool instead of swimming (this example may be a bit extreme but it shows best what's my point of view)

[rob.northcott]

Originally Posted by From the Woods

In my opinion it shouldn't be allowed to run during a mtb race.

It's not. That's one of the differences between xc mountain bike racing and cyclocross (you're allowed to pick up the bike and run in cyclocross but have to walk in xc races if you get to a bit you can't ride). The idea is you should be able to ride all of an xc course, whereas cx has intentional unrideable bits.

The organisers had a moan about people running at Mountain Mayhem last year, which is what brought it to my attention (before that I didn't know you weren't supposed to run).

Rob

[From the Woods]

It's not. That's one of the differences between xc mountain bike racing and cyclocross

But according to GizmoDuck it seems to be allowed at least in some XC races.

cx has intentional unrideable bits

Then it's completely OK. I haven't heard of cyclocross until now but as I can see it is supposed to be a mixture of running and cycling.

[unicycle6869]

So what was everyones unicycle setup? Wow, leave for a day and my thread turns into an arguement. All I was asking for was the top MUni riders set ups. I too have some issues with some of the MUni events but this thread wasn't supposed to be it, but guess it's too late for that now.

Hmm..what to do. Think I'll start a "Take 2: UNICON XV MUni Race Results & Uni Setups" thread, and then start a "UNICON XV MUni Arguments, Complaints & Rants" thread and direct it to here, otherwise others that might want to chime in might not have any idea this discussion is going on. So from now on, forget about the original thread topic and let's hear your arguments, complaintes and rants!!!! I'll post mine as soon as I have more time.

[GizmoDuck]

Originally Posted by rob.northcott

The organisers had a moan about people running at Mountain Mayhem last year, which is what brought it to my attention (before that I didn't know you weren't supposed to run).

Rob

That might be specific to that particular race then, because all the UCI sanctioned MTB races I've seen or raced in have allowed running.

[GizmoDuck]

Originally Posted by From the Woods

I completely agree with Rowan. Unicycle races are about riding unicycles and not pushing them. If you allow running you simply favor running over riding therefore better riders will loose against better runners (again, we are still in an unicycling event). Walking is alright and has to be allowed from the safety point of view.
In my opinion it shouldn't be allowed to run during a mtb race. To me this seems like it should also be allowed during swimming competitions to run along the edge of of the pool instead of swimming (this example may be a bit extreme but it shows best what's my point of view)

Have you ever raced in a mountainbike race? The best riders still win...and there is no way they are going to be walking when they are off the bike.

On your argument, you can make a Unicycle XC race course so difficult it can only be won on 20" Trials unicycles because of the no running rule. It then becomes off-road trials. What would be the fun in that?

[jogi]

10Km: 36Kh Schlumpf 150mm cranks
Uphill: Triton 26" x 3" 150mm cranks (witch wasn´t a good idea)
Downhill: Triton 26" x 3" 150mm cranks
XC: Triton 26" x 3" 125mm cranks

[turtle]

i've not been at a unicon at all. but i'm the organizer of the "elsbet" and also this year the "grischa muni challange" i know how much work it needs to organize a event (not even close as big as unicon). for me some statements above are really disrespectful for all the people who worked hard for the unicon XV. i also heard from my friends (who enjoyed) about the downhill and they were a little disapointed, but i think it's not possible to make everybody happy!

for the XC (i also raced mtb ages ago...) running should (doesn't have to) be a part of it (not in downhill), and i don't now if you know "cyclocross" but there they run a lot (see vid below).
last year we also particpated in a 24h race with a team of four, and sure we had to run (if we still could, otherwise we hadt to walk ;-) ) some parts because it was muddy and wet...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWGnM_1ViZA&feature...