Fireball tyre

Unicycles and Equipment
1

Hi,

Re your questions:

— Neil Dunlop <n.dunlop@kildrummy.co.uk> wrote:
> Hi Kris,
>
> A good while back you mentioned the Fireball tyre your riding for
> trials. I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about it like…
>
> The static width of the tyre.

A: supposedly 3", actually 2 3/4 inches

>
> The pros and cons of using it for trials over a knobbly MUni tyre like
> the ever popular Gazz.
>
B: In general it’s a better tire than the Gazz for most pure trials unless
you are on dirt or wet slimy surfaces. This tire is MUCH lighter than
any 3" MTB tire, and is very grippy on rocks and logs- analagous to
rock climbing with smooth-soled rock shoes instead of clunky treaded
boots. The total weight of my uni with this tire is 14.5 lbs, including
a Profile Hub and Wilder rails attachment. I think my MUni (basically
the same but with Gazz tire and hydraulic brake) is closer to 17 lbs.

The tire also is much smoother for riding on pavement, and is usually
better for gliding than the Gazz (although the Gazz is better for gliding
if your tire is dirty or wet).

The advantage over a Monty 20" setup is that the bigger tire is much more
stable for larger drops and gaps, especially off or onto oblique surfaces
in natural terrain. Also, at 14.5lbs it’s not much heavier than the Monty
setup that includes the Profile Hub, and it is MUCH better than the Monty
for getting from A to B, which the Monty setup pretty much sucks at.
However it is less appropriate for freestyle, obviously.

The cons are that it offers only OK (not great) traction on trails, and
bad traction if it’s muddy. Also, the tire isn’t quite as durable as the
Gazz, although it is less expensive to start with. Finally, it is
necessary to pump it up to higher pressures than the Gazz because the
sidewalls are weaker and it tends to fold otherwise. Once you get used to
riding with higher pressures then it’s quite good though. It is essential
that this tire be used with a wide rim- wider than the Sun Mammoth-
minimum width should be a rim such as a Sun Doublewide or Alex DX32 (which
is the one I use).

The Fireball is also a really good cruising tire for urban use,
because the fat tire makes it much more comfortable than a skinny tire
on rough pavement.

> Where you get them from.

In the States, GT Bicycles sells them, and in Canada they are distributed
by Norco. I don’t know where you get them outside North America; likely a
GT bicycles distributor.

Hope that helps,

Kris.

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2

Hi Mt Uni, aka MUni, aka Evan Dunbar here,

Nice prototype frame Kris, I imagine it will look sweet in a metallic orange, and I can’t wait to be riding it next year, when I purchase my own.

I like to do both trials and MUni, and I was just wondering something. I will run your setup basically, the MUni one, and I’m wondering what rim I’ll be better off with for both practices. The Doublewide or the Alex?

I am going to start buying bits at a time, like first the custom air seat, then the frame and hydro brakes with lever extensor, and then the wheel with Profile drive train. I will only be running one cycle, since that’s about all I can afford until I get a job, so this info is useful. And since I am collecting bits at a time, are you going to change any of the frames dimensions next summer?

Also is it sane for me to be attempting pedal grabs after only riding since December 2000? I almost have them down, but my right foot slipped off after I made the jump up from the grab, and I broke a spoke. Hahah I guess my Miyata isn’t up to this kind of abuse. So I am going to need something indestructable because I tend to huck it.

Evan

3

Hi again,

I forgot to ask one more thing, do you run Titanium spokes? Wow my last reply is so messy, I need to be taught better grammar.

Evan

4

> In the States, GT Bicycles sells them, and in Canada they are
> distributed by Norco. I don’t know where you get them outside North
> America; likely a GT bicycles distributor.
>

Anybody know where you can buy one online? Who makes the Fireball, anyway?

Chris

5

Hi Evan,

Re your questions:
> I like to do both trials and MUni, and I was just wondering something. I
> will run your setup basically, the MUni one, and I’m wondering what rim
> I’ll be better off with for both practices. The Doublewide or the Alex?

Personally I think the Alex DX32 rim (note the DX32 model) is the way to
go for two reasons, one because it’s lighter, and two because it’s
actually designed for using a rim brake, unlike the Doublewide. It also
works to run a doublewide with a rim brake but you need to grind the paint
off the sides of the rim (otherwise the brakes squawk like crazy). It’s a
bit narrower than the doublewide but still seems OK.

>
> I am going to start buying bits at a time, like first the custom air
> seat, then the frame and hydro brakes with lever extensor, and then the
> wheel with Profile drive train. I will only be running one cycle, since
> that’s about all I can afford until I get a job, so this info is useful.
> And since I am collecting bits at a time, are you going to change any of
> the frames dimensions next summer?

Nothing will change that wouldn’t be compatible. Having said that order of
priority for collecting uni stuff, in my opinion, is to get a good
wheel/axle first, then a good frame, then replace your Miyata Airseat with
a Carbonfibre airseat, and then, last priority, get the brake. The brake
isn’t needed for almost any trials moves and isn’t essential for MUni
either (although it is nice to have). Actually maybe last last priority is
to get a lighter slick 3" tire just for trials, ideally on a spare wheel
that you can interchange with your MUni tire. And then of course you’ll
need a second frame for that second tire…

>
> Also is it sane for me to be attempting pedal grabs after only riding
> since December 2000? I almost have them down, but my right foot slipped
> off after I made the jump up from the grab, and I broke a spoke. Hahah I
> guess my Miyata isn’t up to this kind of abuse. So I am going to need
> something indestructable because I tend to huck it.
>

Definately. The hardest thing about these techniques is thinking them up
in the first place! After that it’s for sure worth trying in situations
with low injury potential.

-Kris.

> Evan
>
>
>
>
> –
> Posted via the Unicyclist Community - http://unicyclist.com/forums

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6

Kris Holm wrote:
>
> — Mt Uni <forum.member@unicyclist.com> wrote:
>
> > I forgot to ask one more thing, do you run Titanium spokes?
>
> no just good quality 14 gauge spokes. I occasionally break them from
> catching on something but in general they stand up well. Hub Flange
> design is a big issue for spokes. Thicker, rounded profiles on the
> flanges (like the Profile hub) significantly reduce spoke breakage
> compared to sharper radius corners on the DM ATU hub and all the
> cheaper hubs.

Steel hubs vs. aluminum hubs is also a big issue in spoke breakage. Spoke
elbows are supported better by aluminum hubs because the aluminum deforms
to the shape of the spoke elbow when you tension the wheel. Poorly
supported spoke elbows leads to spoke breakage. For more info see “The
Bicycle Wheel” by Jobst Brandt.

Chris

7

Chris,

I think that Dyno makes them but I don’t know whether they are an
independent company or a subsidiary of someone else.

-Kris — Chris Reeder <reed8990@uidaho.edu> wrote:
>
> > In the States, GT Bicycles sells them, and in Canada they are
> > distributed by Norco. I don’t
> know
> > where you get them outside North America; likely a GT bicycles
> > distributor.
> >
>
> Anybody know where you can buy one online? Who makes the
> Fireball, anyway?
>
> Chris

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8

Hi again,

All I own right now is a Miyata 24" delux with Diamondback pedals with replaceable pins.

Next summer around July I’ll be running this:Custom Carbonfibre seat. That includes:Roach cover and pillow, Roger Davies Carbon Fibre fram, Miyata Hardwear, Wilder Brake attachment, I’ll swap posts to a Jim’s Bean by Odyssey. I’ll be running one of your frames Kris. I’ll be running hydro brakes with Lever extensor. An Alex rim wheel now, with Profile Hubs and cranks, Odyssey Southgate Pedals, and Gazz tire.

I will have to use this for both practices because I am only 15 so I don’t have a job right now, so funds are short. After a year, like you said Kris I’ll eventually need, and have two cycles. I’ll have a summer job to pay for my next one when I am 16-17.

I will need the brakes because I ride down some steep long hills, they scare the sh#t out of me, probably cause I’d never attempt even walking down them, let alone riding a unicycle. But I still attempt them

And Most definitly I will need an indestructable cycle, I love hucking myself.

I started not knowing about Extreme Unicycling back in November/December, and then I saw Kris on Ripley’s so I decided to go his route, and I still don’t think I am going to follow all of his footsteps, like the Prow wall stunt, but I do intend to huck 8’ drops, and various things like that, so I know I’ll need a strong uni.

-Evan

9

— Mt Uni <forum.member@unicyclist.com> wrote:

> I forgot to ask one more thing, do you run Titanium spokes?

no just good quality 14 gauge spokes. I occasionally break them from
catching on something but in general they stand up well. Hub Flange design
is a big issue for spokes. Thicker, rounded profiles on the flanges (like
the Profile hub) significantly reduce spoke breakage compared to sharper
radius corners on the DM ATU hub and all the cheaper hubs.

-Kris.

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Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/

10

Dyno (Dyno Kruisers) makes the Fireball. They are a part of GT Bicycles. I
don’t know where to get them online, but I have seen the tire in local
bike shops in Seattle.

http://www.gtbicycles.com/ http://www.kustomkruiser.com/

john_childs

>From: Kris Holm <danger_uni@yahoo.com>
>
>Chris,
>
>I think that Dyno makes them but I don’t know whether they are an
>independent company or a subsidiary of someone else.
>
>-Kris — Chris Reeder <reed8990@uidaho.edu> wrote:
> >
> > > In the States, GT Bicycles sells them, and in Canada they are
>distributed by Norco. I don’t
> > know
> > > where you get them outside North America; likely a GT bicycles
>distributor.
> > >
> >
> > Anybody know where you can buy one online? Who makes the Fireball,
> > anyway?
> >
> > Chris
>

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11

Another option on spokes are the Wheelsmith DH-13 butted spokes. These are
13 guage (ie very thick) on the part that normally breaks (to just past
the elbow). More expensive, but very strong. Geoff has been using these on
the Deluxe Telford wheels and I have them on my Profile wheel too.

—Nathan

“Kris Holm” <danger_uni@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:20010821203729.25780.qmail@web11605.mail.yahoo.com…
> — Mt Uni <forum.member@unicyclist.com> wrote:
>
> > I forgot to ask one more thing, do you run Titanium spokes?
>
> no just good quality 14 gauge spokes. I occasionally break them from
catching on something but in
> general they stand up well. Hub Flange design is a big issue for spokes.
Thicker, rounded
> profiles on the flanges (like the Profile hub) significantly
> reduce spoke
breakage compared to
> sharper radius corners on the DM ATU hub and all the cheaper hubs.
>
> -Kris.

12

http://www.bikemotor.com/accessories_more.html lists the Fireball but you
have to call them to order.

Neil

-----Original Message----- From: reed8990@uidaho.edu
[mailto:reed8990@uidaho.edu] Sent: 21 August 2001 20:41 To:
unicycling@winternet.com Subject: Re: Fireball tyre Importance: Low

>> In the States, GT Bicycles sells them, and in Canada they are
>distributed by Norco. I don’t know
>> where you get them outside North America; likely a GT bicycles
>distributor.
>>

Anybody know where you can buy one online? Who makes the Fireball, anyway?

Chris

13

Can anyone who does find somewhere that sells the Fireball tyres post the
info up here please. Me wants to try one!

Cheers, Neil

P.S. I’m not saying the bikemotor.com site below doesn’t sell them tho -
I’m just waiting to hear back from them.

-----Original Message----- From: Neil Dunlop
[mailto:n.dunlop@kildrummy.co.uk] Sent: 22 August 2001 09:34 To:
reed8990@uidaho.edu; unicycling@winternet.com Subject: RE: Fireball tyre

http://www.bikemotor.com/accessories_more.html lists the Fireball but you
have to call them to order.

Neil

-----Original Message----- From: reed8990@uidaho.edu
[mailto:reed8990@uidaho.edu] Sent: 21 August 2001 20:41 To:
unicycling@winternet.com Subject: Re: Fireball tyre Importance: Low

>> In the States, GT Bicycles sells them, and in Canada they are
>distributed by Norco. I don’t know
>> where you get them outside North America; likely a GT bicycles
>distributor.
>>

Anybody know where you can buy one online? Who makes the Fireball, anyway?

Chris

14

What diameter is the Fireball?

nic

On Tue, 21 Aug 2001, Kris Holm wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Re your questions:
>
> — Neil Dunlop <n.dunlop@kildrummy.co.uk> wrote:
> > Hi Kris,
> >
> > A good while back you mentioned the Fireball tyre your riding for
> > trials. I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about it like…
> >
> > The static width of the tyre.
>
> A: supposedly 3", actually 2 3/4 inches
>
> >
> > The pros and cons of using it for trials over a knobbly MUni tyre like
> > the ever popular Gazz.
> >
> A: In general it’s a better tire than the Gazz for most pure trials
> unless you are on dirt or wet slimy surfaces. This tire is MUCH
> lighter than any 3" MTB tire, and is very grippy on rocks and logs-
> analagous to rock climbing with smooth-soled rock shoes instead of
> clunky treaded boots. The total weight of my uni with this tire is
> 14.5 lbs, including a Profile Hub and Wilder rails attachment. I
> think my MUni (basically the same but with Gazz tire and hydraulic
> brake) is closer to 17 lbs.
>
> The tire also is much smoother for riding on pavement, and is usually
> better for gliding than the Gazz (although the Gazz is better for
> gliding if your tire is dirty or wet).
>
> The advantage over a Monty 20" setup is that the bigger tire is much
> more stable for larger drops and gaps, especially off or onto oblique
> surfaces in natural terrain. Also, at 14.5lbs it’s not much heavier than
> the Monty setup that includes the Profile Hub, and it is MUCH better
> than the Monty for getting from A to B, which the Monty setup pretty
> much sucks at. However it is less appropriate for freestyle, obviously.
>
> The cons are that it offers only OK (not great) traction on trails, and
> bad traction if it’s muddy. Also, the tire isn’t quite as durable as the
> Gazz, although it is less expensive to start with. Finally, it is
> necessary to pump it up to higher pressures than the Gazz because the
> sidewalls are weaker and it tends to fold otherwise. Once you get used
> to riding with higher pressures then it’s quite good though. It is
> essential that this tire be used with a wide rim- wider than the Sun
> Mammoth- minimum width should be a rim such as a Sun Doublewide or Alex
> DX32 (which is the one I use).
>
> The Fireball is also a really good cruising tire for urban use, because
> the fat tire makes it much more comfortable than a skinny tire on rough
> pavement.
>
> > Where you get them from.
>
> In the States, GT Bicycles sells them, and in Canada they are
> distributed by Norco. I don’t know where you get them outside North
> America; likely a GT bicycles distributor.
>
> Hope that helps,
>
> Kris.
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with
> Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/

15

I called them up, the lady said they have 5 left in 24x3 and price
is $35 US.

Chris

Neil Dunlop wrote:
>
> Can anyone who does find somewhere that sells the Fireball tyres post
> the info up here please. Me wants to try one!
>
> Cheers, Neil
>
> P.S. I’m not saying the bikemotor.com site below doesn’t sell them tho -
> I’m just waiting to hear back from them.
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Neil Dunlop
> [mailto:n.dunlop@kildrummy.co.uk] Sent: 22 August 2001 09:34 To:
> reed8990@uidaho.edu; unicycling@winternet.com Subject: RE: Fireball tyre
>
> http://www.bikemotor.com/accessories_more.html lists the Fireball but
> you have to call them to order.
>
> Neil
>
> -----Original Message----- From: reed8990@uidaho.edu
> [mailto:reed8990@uidaho.edu] Sent: 21 August 2001 20:41 To:
> unicycling@winternet.com Subject: Re: Fireball tyre Importance: Low
>
> >> In the States, GT Bicycles sells them, and in Canada they are
> >distributed by Norco. I don’t know
> >> where you get them outside North America; likely a GT bicycles
> >distributor.
> >>
>
> Anybody know where you can buy one online? Who makes the
> Fireball, anyway?
>
> Chris

16

I called them up, the lady said they have 5 left in 24x3 and price
is $35 US.

Chris

Neil Dunlop wrote:
>
> Can anyone who does find somewhere that sells the Fireball tyres post
> the info up here please. Me wants to try one!
>
> Cheers, Neil
>
> P.S. I’m not saying the bikemotor.com site below doesn’t sell them tho -
> I’m just waiting to hear back from them.
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Neil Dunlop
> [mailto:n.dunlop@kildrummy.co.uk] Sent: 22 August 2001 09:34 To:
> reed8990@uidaho.edu; unicycling@winternet.com Subject: RE: Fireball tyre
>
> http://www.bikemotor.com/accessories_more.html lists the Fireball but
> you have to call them to order.
>
> Neil
>
> -----Original Message----- From: reed8990@uidaho.edu
> [mailto:reed8990@uidaho.edu] Sent: 21 August 2001 20:41 To:
> unicycling@winternet.com Subject: Re: Fireball tyre Importance: Low
>
> >> In the States, GT Bicycles sells them, and in Canada they are
> >distributed by Norco. I don’t know
> >> where you get them outside North America; likely a GT bicycles
> >distributor.
> >>
>
> Anybody know where you can buy one online? Who makes the
> Fireball, anyway?
>
> Chris

17

I called them up, the lady said they have 5 left in 24x3 and price
is $35 US.

Chris

Neil Dunlop wrote:
>
> Can anyone who does find somewhere that sells the Fireball tyres post
> the info up here please. Me wants to try one!
>
> Cheers, Neil
>
> P.S. I’m not saying the bikemotor.com site below doesn’t sell them tho -
> I’m just waiting to hear back from them.
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Neil Dunlop
> [mailto:n.dunlop@kildrummy.co.uk] Sent: 22 August 2001 09:34 To:
> reed8990@uidaho.edu; unicycling@winternet.com Subject: RE: Fireball tyre
>
> http://www.bikemotor.com/accessories_more.html lists the Fireball but
> you have to call them to order.
>
> Neil
>
> -----Original Message----- From: reed8990@uidaho.edu
> [mailto:reed8990@uidaho.edu] Sent: 21 August 2001 20:41 To:
> unicycling@winternet.com Subject: Re: Fireball tyre Importance: Low
>
> >> In the States, GT Bicycles sells them, and in Canada they are
> >distributed by Norco. I don’t know
> >> where you get them outside North America; likely a GT bicycles
> >distributor.
> >>
>
> Anybody know where you can buy one online? Who makes the
> Fireball, anyway?
>
> Chris