I purchased the Coker 36" Uni while in Chattanooga, TN a couple of days ago.
The tire is pueumatic. The wheel is fairly sturdy. I have ridden several miles
on it. However, I have not yet been able to balance it in place due to the
huge centrifugal force the wheel exerts on the pedals. It is also more
difficult to turn and maneuver than my 28" Semcycle. Right now it appears to
be more novelty than utilitarian because of this difficulty to balance it in
place (i.e. would have to dismount at intersections and traffic lights, etc.)
If I can accomplish balancing in place, then it may have more value as far as
urban transportation goes.
I have been contemplating going on a 220 mile trip on a unicycle next year.
Still undecided if it will be on the Semcycle 28 inch or the Coker 36 inch.
In the current issue of “On One Wheel” [October 1998, Vol. 24, Issue 2], there
is an advertisement on page 16 for a 36" uni made by “Coker Classic Cycles”.
Anyone have any experience with either the company or this uni model in
particular? I’ve read posts here before on large wheeled unis, but don’t
remember any about Coker in particular. Of course, I wasn’t looking for any,
so maybe I missed them.
> The tire is pueumatic. The wheel is fairly sturdy. I have ridden several miles > on it. However, I have not yet been able to balance it in place due to the > huge centrifugal force the wheel exerts on the pedals. It is also more > difficult to turn and maneuver than my 28" Semcycle. Right now it appears to > be more novelty than utilitarian because of this difficulty to balance it in > place (i.e. would have to dismount at intersections and traffic lights, etc.) > If I can accomplish balancing in
When riding my big wheel, I don’t try to do the same things I do on a little
wheel. When stopped at a light I usually lean on a pole. If I want to impress
the people around, I dismount and then remount when the light changes. They love
that. I think idling is generally a bad idea on a big wheel because it causes
undue tire wear in a single spot. Riders of the Coker should take care to
minimize tire wear, so you get a long life from your expensive tire. The same is
true for us on the hard rubber tires, which wear out also.
A few miles is also a rather short time to learn the ins & outs of a new and
very different unicycle. Give it a chance. But also remember, it’s a big wheel
and not the same as the little ones.
> I have been contemplating going on a 220 mile trip on a unicycle next year. > Still undecided if it will be on the Semcycle 28 inch or the Coker 36 inch.
For me, I know that by the halfway point on the 28", I’d be wishing for that
bigger, faster wheel. Experiment with crank arms, to find the length you find
most useful. My 45" wheel has 6.5" cranks, which are longer than even what I use
for MUni. I like the added leverage.
Yepp, you missed them. There have been a helluva lot of posts on Cokers in the
last few days as well as the last few months.
nic
On Sat, 19 Dec 1998, Allan Gaines wrote:
> In the current issue of “On One Wheel” [October 1998, Vol. 24, Issue 2], there > is an advertisement on page 16 for a 36" uni made by “Coker Classic Cycles”. > Anyone have any experience with either the company or this uni model in > particular? I’ve read posts here before on large wheeled unis, but don’t > remember any about Coker in particular. Of course, I wasn’t looking for any, > so maybe I missed them. > > -Allan Gaines North Carolina, USA
> I purchased the Coker 36" Uni while in Chattanooga, TN a couple of days ago. > The tire is pueumatic. The wheel is fairly sturdy. I have ridden several miles > on it. However, I have not yet been able to balance it in place due to the > huge centrifugal force the wheel exerts on the pedals. It is also more > difficult to turn and maneuver than my 28" Semcycle. Right now it appears to > be more novelty than utilitarian because of this difficulty to balance it in > place (i.e. would have to dismount at intersections and traffic lights, etc.) > If I can accomplish balancing in place, then it may have more value as far as > urban transportation goes.
I ride (on occasion) a 38" big wheel (slightly larger then a coker) and I
balance (or idle) on it differantly then by 28" unicycle. Instead of idling with
one pedal down and the other up, I idle with the pedals level going back and
forward only a slight amount. While this method may seem hard at first with some
practice a person can use this with the same success as regular idling on a
small wheel.
> I have been contemplating going on a 220 mile trip on a unicycle next year. > Still undecided if it will be on the Semcycle 28 inch or the Coker 36 inch.
Don (or anybody else who is interested),
Next August 14 -22, 1999 a group of unicyclists are going to unicycle across
Minnesota (the long way) to help raise money and create awareness for Muscular
Dystrophy Association (MDA). The total number of miles for this ride will be
over 400 miles. We will be traveling about 50-60 miles a day and will be
traveling about 10 MPH. The unicycles we will be using will be at least 28"
wheel (or larger) with other modifications (such as an air cushioned seat).
Plans for the trip are currently being worked on.
While most of the riders are from the Twin City Unicycle Club, it is open to any
unicyclist who has the ability to ride for long distances and is willing to
train for this event. So far, the youngest person going on the ride is 10 years
old and the oldest is 45. If you are interested, send me an email and I can send
you more details.
> I purchased the Coker 36" Uni while in Chattanooga, TN a couple of days ago. > The tire is pueumatic. The wheel is fairly sturdy. I have ridden several miles > on it. However, I have not yet been able to balance it in place due to the > huge centrifugal force the wheel exerts on the pedals. It is also more > difficult to turn and maneuver than my 28" Semcycle. Right now it appears to > be more novelty than utilitarian because of this difficulty to balance it in > place (i.e. would have to dismount at intersections and traffic lights, etc.) > If I can accomplish balancing in place, then it may have more value as far as > urban transportation goes. > > I have been contemplating going on a 220 mile trip on a unicycle next year. > Still undecided if it will be on the Semcycle 28 inch or the Coker 36 inch. > > Don from Tennessee
I have had my coker for about 6 weeks now and I am having great fun with it I
have been riding it most weekends (mixture of off-road and road work) and I
generally am doing between 15 and 30 miles per ride, this is mostly limited by
my co-riders who are on 2 wheels. Riding the hills is one of the best bits as I
can climb most hills on the coker by getting out of the seat it’s easy to beat
the two-wheelers! down hill is a different story, I really need a brake as I
have sore legs today from stopping the coker going off too fast down the hills.
I am not too sure of the machines durability, mine has developed quite a squeek
due to the spokes loosening. At the moment I cannot find a spoke spanner big
enough to tighten them, but really must do soon. The other thing that apears to
be wearing rapidly is the tyre, I will need another one reletively soon, is this
happening to other peoples?
