I was thinking that you could could make an “easier” to ride Uni by extending
the fork down past the axle and adding weights. By my reasoning I think with
enough weight the center of gravity would be lower and the Uni would balance
itself while its rolling forward. You could then slowly take away weight until
you have none and could ride normally. Is this scientifically sound? and would
it be helpful or would it teach you skills that would need to be unlearned
later? Has anyone tried this?
The extra (lots of) weight will make the unicyle incredibly sluggish and harder
to ride. It would be easier to learn on one of those Headstrom or JC Penny
unicycles we’ve been discussing (only 3 times harder).
Not only would you have to squeeze a tremendous amount of weight down there,
you’d have to add even more to compensate for the fact that the rider above is
moving around, not rigidly holding still (like a toy unicycle would).
However if you set this up on a tightwire, you could reduce the weight quite a
bit by having it way below with wire. Unfortunately, this will only teach you to
ride in a straight line and will not aid you in a real riding situation.
But if you do it, send in a picture!
jf
______________________________ Reply Separator
Subject: A learner’s Uni? Just an Idea Author: “univent@aol.com”
[SMTP:univent@aol.com] at MSXGATE Date: 7/13/98 6:40 PM
I was thinking that you could could make an “easier” to ride Uni by extending
the fork down past the axle and adding weights. By my reasoning I think with
enough weight the center of gravity would be lower and the Uni would balance
itself while its rolling forward. You could then slowly take away weight until
you have none and could ride normally. Is this scientifically sound? and would
it be helpful or would it teach you skills that would need to be unlearned
later? Has anyone tried this?
At 01:40 AM 7/14/98 GMT, you wrote: >I was thinking that you could could make an “easier” to ride Uni by
extending >the fork down past the axle and adding weights. By my reasoning I think with >enough weight the center of gravity would be lower and the Uni would balance >itself while its rolling forward. You could then slowly take away weight
until >you have none and could ride normally. Is this scientifically sound? and would >it be helpful or would it teach you skills that would need to be unlearned >later? Has anyone tried this? > >Jeff Sargeant >
The distance between the axle and the center of mass of the rider (about belly
button level) is 2 to 3 times the radius of the wheel. The maximum distance
between the axle and the extra weights is 1 times the radius of the wheel. In
order for the uni to balance itself and the rider, the extra weight would have
to be more than twice the weight of the rider. I don’t think this is a practical
learning tool.
>
Jock Young
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