Ok I know I risk opening a can of …well debate and endless speculation but, well here goes anyhow. I know I’ve been out of the loop for a while but it seems like its not taking too long to get back into the one wheel groove.
Last night at our weekly jugglers and unicyclists gathering I jumped on a friend’s Coker… trying out a uni I don’t already have is always a very dangerous experience for me…
This was only my third time on a Coker and, as with the first two times, the seat didn’t go low enough for my short frame and it was, therefore, a bit of stretch to reach the pedals. Nevertheless, the ride just felt so smooth and utterly tantalizing.
So, naturally, for me, I began to fantasize about riding such a fine wheel to my work place when school resumed at the end of summer. “How would the 12 km rolling terrain feel under the rubber or a 36 inch wheel compared to that of my 29’er?” I wondered.
What do you think…the ride takes aproximately 50 minutes, at my best, and is a bit of a workout on the 29’er. Anyone willing to take a guess at how much faster it might be on the Coker? As well, there are quite a few fair sized hills on this route… a plus or minus if riden with the big one? Any other discussion or feedback on this topic, within reason, would be welcome.
(Thanks, in advance, for enduring yet another somewhat ‘Coker vs 29’er’ thread.)
Do you remember you and Andrea spinning like crazy to keep up with the Cokers going around Stanley Park when you were on your 29er’s? You’ve seen how much faster they are. I think everyone had 6" cranks on their Cokers on that ride, too. You have ridden one and you know how smooth they are at cruising speed. Get a Coker, use the 100mm seatpost, get 5.5" cranks if you need to, and let’s ride in Vancouver again before autumn.
Well actually, I kind of like the spinning! And the 29’er’s are so much lighter and more nimble feeling than the ‘big bad boy’.
But I was wondering how much more work a Coker would be to pedal up hill. Yeah for sure the longer cranks would help in the uphill department and a brake would take all the nasties out of going downhill.
Anyways, its all theoretical right now as there isn’t an inch (mm?!) of space left in the studio to store another wheel…sigh…hey, maybe we need to move…!
dont forget to ask yourself what a UPD will be like as well. Cokers are heavier and clunkier (stock versions) and if your getting a work out on your ride now, your going to be sweating more on that tank.
yeah they are smoother, but not when your luggin or packin’em.
about the speed, i’d say you would get there 2 ta 3 minutes faster… putting out more effort though.
My experience is that less effor is required except on very steep up or down hill sections, but I have 5" cranks. With 6" cranks, it will take a few weeks for your legs to get used to the higher leg strength required, but once your muscles catch up, it should be easier.
So the problem in riding a Coker for a day or two to compare with your 29’er is probably going to be leg strength, which is easier to increase than spin rate. The best place to compare is on a flat route, as hills take time to learn.
My commute to work, at 13.2 kilometers (8.2 miles), is pretty flat. It is definitely an easier ride on my Coker, though I can do it on my 29er about 3 minutes slower.
At some point, the amount of hilliness will take away the advantage of the Coker, but just how much is probably a personal thing. Some people like hills more than others. The Coker definitely cruises much more easily on the flat. I guess another factor is the amount of stuff you have to deal with along your ride. Mine has relatively few intersections where I have to stop, curbs to deal with, etc. The more of those, the more you’ll like a 29er.
Your best bet is to borrow one if that’s possible, and see what you think. But just one or two rides may not be eough to get a real feel for how it’s going to be, because you have to get used to it.
Another factor for me is the good handle setup I have on my Coker. With multiple hand positions, it’s a lot more comfortable than the plain old seat-with-handle on my 29er. Only one hand position basically means only one butt position on the seat. If you can shift around it helps a lot.
My Coker has 125s and my 29er has 102s. For a more hilly ride you might want to go up a notch, at least 140 on the Coker, and an unknown amount on the 29er (again depending on how much you like cranking up the hills–and down).
Though I have a lot less mileage on the 29er, it’s clear that the higher pedaling cadence makes it more work to ride. It’s a better workout though, and I think riding it is going to make me faster on the Coker as well.
35 minutes +/- on the Coker depending on your psych that day. Use 125mm cranks. The hills actually help as they alleviate boredom and you can really move on the downhills.
My commute is 13.2km each way and I can’t imagine why I would ever consider NOT using a Coker. The route has about 150m of climbing on the way to work and about 250m of climbing on the way home. There is a little singletrack, but mostly roads with a nice bike lane. There are lots of side roads with lots of extra climbing I take when I feel like it. There are 17 stop lights but they are mostly green. Perfect for Cokering - typical riding time oneway is 40-42 minutes. Even if I could do it in nearly the same time on a 29er, I don’t see why. I’d rather have a 40" Coker or a geared up 36".
Hey, hey! Stop egging her on, guys! I’ve still got to keep up on a 29er if she gets a Coker next week! Tell her a 29er is…calming and, and…good for her…and, uh…
And Greg, we were not spinning like crazy! We were, uh…practicing for the upcoming late summer grape stomp! Yeah!
Why don’t you borrow your friend’s Coker and a shorty seatpost and try it? Give 'em your 29er as collateral…
I have noticed that rider height and size does play a factor in overall Coker satisfaction. You are not as tall as many of the other athletes who frequent this forum, otherwise I would be screaming “Gedda Coker!”.
If you do opt for one, get the fancy beefed up model with the lightweight rim.
I don’t really know about that height thing - might be an urban legend. Beau is 4’ 10" or 11" and loves to Coker. He rides pretty fast (cruise at 11-12mph, max of 17), is comfortable riding it offroad, and can do over 40 miles in a day no problem. I think if you are comfortable on a regular unicycle and put in some time getting to know the Coker that you’ll be happy with it. Beau rode with 152mm cranks for a few weeks, then 140mm for a few weeks, then was very happy to move down to 125mm.
That’s good to hear, Nathan! I’ve always wondered how tall you have to be to ride a Coker comfortably. Both Erin and I are ~5’4" (ok, I’m on the short end of 5’4", and Erin is on the tall end), so with an appropriate seatpost, it should work well.
I don’t know about now, but when I got my first Coker in 1999, they shipped with 2 or maybe 3 seatposts of different lengths. Beau uses the little tiny one that allows the seat to be right at the minimum height, although with 125mm cranks he no longer needs the absolute minimum.
Go on Erin - get a coker, you know you want to, you’re only posting here because you KNOW we’ll talk you into it. Cokers take up surprisingly little space - mine lives in an unused doorway. Four words - Real women ride cokers.
And if you’re really on the fence, the two of you should both sell your 29-ers, then use the proceeds plus some additional hard-earned cash to buy the SH geared 29-er currently on auction, and a stock Coker. Then you’ll still have a “natural” 29" to share, and a Coker, and with the 29"'s gear engaged, two unis of roughly equal speed, both faster than your current 29s.
And the 29’er’s are so much lighter and more nimble feeling than the ‘big bad boy’. 