Crankarm length debate

Unicycles and Equipment
1

In message <9502260309.AA25610@super.win.or.jp> Jack Halpern writes:

> I have no time to get involved in lengthy discussion, but I would like to get
> some opinions. I think free crank length may be detrimental to our sport.

I would assume that free crank length would be fine in tricks, obstacle courses,
etc, but not for races. I would have to agree that the crank length would have
to be limited, for the same reasons the wheel size is. You don’t want the
shortest crank to win, you want the best unicyclist!

–
__
/ ____ Jimmy Brokaw -> jimmy@juggler.demon.co.uk ________\ Also at ->
unicycle@juggler.demon.co.uk
||
|| <- My Absolute Balls Red Unicycle <- Also known as really bad art

2

Greeting from JUA Rules Committee,

We had a heated discussion lasting many hours concerning crankarm length. Some
top club leaders want to abolish restrictions. They succeeded to get it voted
for the expert class, but I was leading a group that vehemently opposed it. We
barely succeded in voting to keep crankarm length restrictions.

The arguments against free crankarm length are:

  1. Past records would become meaningless.
  2. Unfair to those who can’t or won’t get shorter cranks.
  3. Only real enthusiastic unicyclists would bother changing cranks, putting
    everyone else at a disadvantage.
  4. Crankarm length has a decisive effect on speed.
  5. It is difficult or dangerous to ride with short cranks (not very convincing).

The pro arguments are:

 6. Bicycle racing doesn't restrict crank length
 7. It limits the potential speed (my answer is if that's so then have free
    wheel size too).
 8. Guinness doesn't care
 9. UNICONS don't really enforce it.
10. One or two claimed (very unconvicncingly) that crankarm length doesn't
    really affect speed.
11. The yearly all-Japan marathon in Nagano does not restrict crank length.
12. Riders want and should be allowed to choose a crankarm length most
    suited to their riding style.

I announced and it was understood that any records broken in Japan using
cranks not conforming to IUF standards would not be recognized by the IUF.

JUA rules already differ form IUF as follows;

Wheel size IUF JUA

24" no shorter than 5" (125mm) 5" (125mm) 20" no shorter than 4.5" (114mm) 4"
(102mm) 16" no shorter than 4" (100mm) 3.5" (89mm)

BTW, I did suggest that we could have a free crank class event on an
experimental basis, but the pro camp insists on going all the way.

I have no time to get involved in lengthy discussion, but I would like to get
some opinions. I think free crank length may be detrimental to our sport.

Stay on top,

Jack Halpern, IUF Vice President
P.S. I ewas asked what John Foss thinks about this

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