First fall off Coker; 4.3" cranks

Unicycles and Equipment
1

First of all, I’m ok.

Two days ago, I switched from 5" to 4.3" cranks.

I was riding my usual route from Manhattan to Brooklyn via the B. Bridge.
I’d just gotten off the bridge and was on a part of the road thankfully
less traveled by cars (due to the events of 9/11). I was chatting with
several interested bikers (one of whom wanted to take my photo). Suddenly,
in a spot where I have never had a problem or noticed a bump or divot, I
lurched. I always hold the seat-grabby thing (Miyata seat), so I pulled on
that part and tried to catch my balance, but it was in vain, and the next
thing I knew I was leaning way forward and then landing on the ground. I
held the back of the seat and tried to steady myself and the uni (this has
worked in the past) but was going too fast and leaning too far forward to
pull out of it – I probably ran 15 steps and still couldn’t get out of
it. So I somehow fell forwards and then backwards, and the funny thing is
that I managed to mildly smear (not even scrape) my hands on the
pavement and get a little scuff on my knee – AND fall on to my tush
and back (I have no idea how this happened).

I wear a helmet, and this may have helped me, but I don’t remember if my
head made it to the ground (if so, it would only have been a little
scratch). I wear no other protective gear (as of tom’w, I don the
wrist-guards). Amazingly, the most ‘protective’ item I was wearing was my
fanny pack which I wear with the pouch behind me. This little item
DEFINITELY kept me from getting a royal raspberry all along my spine. I
could feel myself sliding along the pack for a few feet. Whew.

New Cranks Size: I don’t think there is any reason to change back to 5"
cranks – after all, it took me weeks to get used to the switch from 6" to
5" – but I will definitely be even more cautious. I have to say that my
two rides home since the change have been a wee bit slower – I guess I am
taking it a bit easier out of well-placed fear of falling! But I also must
add that I had never averaged such a fast time on my trip TO Manhattan
until today – I averaged 12.2mph over 40mins and found it easy to
maintain 15mph on nice stretches of the bike path.

Conclusion: There is little difference to me bw the two sizes, 5" to 4.3"
– the big change was from 6 to 5 inches. I can go faster on
straightaways but find the hills a bit more challenging, and street
riding is tougher – just as one would expect. I like that there is more
resistance to get the uni going with the smaller cranks because it means
that I get a better workout.

It’s good to get accustomed to different sizes of cranks. I have a feeling
that I’ll like these a few weeks from now.

By the way, a jump mount is still easy (got it the first time), and
walking mount is still fine, tho somewhat harder.

David Stone Co-founder, Unatics of NY 1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday @ Central
Park Bandshell
1:30 start time after 11/1/01

2

David Stone wrote:
>
> First of all, I’m ok.

I guess all our talking about wipeouts in the last week added a little
suggestion to your thinking. :-7

Glad to hear that you’re okay.

Christopher Grove

“Be Bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” -Basil King (Anyone who
can give me more info on THIS Basil King please email
me.)

My small but growing site: http://home.earthlink.net/~crgrove/index.htm

If you are in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Area check out my resume and if you
know of a company that fits me please let me know… Thanks!

3

Wow! That’s not flat out highway speed- that’s stop-and-go city stuff. Very impressive! (hills too, yes?) At what speed would you estimate going aerobic with these cranks? Did you have to switch seat posts to accomidate the shorter cranks- and if so, was it wierd for a bit being higher up? Did you feel any less stable at speed, or that the height change may have contributed to the crash in any way?

For sustainable top speed, how much of a difference would you estimate the different crank arm lengths you have tried have made?

And…uh…end of interigation (ok one more “Where is Sanctuary?”).

I just ordered the Cateye OS cycling computer. While I don’t think I will stop counting rev’s on-the-fly, the OS has some GREAT features that I think you would enjoy. In addition to the typical time/distance/average and top speeds, it saves your daily data- for SIX YEARS. It will display comparitive daily/weekly/yearly graphs, on screen! 2 destinctinve data sets can be saved, so you could use it on 2 uni’s- or to destinguish between 2 sets of cranks for the Coker. Roll out length up to 9999 mm.

You might also consider the Cateye Altimiter- it would be great to see what sort of total elevation change your commute entails. I have found hills to be devestating… seeing what you do would give me something to shoot for (ya, ya- 'tis all about me…).

Brand new OS goes for about $48 on e-bay, or $80 at the bike shop.

Take care,

Christopher LeFay

4

forum.member@unicyclist.com writes:
>Wow! That’s not flat out highway speed- that’s stop-and-go city stuff.
>Very impressive! (hills too, yes?)
Well, I must admit there is little variation in my city/bike path speeds.
In city traffic (like riding in a street that’s not too crazy) I’ll go
10-12mph. On the bike path, I go at least 14mph but never register above
18mph. In fact, my fastest registered time on my speediest rides is never
more than 17.6mph (last week). But I HAVE noticed that with the shorter
cranks, it’s easier to maintain 14mph.

> At what speed would you estimate
> going aerobic with these cranks?
Not sure. I could possibly hit 20mph on a gentle decline.

>Did you have to switch seat posts to accomidate the shorter cranks- and
>if so, was it wierd for a bit being higher up?
I meant to mention that yes, I did remember to raise the seat (forgot when
I went from 6" to 5" and quickly realized when I tried to mount).

>Did you feel any less stable at speed, or that the height change may have
>contributed to the crash in any way?
It’s possible, and I considered it, but I am not sure. Initially I
remember thinking that the extra near-inch made it feel weird, but I
quickly got used to it enough not to feel uncomfortable or scared.
>
>
>For sustainable top speed, how much of a difference would you estimate
>the different crank arm lengths you have tried have made?
Add 10%
>
>
>And…uh…end of interigation (ok one more “Where is Sanctuary?”).
??
>
>I just ordered the Cateye OS cycling computer. While I don’t think I will
>stop counting rev’s on-the-fly, the OS has some GREAT features that I
>think you would enjoy.
Speaking of the revs on the fly, with the 4.3" cranks I was able to
register 116 revs (c. 2/10 of a mile) in 40sec, equivalent to 18mph.
That’s the fastest I’ve maintained on a straightaway.

>In addition to the typical time/distance/average and top speeds, it saves
>your daily data- for SIX YEARS. It will display comparitive
>daily/weekly/yearly graphs, on screen! 2 destinctinve data sets can be
>saved, so you could use it on 2 uni’s- or to destinguish between 2 sets
>of cranks for the Coker. Roll out length up to 9999 mm.
I have the Cateye Mity 3 – it’s great. It has many of the features you
mentioned.
>
>
>You might also consider the Cateye Altimiter- it would be great to see
>what sort of total elevation change your commute entails. I have found
>hills to be devestating… seeing what you do would give me something to
>shoot for (ya, ya- 'tis all about me…).
Hills used to be nastier, and I am not sure why I find them easier than
some other ppl. My brother thinks it’s cuz I used to push the stroller
with both kids in it while zipping uphill on my 26". That probably helped.
Anyway, I have noticed a lot of improvement since I began, and I thnk a
big factor is BALANCE. I can ride up a steep grade on the Coker not only
bc my legs are stronger but also because I am not expending as much energy
on balancing.
>
>
>David Stone wrote:
> > First of all, I’m ok. Thanx for getting the most important question
> > first! Do you have any idea how fast you were going at the UPD? I had
> > never averaged such a fast time on my trip TO Manhattan until today
> > – I averaged 12.2mph over 40mins and found it easy to maintain 15mph
> > on nice stretches of the bike path.

                    Co-founder, Unatics of NY
                    1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
                     @ Central Park Bandshell

1: 30 start time after 11/1/01

5

One of the main problems I had when I rode with 110 cranks(4.3") on my
Coker were the downhills. The ups were OK, but I ended up going much
slower down because I never quite felt in control. The other problem was
not being able to raise myself above the seat as easily. Actually, I
noticed a greater difference between the 110’s & the 5 " than the
difference between the 5" & the 6" (but I never used the 6" after the
first month). Ideally, I would like to try something in between 110’s &
5"…like maybe 115 or 120.

David, Why do you hold the seat while you’re running out a dismount off
your Coker? It would seem easier to me to minimize the damage to your body
by letting go of the unicycle as soon as you realize you’re in trouble.
Every time I fall, the unicycle waits for me till I get thru
running/skidding/rolling. -Mark

> First of all, I’m ok.
>
> Two days ago, I switched from 5" to 4.3" cranks.
>
> I was riding my usual route from Manhattan to Brooklyn via the B.
> Bridge. I’d just gotten off the bridge and was on a part of the road
> thankfully less traveled by cars (due to the events of 9/11). I was
> chatting with several interested bikers (one of whom wanted to take my
> photo). Suddenly, in a spot where I have never had a problem or noticed
> a bump or divot, I lurched. I always hold the seat-grabby thing (Miyata
> seat), so I pulled on that part and tried to catch my balance, but it
> was in vain, and the next thing I knew I was leaning way forward and
> then landing on the ground. I held the back of the seat and tried to
> steady myself and the uni (this has worked in the past) but was going
> too fast and leaning too far forward to pull out of it – I probably
> ran 15 steps and still couldn’t get out of it. So I somehow fell
> forwards and then backwards, and the funny thing is that I managed to
> mildly smear (not even scrape) my hands on the pavement and get a
> little scuff on my knee – AND fall on to my tush and back (I have no
> idea how this happened).
>
> I wear a helmet, and this may have helped me, but I don’t remember if
> my head made it to the ground (if so, it would only have been a little
> scratch). I wear no other protective gear (as of tom’w, I don the
> wrist-guards). Amazingly, the most ‘protective’ item I was wearing was
> my fanny pack which I wear with the pouch behind me. This little item
> DEFINITELY kept me from getting a royal raspberry all along my spine. I
> could feel myself sliding along the pack for a few feet. Whew.
>
> New Cranks Size: I don’t think there is any reason to change back to 5"
> cranks – after all, it took me weeks to get used to the switch from 6"
> to 5" – but I will definitely be even more cautious. I have to say
> that my two rides home since the change have been a wee bit slower – I
> guess I am taking it a bit easier out of well-placed fear of falling!
> But I also must add that I had never averaged such a fast time on my
> trip TO Manhattan until today – I averaged 12.2mph over 40mins and
> found it easy to maintain 15mph on nice stretches of the bike path.
>
> Conclusion: There is little difference to me bw the two sizes, 5" to
> 4.3" – the big change was from 6 to 5 inches. I can go faster on
> straightaways but find the hills a bit more challenging, and street
> riding is tougher – just as one would expect. I like that there is
> more resistance to get the uni going with the smaller cranks because it
> means that I get a better workout.
>
> It’s good to get accustomed to different sizes of cranks. I have a
> feeling that I’ll like these a few weeks from now.
>
> By the way, a jump mount is still easy (got it the first time), and
> walking mount is still fine, tho somewhat harder.
>
> David Stone Co-founder, Unatics of NY 1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday @
> Central Park Bandshell
> 1:30 start time after 11/1/01
>
>
_________________________________________________________________________-
__
> rec.sport.unicycling mailing list -
> www.unicycling.org/mailman/listinfo/rsu

Sent via the Unicyclist Community - http://Unicyclist.com

6

Hey,

You are a nut :slight_smile: Glad you are ok. That’s very cool that you are trying 4.3
cranks. Hmm. Makes me want to try my 4"s on my 24 again. After all, I only
use it for speed and distance. Of course I’d have to put 5’s back on for
racing, but that’s only once per year :slight_smile:

Joe

7

cokerhead@unicyclist.com writes:
>David, Why do you hold the seat while you’re running out a dismount off
>your Coker? It would seem easier to me to minimize the damage to your
>body by letting go of the unicycle as soon as you realize you’re in
>trouble. Every time I fall, the unicycle waits for me till I get thru
>running/skidding/rolling. -Mark

Hey, big guy!

Answer:

Habit, partly, and a desire to minimize damage. If the uni falls in the
woods, no one hears it (or is hurt by it), so … when I was in the
‘marathon’ race at NUC and encountered a too-sharp turn, I just bailed and
tried to knock the Coker down before it rode too far away.

But, when I am in city-, bike path-, or highway-traffic, then it can be
REAL important not to let the uni simply fall on its own. It could easily
hurt someone behind me or cause (another) accident behind me.

In the case I alluded to a few days ago, there were two bikers behind me.
Had I flown off, one would surely have landed on the Coker. On reflection,
I think I actually tried to run it out as I fell forwards with the Coker
behind me, and I think I held the back of the seat for about 10-15 steps
until I lost the little balance I had and landed on my back.

I forgot to mention that my back’s protection, the fanny pack, saved my
back by transferring the energy of the fall to the LCD screen of my
palm-top computer. The repair will cost almost as much as the unit (not
uni) – about $200.

David

                    Co-founder, Unatics of NY
                    1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
                     @ Central Park Bandshell

1: 30 start time after 11/1/01

8

Nycjoe@aol.com writes:
>Hey,
>
>You are a nut Glad you are ok. That’s very cool that you are trying
>4.3 cranks. Hmm. Makes me want to try my 4"s on my 24 again. After all, I
> only use it for speed and distance. Of course I’d have to put 5’s back
> on for racing, but that’s only once per year
>
>Joe

True, but I bet that going from 4-5" cranks on a 24 would make racing feel
like walking thru a swimming pool!

D

                    Co-founder, Unatics of NY
                    1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
                     @ Central Park Bandshell

1: 30 start time after 11/1/01

9

David, I guess that’s the answer I expected. It must be a Oklahoma versus
NYC thing. (or maybe a Mark vs. David thing) I would like to say that
whoever is following you at such a close distance would be more at fault
than you. Actually, everyone that rides bikes around me(when I’m on the
Coker) gives me too much room which makes me think they don’t have much
faith in my abilities (even people that ride with me often and RARELY see
me fall)…It would still seem much easier to stay on my feet or
control my landing WITHOUT the unicycle in tow…But, it sounds like a
noble thing to always be looking out for others &/or your Coker. Sorry to
here about your computer :frowning: Peace -Mark
P.S…I wonder if I’m in the majority or the minority?

cokerhead@unicyclist.com writes:
>>David, Why do you hold the seat while you’re running out a dismount off
>>your Coker? It would seem easier to me to minimize the damage to your
>>body by letting go of the unicycle as soon as you realize you’re in
>>trouble. Every time I fall, the unicycle waits for me till I get thru
>>running/skidding/rolling. -Mark
>
> Hey, big guy!
>
> Answer:
>
> Habit, partly, and a desire to minimize damage. If the uni falls in the
> woods, no one hears it (or is hurt by it), so … when I was in the
> ‘marathon’ race at NUC and encountered a too-sharp turn, I just bailed
> and tried to knock the Coker down before it rode too far away.
>
> But, when I am in city-, bike path-, or highway-traffic, then it can be
> REAL important not to let the uni simply fall on its own. It could
> easily hurt someone behind me or cause (another) accident behind me.
>
> In the case I alluded to a few days ago, there were two bikers behind
> me. Had I flown off, one would surely have landed on the Coker. On
> reflection, I think I actually tried to run it out as I fell
> forwards with the Coker behind me, and I think I held the back of
> the seat for about 10-15 steps until I lost the little balance I had
> and landed on my back.
>
> I forgot to mention that my back’s protection, the fanny pack, saved my
> back by transferring the energy of the fall to the LCD screen of my
> palm-top computer. The repair will cost almost as much as the unit (not
> uni) – about $200.
>
> David
>
> Co-founder, Unatics of NY
> 1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
> @ Central Park Bandshell
>1: 30 start time after 11/1/01

Sent via the Unicyclist Community - http://Unicyclist.com

10

Mark Stephens wrote:
>
> David, I guess that’s the answer I expected. It must be a Oklahoma
> versus NYC thing. (or maybe a Mark vs. David thing) I would like to say
> that whoever is following you at such a close distance would be more at
> fault than you. Actually, everyone that rides bikes around me(when I’m
> on the Coker) gives me too much room which makes me think they don’t
> have much faith in my abilities (even people that ride with me often and
> RARELY see me fall)…It would still seem much easier to stay on my
> feet or control my landing WITHOUT the unicycle in tow

I’m still quite new to unicycling but my instinct when falling, which is
probably happening more than rolling, is to reach behind me when I’m on
the way down and grab the uni saddle.

It seems quite a natural thing to do.

Christopher

“Be Bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” -Basil King (Anyone who
can give me more info on THIS Basil King please email
me.)

My small but growing site: http://home.earthlink.net/~crgrove/index.htm

If you are in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Area check out my resume and if you
know of a company that fits me please let me know… Thanks!

11

> Habit, partly, and a desire to minimize damage. If the uni falls in the
> woods, no one hears it (or is hurt by it), so … when I was in the
> ‘marathon’ race at NUC and encountered a too-sharp turn, I just bailed
> and tried to knock the Coker down before it rode too far away.
>
> But, when I am in city-, bike path-, or highway-traffic, then it can be
> REAL important not to let the uni simply fall on its own. It could
> easily hurt someone behind me or cause (another) accident behind me.
>
> In the case I alluded to a few days ago, there were two bikers behind
> me. Had I flown off, one would surely have landed on the Coker. On
> reflection, I think I actually tried to run it out as I fell forwards
> with the Coker behind me, and I think I held the back of the seat for
> about 10-15 steps until I lost the little balance I had and landed on
> my back.
>
> I forgot to mention that my back’s protection, the fanny pack, saved my
> back by transferring the energy of the fall to the LCD screen of my
> palm-top computer. The repair will cost almost as much as the unit (not
> uni) – about $200.

I always hold on to the uni if I fall off on a road. Off road, I usually
hold onto it unless I’m going so fast I need to go into a roll. I often
find holding onto the uni is useful in a run-off because you can twist it
sideways and slow yourself down very quickly by dragging it. My muni is
pretty good at that with the fat tyre. I’ve got a video of that
somewhere…

Joe

12

> Habit, partly, and a desire to minimize damage. If the uni falls in the
> woods, no one hears it (or is hurt by it), so … when I was in the
> ‘marathon’ race at NUC and encountered a too-sharp turn, I just bailed
> and tried to knock the Coker down before it rode too far away.
>
> But, when I am in city-, bike path-, or highway-traffic, then it can be
> REAL important not to let the uni simply fall on its own. It could
> easily hurt someone behind me or cause (another) accident behind me.
>
> In the case I alluded to a few days ago, there were two bikers behind
> me. Had I flown off, one would surely have landed on the Coker. On
> reflection, I think I actually tried to run it out as I fell forwards
> with the Coker behind me, and I think I held the back of the seat for
> about 10-15 steps until I lost the little balance I had and landed on
> my back.
>
> I forgot to mention that my back’s protection, the fanny pack, saved my
> back by transferring the energy of the fall to the LCD screen of my
> palm-top computer. The repair will cost almost as much as the unit (not
> uni) – about $200.

I always hold on to the uni if I fall off on a road. Off road, I usually
hold onto it unless I’m going so fast I need to go into a roll. I often
find holding onto the uni is useful in a run-off because you can twist it
sideways and slow yourself down very quickly by dragging it. My muni is
pretty good at that with the fat tyre. I’ve got a video of that
somewhere…

Joe

13

Ditto, here. It is so ingraned in my reflexes that I would be hard put not to catch the wheel- except in a roll- in which case I’m only thinking about minimizing damage. The only times I’v lost it on the Coker have been uphill, and the wheel was no threat to my person. Run outs I ALWAYS catch, for the reasons David gave.

Wierd- there is a fine line between a dismount with uni catch and one where the catch is not possable; in that moment, my body makes the choice.

Christopher LeFay