Our friend Xopher Rhysling writes:
>Speaking of dismounting, I don’t think I’v ever UPD’ed to the back of a
>Coker- how 'bout you, David? I imagine it would be worse, aside from
>not having to worry about being hit by the wheel- although you might be
>less inclined to fall ON the wheel… hummm…
>
>Christopher
This brings back a couple somewhat scary memories. But the short answer is
yes, I sure have UPDed that way (where the Coker ends up behind me). At
medium to great speed (say, 13mph+), you have to be really careful NOT to
let Cokey smash into your legs.
Unatics co-founder Joe Merrill and I were zipping along on the Bike NY
ride a year ago when Joe suddenly lost his balance. He fell forwards of
his Coker and landed standing as usual, a fairly typical UPD. He was going
13-14mph at the time. He had nasty sharp pedals at the time. He
decelerated within a few steps, but Cokey had other thoughts and wanted to
keep going. The Coker quickly passed Joe on the side he was holding it and
then veered in front of him His shin hit a pedal, and he ended up getting
stictches for a nasty gash.
Having learned from Joe’s experience, when one day I fell similarly, I
knew: LIFT THE COKER AS SOON AS YOUR FEET HIT THE GROUND!!! I was going
over 15mph at the time and it was still possible.
This saved me from a having minor surgery performed on my shin (tho I have
never had the nasty sharp pedals like Joe does).
Hope this helps ppl with their forward-leaning UPDs from Cokers.
David
Co-founder, Unatics of NY
1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
@ Central Park Bandshell
1:30 start time after 11/1/01
I think I recall you recounting that accident. How 'bout UPD to the back, though? I could see it going down hill, maybe. All mine seem to be to the front, when I ride forward of the bubble and then run out of steam and go down…
On a seperate (and hopefully unrelated) note: when do you get the 1.5, David? I’m interested in your and Gilby’s impressions- particularly on stability and relative danger of UPD’s. From what I’v heared, Gilby is capable of some awsome sprinting- it should be something to see. I’d pay money to see Roger try to play hock with it.
If the coker is moving pretty fast, stopping it quickly before it hits you
is a good idea, lifting it off the ground makes it a whole lot easier to
stop as you don’t have to fight the spinning of the wheel.
> 2. I surmise that most coker UPDs end up with the rider in front of the
> unicycle. Am I correct?
Yep, almost always that way when you’re just riding along, although on a
steep downhill the coker sometimes escapes and leaves you lying on your back
if you’re not careful and on an uphill you sometimes run out of pedal power
and have to step off the back.
news@joemarshall.org.uk writes:
>“bhuzyk” <bhuzyk.3ntds@timelimit.unicyclist.com> wrote in message
>news:bhuzyk.3ntds@timelimit.unicyclist.com…
>> 1. What do you mean when you say “LIFT THE COKER AS SOON AS YOUR FEET
>> HIT THE GROUND!!!”.
>
>If the coker is moving pretty fast, stopping it quickly before it hits you
>is a good idea, lifting it off the ground makes it a whole lot easier to
>stop as you don’t have to fight the spinning of the wheel.
Joe Marshall is 100% right here.
>
>> 2. I surmise that most coker UPDs end up with the rider in front of the
>> unicycle. Am I correct?
>
>Yep, almost always that way when you’re just riding along, although on a
>steep downhill the coker sometimes escapes and leaves you lying on your
>back
>if you’re not careful and on an uphill you sometimes run out of pedal
>power
>and have to step off the back.
In my experience, there are a few almost predictable UPD moments. As Joe
mentions, one of those involves downhills. If you are heading downhill and
suddenly lose balance OR feel the need to dismount, you often end up
standing BEHIND it.
Another thing I have noticed. There have been just as many times when I
have a true UPD (nearly a splat-type fall) and end up behind the Coker.
One example was when I hit that divot on Broadway two weeks ago. I
teetered backwards and landed on my feet with Roger in front of me. Of
course, he shot into the street like the scared mongrel dog he is and
nearly caused an accident. And a similar UPD near the Brooklyn Bridge
(also involving a divot) ended almost the same, with Roger in the front.
It actually behoves a new rider to practice such a dismount, esp if you
have an extension.
David
Co-founder, Unatics of NY
1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
@ Central Park Bandshell
1:30 start time after 11/1/01
Are you geting bounced off in that case? Do you think a good handle would help? Occasionaly, I’v had something simmilar happen, get pitched UP, and have the cycle threaten to ride away without me while still ‘up there’. Aside from going too fast, this is one of the worst feelings I’v had on the Coker- trying to pull myself down on it and get the feet back on the pedals…
