gbarnes w-i-d-e hub question

Unicycles and Equipment
1

unicycle.com now has these for sale:

http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=624

My question: How do you fit it in a uni? Bend each side of the frame out an inch? :thinking:

2

Spred 'Em, Mister

The fork length on a big wheel will be at least 20 inches- I think you could easly spread the fork out to accomodate without altering the bearing brackets (or perhaps not -coments fromt those who have?). With the Coker, I’d be more concerned with spoke leangth…

-Christopher

3

So, it’s pretty much for big wheels, only?

4

Yeah, basically. the extra wheel strength is only a mayjor concern on such a big wheel. of course I could be wrong al always…

5

You are correct, these are intended for big wheel (Coker) unicycles.

The stock Coker frame can easily be spread to fit the wider hub.

Stock spokes still work, even with the Airfoil rim.

6

Any noticeable increase in high speed wheel wobble with the wider hub, or change, positive or negative, on joint stress?

-Christopher

7

I’m guessing here, but with a lot of big wheel experience behind me.

I think you may encounter some degree of increased wobble. But informal studies have shown that wobble is more of a rider-centric thing than equipment-centric. In other words, some riders will wobble more no matter what. This small increas in your Q-factor may or may not result in a noticeable difference.

For joints, I don’t think you should worry. Again it’s a pretty small change, so if anything it should only affect people who crank out high mileage. I don’t do high mileage, so I can’t really comment there. But I’ve been riding a big wheel with about 6" between the flanges since 1982, and it was always fine for me.

I highly recommend the wide Suzue axle as a replacement if your Coker wheel or axle ever fails.

Stay on top,
John Foss

8

I’ve ridden both wide and narrow hub Cokers quite a bit. I can’t tell a difference in wobble, but I pedal very smoothly.

I didn’t have any problems with joint stress with either hub, so I can’t really make any conclusions there. I will say that my legs feel to be at a more natural angle/width with the wider hub.