Gear ratio for a Geared Uni???

Off-topic
1

Hi there, I’m new to this forum.

I’m thinking about building a geared unicycle based on a 29" wheel. I only have limited access to a workshop, so I don’t really want to waste time experimenting with gear ratios - I would rather pick one ratio and build it to suite.

I’ve seen the schlumpf hub has a ratio of 1:1.5. I’m thinking I want to aim a little higher than that - maybe around 1:1.75.

Does anyone have experience with this? What would be a manageable ratio which is still ride-able?

It would be great to have 1:2, but I expect it would be near impossible to ride. Any suggestions or comments are welcome.

Cheers,

Peter

2

This belongs in RSU, not Just Conversation. You may want to repost it there for more appropriate responses. You don’t say how you’re going to build the gearing system but you do mention a geared hub. A simple (as opposed to compound) planetary hub system has an upper (and physically unattainable) gear ratio limit of 1:2. At 1:1.5 the planet gears are already becoming small enough to be a mechanical limit. For higher ratios a compound system must be used. I have ridden a jackshaft geared Coker with a 1:1.89 ratio (Pete Perron’s) and that is a very difficult unicycle to ride. Above 1:1.6 or so will be difficult for any wheel size.

3

Hi Greg,

Thanks for the tip, I just re-posted it in the RSU.

P

4

how do you jackshaft a coker??? it seems like it would be easy to make a geared girraffe though. imagine how hard that would be to ride…

5

Have a search for Pete Perron’s unicycles - he called them “purple phase” and “red menace”. There are a few threads and pictures on here.

Rob