Forwarded message:
> From bkonarsk@mcs.kent.edu Sat Jun 24 08:15:07 1995 From:
> wstroess@mathpool.uni-augsburg.de Date: Sat, 24 Jun 1995 14:10:29 +0200
> Message-Id: <9506241210.AA27382@aixcip13.Math.Uni-Augsburg.DE> To: unicycling
> Subject: gear shift
>
> Hello everybody!
>
> A problem came up some days ago and I was thinking a lot about it. But there
> is no solution yet. Perhaps anyone has an idea (or has even solved) my little
> mess: how can I built a gear shift for a unicycle. Traveling at a speed of 7
> to 8 miles per hour is a nice thing, but riding at 20 or even more miles per
> hour would be an exciting experience too. Of course I can include a chain and
> make my uni faster, but then riding at slow speed is almost impossible. If I
> include a standard gear shift, I loos the ability of pedaling backward, and
> that would be a pitty. If anybody has a gear shift or knows how to build it,
> so that pedaling backwards is still possible, please contact me. Perhaps there
> is a factory that builts these things as standard components? I can’t emagine
> that, but miracles occur…
Here’s the answer from the FAQ:
-
Why don’t you get a unicycle with multiple speeds?
Someone has built a unicycle with multiple gearings. Here is an account
from Peter Lister (p.lister@cranfield.ac.uk):I know Bob Knight who built it. I haven’t had the opportunity to have a
go on it (I haven’t really got the hang of giraffes yet - severe lack of
people prepared to lend me theirs to practise on).I can assure you that it’s no problem to change gear. Bob can shift up
and down happily while going forward or idling, or probably backwards,
knowing him. As I understand it, the only requirement is that one reduce
the pedal pressure during a shift, but then as anyone (like me) who rides
a two-wheeler with a Sturmey hub knows, that applies to normal bikes and
isn’t a problem unless one is really standing on the pedals.Just in case it isn’t clear from the photo(another person brought up this
topic when they saw a picture of the unicycle. ed.), this beast uses a
fixed Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub not a derailleur (it’s surprising how
many people assume that the derailleur is the only possible cycle gear
shift). The hub itself is an antique (early 1950s I think), probably
worth more than the rest of the unicycle (which was made by Bob and his
dad). The equivalent wheel sizes are 20", 24" and 28".
–
Beirne Konarski | Subscribe to the Unicycling Mailing List bkonarsk@mcs.kent.edu
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