RE: Giraffes
> -----Original Message----- From: John Foss [mailto:john_foss@asinet.com] Sent:
> Wednesday, September 20, 2000 10:19 AM To: ‘yoda’; ‘unicycling’ Subject: RE:
> Giraffes
>
>
> > How do you determine the measurement of a giraffe?
>
> Giraffe measurement is usually given by the company making the giraffe. This
> means they will use the biggest dimension possible. In the case of the old
> Schwinn U-72 (giraffe), the cycle is just 6’ tall with the seat height at the
> max line.
That would seem to make sense, and the pictures I’ve seen seem to bear that out.
> Of course if Schwinn sold it with the 9" seat post instead of the 14" one
> (or if the dealer switched it), you would have a 5.5’ tall unicycle with the
> same frame.
Then it should be measured with the Standard post. Of course if there is an
optional post that makes it a different thing. Could be confusing.
> So the most accurate way a giraffe unicycle should be measured (IMHO) is
> from the floor to the crank axle. Or vice-versa depending which side of the
> equator you’re on 
That makes the most sense. I won’t get into the vice-versa part.
> But the likelihood of people using that method is about the same as the USA
> switching to the metric system in our lifetimes. (Yeah, love to hear how the
> runners in the Olympic Triathlon are going ‘just over 6 miles’)
I wonder why the metric system has never caught on here. Most of the rest of the
world has went to it.
> If we used the above measurement, a six footer would be only about 3’, 3"
> tall. That’s what most reporters call a regular unicycle. A 10 footer would
> become a 7 1/2 footer. Yuck. So we measure from the ground to the seat, and
> most people riding it are probably not sitting that high up (unless they’re
> tall). But that’s okay, because the top of their head is much higher than even
> the seat, even at its lowest setting.
Well that is so with all unicycles, unless they are using their hands on
the wheel.
> Maybe that’s why people see a “7 1/2 footer” in a parade and tell their
> friends it was 20 feet tall!
It’s hard to judge height for most people.
> > My grand daughter and her husband, they are in their low 20’s, came over
> > last Sunday and gave the uni a try. In half an hour they can do a lot better
> > than I can. 
They were free mounting and going about 12 to 15 feet before
> > dismounting. This was in the back yard which has some little bumps.
>
> Don’t feel bad. If you were 20 you would be riding all over town by now. But
> you should be proud of them, because free mounting and riding that far in a
> half hour is exceptional!
It might have been an hour, but not more than that. We were having fun and you
know how times passes when you are having fun. We were free mounting by putting
one foot on the low pedal and leaning against the seat and then straddling the
seat and try to ride off before falling over. It worked. Maybe later we will
learn how to get on while moving.
> > Not to be shown up, I free mounted and rode about 3 feet and then all of a
> > sudden I went from riding to laying on the ground on my back. It was so
> > quick I didn’t remember falling off. I thought I broke my tailbone, but it
> > turned out to just be sore. Haven’t been back on yet. Maybe tomorrow, when
> > some of the soreness leaves.
>
> Sounds like the pedals got away from you. What you described is usually caused
> by something like one of the pedals catching you on the back of the leg as
> you’re coming downward and the wheel is going forward. This usually happens
> when you let your bottom foot off the pedal. The bottom foot has all the
> control, so if you take it off, the top one can’t do anything and away goes
> the wheel.
No, I had both feet on the pedals, but I might have been caught in neutral, the
pedals being vertical. Plus I might have rode into a dip and the wheel jumped
forward. I’m not experienced enough to catch that. I better stay on the level
for a while.
> > Is there any protective clothes that would protect my posterior? Padded
> > pants? Tie a pillow to my hind end? What?
>
> If you try the pillow method, please send a picture. I don’t know off hand
> of anything good for that area, other than diligence to avoid a repeat. Sounds
> like you were trying to ride in the open when you should maybe still be using
> the fence or other spotting device.
I saw some shorts listed on Unicycle Source that had tail bone and hip padding,
but I don’t know how much that would have helped.
> Lesson learned, you’re no longer in your 20’s. I get reminded of the same
> thing when I watch Kris Holm…
Boy, you can say that again. I get sore in places I didn’t know I had. I’m still
sore back there, I might wait another day or two before trying again.
> Stay on top, John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone http://www.unicycling.com
>
> “Dirt: it’s not just for breakfast anymore.” - MUni Weekend 2000 T-shirt (idea
> by Jacquie)
Lowell yoda@socket.net