It seems like I keep posting questions about new Unicycle.com inventory. I guess that’s as good a way as any to learn.
Anyway, I’ve been checking up regularly, waiting for that Miyata stiffener plate to be added to the catalog - and it finally is. I also noticed, they have a Kangaroo in the catalog now.
My question is, do Kangaroos have an off-set axle? Isn’t the axle closer to the bottom of the wheel than it is to the top of the wheel (top and bottom being relative, of course)? The reason I ask is because the picture at Unicycle.com doesn’t seem to be like that. Are there different types of Kangaroos or was I completely wrong about the offset axle?
I believe that a 'Roo has both the cranks pointed in the same direction, and an Essentric has the axle off center… naturaly leading one to whant an essentric 'Roo. Just as all unicyclists have ultimate wheels waiting to happen- we have 'Roos, too (with the aid of a crank puller).
…or for those who aren’t crank-able. There is a helpful specialized tool for removing crank arms and not every tool box is graced with one. If you notice, the Torker-roo and the Torker-non-roo are priced the same.
Bruce
with my vast knowledge (john foss’ website) a kangaroo truly is a unicycle with the axle/hub not in the center. And if you know John Foss, then I know that you know that he knows what he’s talking about, ya know?
That cycle on John’s site is an eccentric kangaroo. A normal unicycle with the cranks in the same direction is also a kangaroo, but not eccentric. A unicycle the hub of which is not in the center of the wheel is an eccentric (like most of the posters to this forum).
Correct. The kangaroo part is defined by the way the crank arms are pointed. Putting the axle off center (if lined up right) makes it easier to get the pedals over the top of the stroke.
The question is, what do you call it when you put your cotterless cranks 90 degrees apart? That’s a kooky way to ride.
Earlier this year, Cliff Cordy brought one of his brother’s Cordy unicycles to the Damento Juggling Festival. Nathan Hoover and I examined and took pictures of it. The axle fit onto a hexagonal connector, allowing the possibility of a different set of relative crank positions. See some pictures of this here:
>
> uh… why are they -selling- a kangaroo? cant you just take a
> normal uni and put the cranks on different? or is this for those who are
> extremely lazy?..
>
> -Mike
>
>
> –
> ekimstorm - Mike
I think it was just to show that they will customize for you.
Just what do you call a uni with an eccentric wheel?
>With my vast knowledge (John Foss’ website) a kangaroo truly is a
>unicycle with the axle/hub not in the center. And if you know John Foss,
>then I know that you know that he knows what he’s talking about, ya
>know?
A kangaroo usually doesn’t have an off-center wheel, but it can.
An off-center wheel is very hard to lace up since one must use spokes of
different sizes which may require that the spokes be cut to length and
be hand threaded, thus kangaroo unicycles are rarely based on
off-centered wheels.
A few noteworthy kangaroo unicycles may have off-center wheels, but that
doesn’t mean that all kangaroo unicycles have off-centered wheels.
Frankly, they are noteworthy simply because they have off-center wheels.
They have one bump and one dip designed in them. A square “wheel” has
four bumps and four dips; so what? The novelty of off-center and square
“wheels” wears off very quickly when applied to a unicycle.
In any case, assuming (what should be known to be false) that a kangaroo
unicycle must have off-center wheel, how off-center must it be, 1/8",
1/2", 2", 8" (1.03%, 4.125%, 16.5%, 66% of the radius of a 24" wheel)?
Maybe kangaroo unicycles should have oval wheels, two bumps and two
dips?
Allooooo again everyone.
First off I’m back. MWUAHAHA Second, the Roo’ on John Foss’ page is a custom built one. That’s why you don’t see any others. heh I also was hoping someone could give me some advice and a link. Can anyone help me with riding one footed? It’s difficult for me and I’m having a lot of trouble. And also, can someone point me to a link for a crank arm puller. Thank You
>The question is, what do you call it when you put your cotterless cranks
>90 degrees apart? That’s a kooky way to ride.
Funny, I had this thought 2 seconds before I read your question. Has
anyone ever tried it?
With a Profile hub, as I understand it, a multitude of relative crank
positions is possible. If anything, it would provide a gradual and
possibly “easy” (if not dull) way of learning to ride a kangaroo.
>Ken Fuchs wrote:
>> *An off-center wheel is very hard to lace up since one must use spokes
>> of different sizes which may require that the spokes be cut to length
>> and be hand threaded, thus kangaroo unicycles are rarely based on
>> off-centered wheels. *
That’s a very eccentric kangaroo. It would no doubt be very interesting
to ride. Jagur, thank you for pointing it out! Who built it? Who owns
it?
It would be difficult, but quite possible to build the same wheel with
spokes. The only possible advantage of a solid wheel would be
adjustable eccentricity, assuming it is designed in. On the other hand,
the spokes of even a very eccentric wheel can be tension adjusted to
true the wheel whereas with the solid wheel this is not really
possible. However, the solid wheel would be a great option for someone
who doesn’t want to lace an eccentric wheel or build a wheel with
adjustable eccentricity.
>The question is, what do you call it when you put your cotterless cranks
>90 degrees apart? That’s a kooky way to ride.
>>Funny, I had this thought 2 seconds before I read your question. Has
>>anyone ever tried it?
i just tried this this eve. it is more fun than should be legally allowed, methinks. with all the talk o’ kangaroo’s i thought to give ‘rooing a try. how the bloody hell does one start on a ‘roo anyway?? suffice it to say i failed miserably…
me next thought was to meet it half way. i tried left foot an’ right foot forward with respect to the upper half o’ the wheel. personally i found right foot forward to be easiest. 150’s on a 26" wheel, after only a few minutes i was cruisin’ right along comfortably. what surprised me is how smooth pedalin’ can be. it’s quick on the downstroke, but slower on the upstroke so it seems to even out, sorta. i also found you can press into the pedal on the upstroke an’ gain some power {not much mind you, but a little helps} on the upstroke, too. somethin’ i’ve always had difficulty with on the muni. shallow hills, while a pain to go up were quite fun to come down. all in all i think i may leave that uni this way for a spell. it can only help my ability in the long run i’d imagine.
so, what do you call it when you ride cranks 90 degrees apart??
doc
it is pretty eccentric is’nt it.i got the picture off of RSU a long time ago and i cant remember who made it
the crank arms look really long dont they?.you have a good point about trueing the wheel too.i never thought about that one.maybe the owner will spot this thread.
