Mini Coker: 26"/102mm

Unicycles and Equipment
1

Hi guys,

to distinguish my 26"/125mm (wheel/crank) from my recently acquired 24"/125mm race uni,
I put 102mm cranks on it. The wheel/crank ratio corresponds to a Coker setup 36"/140mm.

After assembling it, I went out with my new baby in the dark to give it a try. I mounted
it on my first go. The 102mm make for a real smooth ride … and it’s fast. It felt, as
if it wanted to sortof run at top speed on it’s own!

I enjoyed riding it until I met the first downhill part of my route. Luckily, it was
just a short downhill section. I noticed, that I was hardly able to bring down its speed.

When I came to a crossroad, I tried to idle to have a look around before continuing …
and I just fell off. I tried idling again when I was at home, but up to now it just
throws me off every time I try it.

I haven’t ridden a Coker up to now, as I live in Switzerland and I haven’t heard of
a person owning one up to date. I wonder whether a 26"/102mm uni reflects the Coker
feeling? I’d like to know as I play with the idea of getting a Coker sometime
in the future.

–
Hasta luego,
Franz

2

I have a Coker (had 150’s, now use 125’s exclusively) and my 26" has 102’s on it.

No comparison!

Sure it feels fast, but the big wheel of the Coker plows through/over stuff that will leave the 26" with short cranks stranded. (based on my limited experience)

I would recommend the Coker to anybody!

The 26"/102 would be better suited for commuting where you get into heavy pedestrian traffic, possibly.

Get a Coker

You need a Coker

I love my Coker

Did M_Extreme_Uni get his Coker yet?

3

my 26" with 110mm cranks also has a gazz on it,so i think that increases the diameter of the tyre a little more than a regular 26" tyre. I think its great, i can idle it, but not reliably enough to idle at every curb or whatever that i come to.Easier just to hop a bit.
Have you tried riding off road/ drop off and steps on it yet? It feels sssooooooo smooth. i think 26ers with short cranks are the way to go for quite alot of muni applications

4

You should try riding a 28" with 89mm cranks!!! I rode this when I did work experience woth Roger, it had a CF frame with alu seatpost & cranks. They made it really lightweight and therefore very good at cornering, but it doesn’t have the momentum of a Coker. Idling took a bit of getting used to but it is fairly easy.

I’ve got enough money for a Coker now, just have to wait for them to be back in stock. OOOOOO! can’t wait!.

5

There are similarities and differences. Neither is ‘better’ than the other, and both are fun.

The main differences are:

The Coker wheel is considerably heavier which gives it a bigger ‘flywheel effect’. Harder to start, harder to stop - even given identical crank:wheel ratios.

The Coker wheel is taller, so you sit higher, so the ‘period’ of idling is different (think of a pendulum).

The Coker wheel is bigger, so it is inherently less manoeuvreable. However good you get, you could always turn more quickly on a smaller wheel.

The short cranks give you less time to respond, and a smaller distance in which to respond, to any sudden demands for balance correction. They require quicker reflexes and better fine muscle control.

At any given speed, the cadence on the Coker will be slower and more relaxed.

The 26 is more durable, and parts and tyres are easier to replace.

But a medium sized wheel (26 - 29 ish) with short cranks (110 or smaller) is good fun in its own right, and a reasonable facsimile of a Coker.

As I may have mentioned :o I’m a big fan of small cranks. They make any ride more challenging, and with practice, it IS possible to ride up reasonably steep hills, and down quite steep ones… and it will do some cross country. I have 89s on my 24, and it is great fun… but not for general purpose.

Go for it, enjoy it, and congratulations for making the deliberate attempt to differentiate between two similar unicycles in this way. This is exactly what I do to make each uni do a different job.

Right now I have:
20 with 110s for tricks and performing.
24 with 89s for hooning about on like a lunatic.
26 with 170s for playing Land Rovers.
28 with 110s - pure road use. 102s were to frantic for road safety.
Coker with 150s - best balance for versatility and speed. (125s were rideable, but there were too many sacrifices.)

6

Hi,

I thank all of you for the encouraging words and the useful information!

Eventually, I am now sure about this, I am going to get a Coker.
Is the airfoil rim really that much better than the standard steel rim,
or in other words, is the life span of a standard steel rim
considerably shorter than a airfoil rim one’s?

I am asking, because there is quite a price difference between importing
a standard Coker from UK and importing a Coker Deluxe from US (about 230 quids).

–
Hasta luego,
Franz

7

Re: Mini Coker: 26"/102mm

Back in stock today if everything goes to plan… :slight_smile:

----- Original Message -----
From: “foolish” <foolish.k3ao0@timelimit.unicyclist.com>
Newsgroups: rec.sport.unicycling
To: <rsu@unicycling.org>
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 7:16 PM
Subject: Re: Mini Coker: 26"/102mm

>
> You should try riding a 28" with 89mm cranks!!! I rode this when I did
> work experience woth Roger, it had a CF frame with alu seatpost &
> cranks. They made it really lightweight and therefore very good at
> cornering, but it doesn’t have the momentum of a Coker. Idling took a
> bit of getting used to but it is fairly easy.
>
> I’ve got enough money for a Coker now, just have to wait for them to be
> back in stock. OOOOOO! can’t wait!.
>
>
> –
> foolish - Soon-to-be Cokerhead
>
> Smithers had thwarted my earlier attempts to steal candy from a baby,
> but with him out of the picture I was free to wallow in my own
> crappulence.
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> foolish’s Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/3527
> View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/23996
>
>

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