More for the FAQ -- which way to ride.

General
1

After getting some expert advice from some passing jugglers, I learnt, to my
embarrassment, that there is a front and a back to my unicycle. (Thanks again,
Matt and Aveline, if you’re listening,)

The whole thing looks symmetrical, including the seat, and no-one ever mentioned
it to me, so it never occurred to me that there was a forward direction. I
suspected at first that I was having my leg pulled.

Sure enough, the pedals are labelled L and R on the inside, which indicates the
direction of the thread. Prolonged riding in the wrong direction apparently
causes the pedal to become loose (as they have, on my unicycle.)

While I still can’t understand why they can’t make pedals that can spin either
way, I would appreciate it if the FAQ could warn other innocents, like myself,
of the existence of the right way and the wrong way to ride.

Thanks,

Julian

– Julian Orbach (julian@cs.uq.oz.au) – University of Queensland,
Brisbane, Australia

Newbie Unicylists! Up against the wall when the first revolution comes!

Hmmm… I think that pun needs a little work still.

2

Re: More for the FAQ – which way to ride.

Julian Orbach (julian@cs.uq.oz.au) writes:

>Sure enough, the pedals are labeled L and R on the inside, which indicates the
>direction of the thread. Prolonged riding in the wrong direction apparently
>causes the pedal to become loose (as they have, on my unicycle.)

Forward riding on either a unicycle or bicycle will tend to tighten the pedals.
However, backward riding on a unicycle will tend to loosen the pedals.

If the pedals are not screwed on tight enough, they can loosen, even if one
rides only forward; if not caught in time, the pedal can strip the threads in
the crankarm by being too loose. If the pedals are screwed on too tightly, again
the crankarm threads can become stripped, though usually not completely as that
would require ignoring the sound of snapping threads and sight of bits of metal
flying about.

Seriously, just tighten the pedals with a long (12 in.) pedal wrench until the
wrench simply does not budge. Carefully apply a little more torque to be sure
the pedal is really tight, but not enough torque to strip the threads. That’s
all there is to it.

It does take a bit of skill though, usually gained by ruining a crankarm or two.
Bolts placed in a vice are cheaper experience. (My experience was gained through
stripping the threads on cotter pins; A lot cheaper than crankarms.)

Always wear safety equipment, such as safety goggles, when doing this kind of
work, especially when putting materials (crankarm threads) near their stress
limits. Flying bits of metal near your eyes are a possibility that must not be
overlooked!

You are now prepared to enter Unicycle Mechanics 101!

Stay on Top,

Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com

3

Re: More for the FAQ – which way to ride.

>Julian Orbach (julian@cs.uq.oz.au) writes:
>
>>Sure enough, the pedals are labeled L and R on the inside, which indicates the
>>direction of the thread. Prolonged riding in the wrong direction apparently
>>causes the pedal to become loose (as they have, on my unicycle.)
>
>Forward riding on either a unicycle or bicycle will tend to tighten the pedals.
>However, backward riding on a unicycle will tend to loosen the pedals.
[snip]
>Seriously, just tighten the pedals with a long (12 in.) pedal wrench until the
>wrench simply does not budge. Carefully apply a little more torque to be sure
>the pedal is really tight, but not enough torque to strip the threads. That’s
>all there is to it.

Also very important to prevent stripping the thread is to put a little greese on
the thread before you attach the pedal. This prevents the thread on the pedal
from binding to the thread on the crank, which happens if the thread is dry,
resulting in a brittle join which will crack under pressure. In my experience it
is this, rather than pedaling the wrong way, which makes the pedals loose.

Mark Sands o o o E-mail M.R.Sands@iasos.utas.edu.au o o IASOS/CRC Ph: +61 20
2941 Fax: +61 20 2973 ------------------------------------------------ o
Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies o @_/ CRC for Antarctic and
Southern Ocean Environment /|
#
/
** **

4

RE: More for the FAQ – which way to ride.

>After getting some expert advice from some passing jugglers, I learnt, to my
>embarrassment, that there is a front and a back to my unicycle. (Thanks again,
>Matt and Aveline, if you’re listening,)
>
>The whole thing looks symmetrical, including the seat, and no-one ever
>mentioned it to me, so it never occurred to me that there was a forward
>direction. I suspected at first that I was having my leg pulled.
>
>Sure enough, the pedals are labelled L and R on the inside, which indicates the
>direction of the thread. Prolonged riding in the wrong direction apparently
>causes the pedal to become loose (as they have, on my unicycle.)
>
>While I still can’t understand why they can’t make pedals that can spin either
>way, I would appreciate it if the FAQ could warn other innocents, like myself,
>of the existence of the right way and the wrong way to ride.
>
>Thanks, – Julian Orbach (julian@cs.uq.oz.au) – University of Queensland,
>Brisbane, Australia

Many bicycle shops also don’t know that a unicycle has a front and a back, and
assemble the uni. with the seat backward, the frame backward, or worse. How can
the frame be backward? it depends on the model, and how the frame relates to
saddle and crank arms.

If you are buying a new (or used) unicycle, check for that L or R, usually on
the inside of the crank arm, near the pedal, or on the pedal itself, in the
place where you put the wrench. John Foss, President International Unicycling
Federation unifoss@cerfnet.com