OK, since y’all were so helpful before, I’ll ask the next set of questions.
On a muni, what kind of tire pressure do you run? Is it around 32 psi
like mtb tires?
I’ve ordered the KH24. I’ve never seen a saddle like that in my life.
What’s the front and what’s the back. I’m gathering that the part with the
support bar is the front. This I determined from a photo I saw that showed
a brake mounted on the rear side of the fork and I can see the brake mounts
on the opposite side from where the handle support is on the saddle.
I seem to recall that I used to hit my ankle bones quite often when I
was riding as a kid. Do y’all experience that problem? It’s a major issue
with me now as I have three titanium pins in the big knobby bone on the
inside of my left ankle and it’s really going to be nasty if I hit those
(they’re courtesy of a car hitting me on my road bike last year). I suspect
there are pads for this, eh?
Probably most important. What are saddle height guidelines? In most
photos I see, it looks like it’s just like the road bike … slight bend in
the knee when pedal is at bottom. But should it be any different for MUni?
Any shoe advice for MUni? Maybe good coverage of the ankle bones, eh?
It’s not like a mtn bike…Depending on your weight you will wanna run between say 17 - 22 psi
Handles on the front. If you have never ridden a unicycle with a handle, you’ll learn quickly why it’s there
Some people hit their ankles and some don’t. I personally never have. Lot’s of people hit them on the KH’s because of the little knobby on the cranks. If it becomes a real issue then get these. http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=670
Still shinguards are a good idea
You got it…
I’d wear a flat bottom skateboard shoe myself. A pair of Vans. For ankle protection get some 661 Ankle Biters!!
Usually on an unicycle the pressures are lower than on a bike. For example, my Gazza runs at about 1,1 bar at the moment. This might be almost too low, because the tire sometimes folds a bit if hopping up steep spots sideways. Recommended pressures are 1-2 bar. I guess the pressures are low because it has really though sidewalls. It almost looks like you wouldn’t need any air in the tire and you could still ride it.
When you get the saddle it’s probably obvious which side is front. It’s that with a bit thinner end with the handle. And you use the handle to pull the uni up when hopping. For tips on hopping go to the Muniac.com This is a great page and holds info on most of the things you want to know about MUni. The support bar is for the brake handle.
and 5. I’ve never bashed my ankles on the cranks. But you probably should buy a set of Active Ankles or Ankle Biters. You can find them here: Unicycle.com, Ankle Guards Some shoes like hiking boots might also be good for this. The high top versions usually cover your ankles pretty well. And they also give your ankles a bit support when you fall.
If I ride on street or really light MUni I keep the saddle so that my knees are a little bent when the pedal is down. But if I really want to hop and ride on rougher terrain like DH tracks, I put the saddle almost as low as it goes. This really helps when you do drops or jumps because you have more space for movement. And on an unicycle this counts as suspension. This and a fat tire. Go Gazza go!!
I use a 24 x 3 Gazz which is not the same as the tire you’ll be getting on the KH, but I weigh about 185lbs. and run just a hair under 20psi.
You are correct, the front is the part with the handle for grabbing. The rear section is larger in area. You’d find out pretty quickly by trial and error if you had it wrong.
Well, in my experience the crank/axle connection of the KH wheelset was a bit problematic. I like a crank with a good degree of siderake or what is referred to as “Q-Factor” in the bicycle world. The KH cranks are at a 90 degree angle from the axle and some riders have problems with this and do hit their ankle bone on the barrel of the crank that protrudes about a 1/4" or so past the crank itself.
I never suffered any injury as a result of this, but I couldn’t get used to it. I sold the wheelset to a fellow poster (chirokid) and he couldn’t be happier. So, it depends on the individual. You may want to wear some sort of ankle protection, like those used with soccer shin gaurds. Some brands make them separate from the shin gaurd and they are cheap protection.
I keep my MUni and uni seats lower than my bike seats, I guess about an inch or so less. There is no real absolute here, you just kind of find what works for you.
I use a BMX style shoe. They aren’t high tops but do have a good amout of padding just below the ankle that actually ends up protecting the ankle fairly well just by deflecting contact up and away.This is another one of those things which will come down to personal preference.
Other riders will post with there recommendations and experiences. There are some constants, but like most things in life, by doing, you’ll end up liking what works for you.
“zod” <zod@NoEmail.Message.Poster.at.Unicyclist.com> wrote in message news:zod.x7asr@NoEmail.Message.Poster.at.Unicyclist.com…
>
> 1. It’s not like a mtn bike…Depending on your weight you will wanna
> run between say 17 - 22 psi
>
> 2. Handles on the front. If you have never ridden a unicycle with a
> handle, you’ll learn quickly why it’s there
>
> 3. Some people hit their ankles and some don’t. I personally never have.
> Lot’s of people hit them on the KH’s because of the little knobby on the
> cranks. If it becomes a real issue then get these.
> http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=670
> Still shinguards are a good idea
>
> 4. You got it…
>
> 5. I’d wear a flat bottom skateboard shoe myself. A pair of Vans. For
> ankle protection get some 661 Ankle Biters!!
>
>
> –
> zod - Icey Hot Stunta(z)
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> zod’s Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/3631
> View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/28964
>
>But you probably
>should buy a set of Active Ankles or Ankle Biters.
They don’t serve the same purpose. One of the two (I think Ankle
Biters) are more like padding (what you seem to need), the other is
for restricting movement so that the foot doesn’t sway out sideways
but that one does little for padding.
And saddle height: just one more thing in addition to the points
mentioned. For a long climb it is worthwhile to put the seat higher.
That way, power is delivered more effectively.
Klaas Bil - Newsgroup Addict
“My butt has a crack in it , but I can still ride. - spyder”
I just bought a farm a year ago and I just finished building a barn this
morning. I’m so broken in I may need chirokid to come break in the KH24 for
me.
Bob C.
P.S. Again, thanks to all the nice folks in this group for all the helpful
info.
It sounds like I have a taker.
Bob, I can not COME break in the KH24 for you, you must send it to me for break in.
I will ride and take very good care of it, inspect it fully and evaluate it’s postive and negative points. Then I will ride it some more, and re-inspect.
My evaluation will be VERY THROUGH, so it may take several months. By that time I will find another sucker who… whoops, I mean, by that time I will send it back to you with my recommendations.
I am only here to serve and please my fellow uni-rider’s needs!
Sincerely, your humble servant… :D–chirokid–
PS: The lake by your home looks beautiful. Possibly I could hand deliver your unicycle once the evaluat/break-in process is complete. Your farm must be wonderful, Congratulations on owning a little bit of Heaven.
