I just finished constructing my ultimate wheel. Watching George Peck on his
wheel in North Bend made me want to learn. I’ve now spent 20 minutes trying to
ride it, and it seems do-able–given that I live to the statistical limit of my
age cohort. I’ll post update notes as I make progress.
I used the kit from Tom Miller (The Unicycle Factory765-452-2692), and it worked
like a charm. He supplies a bar that has been tapped for 1/2 inch pedals. You
find a rim, cut a wooden disk for the center of the wheel, and mount the bar in
a slot you cut in the middle of the rim. Further instructions can be found on
the Unicycle Page.
I found a used “Phat Albert” rim that is a 26 inch downhill rim 49mm wide. It is
the rim that Sun’s Doublewide has replaced. It meant that I had to use a 1
1/8 inch disk of plywood, rather than a 3/4 inch, but that was the only
modification required. I’m using a 2.7 inch downhill tire to create the
ultimate ultimate wheel.
> I just finished constructing my ultimate wheel. Watching George Peck on his > wheel in North Bend made me want to learn. I’ve now spent 20 minutes trying to > ride it, and it seems do-able–given that I live to the statistical limit of > my age cohort. I’ll post update notes as I make progress. > > I used the kit from Tom Miller (The Unicycle Factory765-452-2692), and it > worked like a charm. He supplies a bar that has been tapped for 1/2 inch > pedals. You find a rim, cut a wooden disk for the center of the wheel, and > mount the bar in a slot you cut in the middle of the rim. Further instructions > can be found on the Unicycle Page. > > I found a used “Phat Albert” rim that is a 26 inch downhill rim 49mm wide. It > is the rim that Sun’s Doublewide has replaced. It meant that I had to use a 1 > 1/8 inch disk of plywood, rather than a 3/4 inch, but that was the only > modification required. I’m using a 2.7 inch downhill tire to create the > ultimate ultimate wheel. > > Wish me luck, > > David Maxfield Bainbridge Island, WA
Ha ! A mere 2.7…I am now using a 3inch Gazalloddi on a 24 inch rim. This is
really sweet because it is so stable and the ride so cushy. Just needs a little
stouter tube for doing curbs.
After about an hour on my new wheel I yanked the downhill tire and put on a
slick. The nobs on the nobby tire would catch on my calf and not let go. The
slick works better–and I’m using a silicon-type spray as well.
Once I’m a little higher on the learning curve I’ll put that downhill
tire back on.
Here’s my first update on learning to ride my ultimate wheel:
The wheel itself: 26 inch with slick tire, wide rim 44mm, 1 1/8 inch plywood
center, Unicycle Factory “cranks”, half-inch resin pedals.
Rollers: No, you can’t ride a unicycle or ultimate wheel on rollers. But I
thought that riding rollers on my UW would help me get the feel. I set up the
rollers in a doorway and gave it a go. It may have helped. It was very tough,
and the result was nothing to crow about. I gave it up.
Standing start from doorway: I followed the advice that is posted on the net. I
started with my dominant foot down and launched into the basement room. I spent
about an hour last Friday and 2 hours on Sunday. By the end of Sunday I could
usually go 2 pedal strokes (right foot down, left foot down, fall). I wore wrist
guards and Roach brand leg/knee guards. I swear by them.
Today I spent about 30 minutes and was able to go 6 pedal strokes (the length of
my basement room). I can also free mount about 1/3 of the time. I think I’m
close to “over the hump”.
What I’ve learned: If you look at the track you make when you ride your
unicycle, most riders see a curvy line. The wheel turns in the direction of the
downstroke/forward pedal. On an UW you want just the reverse. You want the wheel
to turn away from the forward pedal. Turning away prevents the wheel from
running into your forward leg–it keeps the wheel upright.
If you consciously plan this turning, you can do it–on a unicycle and (after a
while) on an UW.
It also hopes to slow down–even to come to a full stop between pedal strokes.
It helps your mind catch up with your feet.
David, One that might help is good old Silicone Grease (some of my favorite
stuff). If you spray this stuff on the rim and the edge of your ultimate wheel,
it will make learning tons easier. When you’re learning, you can’t help but let
the wheel rub against your legs (or at least I couldn’t, and still can’t). A dry
grease like this is slicker than snot and will allow pedal easier when the wheel
is rubbing on your leg. Also, hard plastic shin gaurds turned sideways with
grease on them helps.
Note on using silicone grease: Never do this indoors! I unwisely decided to
grease up my UW in the hallway of my dorm. Some dude down the hallway discovered
that I not only sprayed my UW, but the whole floor as well (on accident of
course). We quickly found out that if you spray the floor, and spray your socks,
you can slide for a long long ways. We of course then had to have sliding
contests. Its all fun and games until someone unknownly walks out of their room
to take a shower and wipes out. I almost got written up for that one! If you’ve
seen Christmas Vacation, it was a lot like the sled
Brett
PS. When I use the UW in a show, I always tell them there’s only three people
in the world that can ride it…you could be the 4th! Just kidding.
> > Here’s my first update on learning to ride my ultimate wheel: > > The wheel itself: 26 inch with slick tire, wide rim 44mm, 1 1/8 inch plywood > center, Unicycle Factory “cranks”, half-inch resin pedals. > > Rollers: No, you can’t ride a unicycle or ultimate wheel on rollers. But I > thought that riding rollers on my UW would help me get the feel. I set up the > rollers in a doorway and gave it a go. It may have helped. It was very tough, > and the result was nothing to crow about. I gave it up. > > Standing start from doorway: I followed the advice that is posted on the net. > I started with my dominant foot down and launched into the basement room. I > spent about an hour last Friday and 2 hours on Sunday. By the end of Sunday I > could usually go 2 pedal strokes (right foot down, left foot down, fall). I > wore wrist guards and Roach brand leg/knee guards. I swear by them. > > Today I spent about 30 minutes and was able to go 6 pedal strokes (the length > of my basement room). I can also free mount about 1/3 of the time. I think I’m > close to “over the hump”. > > What I’ve learned: If you look at the track you make when you ride your > unicycle, most riders see a curvy line. The wheel turns in the direction of > the downstroke/forward pedal. On an UW you want just the reverse. You want the > wheel to turn away from the forward pedal. Turning away prevents the wheel > from running into your forward leg–it keeps the wheel upright. > > If you consciously plan this turning, you can do it–on a unicycle and (after > a while) on an UW. > > It also hopes to slow down–even to come to a full stop between pedal strokes. > It helps your mind catch up with your feet. > > I’ll keep practicing. > > David Maxfield Bainbridge Island, WA
Brett Bymaster: > One that might help is good old Silicone Grease (some of my favorite > stuff). If you spray this stuff on the rim and the edge of your ultimate > wheel, it will make learning tons easier.
Anyone know where I might get such stuff in the UK? A brand name might help,
too. A while ago I tried spraying the tyre of my UW with Fabsil Gold, after
reading a suggestion here to use silicone spray, but it made very little
difference. All the silicone sprays I’ve seen have been along the same lines
as Fabsil.
–
Danny Colyer (remove your.head to reply) http://www.twjc.co.uk/danny.html
Getting out of bed is a terrible way to have to start the day.
Danny Colyer wrote: > Brett Bymaster: > > One that might help is good old Silicone Grease > Anyone know where I might get such stuff in the UK? A brand name might > help, too.
I use a spray polish used for car dashboards etc. I think my current one is
Simoniz Cockpit Spray (or somesuch). Any Halfords will have plenty to
choose from.
Regards, Mark.
–
Fujitsu Telecom Europe Ltd,| o Solihull Parkway, | In the land of the
pedestrian, /|\ Birmingham Business Park, | the one-wheeled man is king. <<
Birmingham, ENGLAND. | O
It’s back !! Birmingham Circus Convention returns 29th April, 2000 !!
The ankle I’d sprained is back in business, so I spent quite a bit of today back
on my ultimate wheel. I practiced about an hour indoors this morning, another
hour outdoors over lunch, and a half hour indoors just now.
Progress: I can always freemount now, but I can’t always get going. I usually go
two or three pedal strokes, then fall. However, about a third of the time I can
travel 6 or more pedal strokes. Outside I have gone the length of a tennis court
a couple of times.
It’s hard to descibe what it is that I am learning (other than humility). My
best guess is that I’m smoothing out the weight transitions from pedal stroke to
pedal stroke.
I have tried an Elmer’s dry spray lubricant that doesn’t work. Anyone have use
for half a can? I’m reluctant to try anything that is going to mess up my indoor
practice area. So far, I just keep the wheel away from my forward leg–but this
does entail rather dramatic weight shifts.
I learned to unicycle in the 5th grade. Now I’m 44 and re-living the
frustrations of youth. What fun.
