New improved Coker--is it for real?

There was talk back in the early summer about a group in Minnesota working to
create an improved Coker–perhaps for a ride across Europe. Is this project
making progress? The world is waiting to see what you come up with–rim design,
axle length, frame design, time frame, cost…

If the Minnesota group has given up on an advanced Coker, then please let us
know. Perhaps we can find another way to get one designed and built. That
builder in Austria expressed some interest.

Thanks,

David Maxfield Bainbridge Island, WA

Re: New improved Coker–is it for real?

I’m sure someone must have looked into just getting Coker to build a better
unit- are they totally unreceptive to this?

-Kris.

— Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com> wrote:
> >But, we need to make sure we have our Cokers ready
> early next year so we
> >are going with plan B. That is, buy a Coker and
> ‘throw’ everything away
> >but the tire, tube, rim and spokes. From there, put
> on a new hub, upgrade
> >the bearings, make a new frame (that uses the
> Miyata bearing cups instead
> >of Coker’s bearing holders that pinch the bearing),
> change cranks (125 mm
> >for starters), new ‘gripy’ pedals, carbon fiber
> seat, break assembly, and
> >cycle computer. The break assembly is the most
> unknown at this time, we
> >have some interesting ideas and if it works out,
> this will be one of the
> >better features.
>
> I’m sure Coker Tire will sell a complete wheel including tire and tube. Thus,
> you will avoid shipping the frame, bearing holders, bearings and crank arms
> that you don’t plan toi use anyway; it should be a bit cheaper too.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com>
>
> Microsoft has finally found someone it can’t bully into submission: US
> Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/ms_index.htm
> Yahoo links -
http://headlines.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/Tech/Microsoft/


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Re: New improved Coker–is it for real?

>That builder in Austria expressed some interest.

If you are talking about me, I live in AUSTRALIA (you know, Kangaroos, Sydney
Olympics, Koala Bears, Plumetting Dollar Value). If you are talking about
Austria then I am pleased to hear that there are others working on the project.

I have a wall with the rim manufacture at the moment. I am now playing the
waiting game with the rim manufacturer until they get some wider rims done.
Something may be in the pipeline - I will keep you all updated.

Wayne van Wijk wayne@jester.com.au


O—( >–|-o

Ouch! I just fell off my unicycle.


Re: New improved Coker–is it for real?

On 24 Oct 2000, Maxfield D wrote:

> There was talk back in the early summer about a group in Minnesota working to
> create an improved Coker–perhaps for a ride across Europe. Is this project
> making progress? The world is waiting to see what you come up with–rim
> design, axle length, frame design, time frame, cost…
>
> If the Minnesota group has given up on an advanced Coker, then please let us
> know. Perhaps we can find another way to get one designed and built. That
> builder in Austria expressed some interest.

We have not given up on the advanced Coker. Since we are planning on doing a
really long distance ride next summer, we want to have a distance Coker
available.

Our first choice was to buy the tire from Coker and build the unicycle from
there, but this depends on getting a rim (the rim that currently comes on a
Coker is not the greatest). Wayne van Wijk from Australia was looking into
getting a rim made but his first attempt didn’t work out. As he mentioned in his
email, he is looking at another place.

But, we need to make sure we have our Cokers ready early next year so we are
going with plan B. That is, buy a Coker and ‘throw’ everything away but the
tire, tube, rim and spokes. From there, put on a new hub, upgrade the bearings,
make a new frame (that uses the Miyata bearing cups instead of Coker’s bearing
holders that pinch the bearing), change cranks (125 mm for starters), new
‘gripy’ pedals, carbon fiber seat, break assembly, and cycle computer. The break
assembly is the most unknown at this time, we have some interesting ideas and if
it works out, this will be one of the better features.

As of right now, a prototype is being made. After the prototype is done, we
will be making more for others going on the ride. But, not everybody wants/need
all the ‘features’ that I want so some people are getting what they need and
can afford.

-Andy


Andy Cotter - cotter@skypoint.com Unicycle Video “One Wheel - No Limit” -
http://www.tcuc.org/nolimit/ Twin City Unicycle Club, Pres - http://www.tcuc.org

Re: New improved Coker–is it for real?

I’m thinking Austria, not Australia. I remember several months ago someone
familiar with the group outliined in the website below suggested that they might
be interested in making an improved Coker.

http://www.wuk.at/hochrad/index_eng.html

David Maxfield Bainbridge Island, WA

Re: New improved Coker–is it for real?

>But, we need to make sure we have our Cokers ready early next year so we are
>going with plan B. That is, buy a Coker and ‘throw’ everything away but the
>tire, tube, rim and spokes. From there, put on a new hub, upgrade the bearings,
>make a new frame (that uses the Miyata bearing cups instead of Coker’s bearing
>holders that pinch the bearing), change cranks (125 mm for starters), new
>‘gripy’ pedals, carbon fiber seat, break assembly, and cycle computer. The
>break assembly is the most unknown at this time, we have some interesting ideas
>and if it works out, this will be one of the better features.

I’m sure Coker Tire will sell a complete wheel including tire and tube. Thus,
you will avoid shipping the frame, bearing holders, bearings and crank arms that
you don’t plan toi use anyway; it should be a bit cheaper too.

Sincerely,

Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com>

Microsoft has finally found someone it can’t bully into submission: US
Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/ms_index.htm Yahoo links

Re: New improved Coker–is it for real?

Greetings

In message “Re: New improved Coker–is it for real?”, Andy Cotter wrote…
>On 24 Oct 2000, Maxfield D wrote:

I encourage you to go ahead with these plans. Count me in as one of the first
customers for the best quality big wheel you can make. I suppose we should call
it the Cotter, not the Coker :-)!

>> There was talk back in the early summer about a group in Minnesota working
>> to create an improved Coker–perhaps for a ride across Europe. Is this
>> project making progress? The world is waiting to see what you come up
>> with–rim design, axle length, frame design, time frame, cost…
>>
>> If the Minnesota group has given up on an advanced Coker, then please let us
>> know. Perhaps we can find another way to get one designed and built. That
>> builder in Austria expressed some interest.
>
>We have not given up on the advanced Coker. Since we are planning on doing a
>really long distance ride next summer, we want to have a distance Coker
>available.
>
>Our first choice was to buy the tire from Coker and build the unicycle from
>there, but this depends on getting a rim (the rim that currently comes on a
>Coker is not the greatest). Wayne van Wijk from Australia was looking into
>getting a rim made but his first attempt didn’t work out. As he mentioned in
>his email, he is looking at another place.
>
>But, we need to make sure we have our Cokers ready early next year so we are
>going with plan B. That is, buy a Coker and ‘throw’ everything away but the
>tire, tube, rim and spokes. From there, put on a new hub, upgrade the
>bearings, make a new frame (that uses the Miyata bearing cups instead of
>Coker’s bearing holders that pinch the bearing), change cranks (125 mm for
>starters), new ‘gripy’ pedals, carbon fiber seat, break assembly, and cycle
>computer. The break assembly is the most unknown at this time, we have some
>interesting ideas and if it works out, this will be one of the better
>features.
>
>As of right now, a prototype is being made. After the prototype is done, we
>will be making more for others going on the ride. But, not everybody
>wants/need all the ‘features’ that I want so some people are getting what they
>need and can afford.
>
>-Andy
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Andy Cotter - cotter@skypoint.com Unicycle Video “One Wheel - No Limit” -
>http://www.tcuc.org/nolimit/ Twin City Unicycle Club, Pres -
>http://www.tcuc.org
>
>

Regards, Jack Halpern CJK Dictionary Publishing Society, http://www.kanji.org
Voice: +81-48-481-3103 Fax: +81-48-479-1323

Re: New improved Coker–is it for real?

On Thu, 26 Oct 2000, Ken Fuchs wrote:

> >But, we need to make sure we have our Cokers ready early next year so we are
> >going with plan B. That is, buy a Coker and ‘throw’ everything away but the
> >tire, tube, rim and spokes. From there, put on a new hub, upgrade the
> >bearings, make a new frame (that uses the Miyata bearing cups instead of
> >Coker’s bearing holders that pinch the bearing), change cranks (125 mm for
> >starters), new ‘gripy’ pedals, carbon fiber seat, break assembly, and cycle
> >computer. The break assembly is the most unknown at this time, we have some
> >interesting ideas and if it works out, this will be one of the better
> >features.
>
> I’m sure Coker Tire will sell a complete wheel including tire and tube. Thus,
> you will avoid shipping the frame, bearing holders, bearings and crank arms
> that you don’t plan toi use anyway; it should be a bit cheaper too.

We actually looked into this for the reasons that you mentioned above. But,
Coker receives full unicycles from their manufacture in Tiawan and are willing
to break up a unicycle so somebody can just by the rim, tire and tube. If we
were planning a whole year in advance, we could have Coker order some extra rims
from Tiawan. I understand that they only receive their order once a year.

-Andy


Andy Cotter - cotter@skypoint.com Unicycle Video “One Wheel - No Limit” -
http://www.tcuc.org/nolimit/ Twin City Unicycle Club, Pres - http://www.tcuc.org