I rode my coker every day. 12 miles minimum. Through the traffic. Idled it. Stillstanded it. Rode it offroad.
But last year, I got a 29" wheel. Used it for riding offroad and on.
At first it wasn’t the same as the coker on roads, but was much better as a fast off road unicycle.
But then I got a Big Apple 29x2.35" road tyre for it. It’s now got that bit more momentum, lots of rolly-overness and soaks up the bumps lovely. It has the fire and forget properties of a coker, but without taking so much energy to keep going. It’s also much more fun for riding really twistily in traffic.
Best of all I’m as fast on the 29er as on the Coker just by using 125 cranks instead of 150s.
I’m now thinking of getting rid of my Coker, I haven’t been riding it at all. It just isn’t as magic as the big apple on road and isn’t as magic as the 29" mtb tyre offroad.
Anyone got a reason why I shouldn’t? I just don’t think there’s any point in having a coker for road riding now that the big apple exists and 29ers are pretty similar for offroad.
Also available for order from any bike shop that sells Schwalbe tires.
I’m considering getting rid of it (the coker) so I’ve got a bit more space for another unicycle, but then I’m hopefully going to move to somewhere bigger in the summer so I might want to keep it. Hmmm. Decisions.
Go with what you like. Sell the Coker. You can always buy another one…a better one, maybe. With a custom frame by Joe Rowing and one of Dave Stockton’s wheels. Owning a Coker does not define you. Selling one does not restrict you.
if you get rid of that tank you will have room for two other unicycles.as you may know,i sold my Coker after only having it for 2 weeks.ive made a couple of 29ers and always liked them better for distance riding.
for what its worth my interest in distance riding on a uni has diminished and i think i’ll be letting my 29er go soon.
I guess it depends on how much speed you want. I use 125 cranks on my Coker, so I’m probaby faster on it than you on your Big Apple. But then it’s still a Coker, and not as versatile as a smaller wheel will be.
I have a tendency to keep all my unicycles, and they accumulate over time. This can get to be a big hassle, and requires enough space to store them. If you’re not going to ride it, no reason to feel guilty moving to a different size1
Not in London traffic it wouldn’t. I don’t like idling a coker with 110 cranks, or doing emergency stops. 125s I can cope with but I still don’t really like them that much, I prefer a 110 29er to a 125 coker.
I think I’ll probably keep it and see what happens when I move out of London. Hopefully I’ll have more space then. The traffic I’m riding in at the moment just requires too much stopping and starting to make it worth using a coker, I think you lose more time accelerating than you’d gain from having a faster top speed.
I’m feeling quite smug today cos I got in to work in under 43 minutes, including waiting at five or six traffic lights and threading my way through traffic jams. Although irritatingly I’m still slightly under the 12 miles an hour average including stops. One day I’ll break 40 minutes and 12 miles an hour on my commute! If only there weren’t so many of those pesky traffic lights and junctions it’d be easy.
I like my 29’er too- but I can’t imagine giving up my Coker!
I would normally do most trips under 10k with my 29’er simply because it’s more versatile and maneuvarble- jumping onto the footpath, down steps etc. It’s great for picking up Pizza or getting milk/newspaper from the supermarket. On my Coker I’m almost always limited to the road.
But anything longer than 10km feels really slow on the 29’er- even with 125mm cranks. Joe- do you think the 110mm cranks make a big difference in speed?
29’ers are also great for travelling with- so easy to transport. I have a 500km ride in Feb from Vietnam to Cambodia- at the moment it looks like I’m taking the Coker because I have to keep up with bi-cyclists but it is going to be such a drag having to pack it up/transport. I’m almost thinking of bringing my 29’er with short cranks
Harper- we are still awaiting your production epicyclic hub. That will solve all my problems
I’ve done 50 miles on the 29er without too many problems, I’m not sure if I’d have been faster on the coker as there was some offroad.
I’ve ridden a bit further than that on the coker with 150mm cranks.
I find in a city, the 29er with 125 cranks is faster than the coker. 110 cranks are noticeably faster, I only don’t use them because I don’t like them off road. Out in the country
I also find the big apple tyre really helps on the 29er for road riding, because it brings back a bit of momentum, so you don’t have to think about the ride anywhere near as much.
I’ve got them “Pacing around waiting for the UPS guy” Blues.
Joe, I appreciate this forum and your advice on the Big Apple. I have a high degree of confidence that I’ll like it when it arrives. (hopefully by Tuesday!!!)
[QUOTE] Originally posted by joemarshall
[B]I’ll admit it.
I was a coker head.
I rode my coker every day. 12 miles minimum. Through the traffic. Idled it. Stillstanded it. Rode it offroad.
But last year, I got a 29" wheel. Used it for riding offroad and on.
At first it wasn’t the same as the coker on roads, but was much better as a fast off road unicycle.
But then I got a Big Apple 29x2.35" road tyre for it. It’s now got that bit more momentum, lots of rolly-overness and soaks up the bumps lovely. It has the fire and forget properties of a coker, but without taking so much energy to keep going. It’s also much more fun for riding really twistily in traffic.
what frame are you using with this apple also do you know what other 29 frams might acomadate the 3" tire
