On another thread, Sofa gave details of his amazing 30km ride with m_extreme_uni.
The ride was 30 km which is 18.65 miles.
One uni was 26 inch, 102mm cranks. (ratio 27.6%). Time: 1:44.06 = 10.78mph average.
One uni was 29 inch, 102mm cranks. (ratio 30%) Time: 1:48.30 = 10.31mph average.
So that’s two ‘medium sized’ unis comfortably beating 10mph over an 18.65 mile course, mostly off road.
Today, I put that into context with a ride of my own on the Coker.
Credentials: I consider myself fit for my age (40) and reasonably experienced and skilled. Longest ride over 50 miles, several over 30, too many to count over 10. I guesstimate I rode 750 miles in the last 12 months, on a variety of unis, not counting time spent practising and performing on the 20.
So, my comparison goes:
36 inch wheel, 150mm cranks (33% ratio). Time 1:00.00. Distance 12.44 miles.
This was in almost ideal circumstances, with all but the first mile on smooth level tarmac with no traffic (I did laps of the National Water Sports Centre main rowing course.)
So in almost ideal circumstances, I averaged 12.44mph on a Coker. In reasonably difficult circumstances, and (I quote) “less than racing”, these two heroes were only about 2mph slower over 1.5 times the distance.
I reckon that on simple cross country, I’m averaging 10mph on the Coker, and if the ground gets anywhere near my limit of ability, that drops to around 8mph.
I finished today’s ride more slowly, doing 15,89 miles in 1:25 (approx.), bringing my average down to 11.2mph for the whole ride.
Once again, I salute these two heroes. There are only three possibilities:
- They are gods in human form,
- Or I am a lousy arithmetician,
- Or I am a lousy unicyclist.