Re: Ultimate Wheel (strange subject for a topic like handle bars, isn't it?)

system · December 10, 1997, 10:03am

John Foss wrote:
> Handlebars for long distance riding and handlebars for performance, racing or
> off-roading might have to be very different shapes to do their jobs properly.
> I think I would prefer something that comes off the front of my seat post (or
> seat), offering support directly in front of me. The actual bar could be made
> large enough to hold a computer, brake lever or windshield wiper switch.

I’d suggest to try the seat post, not the seat. I constucted the handle bar for
my 28" uni this way and it works great. Michael Kirsch has tried attaching a
handle bar directly to the seat, but the base plate was not strong enough to
withstand the forces it had to stand. Another advantage of attaching it to the
post is that you easily can adjust the hight. And last but not least it’s much
easier to build.

Wolfgang

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system · December 12, 1997, 11:12pm

Re: Ultimate Wheel (strange subject for a topic like handle bars, isn’t it?)

Wolfgang Stroessner <stroess@mathematik.hu-berlin.de> wrote:

>John Foss wrote:
>> Handlebars for long distance riding and handlebars for performance, racing or
>> off-roading might have to be very different shapes to do their jobs properly.
>> I think I would prefer something that comes off the front of my seat post (or
>> seat), offering support directly in front of me. The actual bar could be made
>> large enough to hold a computer, brake lever or windshield wiper switch.

>I’d suggest to try the seat post, not the seat. I constructed the handle bar
>for my 28" uni this way and it works great. Michael Kirsch has tried attaching
>a handle bar directly to the seat, but the base plate was not strong enough to
>withstand the forces it had to stand. Another advantage of attaching it to the
>post is that you easily can adjust the height. And last but not least it’s much
>easier to build.

A single 3/8 inch stainless steel rod can be welded as a brace on Miyata seat
posts to stiffen and support the front of the steel base plate where the seat is
mounted. This may make Miyata seats with a front handle more effective. However,
strengthening the seat post base plate may cause the seat itself to take more
stress. On the other hand, the Miyata seats seem to be less prone to failure
than (unbraced) Miyata seat base plates.

Two 5/16 inch stainless steel rod braces can provide support closer to the front
end of the seat base plate and to each of the two front corners of the base
plate, resulting in an even stiffer base plate (at the front end).

Stainless steel will match the rest of the seat post in appearance and texture.
More importantly, stainless steel is extremely resistant to rust formation.

The front seat plate braces may also be effective for other brands of unicycles.
A stiff front seat plate is a positive attribute in a unicycle, even one without
a handle built into the seat. Both artistic unicycling and long distance
coasting are easier with a stiffer seat plate and seat. It may be an advantage
in MUNI as well.

Finally, a separate steel handle below the seat braced to the seat post as
mentioned before (done well) is clearly superior to the alternative I mentioned.
However, my alternative also strengthens the front of the seat plate and
consequently the seat as well.

Perhaps, a seat plate brace can be combined with a separate steel handle brace?

The separate handle shouldn’t extend more than a few inches in front of the
seat. However, it should be far enough forward so there is plenty of room
between the seat and handle for one’s hands to easily move between without even
the remotest possibility of getting caught even temporarily.

Sincerely,

Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com