I wanted to get some opinions on how to ride through sand. I have reached the
point where I can ride through some sand as long as it isn’t too deep.
Occasionally I can make it through some spots where the sand is pretty deep.
Unfortunately, I’m not quite sure how I’m doing it. I usually slow down a bit
and try to keep the weight as close to the top of the wheel as possible - not
leaning too far forward or too far back - and prepared to crank hard if I start
to sink or get too far infront of the wheel. Are there any pointers you can give
me on how to keep moving in deep sand. I ride a Pashley with a 26.0 x 2.0
Performance Versa Trac tire. The tire has a fairly round profile with a symetric
tred pattern. I assume a more aggressive tire would make it easier to keep
moving through sand, but I like the way the round profile performs on a variety
of surfaces.
A fatter tire will make sand and other mushy stuff easier. But how do you rie
through it on what you’ve got?
I think the main thing you have to do is go straight. Remember, the unicycle
doesn’t go straight on its own, it makes little zig zags. Every time the wheel
twists, it digs down. So the straighter you ride, the more sand you’ll be able
to get through.
While going straight, a smooth, even, steady pedal stroke will probably be
effective as well. Anything irregular will tend to push you down.
Any other pointers out there?
jf
______________________________ Reply Separator
Subject: Riding through sand Author: “John Hooten” [SMTP:jhooten@softcom.net] at
MSXGATE Date: 9/25/98 8:39 AM
I wanted to get some opinions on how to ride through sand. I have reached the
point where I can ride through some sand as long as it isn’t too deep.
Occasionally I can make it through some spots where the sand is pretty deep.
Unfortunately, I’m not quite sure how I’m doing it. I usually slow down a bit
and try to keep the weight as close to the top of the wheel as possible - not
leaning too far forward or too far back - and prepared to crank hard if I start
to sink or get too far infront of the wheel. Are there any pointers you can give
me on how to keep moving in deep sand. I ride a Pashley with a 26.0 x 2.0
Performance Versa Trac tire. The tire has a fairly round profile with a symetric
tred pattern. I assume a more aggressive tire would make it easier to keep
moving through sand, but I like the way the round profile performs on a variety
of surfaces.
John Hooten wrote: > > I wanted to get some opinions on how to ride through sand.
deep sand requires a different technique than shallow. With shallow you can bull
your way through but with deep, you can’t.
so what you have to do is do a crank ( back pedal to front, level) and pause,
and let the sand readjust itself to this new pressure and then crank again.
These cranks should be like steep uphill cranks with the weight fairly thrown to
the new spot while unweighting the cycle. Then pause, let it settle and repeat.