Strongest Coker Wheel in the World!!!

Unicycles and Equipment
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Wow.

I have extensive experience with the stock Coker wheel, and the Airfoil uni.com wheel.

I was happy knowing that what I was doing on the Airfoil wheel was proof that I only needed an airfoil wheel.

Dave Lowell let me play on his H36/U-turn coker wheel all night.

I was blown away immediately in the responsiveness in this wheel and realized it would be worth any price.

Dave’s wheel was set up with 175 (I think they weren’t 170?) Shimano XT cranks. My wheel has Raceface Next LP 175mm cranks.

Pavement was great testing ground for the comparrison. I could tell a differenct in the wheel before my first pedal had gotten all the way around. The responsiveness, not the strength of this wheel should be the selling point of this wheel!

The smallest amount of body language I put into riding this wheel (as fast as I could, and as slow as I could) was completely noticable in the wheel.

Maybe U-turn can yay or nay my reasoning on this, but here’s what I think (as a HUGE Coker fan):

Because Dave’s wheel is so well built, every tiny bit of energy put into the crank is immediately directed into the wheel, where on the Airfoil uni.com wheel the crank needs to turn, then that eventually gets around to all the play in the spokes working themselves out, and then the play in the spokes/rim, and then the rim finally turning.

I don’t think I have ever used a piece of unicycling equipment and immediately agreed with all the hype surrounding said component.

I need a H36/Uturn, and Ineed it fast!

After we left Cleveland, heading into Michigan, I looked out the window, and actually saw Dave Lowell running beside the car flagging me down, something about me grabbing the wrong Coker after leaving Ray’s? Accidents happen!

I will own one of these wheels, I’m sure of it. I was blown away.

Although, this damn H36/Uturn wheel smashed my face into wood (I gave my noggin a floggin tlaking me out of competiton, and had everyone in the building running as fast as they could to me!)

I smashed my knee horribly even through my KH pads (Roaches would have slid out of the way and I probably would have been much much worse off, but I can barely bend my leg now, smashed and bloddy, even through the pads.

PS, if it weren’t for pads, I bet me and Tim would be in the hospital!

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Re: Strongest Coker Wheel in the World!!!

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Re: Strongest Coker Wheel in the World!!!

Hahah yeah I bet Dave ran after you.

That fall was crazy. Good thing you did get hurt more. You left a nice sweaty greese mark on the wood. Everyone came to see you too after the fall it was great.

Yeah I’m sure if we werent wearing pads we would have some crazy brakeage. My leg is feeling alot better too.

almost forgot… http://gallery.unicyclist.com/album470 theres the pictures of us we took. We only had the camera out like twice so there isnt any of other people. Sorry we were having to much fun to take more pictures.

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Strongest Coker/Brian’s face

Brian, we’re all glad you’re ok after the fall that produced those injuries. I wish I could have been there, but I’m sure I’ll hear details good and bad (and ugly) from Joe Merrill. Recover well, and come join us again soon.

I know U-Turn (or D3 to us, since our club has a half dozen Davids) will appreciate you kind words about his work – he’s the most deddicated bike mech I know.

David (D1) Stone

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<–

I also had an opportunity to try out this wheel. It’s sick…very sick. I also really liked the hunter frame and the Tommy Miller widened hub. Very very strong. I need to buy one.

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Re: Strongest Coker Wheel in the World!!!

I’m glad you like it; the other owners tell me they do too :slight_smile: It makes the year of R&D worth it. The wheel is expensive because it takes a lot of time to put together and requires parts from all over the place. Soon I will have a page up listing the many steps involved. However, some of the components have changed in cost, and I am reviewing the price this week.

[/B]Yes, there is no slack in the wheel at all, which is why they stay true. In addition, the spokes are at very high tension, which means there is a lot of force to accelerate the rim when you torque on the hub. Another advantage is that there is no brake rub when you are climbing hills.

[/B]Cool beans… generally with any of my wheels or unis, people don’t think they are any different until they actually ride them. All of my wheels are built with the same care and principles as the 36" wheels.

[/B]I am placing orders for parts right away if you want to get in on the next batch.

Given the courage that you ride with, I’m surprised we haven’t seen this sooner! Get well soon. Perhaps a full-face helmet, or even a quarterback’s helmet?

[/B]Yes, very much. I appreciate you guys as my friends even more, though. Dave Lowell drove RT 280 miles twice last fall to get me to NJ MUni weekend, and again this winter to get me to a NYUC meeting!

[/B]Thanks! See above… :wink:

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What he said about the wheel. I got my first one close to 2 years ago and was blown away then and still am. Beau has that wheel now and it is perfect. THANK YOU Dave Stockton for what you’ve given us.

—Nathan

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Alright, If anyone needed convincing there should be no question now. I want one of these in the worst way. Since the IRS is going to put a pounding on me like I actually make money… I was holding off. Maybe if I am creative I will be able to find the down payment.:smiley: Hmmmm Home Equity loan maybe!

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U-Turn, what’s your website address?

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Hi digigal!

Well, a temporary one is here:

I need to add Bedford Unicycles to the list at the bottom.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email or PM me!

– Dave

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Whilst I haven’t used one of U-Turns wheels particularly, I’d definately be with you all the way on the difference of a really good wheel build. I finally got round to tensioning up my muni wheel properly the other week and it just feels so different to ride.

Joe

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you should call it the Diet Coker

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Gizmoduck uses that to refer to his tubeless Coker
see here

dave (u-turn)
i haven’t disappeared
just stuck in the middle of corporate red-tape and stuff
i hope to speak soon
:slight_smile:

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You are welcome, Nathan. It has been more than a pleasure to work with you over the past couple of years.

I took a while to respond to this, partly because it was so nice to hear. I’m glad I did, though, because after the flush wore off (it took a couple of days), I was able to reflect back and realize, once more, that this wheel was the long-term effort of many people, some unknowing. I just pulled it all together at the end. Here’s a quick summary:

Chris Reeder developed the first wide hub for a Coker, did you know that? http://www.reeder.unicyclist.com/chub/

George Barnes manufactured the hub long enough for me to notice, and supplied me with the process to give to Tom Miller. I now see that Chris also provided the recipe online.

John Drummond developed the Airfoil rim and supplied it to me in bunches along with tires and tubes.

Darren Bedford pointed me to Tom Miller for stainless steel spokes.

Tom Miller pointed me to Sem Abrahams for wide-flange nipples, widened hubs for me, and cut many batches of spokes.

Sem supplied bags and bags of the wide flange nipples.

John Childs suggested the Schrader valve extension.

Jobst Brandt and Gerd Schraner wrote excellent books on wheelbuilding that helped me develop the insight I needed.

Members of the local uni club and of the New York Unicycle Club did the first round of testing (including some stitches on the part of David Kaplan).

Alan Schaffer of the (now gone) Ordinary Bike Shop showed me a reliable method to properly seat the massive, unwieldy tire on the rim.

David Miller of the same shop helped me choose the first brake I used on my Coker.

Ryan, Ben, Joey, Josue, and Jeff did the second round of testing at NAUCC in Minnesota.

Nathan Hoover took a chance on me building the first production wheel, and has given me tons of feedback and encouragement.

I could go on, but that’s a summary.

THANK YOU all!