Unithon notes - brief

General
1

The fourth annual Unithon was fun, and this time there were more riders
than in the three previous rides put together, about 26.

A bunch of Unatics were there:
David Stone
David Bagley
David Stockton
David Kaplan
John Stone
Anne Benkovitz
Thom Holmes (on bike)
Amos Weinberg

The last four have agreed to change their names to David, which is Hebrew
for “Where’s the other wheel?”

I drove brother John to Long Beach Island from my home in Brooklyn. Having
been warned about horrendous traffic that never materialized, we left on
the early side. Not to be outdone was David Kaplan, who left so early he
arrived before I’d stepped into my car. John and I made great time until,
leaving a rest stop, we drove 25 miles back on the wrong side of the
highway, heading back towards New York. We got to the starting area at
10:50 and were ready to ride by 11am, 40 minutes after the others had left.

Within a few minutes, we passed a guy named Tim who was riding his 20"
giraffe. He’s the same guy who got a ticket for unicycling unlawfully.
He’d started late because he totally misunderstood the organizer about
when and where to meet. This doomed his chance of finishing. He was picked
up at about the 15 mile mark and charged with holding up the party at the
Yacht Club.

The next rider we passed was a cop who had helped with the ride last year.
This year she decided to do it herself, but she was too-little prepared
(and riding a 24" uni), and I don’t know how far she got. I believe she
gave herself a police escort, tho.

John has just recovered from his foot injury, so he was not riding as fast
as he possibly can. We rode together till we saw the first break area.
There were still some riders there, but we’d decided to ride without
breaks, so we kept going. A few miles later, I spotted a Port-a-Potty.
John rode on so that I could have the challenge of catching up with him.
By the time I did, he’d just met up with Anne. At that point, about 20
minutes into the ride, I chose to continue racing the clock.

The ride starts out on a beachy bike path, but then there are about 5
miles where you have to ride next to parked cars with a 4-lane highway
(max speed, 35mph) to your left. It’s a bit scary; I slowed down a little.
Finally, the town dies away and a bike path reemerges for the last 5 miles
or so. It must have been at this point that I hit my max speed, 18.4mph.
When I could look at the speedo, I clocked myself going 16mph for long
stretches.

The ride is close to 19 miles long. I completed it in 79 minutes of riding
(82 minutes all togehther if you include the pee break and another planned
dismount at mile 15 to relieve some numbness). No UPDs this year (last
year there was one at 15mph on the last straight carless area – I ran out
of it).

My average speed for the first 3 miles was 13.5. My overall average was
14.5. My last 5 miles were done in under 20 minutes, the longest I have
ever ridden while averaging over 15mph. I should note that the entire ride
is flat – you’re riding along the water, so there are no hills.

John arrived 10 minutes after I did. Then a few others trickled in, but
most riders took a bit longer. The first person to arrive on 6" cranks was
our own Anne Benkovitz, who would have made slightly better time had her
boyfriend not fallen asleep at the wheels of his bike! They got tangled up
when he drifted into her, resulting in a small boo-boo for her and a big
one for him. I believe Anne arrived before 1pm, having averaged about
12mph, a great achievement, especially for someone new to Cokers.

The party at the Club was fun afterwards. It’s a wonderful event. Thanks
to Roe, Kev, and Bridget for pulling it off again!

David Stone

Co-founder, Unatics of NY
1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
@ Central Park Bandshell
1:30 start time after 11/1/01

2

I5 MPH for 20 minutes is impressive! More impressive is 14.5 MPH for 19 miles, even with the break. I love it when information like this is shared! I am inspired to get out and see what I can do. 19 miles sounds like about the right distance

Bicycling times of less than 1 hour in the 40K are often used as a benchmark for local riders. Even with genetics in your favor, you still have to train hard in order to do it. With enough training and proper diet, even without a genetic advantage “most” bicyclist can achieve this 1-hour mark. Top cyclists in the country are seeing times of less than 47 minutes. The Lance Armstrong’s of the world are going even faster.

There is an official “out and back” 40K flat course used for bicycle time trialing a ways from my house. I will give 19 miles of it a try on my unicyle Saturday or Sunday and post my results. The fact that the course it an " out and back" makes it legitimate. The ride will be 9.5 miles out, and 9.5 back. Riding just one way doesn’t hold as much credibility due to a favorable tale wind or down hill.

In the " world of bicycling" a flat, out and back 40K time trial is the ultimate measure of “fitness” in the sport. Reason being is that power, speed, and endurance are all tested in one ride. Holding a maximum effort for 40K is not easy! The same should hold true on a unicycle for 19 miles, only with an additional component to add to the challenge. SKILL!

I am voting that the 19-mile, flat out and back time-trial as the official measurement of speed and endurance in our sport. Thanks for the setting the standard for the rest of us David!

Maintaining cadence of 175 for 20 minutes takes both skill and fitness. 14.5 MPH for 19 miles takes a good amount of endurace too

Great job David!

dan

3

RE: Unithon notes - brief

> I5 MPH for 20 minutes is impressive! More impressive is 14.5
> MPH for 19 miles, even with the break.

Perhaps the gold standard should be to compare yourselves to Takayuki Koike,
the 100 mile record holder. He did it in 6:44 (no dismounts). I don’t know
what average speed that makes, but it’s impressive. His wheel was approx.
43", air tire. Like a big heavy Coker (heavier than a Coker).

> I am voting that the 19-mile, flat out and back time-trial
> as the official measurement of speed and endurance in our sport.

19 miles? How about something a little more rounded, and metric, like the
bicyclists use. It stands a better chance of being adopted internationally.
What about 30k? That’s up to you roadsters.

Stay on top,
John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
jfoss@unicycling.com
www.unicycling.com <http://www.unicycling.com>

“This unicycle is made all from lightweight materials. But it uses a lot of
them.” – Cliff Cordy, describing the very heavy new prototype unicycle he
brought on the Downieville Downhill

4

Re: RE: Unithon notes - brief

Traveling 100 miles in 6 hours and 44 minutes on a unicycle in a major achievement. This is an average speed of close to 15MPH. When I first heard of this record, I was skeptical about it actually happening. However, after spending more time on a unicycle myself, along with seeing average times recorded by David Stone and others, I am now a believer. Speed and distance riders should (and I believe will) be training to break this record. However as “big” as the record is, using it as a benchmark to reveal FITNESS and SKILL is neither telling, nor realistic-- for two reasons:

First-- speed, power, and endurance are 3 major components that should be addressed equally when measuring FITNESS. There must be a time trial (preformed by yourself without the help of others) short enough that a near maximum effort (speed and power) can be sustained for the duration. The ride must also be long enough so that “endurance” becomes an important factor in recording a good time. The flat 40K is the most reveling event in amateur cycling (people with jobs) because it tests speed, endurance, and power in a single event. The fact that the event is flat, takes the advantage away form riders that are inherently lighter. Holding a maximum effort for 1 hour or less takes a considerable amount of training and concentrating. Having the power to turn a gear large enough to meet the hour mark is further reveling. Finding a distance that "most " unicyclists can achieve in 1 hour or less with proper skill and training should be our goal. Endurance is a big factor in unicycling 100 miles, however speed and power are not.

Secondly, until a mass marketed 43 inch pneumatic unicycle is available to us all, the goal of 100 miles in 6 hours and 44 minutes simply isn’t REALISTIC. With that said, I think someone will break this record using Harper’s internally geared hub, coupled with a 700c rim/tire combination. Breaking the record on a Coker does not seem possible, however I could be wrong.

A distance where speed, power, and endurance can be tested “equally” needs to be known throughout the unicycling community. A genetically gifted rider should have to train (and obviously practice) in order to complete the distance in 1 hour. In addition, the not so genetically gifted (which is most of us) with proper diet, training, and technique should be able to meet the goal as well.

Most importantly, determining this distance will help promote speed and distance riding throughout the unicycling community. At some point one will (hopefully) be inclined to get out and see how he or she compares with others. Just maybe they will be inspired to train in order to complete it in 1 hour. 30K is a starting point. One would have to ride his Coker real fast to do it under 1 hour-testing all three components. And don’t forget unlike bicycling, SKILL is big in unicycling

I will post my time for 30K in a few days. I hope it will inspire others to do the same!

dan

5

Re: Unithon notes - brief

>Secondly, until a mass marketed 43 inch pneumatic unicycle is available
>to us all, the goal of 100 miles in 6 hours and 44 minutes simply isn’t
>REALISTIC. With that said, I think someone will break this record using
>Harper’s internally geared hub, coupled with a 700c rim/tire
>combination. Breaking the record on a Coker does not seem possible,
>however I could be wrong.

Why put a geared hub on a 700c when you could put it on a Coker have a
54 gear inch (36" * 1.5; Harper’s) or 56.5 gear inch (36" * 1.57;
Frank’s)?

You don’t need a mass marketed unicycle to beat this record. A high
quality custom unicycle may actually work better, though it may cost 10
times as much or more.

>Most importantly, determining this distance will help promote speed and
>distance riding throughout the unicycling community. At some point one
>will (hopefully) be inclined to get out and see how he or she compares
>with others. Just maybe they will be inspired to train in order to
>complete it in 1 hour. 30K is a starting point. One would have to
>ride his Coker real fast to do it under 1 hour-testing all three
>components. And don’t forget unlike bicycling, SKILL is big in
>unicycling

To do 30 km in an hour would require an average speed of 18 MPH (30
km/hr.). 25 km in an hour (15 MPH average) would be a more easily
achievable goal for amateur unicyclists on a standard Coker.

Sincerely,

Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com>

6

I took Ken’s advice and measured an “out and back” 25K (15 mile) course with my car. If mile markers are accurate, then so is my odometer. My car’s odometer showed exactly 1 mile from mile marker to mile marker. I don’t know if this is the most accurate method of measurement, but for now it will have to do.

I used a dirt road as a marker (perpendicular to the course) as a 7.5-mile"halfway" turn around point. Unfortunately, while riding I turned at a dirt road that was only 7.2 miles into the ride. I realized that it was the wrong marker slightly after I turned. So, what was intended to be a 15-mile (25K) time trial, ended up being 14.4 miles. Next time I will complete the 15 miles!

Total time for the 14.4 miles was 1 hour 51 seconds. This would make the average speed at about 14.2 MPH. The ride was extremely intense. I expected the ride to involve more skill than fitness. Turning the cranks fast enough to average 15 miles an hour for 15 miles does take skill and practice. Surprisingly, I had the skill to turn the cranks faster than I was, however my lungs would not allow me to do so! Unicycling will test your level of fitness in a hurry!

A 1-hour 25K flat out and back time trial is a good goal for people to try and realize. I think that with training most can achieve this mark, however it will not be easy. Expect to suffer while attempting it! As with any activity there will be a few that will be able to meet the challenge easily. A genetically gifted rider in good condition should see 55 minutes or less. Nevertheless, anyone who completes this challenge in 1 hour or less has my respect. I hope all of you give it a try. I am confident that I can do it within the next couple of months.

BTW-- I did the above ride on a Coker with 5-inch cranks. Tire pressure was 50 pounds

dan