Just purchsed a DM Ringmaster advanced, after all the reccomendations I got.
Very well made etc. although there is one thing that is bothering
me.The 48 spoked wheel is true and has very little to no noticeable lateral
movement, and although I’m sure the wheel builder who made the wheel knew
what he was doing the spokes seem a bit slack. They are not loose so that
they twang when flicked but you can move them over each other although they
return to their original position. Is this normal? The only other experience
I have had with wheels was with my original very cheap unicycle which is
incomparable, and bike wheels which are larger and have much fewer spokes.
Because the unicycle wheel (20’’) is small with a lot of spokes does it mean
the spoke tensions can be lower? A worry that has derived from this is that
when idling, not riding, the sheel makes a sort of low creak at the bottom of
the pedal stroke. There is also slight spoke movement noises that occur when
idling, is this a problem?
This is probably nothing and the noises so quite that I am the only one that can
hear them due to my expensive, should be perfect unicycle induced paranoia.
If you have metal pedals the noise could be a pedal. Sometimes the bearings in a
pedal can get loose and cause the bearings or spindle to rattle against the body
of the pedal when the uni is dropped. A little grease and/or a minor overhaul
will fix it. I’ve only noticed the noise on pedals with a metal body. The
plastic pedals won’t make a noticeable rattle when they’re loose.
>From: “Arnold the Aardvark” <aardvark@foxholly.demon.co.uk> > >[What’s really bugging me is a little tinkling noise I get when I drop the uni. >I just can’t trace it all. Frustrating. It’s probably the cycle computer sensor >but I’m too idle to take it off to find out.] >
‘Wheel noises’ sort of started this train of thought; now I seem to have the
nerve at least to put this out there to anyone interested in responding. ???
Riding a unicycle??? I’d love to think that I could learn to ride, now that my
13 year old son is well on his way. Daniel is already a professional juggler. He
has recently learned to unicycle and with in a few months has accomplished
unicycling over 10.5 miles in one day. I’d like to be able to keep up with him
on one also. I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve let myself get really out of shape
over the last 10 years, having gained ~40 lbs. I bet that one really needs great
middle body muscles, don’t ya? At 50 years old now, I’m just not sure that I
dare risk it, though I’m very tempted. Any suggestions for this Dad? Thanks for
any realistic advice. Eric
I frequently hear regular creaks when cycling my 24" 36 spoke DM. Rather than
get paranoid I’ve decided to assume the wheel is whining a little bit about my
250 pounds. I’m sure the spokes are just moving a little as they undergo stress
and relaxation as the wheel goes round, which is what I would expect.
[What’s really bugging me is a little tinkling noise I get when I drop the uni.
I just can’t trace it all. Frustrating. It’s probably the cycle computer sensor
but I’m too idle to take it off to find out.]
Simon Choppin wrote in message … >The 48 spoked wheel is true and has very little to no noticeable lateral >movement, and although I’m sure the wheel builder who made the wheel knew what >he was doing the spokes seem a bit slack.
Try tightening each spoke a quarter turn with a spoke key, if they are still
loose repeat. Unless your experienced don’t try tightening them randomely.
After any wheel is built (for uni, bike trike …) it should be retensioned
after riding for a while - as the spokes will stretch.
I’m not far behind you at age 42, and I ride a unicycle 5-10 miles every day.
That enabled me to lose 10 pounds and keep it off. Most distance cyclists you
meet are able to consume large quantities of food without gaining weight.
We have a “Tips for new unicyclists” sheet on our FAQ page at: www.UnicycleSource.com So get yourself a unicycle, go out on the back deck, and
get started. Your son needs a riding buddy!
> ‘Wheel noises’ sort of started this train of thought; now I seem to have
the > nerve at least to put this out there to anyone interested in responding. ??? > Riding a unicycle??? I’d love to think that I could learn to ride, now that my > 13 year old son is well on his way. Daniel is already a professional juggler. > He has recently learned to unicycle and with in a
few > months has accomplished unicycling over 10.5 miles in one day. I’d like to
be > able to keep up with him on one also. I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve let > myself get really out of shape over the last 10 years, having gained ~40
lbs. > I bet that one really needs great middle body muscles, don’t ya? At 50
years > old now, I’m just not sure that I dare risk it, though I’m very tempted.
Any > suggestions for this Dad? Thanks for any realistic advice. Eric
EFrie7777@aol.com wrote in message <0.1c100815.25728de0@aol.com>… >At 50 years old now, I’m just not sure that I dare risk it, though I’m >very tempted.
Any >suggestions for this Dad? Thanks for any realistic advice. Eric
I got my first unicycle as a Christmas present two years ago at the age of
42.
Just go for it. It takes a bit longer, but even middle-aged fools like us can
learn to ride.
Don’t worry about middle body muscles. With practice, you’ll develop the muscles
that you need.
I learned to unicycle last year at age 37 while being very out of shape. I’m
still out of shape, but I get more exercise now that I have something fun to do.
The only physical problem that I encountered was the tendency to hurt my back
by twisting too much too fast while falling off. Some simple and gentle
stretching and twisting exercises (and learning how to ride better) have solved
that problem.
InsPark (inspark@aol.com) wrote: : Start immediately! I was given my Muni for my 47th birthday last year and now : I feel like a 20 year old (there’s a joke in there somewhere) Jerry Cooper
The funny thing about jerry is that he rides like a 20 year old too, I’m
embarrassed by how good he is uphills that leave my 27 year old lungs gasping
and thighs crying out in pain, I only hope I’ll grow into it to.
