Wizards 50th Birthday

Quote: Wizard

First 20+ mile ride on my 36" unicycle:

Congratulations! Did it feel pretty difficult with the bigger cranks and bigger wheel?

The Strava energy calculations don't seem to be very useful, either in an absolute sense or even in a relative comparison. While I believe that the hill climb was harder with the 29" wheels, I don't think 691/309 or 691/401 is a true measure of relative energy expended.

691kJ 27.4mi 3:23:54 Moving Time 1732 ft Elevation 29"
309kJ 17.3mi 2:15:04 Moving Time 491ft Elevation 36"
401kJ 20.4mi 2:46:53 Moving Time 547ft Elevation 36"

Quote: Pacomartin

Congratulations! Did it feel pretty difficult with the bigger cranks and bigger wheel?

Thanks! Yes, mile for mile, it is harder on the Big Wheel. I will use it a lot to build up strength but still plan to do the 50-mile ride on my 29" unicycle.

Quote:

The Strava energy calculations don't seem to be very useful,

I agree and pay little attention to them.

Quote: Wizard

Thanks! Yes, mile for mile, it is harder on the Big Wheel.

At some point if you can find 5 miles of flat, then try the 125 mm cranks on the 36" tire. You should get a little higher speed.

(30"/2=381mm) / 110mm = 346%
(37"/2=470mm) / 150mm = 313%
(37"/2=470mm) / 125mm = 376%

Using 25.4 mm to inch, and allowing 1 inch for tire

Quote: Pacomartin

At some point if you can find 5 miles of flat, then try the 125 mm cranks on the 36" tire. You should get a little higher speed.

(30"/2=381mm) / 110mm = 346%
(37"/2=470mm) / 150mm = 313%
(37"/2=470mm) / 125mm = 376%

Using 25.4 mm to inch, and allowing 1 inch for tire

Unfortunately, there are no sustained flat areas around here. The Lone Mountain bike path is pretty level but I have to get to it somehow. I won't say I'll never use the 125mm cranks on the 36" unicycle but I don't feel I'm nearly ready now as it is tiring to ride the thing as it is.

I might also point out that when the UniGeezer did a quarter-mile time trial his speed was only 15 MPH and I'm already touching 11 MPH on flat ground on long rides. So I think speed is not my weakness.

As I write this, maybe I'll put on the 125mm cranks sometime and do some laps on a running track.

It probably isn't a priority since you more than likely won't be using the 36" for your birthday run. But it would be interesting if you can do them back to back and see if you feel a difference.

(30"/2=381mm) / 110mm = 346%
(37"/2=470mm) / 125mm = 376%

Wizard, you presumably saw this video, but I am posting it for other people.

Quote: Wizard

As I write this, maybe I'll put on the 125mm cranks sometime and do some laps on a running track.

TP says he was using 125 mm instead of 110 mm "which he describes as longer than normal" since he assumed it would help him get up to speed quicker. But at the end of the video he says he may try it again with shorter cranks.

Quote: Wizard

I might also point out that when the UniGeezer did a quarter-mile time trial his speed was only 15 MPH and I'm already touching 11 MPH on flat ground on long rides. So I think speed is not my weakness.

I am guessing 90 seconds would be an accomplishment ( an average of 10 mph). You say you can touch 11 mph on the flats on long rides. However, the QM track would be a short sprint, but you have the starup and the curves.

Unicycles.com had a 15% sale, which I couldn't resist, and purchased a 36" Kris Holn (KH). I'm starting to get comfortable with the 36" and could see it replacing the 29" as my main daily unicycle. I'll still use the 29" one for very hilly rides. I'm still not sure what I'll use the the 50-mile challenge, but I could picture it being the 36" KH. The new KH I'm pretty sure is the same thing used in the video Paco linked to above. It will have 150/135mm cranks.

The KH will be about two points lighter than my Coker. It may not sound like much, but most of that weight is in the wheel, I think, and it takes a lot of energy to not just move it forward but spin it around. Plus, I think my Coker doesn't have a long time ahead of it. It is perfectly rideable but I have that sense that there is a problem brewing in the axle but how it rides and sounds.

The KH should arrive on Wednesday or Thursday. Counting that, I now own eight unicycles. Anybody want to buy one?

Quote: Wizard

Counting that, I now own eight unicycles.

You're wife must be very supportive. Mine
would have thrown me out at about four.

Quote: Evenbob

You're wife must be very supportive. Mine
would have thrown me out at about four.

I have to give her credit for letting me have so many. Number eight was a tough sell.

In other unicycle news, I often ride down a path near my house and met a guy who was a professional unicycle rider with this group:



He is interested in buying my old 36" unicycle. He tried it the other day and remarked it was the first unicycle he ever tried he couldn't ride.

He can do the tricks in the video and
you can ride one he can't? I like how
easily they remount when they fall
off, like it's nothing. It takes good
balance to ride one, ever try juggling?
That's a balance thing too, you would
be good at it.

Quote: Wizard

... Counting that, I now own eight unicycles. Anybody want to buy one?

What about the Jr. Wizards? Over the years, I have known two families that rode together. It was really cool.