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maestro8
Trad climber
Sunnyvale, CA
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Sep 15, 2008 - 06:00pm PT
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The gaggle of unicyclists numbered but 22, including myself. This was the 6th annual SF Unicycle Tour, a 41 mi route that loosely follows the 49 mi scenic route through SF's most famous locations.
The majority of riders were on 36" wheels. Since most of us don't have gears, we go faster by riding bigger wheels. Sure helps us "stick our heads out" in traffic.
Here's a gallery of shots from the ride.
...and to answer RottenJox's question "How you going to take the drops without a full suspension?", the answer is:
With style.
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Dr. Rock
Ice climber
Castle Rock
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Sep 15, 2008 - 06:01pm PT
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Look for a 24 inch wheel in the back, and a 29 up front, just like the motorcycles doing the "Speedway" flat track thing.
Suspension?
Who needs it.
I saw a guy barell down Charcoal Road back when it was legal to ride dwon it, he did not touch the brakes, major air off the drainage diagionals, mucho crazy, you use your arms and legs like shocks, way more travel.
Just watch a video of Hans No Way Ray if you want truth in cycling.
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overit
Trad climber
Boulder
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Sep 15, 2008 - 08:09pm PT
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Who NEEDS suspension? OLD PEOPLE WITH BAD DISCS AND OLD CLIMBING INJURIES LIKE ME! Who NEEDS climbing shoes for that matter? It sure makes it more comfortable though.
But, back to Prod's question.
I own a full suspension racing bike and then a titanium hard tail single speed. The Ti is supposed to make the ride softer but I always opt for my suspension bike on a long ride since many of our trails involve steep and rocky.
Most new bikes come with a lockout option for those pesky climbs. My full suspension weighs 22 pounds so unless you're a hardcore racer, the weight isn't really an issue with suspension.
Are you tall? Many of my tall friends enjoy their 29'ers. I am 5'4" and I tried a small Spot Brand 29'er and it felt way tall for me. I also have several friends that ride 69'ers(combo 29 and 26 inch wheels)for the "best of both worlds" not that you're already confused enough:-)
Kind of the wrong time of year but here in Colorado, there are often demo days in the Spring and for me, that was how I found the bike that "fit" me best. Does your local(high end) shop have any kind of demo program?
Although the 29'ers are gaining popularity, my friend smashed a rim out by Moab and was unable to immediately replace the wheel by any of the shops there or Fruita and couldn't ride his bike the rest of the weekend. Can't borrow tubes from most of your friends either!
Some people claim the 29'ers don't handle as quickly but 3 of my teammates rode 29'ers at the Wisconsin Nationals on a twisty/technical course and loved it.
The reason the single speeders use them (especially in endurance racing) is because the big wheel rolling gives you an advantage on the flats over the 26 bikes.
It's really a personal preference so riding one before buying one is probably the best option if your going to drop some $$'s on one.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Sep 15, 2008 - 08:24pm PT
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overit:
Good call on height qualification to wrangle that 29'er; Prod ain't short by any means...
Nevertheless,
Here's what his good buddy Jeff says he oughta select for a mount:
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Sep 15, 2008 - 08:33pm PT
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And in the tradition of the girl's bike,
Lisa says you can borrow hers when you come to town...
... as mentioned above, cross bikes have big wheels too!
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Sep 15, 2008 - 08:41pm PT
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But truly...
(almost done goofing off, promise)
This beauty is a TRUE big wheel,
Anybody ever seen one of these things?
Custom-made, limited production maybe, big, big wheels:
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Sep 15, 2008 - 09:06pm PT
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OK GEARHEADS!!!
Listen up,
From the days back when men were boys,
Like 1972/1973, when race cars had great big silly wings,
(Riverside Raceway circa '72)
... and just before the term BMX was invented,
We rode our little wheel, zero suspension Schwinn's to glory!!!
(word to the mutha as BVB might say)
Tarbuster in '73, (yet to here tell of the word Stonemaster):
(Wallabee's, Levi flairs, & REAL moto-bars for style points)
... also check for genuine motocross fender under the banana seat!
My buddy Larry lifting a front wheel for the drop-off:
(we used to carve out our own courses in vacant lots)
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landcruiserbob
Trad climber
Vail, Colorado
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Sep 15, 2008 - 09:06pm PT
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Racing -26 hard tail if you do lots of hill climbs.
Cruising- 29 hard tail
Single speed hardtail(26" or 29") is the only way to go!!
Screw full supension, go buy a dirt bike.
Buy Titainium, you will never buy another bike; scratch it & buff it out. Moots, Kent Eriksen,Everti,Dean. rg
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Sep 15, 2008 - 09:10pm PT
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damn straight cruiser bob!
Fixy (well sorta) w/coaster brake, 2 speed kick back if you can find one (see above)
... I think we ran 14 inch wheels.
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Prod
Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 15, 2008 - 09:26pm PT
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Hey Bob,
Why no suspension on a 29er?
Prod.
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Prod
Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 15, 2008 - 09:28pm PT
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Tar,
Uh, yeah.. thanks for the help. You ought to be figuring out Turkey day in RR.
Prod.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Sep 15, 2008 - 09:30pm PT
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Sorry Guy,
Can't make it, on account of I broke a rail on my banana seat...
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Sep 15, 2008 - 09:31pm PT
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It's where I cut off the old sissy bar.
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goatboy smellz
climber
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Sep 15, 2008 - 09:33pm PT
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That's some serious airtime on a Schwinn!
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Sep 15, 2008 - 09:39pm PT
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Thanks for putting a serious eyeball on that stuff Goat Boy.
We really were not messing around, in as much as boys can not mess around.
I must say, when mountain biking gained prominence, and having entertained a bit of motocross along with what we were doing on our Schwinn's....
Nevermind.
For the most part we made own courses,
You need serious gear for technical riding.
heh heh.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Sep 15, 2008 - 09:53pm PT
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Way back in the early 70's, Bultaco (sp) motorcycles started running big front wheels, like 21 inch (with an 18 rear standard as I recall).
I was curious whether the human powered machines would adapt to that concept.
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Sep 15, 2008 - 10:08pm PT
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Kunlan, (Maestro8, too) thanks, for all that! Definitely the granfaloon I found myself in the middle of.
I had no clue, beforehand, but they were having fun, and seemed like a cool bunch. A new fun thing I didn't know about, cheers, to them!
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Sep 15, 2008 - 10:33pm PT
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Just clicked through that whole 36" tour, you guys rock! I would never have known...
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landcruiserbob
Trad climber
Vail, Colorado
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Sep 15, 2008 - 10:41pm PT
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Tar- I remember my big wheel had a 20" front & 10" rears it would climb like a demon; the down fall was the gearing was so low that the down hills were dangerous because my pedals beat my feet to death. Wait thats what my present day single speed does. I guess I never learned.
Prod- I'm the local idiot that actually enjoys hellish hill climbs; shocks are extra weight & even when locked off you loose valuble energy in the flex. I just completed the Paia(sea level) to Haleakala(10,000 ft) in 36 miles on the single speed. I love the misery. rg
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Sep 15, 2008 - 11:27pm PT
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But why do big wheel bikes have less need for rear shocks?
I asked this once of a serious mechanic-
He said something about a small diameter wheel translating shock more readily. To the layman, this might mean the proportion of the big diameter wheel to the intervening/impacting object is changed for the better, effectively shrinking the size of the rock in proportion to the wheel...
To the point of the steering of a big wheel: he said you change your habits, initiate turns earlier, but for the whole of the turn, you smooth it out better. In total his example was something akin to cars now adding larger rims and that having a positive effect on handling.
My take on all that, even getting what he said, was that the 29'er will still favor rolling terrain as opposed to super technical stuff.
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