Glide shoe: saving your soul and getting a grip

So a week ago I wore out my second shoe learning to glide. The shoe is
actually still useable for other purposes, but not for gliding. I
decided it was time to figure out how to wear out something that was
easier to replace than my Ultimate 81's.

My first thought was a replaceable surface. My first attempt was a
failure, photos are he http://iunicycle.com/qp/842/?cols=2

I waited a few days and explored other ideas, but today, everyone was
closed for Memorial Day. I was stuck with Home Depot. I only found a
free carpet sample, and decided to give it a try.

I was actually surprised to glide (downhill) a personal best. In
addition the feel is more secure and comfortable. The carpet seems to
provide a wider range of resistance with not much pressure.

Safety was an issue. The carpet is only about 1/8" thick, to 3/16" max.
it doesn't interfere at all with normal usage of your foot. It doesn't
slip. I cover more details, and construction technique on my unilog:
http://iunicycle.com/unilog/ , photos of the glide shoe are at
http://iunicycle.com/qp/875/?cols=2


--
iunicycle - Old back, new cricks
------------------------------------------------------------------------
iunicycle's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/1869
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/32843

Your lack of color coordination is outstanding.
Why the green laces?


--
john_childs - Guinness Mojo

john_childs (at) hotmail (dot) com
Gallery: '' (http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/john_childs)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
john_childs's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/449
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/32843

john_childs wrote:
*Why the green laces? *


These were the second pair of laces which came with my Mexico '66 shoes.
They are grey (sage) with green (lime) stripes and grey laces.


--
iunicycle - Old back, new cricks
------------------------------------------------------------------------
iunicycle's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/1869
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/32843

Good idea. I use one of those coral reef walking shoes (the $10 ones)
as my gliding shoe. I find that that way I can flex my foot and curl it
around the tyre for extra grip and balance of the foot.

Andrew


--
andrew_carter - www.unicycles.com.au

HTTP://WWW.UNICYCLIST.COM/GALLERY/ANDREW
andrew_carter (at) mail (dot) com
http://www.unicycles.com.au
New photos added 11/04 - http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/albuu61
------------------------------------------------------------------------
andrew_carter's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/1052
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/32843

ya i have found i wore out my shoe really quick i can't crank grab now
because my sweet spot is were i put my foot on the pedal so i slip off
all the time! i have an idea though.........
Look out for some stuff called shoe goo it's designed to rebuild shoes
i have some somewhere from my skateboarding days now that wrecks shoes
worse then gliding!i might try it sometime if i can find it!i will post
some pictures if i find it!
Ben


--
thinuniking - U don't be playing me cracker!

Suck my elbow
------------------------------------------------------------------------
thinuniking's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/4294
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/32843

I saw Tom Jackson actually glide 18" on his 47th attempt last night in
Seattle. The 18" didn't even put any wear on the carpet sample. What a
great, high-tech solution to a problem that clearly does not exist.


--
harper - Statuesque

-Greg Harper

B L U E S H I F T

"You go through life and you choose." - Greg Harper

"Find weak people and take stuff from them" - Greg Harper
------------------------------------------------------------------------
harper's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/426
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/32843

harper wrote:
*What a great, high-tech solution to a problem that clearly does not
exist. *


LOL


--
zod - Icey Hot Stunta(z)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
zod's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/3631
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/32843

harper wrote:
*I saw Tom Jackson actually glide 18" on his 47th attempt last night
in Seattle. The 18" didn't even put any wear on the carpet sample.
What a great, high-tech solution to a problem that clearly does not
exist. *


One man's inch is another man's mile.


--
iunicycle - Old back, new cricks
------------------------------------------------------------------------
iunicycle's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/1869
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/32843

Hey Harper,

Just because you're under the 18" milestone, no reason to be rude.
I used to wear out some shoes too:


+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Attachment filename: glideshoe.jpg |
|Download attachment: http://www.unicyclist.com/attachment/213654|
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

--
johnfoss - Walkin' on the edge

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com"
www.unicycling.com

"if you can do balloon animals,you can lace your own wheel." -- Jagur
------------------------------------------------------------------------
johnfoss's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/832
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/32843

18 feet is not that far is it?i have done 100 revs to get to that my
shoe is like johns!
Ben


--
thinuniking - U don't be playing me cracker!

Suck my elbow
------------------------------------------------------------------------
thinuniking's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/4294
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/32843