A Cycling & bikes forum. CycleBanter.com

Go Back   Home » CycleBanter.com forum » rec.bicycles » Unicycling
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Uni-engineering!



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old June 10th 05, 03:43 PM
paul_g
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Uni-engineering!


Holy cow! I just joined this list and I can't believe the ****-COOL
stuff you guys are doing!

Gearing, shifting, building your own frames, seats rolling right on the
wheel, the possibilities are ENDLESS!

Besides the incredible moves now being performed (by amazingly talented
riders) in freeriding and muni, what really intrigues me is the
discussion around the gearing for high speed, and how unicycling may be
at a crossroads.

I want to propose an idea, a principle that might help. It seems that
Q-factor is a limit for high-speed riding, even on a geared uni. What
about counterweights? Would a flat counterweight to the mass of the
pedal reduce or eliminate q-factor?

Again, I'm a newby. Has this been discussed?

See attachment...


+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Attachment filename: uni-counter.gif |
|Download attachment: http://www.unicyclist.com/attachment/324032|
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

--
paul_g
------------------------------------------------------------------------
paul_g's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/10136
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41090

Ads
  #2  
Old June 10th 05, 03:51 PM
Fuego
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Uni-engineering!


I dunno about q factor... I thought it was the angle the cranks stuck
out from the hub?

That looks like it would do *something* to how riding worked, but I'm
not sure what the affect would be.


--
Fuego - Definetely no brain.

"Unicycling is more about the center of concentration than the center of
balance."
-Me

"Get off my Property before you sue me!"
-Morons everywhere.

'OneWheelNinjaSquad' (http://gallery.unicyclist.com/OneWheelNinjaSquad)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fuego's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/6983
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41090

  #3  
Old June 10th 05, 03:56 PM
gingerfreek
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Uni-engineering!


Another Paul, Paul Royle ( i think) has already came up with this, its
main application was for hocky, as the wheel tends to go much faster
than normal playing hocky. it was meant to stop the wheel shake from the
weight of the cranks and pedal. he only mentioned it to me once and i
dont think hes posted about it, and im not sure if hes done anything
about designing/making anything either, he might reply if he reads this
thread,

iain


--
gingerfreek - unicyclist of mass destruction.

I use my wheel as a weapon!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
gingerfreek's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/3507
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41090

  #4  
Old June 10th 05, 05:52 PM
johnfoss
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Uni-engineering!


I have thought about counterweights, as you mentioned, many years ago. I
think the theory will work. The downside, of course, is all the weight
you'd have to add to the unicycle. I have always assumed the extra
weight would more than cancel out any performance gains you'd get from a
straighter line.


--
johnfoss - More Moab Fun

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

"Read the rules!" -- 'IUF Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/iuf/rulebook/) -- 'USA Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/usa/competition/)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
johnfoss's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/832
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41090

  #5  
Old June 10th 05, 08:24 PM
underdog
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Uni-engineering!


johnfoss wrote:
*The downside, of course, is all the weight you'd have to add to the
unicycle. *



The extra weight and something fairly massive swinging aroung to clip
your ankle every once in a while. Ouch!!

And Q-factor is the distance the pedals are from the centerline of the
wheel. A wide hub and cranks that angle out from the hub equals a high
Q-factor. Narrow hub and parallel cranks equals a low Q-factor. In
theory the closer your feet are together (like when you're walking) the
better. But, narrow hubs mean weaker wheels, so there's always a
trade-off. Bicyclists are always looking for a low Q-factor for reduced
knee and ankle stress.


--
underdog - level 1 rider

'I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody
tell you different' - Kurt Vonnegut
------------------------------------------------------------------------
underdog's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/6197
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41090

  #6  
Old June 15th 05, 02:10 AM
tholub
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Uni-engineering!


I was thinking of this the other day; this could be a cheap way to have
more than one crank length on a single unicycle; have 125mm on one side
and 170mm on the other (or whatever)! If you keep the Q-factor low it
probably would be OK for leg clearance, and you could work it out so
that when you're on the shorter side, at least, the weight of the pedal
would more or less balance out the weight of the longer side of the
crank.


+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Attachment filename: counterweight.png |
|Download attachment: http://www.unicyclist.com/attachment/325586|
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

--
tholub - Kinetic Sculptor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
tholub's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/804
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41090

  #7  
Old June 16th 05, 07:54 PM
shapr
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Uni-engineering!


Oh, I like this idea. Could this also be done with weights on the rim
itself? That would stay out of the way no matter what.
Plus then you could use those nice machines for car tires :-)


--
shapr - 40 miles south of the Arctic Circle

Add your knowledge to the 'Unicyclopedia'
(http://www.unicyclopedia.org/) Brittanica ! Even if you're not British!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
shapr's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7727
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41090

  #8  
Old June 16th 05, 08:26 PM
e39m5
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Uni-engineering!


I like the idea of having it on the rim, and with direct drive, there
will always be alignment. But how can you get it to fit with the
spokes?

e39m5


--
e39m5
------------------------------------------------------------------------
e39m5's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/9836
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41090

  #9  
Old June 16th 05, 09:44 PM
maestro8
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Uni-engineering!


I believe the addition of an Escher Bracket to each crank could allow
for an "adjustable-q-factor"...
[image: http://scipp.ucsc.edu/~jheimann/assembly.gif]


--
maestro8 - Mad Scientists for World Domination

Those are my principles. If you don't like those, I have others. --
Groucho Marx
------------------------------------------------------------------------
maestro8's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7871
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41090

  #10  
Old June 16th 05, 10:05 PM
e39m5
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Uni-engineering!


Id like to look at that diagram but its making me dizzy. I think you
messed up drawing a line somewhere.

e39m5


--
e39m5
------------------------------------------------------------------------
e39m5's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/9836
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41090

 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
power tap engineering bobby carter Techniques 2 July 21st 05 09:55 PM
Engineering types... check my work! Phil, Squid-in-Training Techniques 15 January 20th 05 07:50 AM
Trek story, engineering light bicycle Ed Techniques 9 September 10th 04 07:21 PM
crystal engineering speed ross tzenobite Recumbent Biking 3 January 25th 04 02:37 PM
Genetic engineering cfsmtb Australia 8 October 10th 03 12:25 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:53 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CycleBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.