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Going from 4 wheels to 2 is a good start. The next step is a commuter unicycle, like these: http://nhoover.smugmug.com/gallery/5974354_EUa4J#372904495_MTrvv htt
by tlb 18y ago
Going from 4 wheels to 2 is a good start. The next step is a commuter unicycle, like these:
http://nhoover.smugmug.com/gallery/5974354_EUa4J#372904495_MTrvv http://nhoover.smugmug.com/gallery/5974354_EUa4J#372904495_M...
(that's me on the right edge.)
Surprisingly, I feel safer on it than on a bike, because my CG is higher than the roof of most cars. Also, the dreaded "door prize" would be more at thigh level than head level.
It's pretty hard to uni after dark, though, because you need to anticipate bumps and potholes.
- Tichy 18y agoHow fast can you go with a unicycle? Do the pedals always turn as fast as the wheel, or are they "disconnected"? How do you brake?
- pchristensen 18y agoWhen I've seen people unicycle (I'm a 2 wheel man), they go faster than a power walk but slower than a run. Plus, they're smaller and more maneuverable than a bike so they're much easier to take on sidewalks and around pedestrians. Pretty similar to a Segway. Pedals drive the wheel directly (no gears), so to slow down or stop you just pedal slower and then hop off. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicycle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicycle) is pretty fascinating, including these notable unicyclists: Adam Corolla, Donald Rumsfield, and Claude Shannon!
- tlb 18y agoI can sustain about 12 mph, so it's about 2/3 as fast as biking. Some harder-core unicyclists can get over 20 mph with extra-short pedal cranks or gearing. Almost all pedals are 1-1, which is why you want a big wheel. You brake by resisting rotation while you tilt back.
- DabAsteroid 18y agoHow long are your stopping-distances?
- tlb 18y agoProbably comparable to a bike when I'm going 2/3 the speed. But it can be hard to react suddenly without losing control. Though you usually just land on your feet, running behind the uni in that case.