DM closing down

john_childs said:

*I just took a quick visit to 'DM Engineering'
(http://www.unicycle.co.uk/) to have a little look around and noticed
that he is 'closing down' (http://tinyurl.com/ccrfu). That's
unfortunate news. It may be old news in the UK, but it's news to me
over here. *

That's very sad to hear. I'm in the UK, and your post is the first news
I've heard.

I am one of the fortunate few who owns one of his 6 foot giraffes (you
can see it in 'my little gallery' (http://gallery.unicyclist.com/gkmac)
and some more of the same in 'this one'
(http://gallery.unicyclist.com/joesgiraffe)) and many feel that DM
giraffes were the best. As far as I know it was the only twin-chained
giraffe still in production. Very sturdy, strong, and long lasting. I've
briefly sat on someone else's DM giraffe that was about ten years old
(the same design as my 7 month old one) and it was still rideable (or,
it would be if the inner-tube was replaced).

I believe he was in the unicycle-making business for about 35 years, so
I think it was inevitable that retirement was due very soon.

Question is, will anyone ever make a (twin-chained) giraffe to match
his?

--
gkmac - Never rides in public
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Leo noticed a couple of weeks ago and posted about it 'here'
(http://tinyurl.com/7egk7)
[image: http://img117.exs.cx/img117/6721/o4fsad.gif]

--
unicus

Every time I try to write my signature the pen slips on the monitor.
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unicus said:

*Leo noticed a couple of weeks ago and posted about it 'here'
(http://tinyurl.com/7egk7)
[image: http://img117.exs.cx/img117/6721/o4fsad.gif] *

No fair hiding that post about DM in a thread about UK bicycle repair
shops. I never read that entire thread since I don't have a great
interest in UK bike repair.

Sigh. At least I managed to stumble on the news on my own. It is sad.
I was thinking about getting a Ringmaster Advanced Custom eventually.
I'll have to nix that idea.

--
john_childs - Guinness Mojo

john_childs (att) hotmail (dott) com
Gallery: '' (http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/john_childs)
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That's a great pity. I never had a DM uni, and never intended to, but
DM made custom bespoke unicycles of high quality, and many unicyclists
aspired to own one one day. Alan (Arnold the aardvark) who used to post
here had a DM ATU, and a stacked two-wheeler from DM - lovely bits of
kit. Street entertainers and circus performers valued the robustness of
the DM frame.

Is this another case of British industry, making a good solid product,
but failing to move with the times? In a world of lightweight products
(lightweight literally and metaphorically) DM made heavyweight stuff.

--
Mikefule - The first cuckoo of unicycling

Sumer is icomen in, loud sing Mikefule!
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Mikefule said:

Is this another case of British industry, making a good solid product,
but failing to move with the times? In a world of lightweight products
(lightweight literally and metaphorically) DM made heavyweight stuff.

I think it's more likely that Dave just decided it was time to retire.
He's getting on a bit, you know.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

I guess that means DM unicycles will become even more desirable.

I still remember the joy of riding my first DM. So smooth! They really
are something special. I now feel inspired to restore my DM to its
former glory (I'll need to track down my old wheelset for it).

--
peter.bier - Unicycle trasher

-Peter Bier

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"john_childs" <[email hidden]> wrote
in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I just took a quick visit to 'DM Engineering'
(http://www.unicycle.co.uk/) to have a little look around and noticed
that he is 'closing down' (http://tinyurl.com/ccrfu). That's
unfortunate news. It may be old news in the UK, but it's news to me
over here.

What a shame, I shall treasure my DM 5 foot giraffe all the more now,
although I have still to pluck up the courage to get on it and ride. But
I do ride the 20 Ringmaster.

Nao

Here's a chance for a last look at the DM web site. His main page
doesn't link into his site anymore, but I had a bookmark that does.

'DM Engineering Directory' (http://www.unicycle.co.uk/directory.htm)

For those interested, take a look at his three research programs that he
has for download. DM had some custom pedals with sensors in them that
could measure the amount of force on the pedals. He did several
experiments with the instrumented pedals and the three programs give
graphs of the results. Interesting stuff. One experiment had a rider
do a 1 meter drop. The force on the pedals was measured to be 4 times
the riders weight.

--
john_childs - Guinness Mojo

john_childs (att) hotmail (dott) com
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gkmac said:

Question is, will anyone ever make a (twin-chained) giraffe to match
his?

Not a chance.

It is, indeed, very sad news - the text on the site suggests that the
influx of cheap import unicycles had something to do with it, along with
DM's age.

Luckily (for me), the giraffe I was trying to sell recently was snapped up
when the news got out. I'm glad it went to a good home for a good price
(for both parties).

There's no way the ringmaster pro or ultimate wheel are leaving me now.
Both top quality sturdy kit. Sure they might be a bit heavier than others,
but are completely* unbendable.

Oh... and I think** Alan (Aardvark) has another DM in his collection now.

Cheers,

Stu

* ie. I haven't bent either of them yet.
** know, in fact. because I sold it to him.