On the water in the bearings issue:
I posted a request for advice about replacing bearings recently, but
then I simply regreased the ones I had. I decided that my unicycle has
doen a few hundred miles, and that my bicycle used to do many more than
that before the bearings needed replacing.
All I did was this:
Drop the wheel out of the frame.
Use a tiny screwdriver to carefully lift the rubber ring out of the
bearing unit.
Rinse the bearing thoroughly to remove grit. (using an aerosol spray
such as WD40 would help to blast out any grit or dust.)
Allow the bearing to dry.
Add grease. I used motorcycle chain lube which again has the advantage
of being aerosol, and which is formulated not to damage the rubber O
rings in a motorcycle chain, so won't damage the rubber seals in a
unicycle wheel.
Replace the rubber ring, carefully.
reassemble.
There was no need to remove the bearing cage or the balls.
OK, so maybe a full overhall would be even better, but this worked for
me, and got rid of an irritating noise,
It's a simple job. 20 minutes at most.
As for riding fords. The problems will be:
Hydrodynamic drag on the wheel.
The uneven bed of the ford, shifting under the tyre.
The buoyancy of the tyre, reducing your grip.
Any cross current that might knock you off course.
Drag will ebb much lower if you ride slowly.
You will be less affected by uneven ground under the wheel if you stand
on the pedals and ride slowly.
The buoyancy problem will get worse, the deeper the water is, as you
attempt to submerge more of the tyre. Look at the shape of the tyre to
see how this is NOT a straight line graph. Stand on the pedals to keep
as much of yourself out of the water as possible.
Aim upstream to counteract the effects of the current.
It's easy to say these things. I've never done it for real in anything
deeper than about 6 - 8 inches. Accept that it is a game. You may win,
you may lose.
But do dry the uni thoroughly - most forks are hollow at the bottom and
water will get into the frame there. The seat tube is also hollow, as
is the seat post. The bearings need greasing. Lots of WD 40.
WDs 1 - 39 were not nearly so good.
--
Mikefule - Roland Hope School of Unicycling
The poor lack much, the greedy, everything.
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