gliding down hills: equipment vs. technique

i've noticed dust affects gliding a lot more than you'd think, sometimes
making it almost impossible
i have a 20" maxis creepy crawler w/ knobs
when i try and glide offroad (which some can do) the dirt makes it
hard
but i find dust that collects on concrete makes it the hardest

getting used to a slope is challenging, but the dust'll make it really
hard

--
ColDawG

Your friendly, neighborhood Muniman

http://www.wheelaway.com/
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Figured I'd ressurrect this now that I have some experience that
relates.

I was having the opposite problem - I needed an extremely steep hill to
even maintain a low speed. I've been practicing gliding with a 24"x3.0
Duro Muni tire (stock on the KH freeride) and some '\"Simple\"
flat-soled shoes' (http://tinyurl.com/rk3g4). The tire is definately
the loser - it's worn down noticeably while the shoe has worn very
little. As soon as the tire warms up, it gets sticky, and it really
grips my shoe. My first major glides were down a steep, tarred fire
road that had some sandy patches. It probably would have been tough to
maintain control on a less grippy tire.

As with everything unicycling, practicing worked out the issues. Foot
placement makes some difference, as does getting used to the different
surfaces. Even a little dust, sand or water makes it difficult to
apply enough pressure.

Starting closer to the bottom of a steep hill may get you used to the
incline without having to worry as much about losing control of your
speed. You could then start from higher and higher spots until you can
control it down the whole slope.

--
entropy

Shut up and ride.
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Dust is bad, and brings a variable to your glide that you can't
necessarily control. A sudden increase in dust cuts down your friction
and away you go! Stick to pavement for more predictable results.

For real fun, do it on a wet surface as it's drying off. A little
different each time! This is what we had to use for the gliding
competition at Unicon XII in Tokyo. No choice; it had been raining!

Beware of gliding with knobby tires. It makes it harder to learn good
technique (a light touch), and mostly it's hard on the tire. If you
glide a lot you can prematurely wear the tire out. Depending on the
tire though, you might concentrate on the corners and try to wear down
those corner knobbies we unicyclists don't really need. 🙂

Obviously we know from Kris Holm that you can do long, fast, consistent
glides on knobbies, no doubt about it. But it is hard on the tire.

--
johnfoss

John Foss
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com
-----------------------------------------------

"The worst thing you can do on a unicycle when you land is stop dead."
-- Kris Holm, world's expert on high-consequence unicycling
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Hard on your tire? What about shoes!

I don't think dust is that bad. I learned how to glide on a semi-knobby
tire, on a dirt road that was slightly wet from rain...

--
forrestunifreak

**Money talks. Mine says goodbye. *'My gallery'
(http://tinyurl.com/bbf9x)*

Quoted message said:

<> Unicycle for Christ *<><*

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forrestunifreak said:

Hard on your tire? What about shoes!

Shoes too, though the shoes tend to be harder than some of the rubber
in the tires. Yes, we wore through some shoes back in our early days of
gliding...

--
johnfoss

John Foss
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com
-----------------------------------------------

"The worst thing you can do on a unicycle when you land is stop dead."
-- Kris Holm, world's expert on high-consequence unicycling
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johnfoss said:

Obviously we know from Kris Holm that you can do long, fast, consistent
glides on knobbies, no doubt about it. But it is hard on the tire.

Good thing the Duro is (relatively) cheap. Hey, once the knobbies are
worn off, I can keep it as a slick!

--
entropy

Shut up and ride.
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forrestunifreak said:

I don't think dust is that bad. I learned how to glide on a semi-knobby
tire, on a dirt road that was slightly wet from rain...

So I'm gathering that my tire is a poor choice for gliding in dusty or
wet conditions. The rubber does seem pretty hard as tires go, and my
left shoe has noticeably less sole remaining than my right. I'll have
to try gliding with a softer knobby tire sometime.

--
phlegm
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i got the same tire Primo The Wall..
but i cant glind yet :P

--
picado
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I had trouble gliding until I switched to a knobby tire (creepy
crawler).

--
siafirede

'Myspace' (http://www.myspace.com/clawsout)
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I just begin to feel I'm on the way to gliding (one foot ww in progress,
not yet consistent, but I work on it).
I feel pretty noob as I see loads of young riders who can glide after a
few month of practice... but you know, I'm more in the trial stuff:o
... and this wears my tire out on located spots, though I turn it
sometimes.
I use a Try-all tire (wich is very greepy, knobby and "soft"😉 and I
wonder how the knob-less spots will affect my glidding. Is it possible
to learn gliding with a partially worn knobby tire (for a "normal
rider"😉?

--
Zzagg

Zzagg - Air Circus Team (Nantes)

Living easy, living free...
...Season ticket on a one wheel ride.

JJuggle said:

Zzagg, I'm struggling with your English.

:o 😉
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