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Distance Handles

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rec.sport.unicycling
Published
13 August 2006
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21 November 2006
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alpine_uni
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  1. I made a handle setup I call the JC Coker Handle. There are pictures
    and links in my 'Miscellaneous Stuff gallery'
    (http://gallery.unicyclist.com/john_childs_misc). The links go to a
    couple of RSU threads that describe the handle and the components.

    I have shortened the boom from what was pictured in JC Coker Handle
    Beta 3. I ditched the water bottle idea. The weight of a full water
    bottle out on the boom like that affected handling of the unicycle. It
    was like swinging a weight around when turning. I have found it is
    better to carry the water in a hydration backpack or hydration bum bag
    (waist mounted pack). The boom extension is now about the length it
    was in JC Coker Handle Beta 2.

    The seatpost rack was another idea that I thought would work out better
    than it did. Again it was a problem of the extra weight on a boom
    affecting the handling of the unicycle. For a flat ride that doesn't
    require a lot of maneuvering the rack and trunk bag works well. But
    for climbing and maneuvering the weight of the bag makes the riding
    less fun.

    Anyways, the cost for parts for just the JC Coker Handle are going to
    be $100+. I got most of the parts from a local bike shop that sells
    recycled bicycle parts and I got the stoker stem from eBay. Buying all
    the parts at full retail would make it even more expensive. If you get
    creative you can find used parts and put something similar together for
    less. A nice feature of the JC Coker Handle design is that there is no
    welding involved so even those of us with no welding skills can put
    something like it together.

    If I was starting over I'd likely get a Wallis Design V-Grip Handle
    along with the under the saddle brake mount. It's a nifty handle and
    suits the way that I typically ride. I usually ride with my right hand
    holding the handle on the front of the saddle and my left hand holding
    one of the barends on the JC Coker Handle.

    One advantage to the JC Coker Handle design is that I have the cycle
    computer mounted up forward where it is very easy to read while riding.
    I wouldn't be able to put the cycle computer in the same position with
    a V-Grip handle. I'm not sure where you could put a cycle computer on
    a V-Grip setup where the cycle computer would be easily readable while
    riding.

    --
    john_childs

    john_childs (att) hotmail (dott) com
    Team Dirty Muni
    Gallery: http://gallery.unicyclist.com/john_childs
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  2. What exactly is a Stoker Stem? I saw the picture of it in your Gallery,
    but what is it used for on the tandem bike? Also, is one better over
    another? Are there different sizes so I won't need shims? Thanks.

    Mike

    --
    alpine_uni
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  3. alpine_uni said:

    What exactly is a Stoker Stem? I saw the picture of it in your Gallery,
    but what is it used for on the tandem bike? Also, is one better over
    another? Are there different sizes so I won't need shims? Thanks.

    Mike

    The captain is the front rider of a standard tandem and the stoker is
    the rear rider. A stoker stem holds the handlebars that the stoker
    holds on to. The stoker stem attaches to the captain's seatpost. An
    adjustable stoker stem has an adjustable length so the stoker can
    position the handlebars at a comfortable distance for his body size.

    On my JC Coker Handle I'm only using half of the adjustable stoker
    stem. The other half (the half that holds the handlebars) got
    discarded.

    There are different sizes but the size choices are limited. You'll
    likely need to fashion some sort of shim to fit the stoker stem to your
    frame or seatpost.

    There are different styles and designs for adjustable stoker stems. I
    used one that looks like 'this' (http://tinyurl.com/n6b7k). The boom
    slides in where the handlebar mount fits in. Handy and convenient that
    it turned out that way and that the diameter happened to be good for a
    28.6mm boom. 28.6mm just happens to be a standard stem size so I was
    able to fit a standard bicycle stem on the boom.

    --
    john_childs

    john_childs (att) hotmail (dott) com
    Team Dirty Muni
    Gallery: http://gallery.unicyclist.com/john_childs
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  4. Haven't got a picture, but there's a guy who rides with Lunis in London
    who has a very funny and cheap way to make a handle.

    It's a bit that clamps onto the seatpost, which I think is just a bike
    stem cut in half.

    This has a hole inside it, and he puts a big piece of wood into it,
    which is I think a cut down broomstick handle.

    You can lean on the handle when riding along. If you're not using it
    you can just pull it out of the hole and pop it in your bag. It doesn't
    weigh as much as a full on metal handle.

    It does look very funny though.

    Joe

    --
    joemarshall

    my pics http://gallery.unicyclist.com/albuq44
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  5. I just purchased 'this stoker stem.' (http://tinyurl.com/k6dsw) I now
    plan on a cut-off handlebar and climbing pegs, like JC has.

    I'm hoping the handlebar clamp (already part of the stem) will work to
    directly hold the handlebar, instead of the boom and additional clamp
    used in JC's beta 2 handlebar.

    I'm also hoping the seatpost attachment clamp is designed to go on the
    stem and not the seatpost, because I'm short and have no extra room on
    the seatpost, but there is room on the stem.

    Maybe too much hoping, but experimentation will tell.

    --
    steveyo

    steveyo

    ...like having your own personal rollercoaster...
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  6. I looked at that stoker stem and thought the exact same thing... what if
    I could just put my handles on the clamp that is already part of the
    stem? Post some pictures so I can see how that stem works... maybe I
    will buy one.

    --
    alpine_uni
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  7. alpine_uni said:

    I looked at that stoker stem and thought the exact same thing... what if
    I could just put my handles on the clamp that is already part of the
    stem? Post some pictures so I can see how that stem works... maybe I
    will buy one.

    There are a couple more like the one I got (aluminum, 37 deg.) and
    'another kind ' (http://tinyurl.com/onc8x) (Cromo, 45 deg.) the same
    seller is offering.

    --
    steveyo

    steveyo

    ...like having your own personal rollercoaster...
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  8. I saw the Cromo one with the 45 deg. on it. I liked the long neck to it,
    but I'm not sure if it would work or not.

    --
    alpine_uni
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  9. steveyo said:

    I just purchased 'this stoker stem.' (http://tinyurl.com/k6dsw) I now
    plan on a cut-off handlebar and climbing pegs, like JC has.

    So this stem came in the mail and it's light and sweet. It won't work,
    however on my Radial 360.

    The part that clamps onto the frame under the seat post area is too
    wide and does not allow the seat post clamp to slide all the way onto
    the frame. Not to mention the clamp needs a shim to work anyway.

    steveyo said:

    I'm hoping the handlebar clamp (already part of the stem) will work to
    directly hold the handlebar, instead of the boom and additional clamp
    used in JC's beta 2 handlebar.

    If the Radial's frame accomodated the tandem stem's clamp, the
    extension rod would still be too short to work as a handlebar, so the
    boom is still necessary, it would seem.

    steveyo said:

    I'm also hoping the seatpost attachment clamp is designed to go on the
    stem and not the seatpost, because I'm short and have no extra room on
    the seatpost, but there is room on the stem.

    Well, this tandem stem does fit around the frame, not the post. But
    it's too big top to bottom.

    --
    steveyo

    steveyo

    ...like having your own personal rollercoaster...
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  10. So the top-to-bottom measurement of the clamp is too big to fit on the
    frame? Post some pictures to explain it please.

    --
    alpine_uni
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  11. As someone without experience or equipment to do welding, I wondered how
    to create some kind of extended handle for my 36er, as others seem to
    do.

    I think Joe's comment about broomsticks was what I needed after lots of
    hacksawing and attempted bolting on of pieces of steel wheelchair from
    my trailer project. Metalwork without welding is just hard work.

    So I came up with this:
    [image:
    http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=291455&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=f9eb0f0ce4fe170e5aa95f278f540073]

    [image:
    http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=291457&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=f9eb0f0ce4fe170e5aa95f278f540073]

    It was first tried at the races in Warwick in September, where I
    managed to smash part of it by falling off. The design was rather an
    evolution, which explains the odd shape. I didn't quite know how/if it
    would work, so I put the pieces together slightly oddly.

    It works fine though! It weighs very little (broomsticks seem to be
    similar in weight to some very thin aluminium tubing I have (from
    window-washing poles) of a similar size, but much stronger/stiffer),
    and although a bit off-centre, it doesn't actually rub. Possibly the
    nicest thing is that I can now see my speedometer (though still not
    wise to look down at speed).

    Admittedly, it does go 'creak' a bit when under stress, and doesn't put
    the brake lever in the ideal place. But it is unique and probably cost
    less than £3. 😄

    Sam

    --
    redwelly

    "Sometimes you feel like pizza, somethings you feel like chocolate,
    sometimes you feel like throwing up, so it's really nice to be able to
    pick and choose." - Ken Looi, -GizmoDuck-
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  12. you have a wooden seatpost!?

    --
    zfreak220

    iridemymuni said:

    i think everybody agrees when i say you lucky son of a [censored]


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  13. I can't believe this thread is back... It's from so long ago...

    Anyways, it does look like it's a wooden seatpost... thats odd, but
    kind of neat...

    That new Nimbus handle looks cool, but seems like it would be rather
    expensive and a little heavy. Any comments?

    --
    alpine_uni
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  14. alpine_uni said:

    I can't believe this thread is back... It's from so long ago...

    Anyways, it does look like it's a wooden seatpost... thats odd, but
    kind of neat...

    That new Nimbus handle looks cool, but seems like it would be rather
    expensive and a little heavy. Any comments?

    I wrote a 'review of my T7 handle'
    (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54951)

    --
    mark williamson

    Dave: Just a question. What use is a unicyle with no seat? And no
    pedals!
    Mark: To answer a question with a question: What use is a skateboard?
    Dave: Skateboards have wheels.
    Mark: My wheel has a wheel!
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  15. redwelly said:

    I think Joe's comment about broomsticks was what I needed after lots of
    hacksawing and attempted bolting on of pieces of steel wheelchair from
    my trailer project. Metalwork without welding is just hard work, so I
    came up with this.

    Sweet! Engineering breakthroughs like that just don't show up every
    day. I think you need to pair your handle design with the Stoltzfus
    Wooden Muni for a true Flintstones riding experience.

    +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |Filename: wooden uni.jpg |
    |Download: http://www.unicyclist.com/attachment/16277 |
    +-------------------------------------------------------------------+

    --
    tomblackwood

    Tailgate at your own risk...
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  16. That looks super heavy! That is pretty cool, cause me dad is good at
    woodworking.

    --
    Danni

    Scrobo said:

    but what would I expect from someone who has Marajuana as their avatar?

    Evan Byrne said:

    *gasp!* your avatar is truly offensive, remove it asap!

    Herb is the healing of all nations
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  17. zfreak220 said:

    you have a wooden seatpost!?

    I have a rusty seatpost. It's the knurled 22mm one with my Quax 36 -
    ideal for attracting the rust in the pattern. I drilled through it
    with a standard drill bit - the slightly funny angle of the handle
    could be blamed on getting the holes a bit wonky.

    Sam

    --
    redwelly

    "Sometimes you feel like pizza, somethings you feel like chocolate,
    sometimes you feel like throwing up, so it's really nice to be able to
    pick and choose." - Ken Looi, -GizmoDuck-
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