Input for redesigned Coker

that would be great

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unicycle dave
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Personally, I haven't bought a coker only because of the price. Yeah,
the starting price is only $300, but the basic setup isn't very good
for long distance riding. I'd have to customize, but customization is
expensive.

So, what I'd really want in a coker is a complete package for a lower
price ($600-700 is just too much). What it comes down to is the
current basic coker is not configured for long distance riding, not
even at an entry level (by my estimation). It seems like more of a
novelty than anything else.

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phlegm
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Brian O. said:

No matter the shape of the seat post, the radius of the wheel is
constant, if the radius of the wheel is longer than your leg then you
are out of luck. Unless theres a special trick im unaware of or im
misunderstanding you how would something other than a vertical seat
post help?

I went out in the garage and measured. I am 6' tall, with about a 32'
inseam. That's a little taller than the average adult male, but not a
lot. Measurements from top of tire to top of seat:
Coker: 13.5" (with 125mm cranks)
45" Tom Miller big wheel: 8" (with 165mm cranks)

The point being, I still have 8" left on a 45" wheel with long cranks
(short cranks make the seat higher). It's not really 8", because you
have to leave some clearance above the tire, and have at least an inch
of padding or you defeat the purpose of the air tire. 🙂

Put a "normal" unicycle fork, normal seat and normal-type post in
there, and you eat up a lot of vertical height. I'm sure Troy already
gets all this; this is for anyone who doesn't (and to find out those
numbers for myself).

Now, if you build the unicycle conventionally, you need a minimal
amount of seat tube to hold the seat post safely, even if you don't
need to adjust it. As many of us know, extra post will either make the
seat too high, or interfere with the tire.

But really big unicycles have to be built differently. Once upon a time
I visited Goran Lundstrom in Sweden. At the time he was owner of the
world's largest unicycle at 63.5" or so. I believe his frame used a
Schwinn seat base as the fork crown, with the fork legs welded directly
to it. This didn't allow for any adjustment, but Goran was taller than
me in the first place. Who would need the seat any higher?
http://www.unicycling.com/garage/bigwheel.htm

Naturally, any production unicycle needs adjustable seat height. So the
question is whether there's a workable solution that doesn't require a
vertical post and all that height? I think the horizontal post idea
would work on a design intended for use with handlebars or a handle at
the front. Or something else. The horizontal post idea might only work
for a limited range of rider sizes. When somebody comes out with a
viable design, whatever it is will seem obvious over the vertical post
idea.

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johnfoss

John Foss
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and truth is measured only by how fervently they believe it." --
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johnfoss said:

So the question is whether there's a workable solution that doesn't
require a vertical post and all that height?

I have toyed with an idea based upon the old Pedersen bike. Imagine a
double frame like the Hunter from which you hang the Pedersen saddle
...

[image: http://www.christiania.org/~pedersen/images/ped02a.jpg]

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goldenchicken
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ntappin said:

It could be done in a similar way to a giraffe, I think someone
mentioned that a while ago in one of the giraffe topics.

Right, I was thinking more in terms of a non giraffe, I've seen a post
of giraffe coker before, looks fun.

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Brian O.
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geared unicycle maybe? you could give schlumph abit of competition :p .

flat crowns for coasting and standup wheel walks, there could be a
craze of freestyle cokering! 🙄

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giraffe
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Troy,

I would be very interested in talking to you about doing an interview
or feature about the Coker redesign for Uniplex/Unicycle.tv Uniplex is
a video podcast - basically a TV show distributed over the web.
Obviously, or focus is unicycling and the unicycling community. We
have a growing audience of active unicyclists.

If you or Coker are interested in interacting with the unicycling
community and getting information about your products out there,
Uniplex can be a good resource for you.

If you're interested, I would love to hear from you. Please email me
at nbrazzi-at-yahoo-dot-com.

Uniplex on the web: www.uniplex.org
Uniplex on iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/c8wqd
Unicycle.tv, our partner: www.unicycle.tv

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nbrazzi

Intellectual brilliance is no guarantee against being dead wrong.

-Carl Sagan
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markf said:

i think a few different s with various levels of strength and
performance is an incredibly good idea. a stronger hub is a must for
all levels, a decent seat, and brake mounts would be things i'd
suggest.

i like that idea

--
unicycle dave
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i say... (im probabaly repeating people..)

Change the tube and tire to make it lighter, and anything else to make
it lighter for that matter

Change the seat to somthing better than the standard viscount.. even if
it is only a standard KH

better stock pedals

stonger rim of coarse

Chase

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R.I.P Peter Jennings
R.I.P Pope John Paul II
R.I.P James_Potters_Cat
YAMS

-last edited by the dave and sigpoose on 2005-09-05 at 08:56 pm -
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in the end, a better stock seat and pedals are only so good, you can
customize those very easily later

what's hard to customize without a high price tag is the hub and rim

a really nice wheel (wide, strong hub and strong, light rim) would be
very nice to have stock
as well as a "stock" frame that will fit the wide hub w/ no adjustment
required (like is required today w/ the stock Coker frame)

a couple color choices would be cool, but i a buyer really wants a
color, he/she can just go get whatever they want at a powdercoating
shop

the main things are the hub, rim, and frame

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ColDawG

Your friendly, neighborhood Muniman

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As an avid Coker rider, my riding ranges from beach to MUni, I would
request the following;

-wider hub/axle and rim combination for stronger wheel. My Coker holds
up well after numerous falls while I MUni. But I am afraid to ride up
stairs and hopping due to its 'poor' wheel design and reputation for
'tacoing'
-Please replace the plastic pedals which are useless for heavy riding.

-Soft gel or air seats
-OPTIONAL: Brake as an option is a definate YES for us MUni Coker
riders.
-OPTIONAL: Bigger selection of Coker tires from: smoother tread for
racing to FAT tire(2.5-3 inches) for MUni riders like me.
-OPTIONAL: cyclometer

--
leadpan

"Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever" - Lance Armstrong
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I think the absolute #1 things that need to be done to today's cokers
are:

1) wider hub
2)strong light rim
3) stainless steal spokes
4) and this one might be a bit much, but sell a new style of sadle with
a Gb4 type handle built in
5)and lastly 2-3 choices for tires
a road one, with smoth tread and a 1.5-1.75 tire.
and a more agressive wider 2.5 ish XC lightly knobied tire

--
unicyclistben

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Proud owner of posts 37000 and 38000 in MR
UNBAN BEN_UNRUH
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goldenchicken said:

I have toyed with an idea based upon the old Pedersen bike. Imagine a
double frame like the Hunter from which you hang the Pedersen saddle
...

Yes but how would you adjust it? The one in your picture appears to use
a telescoping tube, but of course that tube doesn't point at the tire
like it would on even a Hunter-style frame.

Plus I doubt the functionality of that type of seat on a unicycle,
where the seat needs to be rigid to the wheel. A suspended seat, unless
redesigned, would twist side to side and make it hard to steer.

--
johnfoss

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

"Idiot America—where fact is merely that which enough people believe,
and truth is measured only by how fervently they believe it." --
Charles Pierce, in Esquire Magazine
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I don't own one yet, but if you guys put out a 42-45" coker, especially
one with a nice wide hub, good stock seat and a strong frame (which I'm
sure with a bit of research and talking to some of the big wigs around
here - john foss, u-turn (dave stockton) and others could be very well
designed indeed), you've got a sale right here 😄 even if it does cost
the earth. who needs the earth when you have a 40+" unicycle!

--
flyer
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I'm hoping to get a Coker sometime this year. One thing I would
definitely like to see is a square-crown frame, because it would allow
for a greater variety of trick riding.

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jsm

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Since I bought my 360 5-6 months ago i have already upgraded the wheel
to the Airfoil with the UDC eide hub and changed seat mount type to a
rail type seat adaptor, I did not have to upgrade the seat cause it
came with a KH Gel saddle
One thing I would like that you mentioned earlier was a Black frame,
Here is a picture of my 20" Nimbus for reference, I think a black
airfoil rim with polished stainless spokes and a nice shiny black frame
that says COKER on frame rail and/or come up with a nice emblem for
seat post part of frame and a black seat post and naturally keep it
light weight where possible
11759
11760
[image: http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=743]

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Filename: P1250039.JPG |
|Download: http://www.unicyclist.com/attachment/11760 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Daytripper63
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Daytripper63 said:

Since I bought my 360 5-6 months ago i have already upgraded the wheel
to the Airfoil with the UDC eide hub and changed seat mount type to a
rail type seat adaptor, I did not have to upgrade the seat cause it
came with a KH Gel saddle
One thing I would like that you mentioned earlier was a Black frame,
Here is a picture of my 20" Nimbus for reference, I think a black
airfoil rim with polished stainless spokes and a nice shiny black frame
that says COKER on frame rail and/or come up with a nice emblem for
seat post part of frame and a black seat post and naturally keep it
light weight where possible
11759
11760
[image: http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=743]

Well I tried to attach pics and it said attached but I guess not...
Oh well now the attachment decides to show up

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Daytripper63
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Just curious what type of alloy wheel you were thinking of? One of the
reasons many use the Airfoil rim is because it is really rigid, and
doesn't flex. With stainless spokes there is some seriously high
tension that the wheel is able to handle. This is very important when
adding hydraulic brakes. I personally have a Custome Hunter frame.
Not much better design out there for me, but also had a GB4 that was
really stiff as well. The GB4 had a square crown, but this was an
issue since I have short legs and a thich quads. I spent well over a
grand on my setup, but if it was a production set up, could have
likely gotten the same uni for half that.

I am helping with the 2006 North American Unicycling Championships
which will be in Memhis, and also work on the editorial staff for the
USA Newletter/Magazine. I would love to talk to you about a few things
off the forum, so send me a PM on how I can get in touch with you.

Chad

--
bugman

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Troy-

Thanks for asking for input You have read alot of verbage and some
complex schemes. Important changes would keep Coker in a class by
itself, just a better one. Don't compete with geared unis; why bother.
Coker is Coker because it is already a big gear and has an
awe-inspiring appeal. In order, the new Coker would be more desireable
with

1.) a larger diameter wheel and tire
2.) an aluminum alloy, lightweight, strong rim
3.) a wider, stronger hub and a wheelbuild with 14 gauge stainless
steel spokes
4.) a comfortable stock saddle

Everything else is fluff. The saddle is probably fluff. The first three
items are what put a large diameter, pneumatic tire unicycle in a class
by itself. People can add fancy cranks and pedals and specialized
saddles on their own. You can't satisfy everyones individual tastes.
Colors are nice, especially if a selection does not add appreciably to
the cost.

The 22.2mm standard unicycle seatpost is stupid. Consider going to a
standard bicycle size seatpost like 27.2mm on the frame design.

Thanks for taking the time to listen to a bunch of eccentric crackpots.
Deliver the product and we will provide the market.

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B L U E S H I F T

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I am somewhat biased toward this suggestion, but consider adding a 3"
long dual-slot bracket to the back side of the right frame leg, 1" wide
between the slots. This will allow anyone so inclined to simply drop
in a jackshaft and a free spinning track hub (or the equivalent),
allowing a simple geared wheel on the same frame. It may cost as much
as few pennies to add such a bracket in the production process, but it
would make the new frames infinitely valuable to the unicycling world.
Let someone else make the gearing kit, but it's important to just have
the jackshaft bracket there and ready to go.
Any questions Troy please PM me.

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