Thinuniking: Sometimes I too find that my KH saddle digs into my hand
near the last joint on my middle finger, but rarely. I also notice that
on moves on off-camber surfaces the seat can be ripped out of my hand by
a hard landing. The problem with KH saddles is that the rib where the
colored cloth is is too short, meaning you grip the seat way high on
your fingers. This isn't as good as miyata, but you get used to it. Part
of this for me was that some nice calluses formed on my fingers so that
there's more natural cushion. I also use 3/4 finger gloves, but they
don't provide any padding where I grab the seat. My hands only hurt if I
do big hops repeatedly or have bad timing on my hop. For example, today
I was going for a 28" hop and I jumped and pulled just a bit too early,
and it started to hurt because I pulled up on both the uni and my legs,
which hurt. It also can be a bit painful when I do rock trials because
there are lots of off-camber surfaces where you have to pull harder on
the seat. The best solution for finger pain is to practice seat out
more, so you can relax your grip on the saddle. As for the legs, you
just have to develope your technique to the point where your thighs
aren't used to balance the seat, only your hand.
Would you be so kind as to use punctuation and capitalization? I find
your posts contain substance and often ask good questions such as the
one above, but I have a hard time reading them and often don't fully
undersatand them. So please, could you use some more punctuation?
Kc: The hand should grip the saddle seat out on a KH saddle where the
colored cloth is. Near the middle is way to far up. My pinky often
touches the rear bumber to give you a better idea. This change should
make seat out way easier.
Seat height: Don't bother taking any advice on seat height past a
certain point. Anything will work. Way high and the disadvantage is
during big hops you often have to lift the seat up past your head, which
makes you run the risk of clipping your neck on the seat after you land
it. I've done this, and it hurts. Not to mention, wiht the seat to high
you often have to go seat out for drops and have a much harder time
putting the seat back after going seat out. Also, with the seat way high
on big seat out gaps you can end up slamming your chest into the seat
when you land. This can happen even with a low seat, though. With the
seat too low the biggest problem is the hunching of the back. You have
to bend way over to reach the seat and this makes bigger hops harder
because your weight starts lower so you have to physically jump your
upper body higher. Not much of a concern. Another issue with low seats
is that when seat in stillstands and rail rides can be harder, because
when you stand up the seat can actually bounce back and forth between
your legs, which will be strange. Also, a low seat makes seat out
stillstands harder. The advantage to a low seat lies in the ability to
lift the uni seat in and seat out higher, and the ability to crunch down
more on big gaps. Whichever you pick, remember, if your pulling way hard
on the seat, bend over more. You should have a very relaxed grip on the
saddle. Try doing a small seat out hop while holding without using your
thumb or palm. Or just remember that your elbow shoudl have a bit of
bend in it when your seat out, and if it doesn't you aren't bent over
enough.
I have some picture that may help, but i don't know how to attach them.
Could someone tell me and I'll post them.
--
gerblefranklin - Trials Unicyclist
Don't you think it's a cruel irony that acting like a G.I. Joe in the
army can get you a Medal, while playing with one can get you thrown out?
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