Pimped-out KH 36 distance Uni w/ aero bar: Its all frigging Blue, pictures attached

[brycer1968]

My riding buddy Zeke (Z Boisei) said I had to post some pics of my new
ride I just finished building.

Lots of stuff is powdercoated KH Blue . . . .I figure if its worth
building an obscure custom unicycle part, then its worthy of
powdercoating too. The bar set is big and funky looking, but after
building and riding several different prototypes of custom distance
handlebars over the last four years and consulting with a couple of bike
fitters here in Portland, I think I finally found a lightweight design
that makes the 100/10/1 goal very possible (100 miles in 10 hours on 1
wheel) and MUCH more comfortable – even for a 200 pound Unicycle *******
of dubious fitness level . . . . like me.

I JUST TRIED THIS OUT IN OCTOBER ON A 75 MILE AND A METRIC CENTURY ROAD
RIDE HERE IN PORTLAND, OR. HERE'S WHAT I FOUND:

THE BIGGEST BENEFITS OF THIS HANDLEBAR DESIGN:[/B]1.
SPEED: WITH NO OTHER VARIABLES CHANGED, THIS HANDLEBAR PUT A COUPLE OF
MPH AHEAD OF WHAT I HAVE BEEN AVERAGING ON LONG RIDES. PART OF THIS IS
THE HUGE REDUCTION IN THE NEED FOR TAKING BREAKS TO RELIEVE TAINT
SORENESS. WAS NEEDING BREAKS EVERY 5 MILES ON PREVIOUS LONG RIDES, WITH
THE NEW HANDLEBAR NOW IT’S LIKE EVERY 15+ MILES.

2. SADDLE COMFORT: IT FEELS LIKE APPROX 40% OF YOUR WEIGHT IS OFF
THE SADDLE WHEN YOU ARE DOWN ON THE BARS - AND BY GRABBING THE BAR GRIPS
TIGHTLY AND DOING A DOUBLE ARM CURL TO PULL YOURSELF FORWARD AND UP,
LEVERAGING THE AERO BARS, YOU CAN TAKE ALL YOUR WEIGHT OFF THE SADDLE -
AND HOLD IT THIS WAY FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THIS IS GREAT FOR
FACILITATING A MORE EFFICIENT “SPIN” FOR EXTENDED HILL CLIMBING AND
GIVES THE TAINT A SLURP OF FRESH RED BLOOD ON A LONG RIDE- NO MATTER HOW
TIRED YOUR LEGS ARE. THE FORWARD RIDING POSITION LETS YOU BETTER
DISTRIBUTE YOUR WEIGHT OFF OF THE SIT BONES AND FEELS MORE . . . BICYCLE
LIKE. NO NUMBNESS IN EITHER LONG RIDE RECENTLY.

3. THE MAST ACTS AS A “TILLER” THAT STABILIZES AND ELIMINATES THE
INEFFICIENT SIDE TO SIDE ENERGY WASTING WOBBLE THAT UNICYCLES ARE KNOWN
FOR AND ALSO LETS YOU STEER THE UNICYCLE WITH YOUR ARMS TO SOME EXTENT.


4. THE MAST BRACE’S CONSTRUCTION IS SIMILAR TO A GO-CART TIE ROD
END AND FORMS THE THIRD SIDE OF A TRIANGLE TO SUPPORT THE LONG MAST
EXTENDING FROM THE RAIL ADAPTOR. THIS DESIGN WITH THE BRACE CLAMPED TO
THE CROWN OF THE FRAME RESULTS IN A REALLY STIFF MAST THAT FEELS SOLID
OVER BUMPS AND OFF CURBS. THOUGH JUST A BOLTED CONNECTION, THE BRACE
PROVIDES THE RIGIDITY THAT I WANTED WITHOUT HAVING TO RESORT TO A MORE
COMPLEX AND HEAVIER V-FRAME DESIGN LIKE UNISK8ER PIONEERED IN THE
SEATTLE AREA.

5. THE THOMSON SEAT POST, ADJUSTABLE BRACE, LONGISH MAST SECTION
AND VARIOUS LENGTHS/ANGLES OF THREADLESS STEMS LETS YOU DIAL IN THE
IDEAL SEAT TO HANDLEBAR DISTANCE, HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO LAY DOWN, AND
ANGLE OF THE AERO BARS FOR DIFFERENT HEIGHT AND PROPORTIONED RIDERS -
ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF SEAT HEIGHTS.

6. THE WEIRDNESS OF THIS NEW HANDLEBAR SET-UP COMPLETELY SHORT
CIRCUITS THE TIRESOME “WHERE’S YOUR OTHER WHEEL” QUESTIONS WE ALL GET.
IT’S JUST TOO WEIRD LOOKING AND SEEMS TO THROW THEM OFF OF THEIR
RETARDED-HUMOR TREADMILL! THEY HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UNLIKELY
JUXTAPOSITION OF AERO BAR AND ONE WHEEL AND WHAT IT DOES FOR YOU.


[B]THE DRAWBACKS:
1. Though I dialed back my tendancy to over-build, it is still
significantly heavier than a T-7 handle or GB4 handlebar. The entire
uni with stretched 29er tube, ISIS hub, light weight QUAX cranks, 14 ga
spokes, spoke washers and nipple washers, airfoil rim, cycle computer
and Maggie brakes weighs in at around 17 lbs.

2. I ride almost constantly on the bars, but if you need to ride
hands-free for some reason, the mast does tend to look and feel silly
waggling between your legs.

3. You’re very likely to get snarled up in the aero bars if you
dismount forward, so you have to develop a habit of rear dismounts only
- and lord help you if you UPD forward and don't instantly do the splits
with your legs.

4. Not hard to see that the aero bars are gonna take the biggest
hit in a hard UPD. They may get bent or just spin on their short
mounting (handle??) bar, but Its hard to tell how they will hold up
since I haven’t yet crashed it. . . . yet.

5. The forward riding position tends to rob your body of one of
the key benefits of a more upright unicycle riding position; the ability
to quickly correct balance to accommodate for road bumps and dips. It’s
this reason that I didn’t adjust it for a true ultra low triathlon bike
riding position. I also keep the arms not as fully extended forward to
reduce the feeling of being over extended forward (though a sharper
rider than I could adjust it out as far as they felt comfortable).
IMHO< Lifelong uni riders and those with really well developed sense of
balance should have no trouble accommodating this small reduction in
control, similar to the way we get used to the reduction in control with
shorter cranks. (BTW: I run 125 QUAX ISIS)

6. For what its worth, I really do think the KH 36 narrower hub is
problematic if you like to do any off road riding. Losing so much width
off of the hub results in a more flexy wheel thats fine for road riding,
but seems weak for 36"er MUNI if thats your flavor of fun.

The other thing I noticed is that it’s easy to forget you are on one
wheel after just a few minutes tucked up and riding on the handlebars.
It feels like a road bike.

109 mile Tour De Tucson is next. Ye Ha!

See pics,
Brycer1968


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[1-wheeled-grape]

That is well and truly pimped out. It looks extremely comfortable too! I
envy you now!


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you wasted your time didn't you? :rolleyes:
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[hansc]

Wicked! Do you have any pictures that shows you riding in the tucked
position?


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[brycer1968]

hansc;1126281 wrote:
> Wicked! Do you have any pictures that shows you riding in the tucked
> position?



No easy to post riding pics yet, but I'm working on that
B


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[Emile.m]

You should post a pic of the entire uni ;)


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Ntappin wrote:
>
> I'm a butcher, and it took me like 10 minutes to get one nub off my
> luna.



2nd *)---TreFlip-'O,

M'y galler' (http://tinyurl.com/23w828)y
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[munirocks]

That looks pretty good. I have had the opportunity to try a similar
setup with aerobars (eenwieler sander's 36er), and it was quite
comfortable. But there is some sillyness in the optics too... I think
maybe one could shorten the handle a bit to make it a little less
strange looking:). Oh, by the way, does that mean your previous handle
is no longer being used? If that's the case I might want to to buy that
one from you. I mean the home made aluminum one with bar ends.


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[brycer1968]

Emile.m;1126287 wrote:
> You should post a pic of the entire uni ;)



This may be all I have right now:
B


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[iAmVincent]

Oh my!


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[brycer1968]

munirocks;1126293 wrote:
> That looks pretty good. I have had the opportunity to try a similar
> setup with aerobars (eenwieler sander's 36er), and it was quite
> comfortable. But there is some sillyness in the optics too... I think
> maybe one could shorten the handle a bit to make it a little less
> strange looking:). Oh, by the way, does that mean your previous handle
> is no longer being used? If that's the case I might want to to buy that
> one from you. I mean the home made aluminum one with bar ends.



The one I'm selling now is this steel one based on a GB4 handle and
rail adaptor. Still a sweet commuter set-up, but a level below the KH
set-up in long range comfort. This is the post in the trading post for
this and some other 36er stuff:
http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73740
I gave the aluminum bar end one to another rider here in Portland.

Bryce


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[saskatchewanian]

Wow, I would love to give that thing a try, It makes my handlebars look
short :)

One question, Why did you go with rails? When I had a T7 the rails were
the first thing the bend, then the plate broke. Sure the brace takes
almost all the up/down stress off the rails but I still think a standard
seatpost design is stronger and ultimately more adjustable (when you
adjust the seat, the handle doesn't move and vice versa.


I would be tempted to try a bike seat with that setup


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[Jerrick]

That is pretty sweet!

EDIT: im surprised I havent seen a bike seat used on a coker yet. The
position with how we sit has been pretty much the same since always.


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[SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC][SIGPIC]
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[brycer1968]

saskatchewanian;1126329 wrote:
> Wow, I would love to give that thing a try, It makes my handlebars look
> short :)
>
> One question, Why did you go with rails? When I had a T7 the rails were
> the first thing the bend, then the plate broke. Sure the brace takes
> almost all the up/down stress off the rails but I still think a standard
> seatpost design is stronger and ultimately more adjustable (when you
> adjust the seat, the handle doesn't move and vice versa.
>
>
> I would be tempted to try a bike seat with that setup



Rails = adjustable angle with a bike seat post. I originally built
this without the brace - opting to reinforce a rail adaptor bracket with
six plate steel gussets that rinforce both the plate and the rails,
partially seen in one of the pics (also see below) This attempt at a
steel moment frame wasn't stiff enough and I'd say would have broken the
thomson post at the rail clamp if I kept riding it.

The brace works really well and now if I were to build again, I can
forgo the tedious gussetting of the rail bracket.

I have ridden a t-7 handle and I'd agree that it is kind of a weak
design, tho a Thomson post help shore up the bounce a bit.

Yes, I've thought about the bike seat bit too since the mast
effectively keeps you from sliding forward while riding
B


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[munirocks]

Too bad you gave the aluminum one away. I guess I'll stay true to my
crooked t7 then:)


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[timekeeper]

Does everyone have a crooked T7? It seems that way...


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[iAmVincent]

My T7 is quite noticeably crooked.


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[lunicycle]

That is some piece of kit!

I was going to ask what your plans were for bars on the KH36 when I saw
that you were selling the other one. I'm interested in a handle for my
KH36 but something suitable for both on road and off road, along the
lines of a GB handle.

Some pics and video showing your new kit in action would be good to
see.


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[chuckaeronut]

That's beautiful! As I've been riding on the road I've been thinking
that I want something way out there to lean on... that seems to be just
the ticket. I'm thinking that I'd somehow leave the existing T7 bars
there, though, and simply extend the bottom horizontal bar like you did
(without removing the original T7 handles). That way I could still ride
upright in high gear on hills and things that make me have to push and
pull on teh handle.

That setup sure would beat leaning over the T7 handle with your hands
on the bars and your elbows squished up against your sides!

and @brycer, yeah, I welded my T7 too, and it made it WAY more stiff to
put a gusset on the front bar where it attaches to the front plate, as
well as another gusset at the 45° bend in the front bar. But
it got messed up somehow, so now my leg and bike shorts ges sliced by
the bottom right corner of that front plate where the front bar attaches
to the rails. It sticks out too far now. :(


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Uni to work to eat to live to uni to work to...!
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[goldenchickenIV]

brycer1968;1126262 wrote:
> but if you need to ride hands-free for some reason, the mast does tend
> to look and feel silly waggling between your legs.


Haha! I can feel that already with my T7. All in all an interesting
build. I'll be curious to know about your long-term experience. And it
would be nice to see a photo of someone riding the bowsprit uni. :)


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[goldenchickenIV]

chuckaeronut;1126777 wrote:
> I welded my T7 too, and it made it WAY more stiff to put a gusset on the
> front bar where it attaches to the front plate, as well as another
> gusset at the 45°*bend in the front bar.


Is there a photo of how you designed this reinforcement?


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[eenwieler-sander]

yes!
this is a step forwards in big handlebars on unicycles
i alsow have a big handlebar setup and i must say i like it way better
than a t7 bar.
yours looks very good.
i have seen those areo bars before at my local bicycle shop where i
work but havent orderd them yet.
but now i see that it looks good i will order them i think, currently
alsow working on a better handelebar setup.

does the tube helps much to stop the flex or is it just there to be
sure its stiff?
only thing you may want next is a geared hub;)


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[brycer1968]

chuckaeronut;1126777 wrote:
> That's beautiful! As I've been riding on the road I've been thinking
> that I want something way out there to lean on... that seems to be just
> the ticket. I'm thinking that I'd somehow leave the existing T7 bars
> there, though, and simply extend the bottom horizontal bar like you did
> (without removing the original T7 handles). That way I could still ride
> upright in high gear on hills and things that make me have to push and
> pull on teh handle.
> (



I made a set of close-in handlebars that slide down and clamp on the
mast close to the seat, but I haven't used them much and didn't like the
extra weight for long rides. As you can see, its total re-purposing job
with used bike parts on this one, so the weight is higher than I liked.
See pics
B


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[brycer1968]

eenwieler-sander;1126803 wrote:
> yes!
> does the tube helps much to stop the flex or is it just there to be
> sure its stiff?
> only thing you may want next is a geared hub;)



The shorter brace it the main reason that there is so little flex in
the mast. I tried riding it without the brace and the flex when going
down curbs and such was more than I liked.

Yes, geared hub, yum!
B


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[brycer1968]

goldenchickenIV;1126779 wrote:
> Haha! And it would be nice to see a photo of someone riding the bowsprit
> uni. :)



Bowsprite uni! Ha!.

and from wikipedia if you aren't a sailor:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowsprit

B


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