Better 29" tire for side-slopes/high-speed turning
Bruce Dawson
I've got a Schlumpf 29" unicycle with the Schwalbe Big Apple tire. It's
a sweet ride and I can cruise at a pretty respectable speed -- not 20
mph like I've seen mentioned, but 14-15 mph for reasonable distances.
However, I'm not thrilled with the tire. If the road is tilted then I
have to struggle to ride straight -- typically I stick my hip out in
the direction the road tilts and stick my shoulders out the other way,
but that's not particularly comfortable.
I have similar problems when I try taking a corner at high speed.
My theory is that the problem is an imbalance between how easily the
tire turns and how much I need to lean. Leaning the unicycle causes the
unicycle to turn. Leaning the unicycle is also necessary when turning
in order to counteract the 'centripetal force' (http://xkcd.com/123/).
At around 8-10 mph on my Schlumpf 29" these forces are balanced, but at
higher speeds I need to lean more to counteract the increasing
centripetal force, but I can't lean more because then I will turn more.
This either makes me feel out of control on turns, waving my arms
madly, or it forces me to slow down.
So...
I'm looking for a 29" tire that is less sensitive to side slopes and
has a higher 'natural turning speed'. Or, I'm open to other theories on
what the problem is (gyroscopic effect?) and possible solutions. I'm
happy to be able to ride nice and fast in a straight line, but I may
occasionally need to go around corners.
--
Bruce Dawson
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joemarshall
tholub wrote:
> I'm also using the lighter Schwalbe tube at your previous suggestion.
>
> By the way, I inattentively installed the Big Apple 2.0" backwards and
> I've been riding it that way; I doubt it makes a noticeable difference.
Did you notice a difference in the ride just with the tube change?
I've run a big apple 2.35 backwards for a bit (like months) and I only
noticed when I took it off to travel.
Joe
--
joemarshall
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joemarshall
If you like big apple 2.0 you'll luuurve the schwalbe marathon supreme
2.0
It's a folding tyre so somewhat lighter, but the same size. Does
roughly the same thing. Supposedly easier rolling too.
You can also get a schwalbe lightweight innertube (I think it is 19a)
for whichever tyre you get, which saves you some extra weight too.
Joe
--
joemarshall
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tholub
I switched from the Big Apple 29x2.35 to the 29x2.0" on my geared 29er,
and the difference is night and day on side slopes. The 2.0" can
totally carve turns and isn't affected by road camber, where I'd have
to fight it on the 2.35". The smaller tire is a little less cushy and
isn't quite as fun off-road, but I'm definitely going to be running the
2.0" for RTL and for any other distance road unicycling I do.
--
tholub
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tholub
joemarshall wrote:
> If you like big apple 2.0 you'll luuurve the schwalbe marathon supreme
> 2.0
>
> It's a folding tyre so somewhat lighter, but the same size. Does
> roughly the same thing. Supposedly easier rolling too.
>
> You can also get a schwalbe lightweight innertube (I think it is 19a)
> for whichever tyre you get, which saves you some extra weight too.
>
> Joe
The Marathon Supreme is hard to find in the U.S., but I just got one
from Chain Reaction in the UK; I haven't ridden it yet. (One of those
tires will wind up on my ungeared 29er, which is in a Semcycle XL frame
that has less than 2mm of clearance with the 2.35"). I'm also using
the lighter Schwalbe tube at your previous suggestion.
By the way, I inattentively installed the Big Apple 2.0" backwards and
I've been riding it that way; I doubt it makes a noticeable difference.
--
tholub
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tholub
joemarshall wrote:
> Did you notice a difference in the ride just with the tube change?
>
> I've run a big apple 2.35 backwards for a bit (like months) and I only
> noticed when I took it off to travel.
>
> Joe
I changed the tube at the same time I changed from 2.35" to 2.0", so I
can't isolate what made which difference. But it was definitely a lot
different (better, for geared road riding).
The biggest problem with the 29x2.35" is that you can be blasting down
a hill in geared mode, get to a spot where the road is slanted, and
suddenly have to fight for your life to try to keep the wheel straight.
That doesn't happen on the 2.0".
--
tholub
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