Re: internal spring in seatpost

Mark Schecter (schecter@TFS.COM)
Tue, 22 Nov 1994 09:54:13 -0800 (PST)

> I think that George Peck, the off road unicyclist from alaska
> had Tom Miller build an air-oil dampened uni, and alas, after lots of
> $$$$$$$ the unicycle hurt George's knees. Plus, since a shock is made
> to keep the rider level, rather than bounce the rider, it wouldn't be
> be good for height. And, on a unicycle, since you don't travel fast
> enough to have to worry about bounces throwing you off, a shock seems
> kind of pointless.
> Karl ( by now you know me )

This points up some unclarity on the purpose of the gizmo we're musing
about here. One purpose seems to be:

Put a spring under the seat to promote pogo-sticking.

while the other seems to be:

Put a spring/shock under the seat to smooth out the ride.

I think the difference is essentially whether or not you use a shock to
damp (stop) oscillations. Which one are we trying to achieve?

Two other thoughts:

1 /Why/ did George's knees hurt?

2 Any vertical movement of the seat changes the distance to
the pedals. Would a moving seat compromise control? Or is it
a question of degree, to be tuned through trial and error?