juggling_unicyclist_joe said:*when ever i do these hops i always hold the handle.
could anyone tell me whichc one you think is easier and does it make
any difference?*
The short answer is: holding the seat on the side is easier; it takes
less work. Here comes the scientifc explanation, along with experiments
you can do yourself to prove my point!
The cycle's center of gravity is located between the hub and the seat,
somewhere along the frame. The easiest way to lift most any object is
to grab it at the center of mass and lift up (opposite the pull of
gravity).
Give it a try with a broom... Lift a broom, laying flat on the ground,
by holding it at one end. Then put it down and lift it in the middle.
That should be easier. Note that if you stand the broom straight up, it
is much easier to lift it off the ground, no matter where you grab it.
This is because it isn't torquing your hand as much.
Grabbing your unicycle by the side of the seat is like grabbing the
upright broom. You're holding the mass (broom or uni) directly above
its center of gravity, hence the lack of torque on your hand (or torque
on the object, however you look at it). Grabbing by the handle is more
like grabbing the broom at one end and lifting it off the ground.
Unfortunately, your handle isn't above the center of mass of the
unicycle. Pick up your unicycle by the handle and notice how it will
tilt such that the center of mass will fall directly under your hand.
Try again, pick up your unicycle by the side of the seat and notice that
it won't tilt.
When you take the seat out front, you're going to be extending your arm
quite a bit, such that you'll end up pulling back on the seat. Unless
you're a pro at ultimate wheel you'll be pulling even harder on the seat
to make the riding easier.
_Where_ you pull on the seat makes a difference, because the frame makes
a pull in one direction easy (pulling straight "up," in line with the
frame) and another direction difficult (perpendicular to the frame,
pulling the seat forwards or backwards if you will). Pulling on the
handle, you'll be pulling the seat back in towards yourself... but you
want to ride seat _out_, right? Stop pulling back in, then, and just
pull _up_. That's all the pulling you need to do, the rest is just
extra work!
--
maestro8 - Mad Scientists for World Domination
Those are my principles. If you don't like those, I have others. --
Groucho Marx
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