With few exceptions, everything bigger than a Coker has a solid rubber
tire, like penny-farthing bicycles. I have a 45" wheel, but if I want to
go anywhere, it's going to be on the Coker. My old big wheel is now only
used for parades and other forms of performing. It's most excellent for
parades.
The only air tire I've seen used on unicycles bigger than a Coker is a
43" (or so) rickshaw tire. I know a few people who have had these made,
though I don't know how or where to get the parts. The rims are very
heavy duty, being made for full-time industrial use. And the tires are
obviously heavier than Coker tires. Tom Miller (the Unicycle Factory)
has made big wheels out of some of these over the years. Takayuki Koike
used one of those wheels for his 100 mile Guinness record.
I have ridden wheels up to 63.5", all with hard rubber tires. The
biggest one in the world is 73".
As wheels get bigger, they also get weaker. This needs to be considered
when designing bigger wheeled unicycles for higher speeds. But a larger
wheel will be a more stable ride than a smaller wheel with a gearing
system. The rotating mass of the wheel will help keep you stable.
So when is somebody going to talk to Coker about making a larger
diameter, skinnier tire for the serious roadies? We already know we can
get rims made to whatever size we need. I think the hardest part is the
tire. Of course we'll need tubes also...
--
johnfoss - Walkin' on the edge
John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com
"It's good to find something that makes boys into men and men into boys,
my opinion is that unicycling fits the bill." -- Lloyd Johnson
"Read the rules!" -- 'IUF Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/iuf/rulebook/) -- 'USA Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/usa/competition/)
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