Definitions of unlimited unicycle, gearing and freewheel #2
This discussion has an associated proposal. View Proposal Details here.Comments about this discussion:
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Sorry for the double proposal here, but unfortunately there is no way to re-open a discussion that has already been closed. Klaas pointed out that we needed a place to discuss this proposal further.
Also, I would like to point out that my recreation of this proposal does not mean that I necessarily support it. I'm just doing my job as subcommittee director.
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Thanks Scott for providing a place to discuss.
About the number of wheels, the proposal states "Multiple wheels are permitted, but only one may touch the ground and nothing else".
I think the intention is that a stack of multiple wheels is allowed, such as a two-wheeler (not realistic in a race) or a three-wheeler (hardly realistic in a race).
But by this rule, a regular bicycle would also be allowed if the rider does a wheelie during the whole race. I think this is undesirable, if only because it would be hard to enforce. I mean if the rider is out of sight, he might cheat and ride his bicycle the common way: on two wheels.
Therefore I think bicycles must be ruled out. In fact, any device that is capable of moving/rolling on more than one wheel should be ruled out. A stacked multi-wheeler (two, three or more identical wheels in contact with each other) cannot roll on more than one wheel (because adjacent wheels turn in opposite directions). So a stacked multi-wheeler is still allowed, as per the original intent.
I haven't thought hard about an alternative phrase, but what about:
(1) Multiple wheels are permitted, but the unicycle may not be capable of rolling if more than one wheel touches the ground. Or:
(2) Multiple wheels are permitted, but it must not be possible to ride the unicycle if more than one wheel touches the ground.
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The definition we work on apply to any discipline, not only to road racing, thus I am not sure if it is OK to discuss the matters here.
In respect to road racing I would simply ban multiwheelers, and if someone wants to parade on multiwheel during race he could do it out of classification if it is considered to be safe by race director.
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I agree with Maksym. Also, the original definition dates one wheel may touch the ground and nothing else, which conflicts with stacks since that same wheel must touch the wheel above it.
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If it is needed to have a similar new definition apply to other disciplines as well, separate proposals must be made. This committee is dedicated to road racing only. That's the way it works with the split-up rulebook: every discipline makes its own rules.
I don't see why it is necessary to ban multiwheelers from getting a ranking. Most unicyclists are somewhat nerdy people, I can imagine someone getting joy out of not ending last place with a stacked-wheel unicycle.
My interpretation of the original rule has always been that only one wheel may touch the ground, and nothing else may touch the ground. If the current proposal gets accepted, it's a moot point since the phrase "and nothing else" seems to get dropped anyway. Otherwise, to clear up the confusion I'd like to propose Multiple wheels are permitted, but only one wheel and nothing else may touch the ground.
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I like that wording.
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It is OK for me.
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I don't like the wording in my previous comment myself, because it would allow a bicycle to enter a unicycle race as long as the rider makes a very long wheelie (the whole race), which I think is undesirable.
Of the two alternatives I gave, I like (2) better, but I would change "if" to "when".
So all in all, I propose to change in Maksym's proposal
Multiple wheels are permitted, but only one may touch the ground and nothing else.
into
Multiple wheels are permitted, but it must not be possible to ride the unicycle when more than one wheel touches the ground.
If we agree on this, the proposal should be edited. I don't think Maksym can do this since Scott is technically the owner, but he could ask Scott to do so.
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I also like your second one Klass. Multiple wheels are permitted, but it must not be possible to ride the unicycle when more than one wheel touches the ground.
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Just to have an idea about Bikes on one wheel, the actual hour World Record is 25.72km on one wheel in one hour. In distance a guy did 4,569 km in 2 month on one wheel.
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I think wa agree on Klass proposal: Multiple wheels are permitted, but it must not be possible to ride the unicycle when more than one wheel touches the ground.
Scott, I think you you can update proposal and hand on for voting.