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XWonka
July 26th 03, 06:35 AM
I know that a lot of you folks out there own several unicycles. You have
one or two for freestyle, one for trials, one for commuting, five for
MUni, one that just sits in the corner looking pretty because you don't
want to take it out because... well.. it looks too pretty. But that's
another rant.

Anyway, I really need to get a new unicycle. it's on my to-get list.
Money is starting to become no object. I'll save and save till I die to
get the best all purpose unicycle.

So tell me, is there a unicycle that exists that is perfect for
freestyle, trials, MUni, and all the above? If not what is the closest
thing to it. It has to be durable and last me for SEVERAL YEARSA because
frankly, I can't pony up the money whenever I get a whim to buy another
unicycle like those of you with careers a wife and a mortgage
(well….).

Anyway, no matter how much I think I know you people on these forums
know volumes more than I could ever, possibly, and I was hoping you
could guide me to help me make the right choice.

Minor notes:
Trials is my calling I feel, but I do like freestyle. I have no
Mountains in IL so I don’t think MUni is my thing. I Uni to work (quite
a distance) but speed is no concern, I enjoy a nice slow pace anyway.
And I know this may sound a little shallow, but it has to look good.
That’s all. Thanks for your help.


--
XWonka - "Hey Unicycle Guy"

"You can stop, anytime, Man- when you feel that special need to suck the
joy out of other people, just go for a ride on the wheel instead.... you
might even feel better... "
-Christopher to ' Rowan' (http://tinyurl.com/gvxc)

One wheel to rule them all

"Sarah is in trouble, and needs help from a boy with a snake on his
face." -Jimmy from Ed, Edd, and Eddy
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jagur
July 26th 03, 07:42 AM
your screwed,read my sig line....... :cool:

the only thing i can say to you is stay away from the extremes,like a 20
inch and a Coker. multi-purpose is tough on a uni,but a 24 is the most
likely canidate.

ive settled on a 20" freestyle, a 20" Trials and a 29er.

one thing to remember is the funnest part of a MUni ride is the trials
part (20" is better) and the distance part of a muni ride is better
served on a larger wheel (26" or 29")

but the 24" is the "jake of all trades but the master of none"

enjoy brooding over this,im just getting done with it......


--
jagur - Random Unicyclist

---------------------------------------------------
-searching for the real one wheel deal,the one that wont but will...
all i ask is one rotation,on this vision of singular creation...-[image:
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tomblackwood
July 26th 03, 07:46 AM
XWonka wrote:
> *So tell me, is there a unicycle that exists that is perfect for
> freestyle, trials, MUni, and all the above? It has to be durable and
> last me for SEVERAL YEARSA because frankly, I can't pony up the money
> whenever I get a whim to buy another unicycle like those of you with
> careers a wife and a mortgage (well….).
> And I know this may sound a little shallow, but it has to look good.*

The problem you have to solve here is not how to find the perfect single
uni, but rather how to eliminate those other barriers you mention to
being able to purchase multiple unis. If those with a wife and mortgage
can solve the problem, so can you.

"Specialization is for insects." - Robert A. Heinlein

"Specialization is for insects....and unicycles." - Tom Blackwood


--
tomblackwood - Under-prepared Dork (UPD)

My other brake is my face!

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paco
July 26th 03, 08:11 AM
For trials, you're going to want a 20" with a fat tire;
For freestyle, you're going to want a 20" with a narrower tire;
For commuting, you're going to want at least a 26" (29 or Coker would be
better).
So what you need is a unicycle with changeable wheels and probably a
changeable frame as well to fit the different sizes. You'll also want a
wider hub for trials and Muni, and a narrower one for commuting and
freestyle. Oh, and for commuting you're going to want shorter crank
arms, and longer for trials and MUni.
So my suggestion is to get a shapeshifting uni. Or many unicycles.
I've got a 24" that I used for all the above. That would probably be
your best bet. As for what kind, you're on your own. Get something
with a flat crown, but that's about all I can tell you. Good luck, and
when you discover the "holy grail" of unicycles, tell me too!


--
paco - Creator of the "BUni"

"We are all interested in the future, for that is where we will spend
the rest of our lives."
-Plan 9 From Outer Space
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jagur
July 26th 03, 10:49 AM
only listen to yourself! dont get thoughn into someone elses fantacy


--
jagur - Random Unicyclist

---------------------------------------------------
-searching for the real one wheel deal,the one that wont but will...
all i ask is one rotation,on this vision of singular creation...-[image:
http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/albums/albup23/bluestripe.gif]
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Mikefule
July 26th 03, 10:55 AM
Here's a suggestion which doesn't quite fit your criteria, but which
might be near enough:

Decide which discipline suits you most - sounds like trials.

Now buy the best trials uni you can afford, because if trials is your
main thing, you won't want to compromise.

NOW you need an all purpose uni for a bit of freestyle, MUni, commuting
etc. But none of these is your main thing, so you can happily accept a
bit of compromise. right?

So get a reasonable quality 24 - something like a Nimbus 2 (Yuni 2).

Now fit a medium section tyre. Mine has a 1.95 slightly knobbly tyre.
It works for MUni but isn't too cumbersome for road use.

Now buy two sets of cranks: a long pair for MUni, and a short pair for
scooting about at high speed. Failing that, 110 or 125 mm would make a
good all purpose size. Choose 125s if you think you'll do more MUni;
choose 110s if you think you'll mainly be scooting around. Put some
reasonable pedals on - grippy, but less aggressive than pure MUni
pedals.

You will find that you get a sense of achievement from successfully
riding off road on a UNi which isn't really specialised for that
application, and an equal sense of achievement from riding fast or far
on a general purpose uni.

I've had a lot of fun on my basic 24, and have used the same frame,
wheel and tyre for all purposes, changing the cranks between all sizes
from 89mm to 150mm.


--
Mikefule - Roland Hope School of Unicycling

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we
fall."
Confucius
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onewheeldave
July 26th 03, 12:52 PM
If you get a 24" then consider getting it with a 28" frame as it will
enable you to switch in a bigger wheel if you change your mind later.

Mikes suggestion of a nimbus/yuni 24" is a good one, they're reasonably
cheap but good quality.

I use my 24" Muni for getting around on as well as learning a few
tricks. The 3" tyre is considered by many to be not ideal for riding on
streets and roads but it does have the advantage of a being good for
rolling up and down curbs.

Consider the terrain of your home town, mine is very hilly so a Muni has
a good ratio for the hills.

If you do get a nimbus 24 with a 28" frame you'll also have the option
of using a normal 24" tyre or some of the 24x3 tyres (Muni); I think to
fit in a 3" Gazz you'll have to get the flat topped frame option?


--
onewheeldave - Semi Skilled Unicyclist

"He's also been known to indulge in a spot of flame juggling - but it's
the Muni that really fires him up."

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Krashin'Kenny
July 26th 03, 01:28 PM
As onewheeldave mentioned, I'd go with a Yuni Muni 24x3
Here in the U.S., however, you can purchase a 26" Yuni frame instead of
the 28" to gain the required clearance for a Gazz
I have the 24x3 Gazz on a 26" Yuni Muni and also ride a 28'r


--
Krashin'Kenny - Crash Tested

If you ain't crashing, you ain't going fast enough!!!!!!
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Tmornstar
July 26th 03, 02:53 PM
I have, for me, my “perfect, one unicycle.” I have several rides but
the most versatile ride that I’ve created is this:

26” Sem XL
Odyssey Cranks - 155mm, I think
Suzue hub
Mavic 540 downhill rim built with 4 cross DT spokes
Bulletproof pedals
KH saddle
26” Fireball tire

This unicycle has taken 3 foot drops, countless stairs (up and down),
local, neighborhood tours and countless trips to the market and other
errands. I use it to keep-up with my wife as she runs and even spin-up
to ride with the Cokers in our group. If I had to have only one – this
would be it for me.

Tommy


--
Tmornstar - Student of Christopher

Tommy Thompson
Memphis Unicycle Club
Please vist our web site:
http://www.memphisunicycleclub.com
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James_Potter
July 26th 03, 03:25 PM
You should get something that you think will work, but definitely save
up for more. I think that 24" is a good idea, but trials wheels are
always (as far as I know) 20". You can do trials on a 24", so get
something that is 24.


--
James_Potter - Order of Merlin, first class

-"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."

--Albus Dumbledore-
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Borges
July 26th 03, 06:14 PM
The problems as I see them:

Big wheels are fast, but heavy and weak.

Tyre clearance is good for muni, but sucks for some freestyle skills

IMHO a good compromise would be a 24" yuni.
A fat offroad tyre would make it a good muni. Kris Holm did some pretty
decent trials on a 24" with a fireball tyre ;). And 24" wheels are fine
for freestyle too.
The biggest compromise would be the speed when commuting.

I don't know what would be a good all round tyre.


Morten


--
Borges - High impact cerabellum workout
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XWonka
July 26th 03, 09:42 PM
paco wrote:
> *For trials, you're going to want a 20" with a fat tire;
> For freestyle, you're going to want a 20" with a narrower tire;
> For commuting, you're going to want at least a 26" (29 or Coker would
> be better).*


I think i have decided on a 20". Maybe, i dunno, i'm not sure. I have
currently a 24" and it has done me pretty well so far so i'm wondering
if i should just stick the the 24" or use the uni i have now exclusively
for commuting and just get a 20".

That 'fireball tire'
(http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=677) looks pretty good
as an all around tire if i got the 24".

Do you think that if i bought another uni of unicycle.com and bought
that tire would they put that tire on the uni since i don't know crap
about construction? then the next question is.... what uni?


--
XWonka - "Hey Unicycle Guy"

"You can stop, anytime, Man- when you feel that special need to suck the
joy out of other people, just go for a ride on the wheel instead.... you
might even feel better... "
-Christopher to ' Rowan' (http://tinyurl.com/gvxc)

One wheel to rule them all

"Sarah is in trouble, and needs help from a boy with a snake on his
face." -Jimmy from Ed, Edd, and Eddy
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Krashin'Kenny
July 27th 03, 12:02 AM
If you do go with the 24" Yuni, I'm pretty sure that unicycle.com would
swap out the tire before they deliver the uni. I bought my 28'r from
them and they swapped out the cranks for shorter ones for me. If you do
decide to go for a 24x3 Yuni, I would strongly suggest to upgrade to a
26" frame for $10 more. That way if you decide to get into muni later, a
Gazz will fit with sufficient clearance.
If you decide to go with a 20", see if unicycle.com still has the
Summit for $249. That looks like one sweeeeeeet deal on a 20" trials or
freestyle uni!


--
Krashin'Kenny - Crash Tested

If you ain't crashing, you ain't going fast enough!!!!!!
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James_Potter
July 27th 03, 05:58 AM
20" will work for Trials and MUni, but they are almost -useless- for
commuting. I would suggest a 24 or 26 inch one with a wide tire.


--
James_Potter - Order of Merlin, first class

-"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."

--Albus Dumbledore-
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XWonka
July 27th 03, 08:08 AM
XWonka wrote:
> *I Uni to work (quite a distance) but speed is no concern, I enjoy a
> nice slow pace anyway. *


thought that bore some repeating


--
XWonka - "Hey Unicycle Guy"

"You can stop, anytime, Man- when you feel that special need to suck the
joy out of other people, just go for a ride on the wheel instead.... you
might even feel better... "
-Christopher to ' Rowan' (http://tinyurl.com/gvxc)

One wheel to rule them all

"Sarah is in trouble, and needs help from a boy with a snake on his
face." -Jimmy from Ed, Edd, and Eddy
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James_Potter
July 27th 03, 05:06 PM
Oh, okay. A 20" will work for you, then.


--
James_Potter - Order of Merlin, first class

-"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."

--Albus Dumbledore-
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unisteve
July 28th 03, 03:42 AM
But no one has mentioned the most useless bicycle you will ever set eyes
on: The Huffy Monkey Bike (or similar ). It can't go fast, it's no
good for technical or trials terrain (solid nylon tire), and it might
get you looked at more than on a uni. It also hurts one's knees and
back on a ride lasting more than about five minutes. It is, however,
quite good at the downhill stuff, provided it is on pavement and you
don't turn too much. BTW, it has six-inch wheels.
'Here is a pic of the amazing useless monkey bike. (scroll down to
bottom of page)' (http://www.geocities.com/unicyclemaniacs/other.html)


I mean, in keeping with Mr. Harper's rapid change of subject.


--
unisteve - Creator of SAUTUMOV

"I live on the edge. Sometimes I fall off."

"The saying, 'It's not if you win or lose, but how you play the game'
was perpetuated by losers."
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