Unicycles

Peter B

Been checking them out on ebay and noted 16", 20" and 24" wheels.
What difference, apart from gearing, does this make?
Which is best for a total beginner?

Any other helpful comments gratefully received (or even unhelpful but
amusing ones).

TIA,
Pete

NC

Peter B wrote:
> Been checking them out on ebay and noted 16", 20" and 24" wheels.
> What difference, apart from gearing, does this make?

Speed (gearing), twitchy-ness (smaller wheels a bit twitchy, but turn
faster).

> Which is best for a total beginner?

probably 20", though doubt it matters much.


> Any other helpful comments gratefully received (or even unhelpful but
> amusing ones).

Don't do it.

Don't attempt a pyramid more than three people high and more than five
unicyclists at the bottom, its just too hard to keep everyone going along at
the same speed.

Do get an old front fork, wheel and handlebars. Makes any distance rides and
practise much easier if you've something else to rest on. Also amuses
onlookers no end when you pick up the front wheel and pass it behind your
back :-)


- Nigel (ex unicyclist, sold the ancient 20inch Pashley to someone over the
summer)


--
NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/
Replies to newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.

Danny Colyer

Peter B wrote:
> Been checking them out on ebay and noted 16", 20" and 24" wheels.
> What difference, apart from gearing, does this make?
> Which is best for a total beginner?

Depends how long your legs are. I wouldn't recommend a 16" for anyone
over 5' tall, except for someone who can already ride and wants
something slow to ride in parades.

Bigger wheels are faster, smaller wheels are more manoeuvrable. Extra
manoeuvrability isn't necessarily a good thing when you're just starting
out, but it's useful once you start to get some control.

There isn't really any consensus on what wheel size is best to learn on.
I'd say vaguely that if you're 5'-5'6" then use a 20", if you're
5'6"-6' then use either a 20" or a 24", and if you're over 6' then use
either a 24" or a 26".

Have a read of the FAQ:
<URL:http://www.unicycling.org/unicycling/faq.html>

And if buying on Ebay, check the make of unicycle as well as the wheel
size. Before bidding, it might be worth Googling the archives of
rec.sport.unicycling for comments on the brand of unicycle that you're
planning to bid on.

Don't forget to check <URL:http://www.unicycle.uk.com/> to make sure you
don't end up bidding more than the unicycle is worth new. And while
you're there, I recommend this book:
<URL:http://www.unicycle.uk.com/shop/shopdisplayproduct.asp?catalogid=126>

I didn't learn from it (I had been riding for quite a few years by the
time Charlie wrote it), but I have a copy and it looks good to me.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

Peter Amey

Danny Colyer wrote:
[snip]
>
> Bigger wheels are faster, smaller wheels are more manoeuvrable. Extra
> manoeuvrability isn't necessarily a good thing when you're just starting
> out, but it's useful once you start to get some control.
>

Just out of curiosity, can you turn a unicycle without first
countersteering? (Ducks :-)

[snip]

Peter

--

www.amey.org.uk

Just zis Guy, you know?

On Sat, 18 Dec 2004 12:35:44 +0000, Peter Amey <pnanews@amey.org.uk>
wrote in message <32imloF3nbu6bU1@individual.net>:

>Just out of curiosity, can you turn a unicycle without first
>countersteering?

Heh! I saw one guy recently ride his yike up to the kerb outside the
station, pogo onto the pavement and then ride off - cool :-)

Guy
--
"then came ye chavves, theyre cartes girded wyth candels
blue, and theyre beastes wyth straynge horn-lyke thyngs
onn theyre arses that theyre fartes be herde from myles
around." Chaucer, the Sheppey Tales

Ian Smith

On Sat, 18 Dec, Peter B <peter28@btinternet.com> wrote:

> Been checking them out on ebay and noted 16", 20" and 24" wheels.
> What difference, apart from gearing, does this make?

Smaller might be better if you're learning or doing tricks indoors,
but might be twitchier.
Larger handles poor surfaces better (so might be better if you're
learning outside).

> Which is best for a total beginner?

If you're going to ride outside, 24". This is large enough that
cruising speed is faster than walking speed, but can be ridden at a
walking speed if you're negotiating pedestrians, and will handle kerbs
and similar street surfaces reasonably easily.

If you're going to stay inside, 20".

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

Danny Colyer

Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
> Heh! I saw one guy recently ride his yike up to the kerb outside the
> station, pogo onto the pavement and then ride off - cool :-)

Sadly a dislike of pain (the sort that *might* result from timing the
jump badly) tends to prevent me from hopping up onto objects :-(

I /can/ do it - it's actually really easy - but I require a certain
amount of Dutch courage [1] in order to do so.

[1] Sorry Roos.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

Tony Raven

Danny Colyer wrote:
> Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
>
>> Heh! I saw one guy recently ride his yike up to the kerb outside the
>> station, pogo onto the pavement and then ride off - cool :-)
>
>
> Sadly a dislike of pain (the sort that *might* result from timing the
> jump badly) tends to prevent me from hopping up onto objects :-(
>
> I /can/ do it - it's actually really easy - but I require a certain
> amount of Dutch courage [1] in order to do so.
>
> [1] Sorry Roos.
>

If you want to see some truly impressive Vancouver North Shore
unicycling go to http://www.xtremeride.net/main2.html and view the Kris
Holm video on the Webisodes tab (Don't be put off by the tacky front
page or the crappy flash interface, its worth it)

Tony

Tumbleweed

"Peter B" <peter28@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:cq0uhk$ab4$1@titan.btinternet.com...
> Been checking them out on ebay and noted 16", 20" and 24" wheels.
> What difference, apart from gearing, does this make?
> Which is best for a total beginner?


Pillows tied around you I would think. Oh, and a h*lm*t with a pillow
strapped to that as well.

--
Tumbleweed

email replies not necessary but to contact use;
tumbleweednews at hotmail dot com

jtaylor

"Tony Raven" <junk@raven-family.com> wrote in message
news:32jfovF3kqqioU1@individual.net...


> If you want to see some truly impressive Vancouver North Shore
> unicycling go to http://www.xtremeride.net/main2.html and view the Kris
> Holm video on the Webisodes tab (Don't be put off by the tacky front
> page or the crappy flash interface, its worth it)
>

If that's in BC, as I suspect it is, haven't looked at the site - riding a
unicycle on the public road is againt the law.

Tony Raven

jtaylor wrote:
>
> If that's in BC, as I suspect it is, haven't looked at the site - riding a
> unicycle on the public road is againt the law.
>
>

It is but then again most of the North Shore trails he's riding are
illegal as well ;-)

Tony