Going to buy a unicycle

Marzipan

How tall should my unicycle be? I am in the market for one. I stand approxamitly 5'11" tall. I am not sure how tall it should be.

EoinC

Marzipan - I'm in a similar situation (looking to buy a unicycle in the next month or so) and am a similar height. The general consensus seems to be that 20" - 24" wheels are the best for adult-sized people to learn on. 20" may be a little easier; 24" may be a little more practical if you are intending riding it over a greater distance. There are many different unicycles available to suit general and specific types of riding. Here's a few sites that may help:
www.unicycle.au.com
www.unicycling.net/buyersguide
http://www.unicycles.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=170
Here's a few sites show you what you may (or may not) be able to do:
www.unicyclist.org/cont/muni
www.adventureunicyclist.com
www.koxx-one.com
My intention is to buy a 20", learn to ride it, pass it on to my daughter and then (assuming that I like it) buy something bigger for riding greater distances.

Marzipan

Ya, I was think ing of getting a 20" at first but now after reading www.unicycling.net/buyersguide I am thinking of getting a 24". I am not totally sure yet. I live in the country and will be doing both long distances and tricks and stuff and at www.unicycling.net/buyersguide it said "If your in-seam length is over 27" you should go for a 24" unicycle. A 24" is very flexible; you can do tricks, longer distances, Unicycle Basketball & Hockey, as well as some MUni (Mountain Unicycling). If you are only buying one unicycle and you want to use it for multiple purposes you should definitely buy a 24" unicycle if you are big enough. A 24" unicycle should have 5" or 6" crank arms." So I am thinking of getting a 24". But at a store near where I live there is a 20" for $180. I am leaning more towards the 24". What do you think?

EoinC

Aaah, decisions, decisions. If I were to get just one unicycle, at this stage it would be a 24" for all the reasons you have stated. I, however, have a cunning, cunning plan...a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel!
Being pinned down by family and the associated over-zealous Chief Financial Officer, I have to work out a means of obtaining approval for the release of funds for these projects, which, to an un-interested CFO, do not seem to carry a lot of merit. Here is the plan...
My work is overseas and, for the next few years, I shall be commuting between Australia and West Africa. In West Africa, I want to have a bike, to maintain a degree of sanity. As it stands, a MUni looks ideal, but a bit of a leap to start out on, so....I purchase a fairly cheap all-rounder 20", which won't attract too much financial attention. I have 1 month to get myself mobile on it, then take it to Africa for 1 month. I then return to Australia with it and put in some quality family time helping my 8 year old daughter learn how to ride it. Knowing her, it won't take long. Then, being the nice Dad that I am, I give the bike to her...This makes me look good, and I no longer have a unicycle. This clears the way for me to purchase a 2nd one, which will be more suited to whichever direction I want to go. Aaah, what a plan.
The only foreseeable downside is that I may have to purchase a pink unicycle with Barbie stickers on it in order to make it attractive to my daughter. My greatest fear is that I get said pink uni and she ends up with a new one...

Marzipan

Haha, well that is a problem. Also our family isn't the most financially fit, so I think I will have to decide on getting a 24" one because it will best fit me now and in the future (in other words, I don't think I will be able to purchase two). It is quite perfect because it can be used for long distance, maneuvreability, tricks and a little Muni. The 24" one is relativly perfect! Of course it all depends on what stores near to me have in stock. I guess I will have to find out.

FishBowl

My current Unicycle is a no name sort of thing. It is very sturdy but also very heavy, it is also a 16''. I have found that a 16'' is very very responsive. In the next two week I am looking at buying a http://www.unicycle.au.com/View.php...ail&Code=UNIO20 which will be totally Wikid!! I am only 17, 18 when I get my new one but I have gone totally Unicycle crazy. I have just began to jump and hop over stuff as well so I find my $180 16'' very hard to use. I do wish that I had gotten a 20'' though. I am 5'8'' tall and I only 60 kg's. As far as my 180 unicycle has gone, it has done me very well. At the time I thought it to be a good joke to get one but now I want to get a Wikid Onza and get a bit pro in the Trials. Now all of my friends want Unicycles and 2 are buying some. I think that this could take off if it gets out there a bit more. I think what you get really depends on what you can afford and how much you will use it. If you get a cheaper one and have to put up with it for years, then you might for-ever regreat not getting the slightly more expensive one that would have suited you more. Thats just what I think but it maybe that lots of other things are more important, so you need to get the cheaper one.

Marzipan

That's great that you're going pro, I am now learning to hop and jump. My unicycle is fairly heavy, but I will have to put up with it for a lot longer. It was a little cheaper, but i am only 15 and don't really have the money for a more expensive one. When I am older I plan on buying a better one, more fit for better jumping, so I too can get better and more pro at trials. But right nw, I'll have to tough it out.
Happy unicycling.

Marzipan

That's great that you're going pro, I am now learning to hop and jump. My unicycle is fairly heavy, but I will have to put up with it for a lot longer. It was a little cheaper, but i am only 15 and don't really have the money for a more expensive one. When I am older I plan on buying a better one, more fit for better jumping, so I too can get better and more pro at trials. But right nw, I'll have to tough it out.
Happy unicycling.

pdc

A 24" is great for learning and Muni. If you're going to do Muni you'll want one with a 3 x 24" tire. If you're going to do distance you'll want a 29er or or 36". If you can afford it get a splined hub/crankset.
This http://http://www.unicycle.com/Welcome.asp is a great source for unicycles and parts.

John R

I am completely impressed with Torkers. You can pick up an LX 24 with shipping for not much more than $100.00 on eBay. They don't have the splined hubs like the DX but the lower priced LX's are very well done.