New Unicycle? Help needed



Somerset is close to Exeter (well I'm over half way there when I reach
Somerset) so you should try and get down to the Unimeet on 12th February
2005. Details at:

http://www.unicycle.uk.com/calendar.asp

Personally I use a 20" with 110mm cranks in the gym & for hockey and a
29" or 36" wheel when I want to get anywhere.

I have seen some people post to this forum from Somerset in the past.

Keith


--
keg
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Hmm, that is around the time of our half-term break, but the thing is I
would have to go alone or drag some friends who don't unicycle. What is
it like? I can see myself wandering around not knowing anyone...
Also, i would still have my current, slighty rusty unicycle and look
silly with it.


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I believe the date has been chosen to fit in with the start of half
term.

At the last Exeter meet (called SWUM - South West UniMeet) there must
have been atleast 40 riders of which quite a few had never attended one
before, as it was only the 2nd event held in Exeter. There were also a
couple of *ancient* unicycles plus a few shiny new examples present,
don't be embarassed.

They are very sociable with games, workshops etc. throughout the day.
Generally you soon start talking to people who appear to be of a similar
standard, regardless of age.

Keith


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Poppie wrote:
> *Hmm, that is around the time of our half-term break, but the thing is
> I would have to go alone or drag some friends who don't unicycle. What
> is it like? I can see myself wandering around not knowing anyone...
> Also, i would still have my current, slighty rusty unicycle and look
> silly with it. *


You don't seem to know much about unicyclists. Unicyclists are all
friendly, helpful, and fun. All of these folks who recommend that you go
to a meet or try out other peoples unicycles are making EXCELLENT
suggestions. They will all help you in making a decision as to what to
buy. No one will think your old, rusty unicycle is silly.


--
harper - Riding a Fat

-Greg Harper

B L U E S H I F T

"You go through life and you choose." - Greg Harper

"Sometimes you choose wrong." - Greg Harper

"People who quote themselves are lame." - David Lowell

"I think I just broke my leg." - Greg Harper, 10/9/2004

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we should see how many times this question comes up ina month it would
probably be a big number it would als oshow us how many popel are
unicycling


--
brockfisher05 - trials unicyclist

check out my gallery at :
http://gallery.vanuni.com/thumbnails.php?album=6

check out my website at www.vanuni.com

Add me to your msn at [email protected]
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On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 11:13:50 -0600, "Poppie" wrote:

>Looking at the pics of the nimbus', they have much bigger wheels than
>the one I have, I have heard this makes it easier to balance?

On the contrary, smaller wheels are slightly easier to balance. Or at
least, people learning to ride on 20" wheels learn somewhat quicker
than people learning on 24" wheels. However, that is hardly a concern,
especially since you can ride already. 20" is the best size for
tricks. 24" is better for using your unicycle for transportation while
still amenable to doing tricks.

>They still
>look quite 'short' but I don’t know.

If you mean short as in that the seat is low, that's an issue quite
separate from wheel size. The seat post should just be long enough so
that the seat can be adjusted properly. If the main issue with your
current unicyclie is that the seat post is too short, buy a longer
seat post (www.unicycle.uk.com), they're not that expensive. You need
the correct type for your seat bolt pattern, Roger from said website
will kindly assist you.

Good seat height is determined with respect to the axle. Crank length
plays a role as well, i.e. with longer cranks your seat should be
lower to be able to reach the pedal comfortably in its lowest
position. Summary: leg essentially stretched but knee not locked when
sitting on the seat while heel is placed at pedal in bottom position.

Klaas Bil - Newsgroup Addict
--
"Deflating pi does not reduce calories, it just concentrates them. - billham"
 
Poppie, i had the same reservations about attending a unicycling club
meeting for the first time this summer too. I went anyway, though, and
it turned out to be a great decisions. EVERYONE at the meet was
welcoming and happy to help me and answer all of my questions. Despite
having a far inferior unicycle, most of them wanted to mess around on
it, just because it was a little different and had a different feel.
And they also let me try out their unicycles. Because of their help, my
skill has improved greatly, and i am quickly catching up to their skill
level.

I promise you, if you don't attend that uni meet that everyone is
welcoming you to, that you will be the only person that loses.
Actually, you seem to be a pretty enthusiastic newbie, and that's good
for everybody, so maybe it will be their loss as well. If their meet is
anything like any of the ones over here, you'll be welcomed and
associated as soon as you walk in the door - lucky you. So don't be
intimidated, just go. You'll thank us for it later. Good luck.


--
hecklar - Slightly-skilled Unicyclist
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Don't worry about going to the SW Uni meet alone - I did the same in
October and they're a pretty friendly bunch. I had a great time and
will be going again in February. It was a real novelty to be able to
ride around on a unicycle without getting the stupid "where's your other
wheel" comments, and the games were an excellent laugh.

I've had a unicycle for a year now (Christmas present from my wife last
year). I started with a UDC "adult learner" 20" cycle which I put a
longer seat post on. I still use that for practicing freestyle (still
hopeless at idling and backwards riding), but I wanted to be able to
ride longer distances on the trails round here (I'm in Princetown on
Dartmoor), so I bought a 26" Nimbus a few months ago. The 26" is really
good for what I do (rough but nothing extreme, 10 miles or so to
work).

Rob


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rob.northcott - Unofficial level 2, on a good day
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Haha! What, are you worried about frightening people? Aren't we all
punks in a way? We are unicyclists after all.

I met a girl in the summer who was 'pierced', but she isthe only
unicycler that i know who is 'pierced', not that i know a whole lot of
unicyclists.

What's the difference? Why do you care? Are you mutated something
fierce? I couldn't imagine anyone really caring otherwise.


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hecklar - Slightly-skilled Unicyclist
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keg wrote:
> *I have seen some people post to this forum from Somerset in the
> past.*

<magically appears>

I ride a smattering of unicycles in and around Yeovil. If you want to
try a unicycle or two you are very welcome; just shout!

Phil


--
phil - ex-studenty type

"Cattle Prods solve most of life's little problems."
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I resumed riding a unicycle this summer after an extended absence. So
here are some thoughts from a semi-newbie:

I think the first choice you need to make is wheel size. Going any
distance on a 20" can get tiresome, but it is the easiest for learning
skills. As everyone says, a 24" with a light tread is the best
all-around machine. The Nimbus 24" you found looks good, but I'd agree
that the crank size may be too long. If you buy it, see if you can get
it with shorter cranks.

By the way, if you start thinking about a 20", I'd check out the
'Nimbus X 20-inch Freestyle'
(http://unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=743) . I got this uni in
the summer. I like it more and more as I ride it. It is well-built and
sturdy. I've been impressed with the wheel, hub, and crank construction.
It's great for learning. BTW, it has the same hookworm tire as the 24"
you've been looking at.

Two months ago, I got at KH24, a model that seems to be a standard in
Muni. The riding experiences between the two machines are entirely
different. (I had to change the 170 mm crank to the 140mm to feel
comfortable.) The 24" moves more quickly than the 20." But with its big
tire, it rides more easily on a trail than on a paved road!

As the other posts have pointed out, wheel tread, and crank length do
matter!

By all means, if you have the chance to meet other riders, do so. I've
found that people are happy to let you try out their uni's.

Sounds like you're doing great.


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marcvg - Back in the saddle
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marcvg wrote:
> * The Nimbus 24" you found looks good, but I'd agree that the crank
> size may be too long. If you buy it, see if you can get it with
> shorter cranks.
>
> *


That's because nimbus was originally going to be all MUni, but for some
reason they are marketed as cruisers. I don't know about my facts,
that's just what my freind told me. He rides a savage, so he must not
have that much credibility.


--
TheoELind - 5 year schwinn rider

Any unicyclists in Colorado that want to ride with me? I love doing
street, trials, freestyle, MUni, whatever. I also have 2 friends who I
ride with. Even if you aren't in Colorado, come out over the summer
while the skii resorts need buisness. Those mountains are getting sick
of double tracks.
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Poppie wrote:
> *^^; Haha, I don’t know what I was asking. I do have 22 piercings and
> my ears stretched to 1". I'm sure everyone's cool though :) *


oh boy will you fit in with some of the kidderminster lot! Lucy (16ish)
and Genna (18ish) have a similar number of peircings and certainly Lu's
hair changes colour every time I see her.... Lu rides a 20" freestyle
unicycle and genna does not ride a unicycle; she claims.... she only
rides ultimate wheels and 2 wheelers!

If you would like to get in touch with them, mail me off the forum and I
will pass on your email address to them.

Unicycle.com (UK) intend to bring a little store down to the SWUM as we
did last time, so may see you there.

Roger


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rogeratunicycledotcom - ok ish Unicyclist
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