ISO: Advice on buying a new Unicycle

[Chickenlips]

Hello. I have checked out the info on the www.unicycling.org (http://www.unicycling.org/) web page. It's
terrific and very helpful. Here's my situation: I have decided to purchase a
34-36" wheeled unicycle for speed and distance riding on both paved and
unpaved dirt roads. I'm not too familiar on the technical specifications, and
was looking for some advice on what to get in regards to number of spokes and
pedals and the type of frame and whatever else I need to get. I do realize I
sound completely clueless; that's probably because i am. My first unicycle
purchase was from a retail store, and was a basic 24". As you can imagine, I
can't travel very fast on it even when pedaling furiously. I do believe I will
order one from Tom at the Unicycle Factory. My friend has gotten many
unicycles of various heights and wheel sizes from him and recommends him to
me. Do you guys recommend any one in particular? I imagine a 34"-36" wheeled
unicycle will be expensive....any idea on how much it would set me back? I'm
really looking forward to it :) All advice would be tremendously appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

[Sarah Miller]

Chickenlips (chickenlips@rocketmail.com) wrote:
: I have decided to purchase a 34-36" wheeled unicycle for speed and distance
: riding on both paved and unpaved dirt roads. I'm not too familiar on the
: technical
side

I recon that 34 inch is a little too big if you want to ride off road. 26 inch
or 28 if you are tall is more manageable. over that hight is ok for road riding,
very fast, rather tricky to mount, and hard to rein back on down hills. I ride a
26 inch off road and this weekend was as fast as the mountain bikers down hill
on muddy stoney tracks with out the fear some of them seemed to be suffering. If
your in the UK consider the Pashley MUni or DMATU, in the states? I guess Tom
Millers your man.

Sarah

[Mike Payne]

I purchased a 28" from Tom in 1985. The uni has served me very well and I would
highly recomend a purchase from The Uni Factory. I'm not sure that he still
makes this particular style any more but it's neat. It resembles a Schwinn in
that it is sandwitched around the seat post. I stuck with the 28" because- at
the time- it was the biggest air inflated tire to be had. I like the smooth ride
and was concerned that wheel chair rubber would be a harsher ride. Am curious
about the Coker Big One but havn't heard anything about it yet Mike