6 month rider wanting to go bigger

[MadFurai]

I've 40 and I've been riding a 20 inch beginner UNI for 6 months. It's an Avenir and it actually seems like a decent ride for the money I paid (gotta love Amazon). Anyway, I have a 5 year old son who has learned to ride some type of 2-wheeled contraption called a bike and he is leaving me in the dust! While it is fun to ride around in the driveway, the 20 inch UNI is just too slow to get around the neighborhood and ride with him. I'd like to go bigger, but I am wondering what the learning curve is like.

I was considering stepping up to a 26 incher. Does anyone remember the first time they tried to ride a "bigger" UNI? Will it come natural or will it be like learning how to ride all over again? I can basically ride the 20 inch in a straight line until my legs give out. I can also free-mount and do simple turns.

Should I just go for the gusto and jump to a 36-inch Coker? Or do you recommend a 24 or 26 inch UNI in between? My inseam is 29-30 inches. Thanks!

[pinefresh]

When you say inseam are you talking pant size or the actual crotch-to-floor-with-shoes-on inseam? If you really have a 29" inseam I think that might be on the lower edge of what you can get away with for a coker (hopefully someone more knowledgeable can give you better info). I think most people find the difference in difficulty between a 26" and a 29" is negligible so they go for the 29er. I didn't find the bigger wheel to be much of a challenge, but I had more experience than you when I tried.

Where are you located? If you can find someone in your area that has a bigger wheel I've found that most unicyclists are very friendly about letting you try equipment.

[MadFurai]

The pants I wear are 30-inch inseams. I've never actually measured... I am 5 foot 7 inches tall with average leg length.

I live in Central Virginia and so far I don't know any other Unicyclists. I'm 40 yrs. old and "taught" myself in a week. I also don't know of any local shops that sell UNI's.

[MP Uni]

Just go for the 36. I've never ridden anything else, but it shouldn't that much harder.

[mbalmer]

For me I would pick a 29 for off/on road riding. I really prefer the 36 for road riding and very easy dirt. The 29 is good for steep, rocky dirt. I don't ride anything too technical or I would stick with a 24/26. It depends on your goal. Going from a small to big wheel was weird, but I could ride it without problems right from the get go. Free mounting was hard for me on the 36. Still is sometimes, though I usually nail it.

If you are like most of the people on the forum, you will likely end up with several sizes .

[Dane M]

Originally Posted by MP Uni

Just go for the 36. I've never ridden anything else, but it shouldn't that much harder.

Yes but no. The transition from 20" to 36" is HUGE.

Learning to ride a bigger wheel isn't like starting over again, it's more like learning a new trick. It will take you a while to get used to how to mount it and how to pedal while riding. But you will figure it out.

If you want to go fast, for sure upgrade to a 36. But this will really mean that you can only use it on road riding (sure there are gnarly riders that do muni on them, but it's difficult, especially for newer riders)

a 29 can reach a decent speed, and can be used for long distance muni or commuting. I like the 29 for riding around streets and pedestrians

I can't say about the 26, because I don't have one, but I don't think you will keep up with a bike, unless it's off-road.

I have a 24, but I don't think that's enough of an upgrade in speed for you.

[mbalmer]

Originally Posted by Dane M

I can't say about the 26, because I don't have one, but I don't think you will keep up with a bike, unless it's off-road.

Ha ha ha! I can't keep up with most bikes on my 36. Though, I'm happy to say I was able to pass my nephews on their bikes. (They are 3 and 5).

[Dane M]

Originally Posted by mbalmer

Ha ha ha! I can't keep up with most bikes on my 36. Though, I'm happy to say I was able to pass my nephews on their bikes. (They are 3 and 5).

Yes a good point haha. I was thinking about a kid on a bike though. I should have specified.

I love it when I pass mountain bikers on trails though, especially if it's on an uphill or a downhill (they don't like it when you pass them uphill)

[AustinLee]

I learned to ride, and still muni, on a 24, and transitioned to a borrowed 29 (thanks John Foss!) within a matter of minutes before the criterium in Auburn in May.

While the transition from a 20 to a 36 will be harder, I'd say if that's your only reason to not get one, go for it.

I rode my 36 around the block the very first time I got on it. It is not too hard to ride at first, and your biggest challenge will be just learning to mount the thing.

If what you want is to keep up with your kids on bikes, and you will not be doing any tricks or technical off-roading, then go for the 36.

[scott ttocs]

From my experience, the transition to a 26" or 29" would be easy. I would recommend either, and a 29" in particular will let you keep up with a kid on a bike.

A 36" for me is a much more challenging ride. It is a lot of fun, but it took a lot more work to learn to mount one and it took time to get comfortable riding it.

I am 5' 7" with a 33-34" inseam for riding (and about a 29" inseam for slacks.) We are just about the same size. If you are trying to size a new unicycle look for a 34" inseam height.

Scott

[skilewis74]

Originally Posted by Dane M

Yes but no. The transition from 20" to 36" is HUGE.

Learning to ride a bigger wheel isn't like starting over again, it's more like learning a new trick. It will take you a while to get used to how to mount it and how to pedal while riding. But you will figure it out.

If you want to go fast, for sure upgrade to a 36. But this will really mean that you can only use it on road riding (sure there are gnarly riders that do muni on them, but it's difficult, especially for newer riders).

+1

To ease the transition you could put on some long, cheap cranks, like 170's, but that'll lower your speed until you put short ones back on. Eventually you'll prob have wheel sizes in between like the rest of us, but this would be the fastest and cheapest way to ease the transition to 36 IMO.

[MadFurai]

Thanks for all the great replies! I do intend to have several different sizes eventually, including a giraffe. Right now, it sounds like a 29 is where I want to go from here. Amazon doesn't carry this size, so i'll have to look elsewhere.

[jbtilley]

I guess I'll do the plug, unicycle.com has 29" unicycles in stock.

[Dane M]

Originally Posted by jbtilley

I guess I'll do the plug, unicycle.com has 29" unicycles in stock.

These are probably the lowest price 29" you will find (of good quality) And there are 29 trainers I think too
http://www.unicycle.com/unicycles/by...wheel_size=346

[MadFurai]

Since I only weigh 162 pounds and I am getting this size strictly for cruising around a paved neighborhood, do you think a cheaper make like SUN would be acceptable? I have been riding several times a week on an AVENIR 20-inch for 6 months and haven't had a single issue with it.

I actually found a brand new 28-inch SUN classic for $108 shipped to my door. I do aspire to own a Nimbus someday and even plan on getting a 24-26 size MUNI or Trials ride in the future. However, being a family man, the difference between a $108 UNI and a $310 UNI is quite a few days in the dog house. I see that unicycle.com actually sells SUN rides, so how bad can they be?