Pictures of your latest ride

[JJuggle]

Cute street name.

[aarons]

These are pictures from my first muni ride since moving to New Mexico. I love the dry landscape out here.

The altitude slowed me down a lot. It was more like me and my unicycle went for a nice walk.

[Byc]

Originally Posted by scott ttocs

Why are you still alive?

That looks crazy.

Scott

To quote a famous comedian "He went over the edge, and landed on a ledge. Who would have thunk it! Theres a ledge beyond the edge."

Greetings

Byc

[Nurse Ben]

Kinda challenging with 110mm cranks and loose sand!

Seriously, I keep telling folks that a 36er is just a big 29er, it is not impossible to ride off road, in fact it is quite fun and adds a whole other layer to your riding.

I prefer longer cranks than Terry because I do a lot of steep, sustained climbing, but for downhills, hopping, a short crank is fine, but get a brake!

[MadFurai]

I don't think anyone is saying that a 36 can't be ridden off road. I think most people would just agree that its not the best choice for the terrain in Terry's picture. It's like somebody doing trials on a 26 inch wheel. Sure, it can be done, but not as well as it can be done on a 19-inch.

If I'm not mistaken, Kris's go-to Uni for anything off-road is a geared 26. He rides some of the gnarliest terrain in the world, and he has access to pretty much anything he wants Uni-related. I can't and won't speak for him, but his choice says something...

Get the right tool for the job.

[MuniAddict]

Haha, I was doing a 50 mile *beach* ride, and just thought it would be fun to try that terrain while I was taking a break. Obviously I would not normally ride that type of terrain with 110mm cranks and full psi! I also had temporarily removed my t-handle setup for this shot.

I just thought it would make a cool shot, and it did! As for the "right tool for the job", I usually ride my G26er for MUni from xc to moderate terrain, my 24 for mostly hard technical and then I have my Oregon and 29er when the mood strikes.

But I also like pushing the envelope and doing things on certain sized unis that most people DON'T do, like 36er trials for example. The more people say that something can't or shouldn't be done, the more it makes me want to do it!

[Twente Muni]

Originally Posted by MuniAddict

Haha, I was doing a 50 mile *beach* ride, and just thought it would be fun to try that terrain while I was taking a break. Obviously I would not normally ride that type of terrain with 110mm cranks and full psi! I also had temporarily removed my t-handle setup for this shot.

I just thought it would make a cool shot, and it did! As for the "right tool for the job", I usually ride my G26er for MUni from xc to moderate terrain, my 24 for mostly hard technical and then I have my Oregon and 29er when the mood strikes.

But I also like pushing the envelope and doing things on certain sized unis that most people DON'T do, like 36er trials for example. The more people say that something can't or shouldn't be done, the more it makes me want to do it!

And thats why we started unicycling in the first place.
The best tool for the job is a downhill mountainbike, but whats the challenge in that?

[Nurse Ben]

But I also like pushing the envelope and doing things on certain sized unis that most people DON'T do, like 36er trials for example. The more people say that something can't or shouldn't be done, the more it makes me want to do it!

Exactly, making things a challenge is part of the game, since isn't that why we ride unicycles instead of bikes?

I find that I can ride my 36er now on trails where I rode a 29er last year, and where I rode a 26er the year before, it's like a progression, I keep pushing the wheel size up as my skills improve.

I have no doubt that Kris on a 36er could outride most of us no matter what we rode, even on a DH course, so his choice of a daily driver is more a case of what works for most things, not what works for any one thing.

In my case I ride a 29er for all around, and since I don't like gunis, in order to go fast I am "cultivating" my 36er skills. You ought to see how fast I buzzed down the DH section on Lower Sidehill Trail at Bent Creek last week, the wind was whistling in my ears and the biker in front of me was wowed!

Nothing like that expression of disbelief as you fly by a biker

The only limits you know are the limits you set.

[MadFurai]

Okay hippies.. I'm not the establishment, so I'm not trying to limit you or set rules on what can and can't be done. You can make arguments all day one way or the other. Do what you want, but to me it's more important to perform at your best while still challenging yourself. IMO, you are limiting yourself if you don't get the right equipment. If you really want a challenge, then why are you guys using dirt tires at all? Just buy a slick road tire and take it on technical single track if you want a challenge. Ride an ultimate wheel on a steep and sandy DH track if you want more challenge. Experimenting with new things and pushing the limits is great. I challenge myself every week, but don't feel the need to ride a 36 inch wheel off-road to do it. I'd like to see more 40+ riders experiment with street, flatland, and trials riding. I do some of that every week. To each his own...

[Nurse Ben]

Okay hippies..

Yup, that's me.

[naturequack]

Originally Posted by Twente Muni

And thats why we started unicycling in the first place.
The best tool for the job is a downhill mountainbike, but whats the challenge in that?

Actually, I ride down trails on my 26 that I would never ride down on a mountain bike. I'm sure I'd break my collar bone if I tried it on two wheels. My brain can only track one wheel at a time. Two is just too complicated.

Originally Posted by MadFurai

Okay hippies.. .....If you really want a challenge, then why are you guys using dirt tires at all? Just buy a slick road tire and take it on technical single track if you want a challenge. ...... I challenge myself every week, but don't feel the need to ride a 36 inch wheel off-road to do it. I'd like to see more 40+ riders experiment with street, flatland, and trials riding. I do some of that every week. To each his own...

Well since you asked, here's a pic of me riding down a pretty tricky single track on my 36 guni with a Wheel TA. This was for a race (against a bunch of mountain bikers) a couple of years ago. Happy? Sorry, but the picture doesn't show my long hair.

Geoff

[Nurse Ben]

Geoff, you really need to get one of the off road 36 tires when they go on sale, it is amazing, so light, fast, no crowning, I literally dropped down a crank size because it was so much easier to propel.

Downhill on a 36er is fun and so fast!

Nice pic of that 36guni, and in a banked turn to boot!

I probably won't see you this summer/fall, but 2013 we'll be out there on a scouting expedition

The only reason we won't move to Ashland is if we can't find work...

[aspenmike]

Originally Posted by rawcyclist

Today I did my first "real" climb on my uni and boy do I have a newfound respect for guys like AspenMike after doing it. It is embarrassingly short compared to some of the stuff you all climb in the Rockies etc but is is pretty steep. Just under 300m vertical over 3km. The average grade is 8.1% but there are steeper pitches at over 10% and one hairpin that is closer to 20% on the inside where you have to ride for a short way.

That looked like a great climb, way to go. 8.1% average is a good grade to push up. You had beautiful views from the overlook, awesome. The real kicker comes when your riding sustained climbs with that grade at 10,000' - 3000 meters, or higher. Keep climbing.

[aspenmike]

Ride Report
Nestled deep in the Carson National Forest between Angel Fire and Taos, NM is the South Boundary Trail. I was in the area last weekend and rode it on Sunday. Wow, what a fantastic trail that everyone needs to experience. My route covered 28 miles of dirt, 45km’s. My garmin tallied 3,988’ of climbing with 5,211’ of descending, 1,215-1,588 meters. The highest point on the trail is 10,730’, 3270 meters. There are two amazing singletrack sections that are “best of the best”, and are heaven on earth- flowing, buff, some scary exposure, and perfect grade for the 29er unicycle. The trail has some hike a uni sections, but over 95% ridden for me. It traverses thru some amazing old growth forest and thick aspen groves with a fresh green carpet right to the edge of the narrow track. The diversity of the eco systems is always changing, and you only get a big view once in awhile, due the thick canopy. The navigation can be tricky, use a GPS, and or stop in at a LBS to get a map. The last 3 miles is way too technical for me, so I chose the alternate route, Ojitos Rd. This longer but rideable double track must have over (30) 3’-5’ berms on it, cool on a uni but would be insanely fun on a bike. Make sure you have a full 3L camelback and calories with you; there is nothing out there but solitude, I ran into 3 people in 6 hours. 10 out of 10 on the must ride list, do it.

[4umfreak]

Originally Posted by aspenmike

Ride Report
Nestled deep in the Carson National Forest between Angel Fire and Taos, NM is the South Boundary Trail. I was in the area last weekend and rode it on Sunday. Wow, what a fantastic trail that everyone needs to experience. My route covered 28 miles of dirt, 45km’s. My garmin tallied 3,988’ of climbing with 5,211’ of descending, 1,215-1,588 meters. The highest point on the trail is 10,730’, 3270 meters. There are two amazing singletrack sections that are “best of the best”, and are heaven on earth- flowing, buff, some scary exposure, and perfect grade for the 29er unicycle. The trail has some hike a uni sections, but over 95% ridden for me. It traverses thru some amazing old growth forest and thick aspen groves with a fresh green carpet right to the edge of the narrow track. The diversity of the eco systems is always changing, and you only get a big view once in awhile, due the thick canopy. The navigation can be tricky, use a GPS, and or stop in at a LBS to get a map. The last 3 miles is way too technical for me, so I chose the alternate route, Ojitos Rd. This longer but rideable double track must have over (30) 3’-5’ berms on it, cool on a uni but would be insanely fun on a bike. Make sure you have a full 3L camelback and calories with you; there is nothing out there but solitude, I ran into 3 people in 6 hours. 10 out of 10 on the must ride list, do it.

Sounds awesome Mike, thanks for sharing the editorial.