hey guys

[anarchy4tw]

whats up
new here.

Im about to buy my first uni, I've been watching vids and stuff, and it looks awesome.

First off, what size should I buy?
Im a decent sized kid 5'11" 180lbs, with an inseam of 32"
what size should I buy?
I have a local bike shop that sells beginner ones.

anywho, thanks if you reply, ill be around here.
nice to meet everyone (in advance)

-Josh

[Harley]

You will probably want to start with a 24" Uni. (based on your height) once you get the hang of it then you will probably want to decide what your main interest will be. Freestyle, street, trials, muni etc.

Be prepared to buy more that one uni. Their addictive.

[James_Potter]

Torker Unistar LX 24"
http://www.unicycle.com/Shopping/shopexd.asp?id=675

[saskatchewanian]

I would agree with Harley. I started with a cheep trials (20) but I think I would have been beter off with a 24" Muni. The 24 is small enough that it is still easy to learn on and much more versitile than a 20. If you go much bigger they get harder to ride.

unicycles are just like lays chips, "betch can't have just one"

[James_Potter]

Originally Posted by saskatchewanian

I would agree with Harley. I started with a cheep trials (20) but I think I would have been beter off with a 24" Muni. The 24 is small enough that it is still easy to learn on and much more versitile than a 20. If you go much bigger they get harder to ride.

unicycles are just like lays chips, "betch can't have just one"

Either a MUni or Trials uni is a terrible for a first unicycle. The extra wide tire, the nubs, the q-factor, the weight, all make it harder to learn on than a simple Torker or some other beginner-uni.

[Harley]

Originally Posted by James_Potter

Either a MUni or Trials uni is a terrible for a first unicycle. The extra wide tire, the nubs, the q-factor, the weight, all make it harder to learn on than a simple Torker or some other beginner-uni.

Agree. Start with a basic learner uni.

[jamessd]

Originally Posted by James_Potter

The extra wide tire

I found it gives you much more balance (in terms of side to side mostly)

[James_Potter]

Originally Posted by jamessd

I found it gives you much more balance (in terms of side to side mostly)

Maybe if you're doing stillstands, or riding a skinny...but just riding regularly on flat ground it would hardly make a difference if at all.

[Jerrick]

I too would go for the 24". It is a good start for a uni, big enough to get some decent speed, yet small enough to still be used for street, trials, flatland, and freestyle.

Be cautious of the square-tapered cranks, because they will not be the strongest, so once you start doing drops higher than a picnic table, dont be surprised to get some bending in the cranks.

Putt9ing that besides, the Torker 24" LX is a great uni, and very sturdy. It will easily hold up to you learning and progressing in an of the styles you end up loving the most.

Your LBS may stock Torker, or browse online. I know Ebay has cheap Torkers.

Welcome to the forums!

EDIT: About what James says is pretty true. Muni and trials unicycles run somewhat low air pressures, and that allows the tire to be a little squishy, and sluggish on pavement. Not something a beginner would want to learn on. A regular unicycle has a somewhat skinnier tire, that holds higher air pressure and allows for a smoother ride, which also makes turns easier, and give you more agility (odd word choice kinda lol)

After learning, and finding out what style you are leaning to, then you can buy a uni specified for that style.

[saskatchewanian]

Originally Posted by James_Potter

Either a MUni or Trials uni is a terrible for a first unicycle. The extra wide tire, the nubs, the q-factor, the weight, all make it harder to learn on than a simple Torker or some other beginner-uni.

You are probably right if all you want to do is ride around the block. But I would have had to buy a second unicycle much sooner if I would have gotten one with a skinny tire.

I suggest a Muni because it is capable of a wide variety of different riding styles.

If you can’t see hopping on/off stuff, rough riding, snow, mud or sand in your uniing future take James’ advice and stay away from the wide tires.

[James_Potter]

Originally Posted by saskatchewanian

You are probably right if all you want to do is ride around the block. But I would have had to buy a second unicycle much sooner if I would have gotten one with a skinny tire.

The reason you would have had to buy a second one sooner, is because you would have learned faster on the first one (:
Anyway, how do we know what kind of riding the OP is planning on getting into? Once he learns to ride and starts to delve into different types of riding, he'll know whether he wants a unicycle for trials, MUni, freestyle, distance/touring, etc. What if he buys a MUni and then wants to focus on freestyle instead?

[saskatchewanian]

Originally Posted by James_Potter

What if he buys a MUni and then wants to focus on freestyle instead?

you can put a smooth tire on it...

But yah a Muni is overkill for freestyle. Thats why I said "If you can’t see hopping on/off stuff, rough riding, snow, mud or sand in your uniing future take James’ advice and stay away from the wide tires."

Getting a better uni at the start can save you money in the long run.

[James_Potter]

Originally Posted by saskatchewanian

you can put a smooth tire on it...
But yah a Muni is overkill for freestyle. Thats why I said "If you can’t see hopping on/off stuff, rough riding, snow, mud or sand in your uniing future take James’ advice and stay away from the wide tires."
Getting a better uni at the start can save you money in the long run.

A smooth tire isn't the only thing that makes a freestyle unicycle...the hub, the cranks, the rim, the frame, it's all totally different.
So yeah, I guess like you said if you know what kind of riding you will want to get into, then you can get that one as your first.
Of course, if you REALLY get into unicycling, then you will probably end up buying a unicycle for every genre.

[saskatchewanian]

agreed

[unistudmuffin]

oka so i am 14 looking to buy a trials b/c i already ride a 20 sun and a 5 giraff and i really want to get into the trials it is so awesome. so i am looking at a price range of 0~270 $$$$ and i want some strong stuff so i dont break it right away i am looking at stuff on unicycle.com and thats all i will buy from ?