Ok, put the brick down!
I know there’s a lot of 24 v 26 threads but this one is a bit different…
…I am a proud owner of a KH24 and as my birthday is coming up soon, I thought i’d treat myself to a new uni - a nimbus 26er.
Is this a wise choice? The Total Gain/Gear Ratio (TGR) of both unis (with 150s) is pretty much the same (2.11-2.28) so would it be worth it for the extra roll?
I’m a bit short on time and cash so any help is appreciated.
Cheers.
Into the long term mostly we end up with multiple unis. There are areas and trails which suit 1 style and 1 wheel over another
With a KH 24 I’m guessing your into muni?
A 24 and 26 are not too different
A bit more speed and more tyres on the 26
Over time you will likely end up with at least 1 of each size. So my suggestion, for variety, would be to consider a 29
Again 26 to 29 is not so different. But for more speed
The 24 to 29 change will be significant
Quick answer is don’t bother - get a 29er.
Or if you do get the N26, at least change the tyre out to something lighter and narrower than the Duro (assumption - it comes with a 3" Duro), and get shorter cranks, dual hole 125/150 would be a good bet. The TGR with the shorter crank will still not be massively higher than the 24x3, but it will feel a lot quicker with a lighter tyre.
But get a 29er with 125/150 cranks. Even a 29er with 137/165, would make sense - the 29 with 137 will have a higher TGR than the 26 with 125 cranks, and will roll in a way the 26 just doesn’t, but still do decent XC easily, with 165 sorting the steeper and rougher stuff.
I agree to the above.
I would add that KH would be a better choice than Nimbus IMHO.
I rode a 24x3 for a year, then built up a 26" and sold the 24". They are similar but the 26" suited me and my riding better. Here’s a comparison picture and a few more thoughts on the two unicycles: http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/sho...7&postcount=12
I rode a 24x3 for a year, then built up a 26" and sold the 24". They are similar but the 26" suited me and my riding better. Here’s a comparison picture and a few more thoughts on the two unicycles: [post]2038242[/post]
Most folks end up with a 29" sooner or later, some us go through all “three” stages (24, 26, 29), others cut to the chase, it depends on how good you are at riding and whether you can adapt your riding to larger wheels. I was not adept at riding my first 29", so I sold it and rode a 26" for another year before trying again.
I have all sizes of unis, but I spend most of my time on a 29, the balance of my time on a 36" ( a more recent thing), then there’s the Oregon 26" which gets winter use and the new addition, a Nimbus 24, which I bought for messing around with tricks; if I ever get around to using it.
It makes better sense to have a decent “size split” between your unis, two inches ain’t much 
Somhow old are you going to be?
29er’s are incredibly versatile. You can ride XC and some Muni, then swap out cranks and a tire and cruise the streets.
My Drak is awesome.
1st- Nimbus 24" 2nd- Nimbus 29" Different in all the right ways. I’m thinking my 29er will replace the 24 on most occasions now.
I did not see any need for a “step” up, I wanted a leap and it was well worth it.
I was tempted a bit ago to get a 29er, but in reality it would be too big for my skill level/fitness level (and I’m short for my age (15 soon) and wouldn’t be too great on the trails I ride (most uk trails I ride are full of jumps and bomb holes).
It’s 26er or nothing.
I recently switched from a Nimbus 24 (24x3) to a KH 26 (26x2.6). I completely agree with Davidp on his comparison. The 24x3 soaks up the bumps and drops better, but the 26x2.6 gives you more speed and rolls easier. I went from a Nimbus to a KH, so my 26 actually feels lighter than my old 24. I never had the chance to weigh them side by side to see what the real difference is. Anyway, I’d say that whatever you can ride on a 24, you can learn how to ride on a 26. There will be some adjustment, but it only took me about 2 weeks before I was able to ride the 26 just as fast on my local trail as the 24. I am still considering going to a 26x3 duro tire because I miss the extra cushion over bumps and drops, but it is nice to have the light and nimble feel of the 26x2.6 tire when riding the flat areas of the trail.
If you like technical trails, I would say go with the 26 instead of the 29. If you want to ride more XC or distance Muni, then go with the 29. Others will argue that you can learn to ride technical trails on a 29, too.
I’d still prob say 29, w/ longer cranks at first will help w/ the hills and dual hole will keep versatility. The big wheel will roll easier over bumps, roots and potholes. 26 would be better hopping through them and drops.
If you go 26, +1 on a slightly thinner tire.
You could learn to ride stuff like this well on a 29 (looks steep, so I’d want long cranks and a break).
But if your trails are more like this, I think a 29 would be really tough.
Lewis, that second pic with the rock garden is perfect 29er terrain, no hopping required, just roll on through. That’s what I like about the 29er, the big wheel rides through tough terrain more like a bike, bridging gaps, tracking straight. I routinely do rolling hops over logs 6-12" and don’t even break my stride. On a smaller wheel I’d have to stop and hop that same obstacle or get off and walk.
It takes more time to learn a bigger wheel, but it’s worth it in the end. It would make sense to buy a smaller wheel, 24 or 26, if you were planning to do terrain where hopping and big drops were “required”, but I find that most features on mtb trails are 29er friendly. Of course I’d ride a 36er through that rock garden too, so what do I know
I see what you are are getting at with the 29er, but it’s too big for me. Firstly, it won’t fit in the back of my mums car and secondly, i’m not really fit enogh or good enough to ride one - I want something I can ride now (I can alwaays buy a 29er later and sell one of my other unis).
My real worry is that if I buy a 26er I wont get the instant torque you can get on a 24. My other worry is that it will be too similar to my 24 and will be a redundant purchase (no matter how much I can save on 26er tyres).
They are too close, so it depends more on what you feel is lacking. If you want to ride faster and have a wheel that tracks better, then a bigger wheel is better. On the other hand, if you want a trail worthy muni that is “best” for hopping and jumping, then a smaller wheel is best. In reality, the wheel sizes are so similar that they both can do the job just fine.
In the pictures skilewis posted, riding a 26 or 26 through that terrain would be very similar, having a smaller wheel would make hopping easier, having a larger wheel would give you better obstacle bridging and pedal clearance. Personally; since it’s probably quite obvious that I prefer biger wheels, I would skip hopping altogether as it is slow and tiresome, instead I would choose a 29er and just ride through the rock garden like a bicycle.
I have a 24" again, doesn’t get much use, mostly I have it for playing around on stairs, tables, practicing tricks, so local stuff that doesn’t require traveling far. A 24" is quite slow, a 26" only a little better, a 29" is about the best you can do unless you go geared or ride a 36".
Maybe your mom needs a bigger car?
If you can ride a 24 Muni, I’d think you’re fit enough to pull the same on a 29er. The only reason I’d think otherwise would be your body size/mass - if your legs aren’t long enough, or you don’t have the body mass to force it to turn the way your 24 will for you. I don’t know if either of those is an issue for you, because I didn’t ride when I was 15 
As for size - my 29er fits in the hatchback of my car, even though I was concerned it wouldn’t. I wonder how you’ve got the 24" stowed, and why the 29er wouldn’t fit.
But it sounds like you’ve already talked yourself in to the 26er. Having been 15 once, I say go for it and have fun!
Did you have 150 cranks on your 24? If you want the same torque on a 26, then get 160 or 165 cranks. This will make it feel very similar to a 24. I would agree that having both a 24 and a 26 is somewhat redundant. That’s why I sold my 24 as soon as I bought the 26. However, if you had 150s on the 24 and want a different feel with the 26, then use 150s on the 26 as well. This will give you a little more speed, although initially you will lose some torque/control. It doesn’t take long to get used to the new ratio, though.
How did you guess?
So a 26er is worth it if a 29er wont do? I just don’t want to lay down 255 quid for something that I “already have” - if you get what I mean. If a 26er rolls noticably better, 255 quid (and the joy of having two unis) better, then i’ll get one - if not then it’s back to the drawing board.
I think you’ll be surprised by what you can manage on a 29
I did the same started with 20 then 24
Next uni was the schlumpf and got 26. But now, kindof wish I made it a 29
A bit too close to the 24 in feel
Having borrowed a 29, they’re a hoot
The truth is don’t sweat it. Get a 26 this year and 29 next or other way around
YCNHTMU
Everything he said.
Everyone’s encouraging you to go for the 29er, but you really want a 26. You can play with crank sizes on the 26 to make it “more different” than the 24. Come back to the 29er later, no big deal.
As you said yourself - you can always sell one of your unis and buy a different one. Maybe you’ll find that the 26 makes your 24 obsolete, or maybe you’ll find that you like them both. Either way you’ll wind up buying a 29er eventually. And a 36, and …