I am going to get a new uni cant decide between a 29 or 36. I will be street riding only, any sugestions??
I would go 36er even if your not that good of a rider. With practive you’ll warm up to her just fine.
There is a reason there are a million threads on this issue, and it is because it is a timeless one.
If you have the money and inclination, go for a 36er. There is nothing like it. The feeling of riding a huge wheel can only be given by a huge wheel.
There is a reason there are a million threads on this issue, and it is because it is a timeless one.
If you have the money and inclination, go for a 36er. There is nothing like it. The feeling of riding a huge wheel can only be given by a huge wheel.
Please put unicycle related threads in RSU. After you do that, go out and buy a Coker.
So it’s the size of the wand, not the magic behind it?
Thank you guys for all the info, I really appreciate it.
You really should do a search for other threads that have addressed this question (if you haven’t already). There is a wealth of great information and opinion out there.
Shorter people can have trouble mounting Cokers. It’s quite a step up when you are trying to get onto the beast. Other than that, just about everyone who owns a Coker will tell you to get a Coker. That’s usually good advice, because they are a blast to ride. There’s nothing else like them.
A UPD* off the front of the Coker will pitch you down into the ground more than a smaller unicycle (and you will probably be going faster, too). This puts more impact on your legs when you land. If your legs are turning to rubber because of fatigue, you may sag upon impact and not be able to run out the landing. Or if you are riding faster than than you can run, you may hit the ground and crash (that’s what I usually do). Brian MacKenzie (of MacKenzie burger fame**) once offered the analysis that your legs are moving (pedaling) at walking speed but when you hit the ground you have to suddenly move at running speed. MOST people are fine with that, but I have some road rash scars that prove there is a klutzy minority.
I’m not trying to dissuade you from getting a Coker. Actually, I love them. My amazing Dave Stockton custom built purple Coker is the only thing I really ever ride.
All I’m saying is that there is much to consider. If you end up having trouble mounting and, say, you plan to ride through city streets where you frequently have to stop for traffic lights, what will you do? Idling a Coker is considerably harder than idling a smaller unicycle plus you will be moving back and forth about four feet if you can do it at all (far enough to steamroll a pedestrian behind you if you are on the sidewalk). If there isn’t a pole or something to grab onto, you will have to dismount and then remount when the light turns green (fail, fail, wait for the pedestrian, getting nervous, light’s about to change back to red, try to mount again, damn this wind!).
Moral of this long post? Don’t just listen to the people who say get a Coker. While this is usually superb advice, a lot depends on you – your height, your riding abilities, the type of riding you plan to do, where you plan to ride, your athletic abilities, etc. Search for the other posts and read the great advice there. And THEN get a Coker.
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- in case you don’t know… UPD = UnPlanned Dismount, i.e., losing your balance, coming off the unicycle, and (usually) landing on your feet if you are just doing basic riding
** - don’t ask; inside joke
36" for speed, visual appeal, stability (heavy wheel makes it a smoother ride).
29" for light weight, steep hills, storage, transport, small cars.
29" Schlumpf gives you all the 29er positives, plus better-than-36" speed!
Get a 36
A 29 might be better for rougher dirt roads, or very tight crowded sidewalks, but that is about it. The extra height of the 36 allows me to see over 6 foot fences, improving the touring view. Of course it is much faster.
Uni 57 makes a good point that riding area is a factor. I live in a flat paradise with miles of low traffic streets where I can ride miles without a street light making me dismount. A 29 might be better in crowded areas.
I bought a 36 almost 2 years ago. I still have never tried to free mount it, it may be difficult I suppose. Where I live, there is always a wall or post nearby to use to climb up. If you lived in rural Iowa or someplace kinda barren of hand holds, you would have to learn to free mount sooner.
I advise getting the TA tire (smooth, silent, lasts forever) , a KH free ride seat and starting with 137-150 cranks. A small fanny pack will carry a light rain suit and small cable lock very comfortably. A small headlight for the front of the seat tube (very skinny so as not to touch your leg, and a red blinky for the back of the seatpost is needed to ride home at night.
I don’t carry water, I know where all the fountains are, or will just buy something on the way.
Here is the kind of skinny headlight you want.
http://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30&action=details&sku=LT4142
I really appreciate the feedback, Thank you very much…:)
I’m not sure if this applies to you since you didn’t really give much info, but as a college student in a very large public university, I definitely recommend a 29er if you’re in my situation. I already have to maneuver like crazy with just my 20" on super-busy paths to class, and a 36er would make this nigh impossible.
It’s a fixed community. You will “run into” the same people every day. They will learn to get out of your way.
Well some parts are pretty narrow because of construction, to the point where cyclists have to dismount and walk their bike for a little ways. With a 20" I can avoid that pretty easily, but with a 36er I don’t think I could.