I’ve been looking around for a while for a uni I can distance ride on the road. Now I’m torn between getting a 32" or a 36". Have any of you ridden both? Which do you think is better?
Considering that 36ers are more expensive, you are around the same height as me, and I barely fit on a 29" I would go for the 32, though they are hard to find. I still recommend 29", it is a common wheel size, it is fast, and you could easily put a MUni tire if desired. If you really want a bigger wheel, probably get the 32, you likely won’t fit on the 36, and really, you might not fit on the 32. I’ve not ridden either, so listen to later replies if this isn’t very helpful. But from what I’ve read from other posts, with the 36 you don’t have very much control and it goes very fast, while I think people say 32 is a good balance between torque and speed.
Yes, I considered a 29" for a while, but I want my third unicycle to possibly be the last unicycle I buy (ha ha).
I’ll be riding on very hilly terrain, so torque is definitely a good idea.
What unis do you already have?
you should get both. The 36er is difficult to mount and reacts slower. The 32 handles very much like a 29" with shorter cranks. Lately I’ve been taking the 32 for my rides. Easy to mount and I can make good speed.
As for price a 36 Nightfox is only 50 EUR more expensive than a 32".
How do you know @Raven is so small. She is taller than you.
She already told my she’s 5’1.
And I am around 5’.
so yous are both hobbits..
This as what you think @Raven and I are like!??
hahaha funny. yeah ok the 32" might be a tad big for yous. unless you buy a ladder.
I agree 32" is also a good choice, especially when you have to mount slightly uphills.
In case you really want to learn something different:
… and a 6 year old can cycle a 36er!
Explained by a fairly young rider:
3 ways to mount a 36er
So it all depends on the decision of the rider. And over the time unicyclists seem to collect all sizes.
If you look at my post transforming my 32 titan to 32 night fox you will see my latest unicycle. I have a 32 wheel in a 36 night fox frame. I owned the titan for many years but I really wanted to upgrade it with a disc brake and isis hub. I have been riding the nightfox for several weeks and am really enjoying the 32 wheel and night rider tire. I’m definitely going faster than my 29 and it feels nice and smooth. I also feel 2 handed riding with my t bar is easier on the 32. I rode it with 150 cranks for a few weeks then switched to 138’s but I feel I’m about ready to try the 125’s.
To make a long story short the night fox frame gives you the option to ride a 32 and a 36 if you are willing to put the money into 2 wheels. My intention is to build A 36 wheel this winter. The night fox frame I bought was the old version which seems fine to me. There are probably some out there for sale.
With a nightfox frame you could start with a 32" wheel and eventually swap it for a 36" wheel if you want to later. Or start with a 29" wheel for that sake.
I have heard that 29" and 32" feels quite similar, and that a 36" is a bigger step up from the 32". A 29er sure is more versatile than a 32".
My impression is that 32" is not that widely used. People I know chose the 32" because the 36" was to intimidating, they felt they sat to high. So it is kind of an under par long distance machine that is ideal for some individuals.
Go for 36" if you want to do distance and speed. Go for a 29er if you enjoy short trips here and there, want to have a unicycle for “anything”. With multi hole cranks you could do distance riding on a 29er on 100 mm or even 125 mm, or maybe 114mm/137mm or 110mm/130mm (my favourite dual setup) instead.
If you insist on having one setup for both long distances, short trips, steep and gravel then perhaps 32"/125 might do the job. Personally, I would go with 29"/125mm if I had to chose one setup for everything I usually ride. Using my 36er for everyhing would on the other hand be very limiting.