FYI, JC Penny has a 16" uni for $40 (plus shipping):
It has a plastic wheel and main cap bearing holders. I don’t see any
quality difference between it and the Jugglebugs that cost $69 on
unicycle.com (and $100 in the local toy store).
These occasionally appear on EBay and what is funny is that they get bid
up to way over $40.
Mark Newbold
Montpelier, Vermont USA
yeah
Its pretty much the same as the jugglebug, except this comes with, from what i hear, and invaluable learning tool. This unicycle comes with poles, and this alleviates the need to have two friends to walk with you so you can stay up, and there isnt any talk ok this “one-way dependency” stuff that comes up when learning against a wall.
scott
imho poles are bad,
the reason that this unicycle is sold with poles is because it is sold by people who don’t know about unicycles.
the proper way to learn to ride against a wall is to turn around and do it the other way.
becoming too dependant on a pole is a bad idea, the best way to learn is to use the wall to get comfortable on the unicycle, and then just go for it.
lean forward and pedal like hell.
the longer you spend fafing around with poles and such the longer it takes to learn.
There’s a small kid at my school who learned to ride a uni like that using the polls. His learning curve didn’t seem to be hampered by them. Personally, I learned by mounting holding on to a railing, and heading of without any support. I usually tell people to try learning by leaning against a wall, because that seems to be the least frustrating approach. Basically, I don’t think there’s a wrong way to learn how to unicycle.
Ben
Re: A “Best Buy” 16"
“Mark Newbold” <mark@dogfeathers.com> wrote in message news:3DA9DDF4.8D5B9680@dogfeathers.com…
> FYI, JC Penny has a 16" uni for $40 (plus shipping):
>
> http://tinyurl.com/1yk7
>
I like how they say to “always wear protective gear” and
yet they show a picture of a kid riding the thing with no
protection at all!
Mark,
You weren’t clear if you wanted to purchase it for your self or someone else.
The model you mention is the one I purchased and learned on over a year ago. I weigh 160 lbs and am 5’9".
It was fine for learning on, even though the seat post was too small for me. Oddly, the seat is rather large and actually quite comfortable. I later bought a United 20" to improve skills. And finally got a MUni and the UNited just gathers dust.
The red 16" would never take any abuse. The uni now sits in my garage waiting for another 6 months for my then to be 5 year old to try it.
I could never use the poles and just held on to the bed frame when I watched TV to start. The poles have become swords for the kids or what ever they can find to do with them.
Re: A “Best Buy” 16"
I have already bought two of them, for uni club. Kids use them for learning.
Way too small for me.
–Mark
teachndad wrote:
> Mark,
>
> You weren’t clear if you wanted to purchase it for your self or someone
> else.
–
Mark Newbold
Montpelier, Vermont USA
How well could a plastic wheel hold up? Do you think someone about 5’7" 140 lbs. could use this to learn on?
Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.
Dani
OK…humm…scroll, copy, paste…
-C
POLES:
Though training poles can work, they should only be used if you live in an area with no walls or fences, such as Death Valley or the Sahara Desert. The main problem with poles is the danger of being impaled on them. Tell me a beginning rider, especially a kid, is going to be able to control their falls in the early stages of learning! Training poles are dangerous.
Let me explain this a little further, for people who don’t see the “ramifications.” The danger of pitching forward onto the pole is not that major. More likely, the pole will get in your way when you’re dismounting. Say you go to one knee and the pole blocks the path of your chin on its way down. Or your nose. You get the idea.
The second drawback of poles is that they tend to create riders who lean forward a lot when they ride. This can be overcome later, but is best avoided entirely by using the fence.
The third drawback, on the JC Penny poles, is that they are incredibly short. Only a kid could use them comfortably.
MAG WHEELS:
Mag wheeled unicycles have been around sinde the mid-80s or so. If I had to guess, I’d wager that they all use the same design in the attachment of the axle to the wheel. This is the weak point in those wheels.
Mag wheels on BMX bikes are very durable, but you will notice they are no longer common. Spoked wheels are lighter, and can be trued.
For unicycles, mag wheeled models are fine for kids, but anyone heavier should go straight to spokes.
Stay on top,
John Foss
although when you all say mag wheels you actually mean plastic. 
I have an alu “mag” wheel and am aquiring a mag mag wheel.
if you ask me it’s all crazy
Dani,
The little uni is okay for learning, but you will grow out of it quickly.
I would never even ride it off of a curb, the plastic will probably crack around the hub and you will be stuck having to buy another one.
It’s really (I think) designed for kids around 90 lbs or less.
The 16" wheel is really small and won’t get you anywhere with out pedaling like crazy.
Upgrade to something a little stronger.