Hello all. I am thinking abou trying to learn how to ride a unicycle. I am 6’ 4" and weight 215. Everything I read about sizing says I need a 26" uni. Is that true or will it be too difficult to learn on that size? I just want to learn and ride for exercise - I don’t want to ride off road or do any tricks. I was looking at the Torker LX 26". Excluding the size, is that a good start make/model?
Thank you,
Steve
It’ll be harder to learn on, but apart from that sizing doesnt matter to be honest, distance riders generally choose a 29" or 36" wheel, but those will be even harder
I know very little of torker other than the saddle is very uncomfortable (that can be changed)
its going to be hard then 20" but for size it should be about right.i have a 24" and i am 5’11 1/2" and with the set all the way up it just alittle small,i would go with the 26",but you will want to change the seat.
The suggestion is normally that someone your height will find it easier to learn on a 24" unicycle.
Let us know how you go?
i’m 6’2, learned on a 24" in 5 days, it’ll be fine.
I’m 6’0 and also learned on a 24" in 5 days. 24" is a good size to learn on unless you’re quite short - 26" shouldn’t be too much of a stretch but I don’t know of anyone who has learned on one.
beginner uni. UK
bump Rather than start my own thread about which unicycle would be best for me to learn on I’ll tag it on the end here.
Hello folks this is my first post on the forum, please be gentle with me 
I’m a llife long cyclist who’s had a several years break but I’ve just started cycling again after giving up smoking - I actually have a little bit of puff again - and I would love to learn to ride a unicycle. I think I stand a reasonable chance of ‘getting it’ as someone who does rola bola/board balancing/board rolling (whatever you want to call it)…I have good balance is what I’m trying to say I guess.
Anyhoo, I’m 5’2", female (a rufty-tufty female though) and on an extremely low budget for a learner machine. I have no idea why but I’m leaning towards a 24in wheel. Would this be entirely inappropriate given my dimensions? Ultimately I would want to ride upto and around town. I doubt I’ll be doing anything too intrepid, canal tow paths and hopping down kerbs will be as radical as I’ll get (I’m old and break much more easily than I used to ;))
So, can anyone help with any suggestions? Ta ever so in advance!
Doc Doo hi, welcome to the site.
Learning on a 24 is generally recommended for people above 6ft, but this is a general rule of the proverbial thumb, and nothing hard and fast.
I would suggest buying yourself the cheapiest 20inch uni you can find and learn how to ride.
Once you ‘have it’, you’ll be in a much better position to figure out what you want to do with your riding. It’s unlikely you’ll do too many canal paths on a 24 anyway, you’re likely to head off into 26/29 for that kind of riding.
It’s also always handy to have a “learner” uni lying around for when friends want to have a go at it.
Keep us updated with your progress and remember, keep your weight on the seat.
Thank you so much for the welcome and the advice GILD, much appreciated. I will go look for a 20 and see what happens. I certainly shall keep you updated on progress.
At 5’2" I think a 20" would be much easier for you. My other half is the same height as you and struggles on my 24s.
Let us know how you get on!
Cheers SmellyGeekBoy…I’m looking at ebay uk as we ‘speak’, don’t think I can afford to buy at unicycle.co.uk just yet. Or do you have any ideas of where else I might look or know anyone with a 20 who would like to sell? :D:D
I learnt on a 20". It took about 20 hours, with a 20" uni there is less to get tangled up in when you get it wrong.
I am also in the north west, unfortunatly there is no club round here any more
There are two schools of thought when it comes to buying a unicycle:
Spend a bit more and invest in a good quality name brand unicycle that will last you a good few years.
Buy the absolute cheapest you can, learn on that, and spend a bit more on a good unicycle once you have a clear idea what you want to do.
If you are going down the second route (like I did) you could do worse than to get one of these. I learned on the 24" version a year ago and mine is still going strong. My other half and a 2 friends of mine learned on it too. Just make sure you get the spokes tightened - I didn’t bother and my wheel went out of true, and it was a pain to straighten it up.
It needed a new tyre recently too, but that was only £8 from unicycle.com!
north west
Welcome Doc Doo
If you are looking for a cheap uni in the north west, Cycle superstore in Bolton has some quite reasonable quality 20" for not a lot of cash.
Thanks again for your input SmellyGeekBoy. After an email to Roger at u,co.uk he reckons despite my shortness I’ll be fine with a 24" due to my rola bola experience and my confidence As you suggest I’m going to go with option 2 and would you believe I’ve been looking at the ebay trader you posted the linky to for the 20 & 24 when I finally decide which size. When I’ve got the hang of it then I shall look to invest in a better (road) machine.
Cheers again for your input SmellyGeekBoy. After a brief exchange with Roger at Uni…co.uk who reckons due to my confidence and experience with difficult balancing tricks that I should have no problem with a 24".
As you did, I’m going with option 2 until I get the hang of riding and getting around on a 24" then I might look at treating myself to something better quality. Oddly I’ve been checking out the very ebay supplier you posted a linky to.
Thanks for the heads up about the spokes. 
For some reason my reply hasn’t shown up and this is the third time of posting my reply to you SmellyGeekBoy, sorry for the delay.
Thanks for your further input. After a brief exchange with Roger at unicycle.co.uk I think I am going with the 24", he reckons my confidence and experience with tricky balancing stuff will see me through. I’m going with option 2 just whilst I learn and I’ve been looking at the seller you posted a linky to and am glad to receive a recommendation for that seller. Ta ever so for the heads up about spokes.
Thanks again. 
Tou could get the 26 inch, and then also get the 20. the 20 is easier to learn on. So, you could get it down faster.
I have a 20" club freestyle i would be happy to give you for cheap good solid learner uni, but not more than that
Dang… I’m not seeing many testimonials from people who’ve learned on 29" unis, but that’s what I’m hoping to do. I lent my 24" out and it got trashed on before I even got to learn with it. Now I have only the 29" I was planning to “move up to”. Wish me luck? :-p