Hello,
I am looking to purchase several new unicycles for my club. I was wondering if
anyone had suggestions on what brands were durable but reasonably priced.
Thanks
–
George B. President ISU Unicycling Club
Re: Buying Learner Unicycles
My Scout troop bought several 20" Torkers to be used as loaner unicycles for
beginners to learn on. They have a freestyle frame that is virtually the same as
a Semcycle XL frame with main-cap style bearing holders. They come with quick
release seat post clamps, and you can choose longer seat posts (up to
400MM). The stock seats are small and not all that comfortable. For college
students you might want to look into trading up to better seats when you
buy them. They wheels come with steel rims and 140mm cranks, and ok
pedals. All in all the Torker is an adequate unicycle for general club
use, especially if you encourage members to purchase their own (and
better) unicycles once they know how to ride. They are fairly
inexpensive while still being surprisingly rugged. Guys that only have
24" unicycles will use the Torkers (after putting their own seats on
them) for Unicycle Hockey.
One thing you should note about Torkers, they are made in China. And, as anyone
who went to Unicon X last summer will tell you, many things made in China are
just a little bit off. Made in China is synonymous with Made in Japan in the
50’s, before the Deming Awards. Some welds may be sloppy. Some crank arms may
feel a little bent. (You know how it is, the elevator will probably come to your
floor eventually; and when it does the car may even be within a couple inches of
the floor level, sometimes it might even match exactly, but, you know, it’s
China.) I’ll bet quality will improve over time, but for now it a work in
progress. I should note that the boxes our Torkers came in were excellent, thick
and sturdy. I kept them to use in the future for transporting unis as luggage on
airplanes. Ironically, Miyata boxes are cooler (with a cartoon flamingo riding a
unicycle on it), but thin, easily ripped, useless.
Good luck,
John Hooten
“George B.” wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am looking to purchase several new unicycles for my club. I was wondering if
> anyone had suggestions on what brands were durable but reasonably priced.
>
> Thanks
>
> –
> George B. President ISU Unicycling Club
Re: Buying Learner Unicycles
John, we were reminiscing about China the other day. What were the 3 Ks again:
Kwality, Kleanliness & Konvenience? Or do I have that all wrong?
—Nathan
“John Hooten” <jhooten@rcsis.com> wrote in message
news:3ABD85E6.BB994DC7@rcsis.com… [snip]
>
> One thing you should note about Torkers, they are made in China. And, as
anyone
> who went to Unicon X last summer will tell you, many things made in China
are
> just a little bit off. Made in China is synonymous with Made in Japan in
the
> 50’s, before the Deming Awards. Some welds may be sloppy. Some crank arms
may
> feel a little bent. (You know how it is, the elevator will probably come
to
> your floor eventually; and when it does the car may even be within a
couple
> inches of the floor level, sometimes it might even match exactly, but, you
> know, it’s China.) I’ll bet quality will improve over time, but for now it
a
> work in progress. I should note that the boxes our Torkers came in were
> excellent, thick and sturdy. I kept them to use in the future for
transporting
> unis as luggage on airplanes. Ironically, Miyata boxes are cooler (with a
> cartoon flamingo riding a unicycle on it), but thin, easily ripped,
useless.
>
> Good luck,
>
> John Hooten