I was surprised to find a big package on my front porch when I came home this evening. The Tangerine Dream (yes, like the instrumental group of the 80’s) had arrived days earlier than Darren had predicted. For some reason he thought it was the Tangerine Taxi but I think that was just a translation gap between US and Canadian.
I had gone to visit the Mississippi boys (Chris “rhysling” LeFay and Lewis “Animation” Beard) in January and received the generous gift of a Dyno FireBall tire. All I had to do was decide what unicycle to build around this “spare tire” I seemed to grow due to southern hospitality. Once I saw Darren’s photos of powder coated Yuni frames, Suzue hubs, and Alex DX32 rims, and then saw Erin’s orange ensemble I knew what I had to do. I have a couple of photos below with Buster serving as a color guide in one. Darren promised me a nice gift in the package (after I threatened him with bodily harm if he didn’t ship some more of his Canada Maple Leaf pins with the unicycle) and he sent me the orange, matching cap I’m sporting in the two elegant poses. It has one of the pins attached on the front if you can find it. The black “MUni Militia” T-shirt is a must for photo ops anymore. Thanx, Chex.
Darren was a joy to deal with. I was unsure of exactly what I wanted initially but he made recommendations based on the tire I had and the intended use. He was prompt with responses, not at all pushy, upfront with his stock and delivery restrictions on the KH saddle, quickly quoted the price including all applicable fees, and refused to cash the check until the uni was delivered. The unicycle is bright and I like the contrast with the black spokes, all black KH Velo saddle, and big, black FireBall tire. The KH is comfy and the tire is cushy. Darren included a big, fat 24x3 downhill tire tube knowing I would be filling the FireBall with it. That’s in addition to the cap and the pins. It was like an early birthday party.
I want to get some black cranks when I decide what length I think I’d like. I already have two pairs of the gorgeous, chrome Wellgo B-27 pedals.
By the way, the knee in the foreground had surgery less than three weeks ago. That didn’t keep me from crank grabbing a 50cm object and going to rubber neatly on the top of it last Sunday for the first time.
TANGERINE DREAM:
24" Yuni frame, powder coated orange
36 spoke Suzue hub, powdercoated orange
Alex DX32 rim, powdercoated orange
KH Velo saddle, all black
400mm chrome seatpost
150mm chrome cranks
Black plastic temporary pedals
Quick release seatpost clamp welded to frame
Quick release seatpost bayonet
24x3 heavy duty downhill tube with Shrader valve
$345 US all fees and delivery included
weight 14 lbs. 11 oz. (6.68 kg)
To top it off, a Dyno FireBall tire, thanks to my two friends in Mississippi. There is no community like the unicycling community.
I am sure you will draw a lot of attention with that one. I haven’t been riding 2 months and I am already wanting to get one of those!
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