I am relatively new to unicycling. I received one for Christmas. It is a 24" avenir. I learned to ride on it just fine. It was not bad for learning. I have mastered forward and backward riding. I can idle forever. I can one foot idle forever. I can do small bunny hops forever, and I can do quick 180s and some stairs. I get the after reading online, I have begun to suspect that my unicycle was not built to do some of the things I am trying. Within the first month I managed to crack the frame of my unicycle in four places around the bolts that hold the frame to the stupid sealed, unfixable, poorly attached and designed bearings. I have done what I can with washers, bolts etc. I have been learning one footed riding recently and have found it discouraging that I have no way of even trying a better unicycle to see if it feels different. The thing creaks, shifts to the sides unexpectedly, and is overall a pain in the neck. I think I need a new uni. Is it significantly easier to hop onto things with a real 20" trials uni? Will one-footed riding be easier? I have very little money and I need a new uni fast. I may be able to have $200.00 for a uni by the end of next month. It will probably be a trials uni because I can get along just fine on my 24" for commuting. What should I look into? Can you think of any way I could find a different unicycle to just try and see what it is like? The only unicycle I have ever been near is my own. I have never met another unicyclist in person. Please help me.
Yeah, I would stop doing trials on that thing and get a new one right away.
http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=618
That one is really good, and fairly cheap. It’s four hundred dollars, even though you said you only wanted to spend 200.
http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=587
This one is cheaper, and it’s about as good as the last one.
http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=744
Here’s one that I know nothing about, but it’s more in your price range.
From what I hear, dont get a nimbus. They arent built very strong. I would just keep your old one and take it easy (ex. dont go off drops over 20 inches.) Save up for an onza or a kris holm
the nimbus isn’t that bad, it just isn’t quite as strong as the others, but then by not as strong I mean that it won’t take huge drops, but it seems ok for about 3’ drops. For hopping it should be identical to the others, and there is the small detail of it not being double your budget.
Having said that, if money is a problem and you will want to do big drops, it’ll be worth saving for the posher one’s rather than getting the nimbus, breaking it on a 5’ drop, and getting a new uni. Just don’t think that the nimbus is pants.
Either way, I don’t think I’d call 20" drops ‘taking it easy’ for a cheap uni which sounds like it’s already a bit knackered. I’d stick to a bit less.
John
Thanks
Thanks for all of your advise. After reading all of your suggestions and reading up on the unicycles you recomended, I think I will try to just suffer through not trying anything that is hard on the unicycle and save up for the KH. I am considering selling some of my other worldly posessions to support my habit. If the unicycle on life support that I am riding does not hold out until I can afford something decent, I may just have to sell either my computer or a kidney. The only other alternative would be the slow and painful death that would be the result of uni deprivation. Once again, thank you, and wish me luck on trying to keep the creaking, cracking, moaning, shifting, twisted junk heap going.
Your skills have obviously exceeded your equipment. You will not believe the difference in ridding a nice 20" Trial uni. It will blow your mind.
If you can find a used KH or Summit, it may be in your price range. Sometimes the Summit can be found on Ebay for $200 new. It is basicly a KH20. Good luck, it would stink to have no uni to ride. Try riding for money on a local corner. Put your hat out and do a little performance.
The cracked frame is a common problem for lollypop bearing housings that are not made by Pashley. I had the same problem on my first 20" unicycle after riding it down stairs and drops, both sides of the frame split. This is a picture of it after I fixed the frame, stronger than new:
I took it in to the bike store and they found a spare bicycle seatpost that was made of some strong alloy. They didn’t get around to fixing it for me as fast as I wanted them to, so I took the bits of seatpost and drilled them on my friend’s drill press. It was quite hard to drill, and you could see the small indents where the bike-shop people had tried to get through it. Once drilled, it was easy to bolt the shods in place, and I never had a problem with the frame again. I kept having trouble with the cotter pins and cranks, and the unicycle is dead now. Saving up for a Kris Holm unicycle is a good idea, and hopefully your old one will last the distance in the meanwhile.
3 foot isn’t THAT small a drop. But even 2 foot drops over time will take a beating on the onza. Plus the Kris Holm saddle should be better and more comfortable than the viscount style no logo one. And the frame… and it’s got splined cranks. I think there are a lot of noticable differences other than the fact that the Kris Holm will hold up on 3 foot drops.
Bugman,
I like your idea of riding on a street corner for money. I wonder what the legal issues are with that in my area. That might help a little and it can’t hurt so long as there are no ordnances against it. I think I may actually look into it. Has anyone else tried to do this? Were you successful?
Rowan,
Your picture of how you solved your problem may be a life saver. I know a guy who does some welding and your plan looks like something he could handle. There may be some hope for this Uni yet. I will still buy the KH as soon as possible. My Uni was not built for trials and I dream of a handle on the seat so that I will no longer shred and mangle my fingers on the screws sticking out of the bottom of my seat where I need to grab it.
You are all great. I have never run into a greater bunch of people. Not at my church, not among my fellow Eagle Scouts, not in any other sport or activity I have tried. I hope to actually meet some of you someday. I am in your debt for all of your help, thank you.
Re: How much would a new Unicycle help?
RF, come down to East Tennesse for a family vacation. I live at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the tourist traps of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
If you come, you can “TEST RIDE” any of my unicycles. --chirokid–
My family is big into the national parks for vacations. We have been to the Smokey Mountains but it has been a while and I may be able to convince them. I may be contacting you in the future about your generous offer of a “Test Ride.” Thanks.