It’s done! I’ve just got to get it painted and put a better seatpost clamp in it, but my muni’s complete! I can’t remember if I’ve said this or not yet, but at the moment I’m running a 24" x 1.5" - 1.75" tube in a 3" tyre. I got the 24" x 2.35" - 3" tubes that I ordered yesterday but haven’t put one in yet.
Yesterday was my first ever real muni ride and it was great! I’d gone once before down a simple firetrail on my 20" but this was much different.
The Track - ‘Jelly Bean’ on Mt. Cootha is the main track that I rode down yesterday. The track starts with a pretty steep but smooth, thin bit that made me realise hw much I need to build up the muscles in my legs. I’m riding on a Gazz with 150mm Profile cranks and was finding it hard to slow down. The next bit gets a bit rocky as the switchbacks begin. There are a few more of these and then about 3 drops in a row that aren’t that big but are pretty rough and the last one (which I didn’t do) is on a corner with a really tricky landing. From there the track speeds up a bit and goes around some less sharp corners with some little logs to roll over. The rest of the track is much the same with some more drops and rocks and that sort of thing until you get to the bottom. There is a great fallen tree that is really fun to try to ride along. It starts off with about an 8 - 10m long part where the log is still on the ground. Then for about 3 or 4m the ground dips down into a dry creek and the log (which is all round with about a 40 - 50cm diameter) goes over the top. In the highest part, the top of the log is at the height of my shoulders. After a few tries I made my way successfully across the log. It felt great because I’ve done it about 10 times on my bike and a few months ago I told myself I’d do it on a unicycle. That’s the end of ‘Jelly Bean’. From there, I rode along another fallen log that was wider and longer and then went up ‘Roger’s Circuit’ and then down into the Gap Creek Reserve Park. I spent about 20mins there riding along logs and that sort of thing until my Mum picked me up. I had a really great time and met some mountain bikers who told me I’ve been watching too much New World Disorder.
I’ve decided that I’m going to have some v-brake mounts put onto the frame before it’s painted so I at least have the option of brakes on it. I’m going to work on getting my legs stronger so I won’t need brakes but it’s quie hard to slow down at the moment. I weighed it last night and it’s about 5.5 kg. Is this normal? How much do your munis weigh?
And finally, what surely someone’s been waiting for…the photos! I’ll post one here and put them all onto my album in the near future. This’ll look even better with a metallic orange frame.
I love my muni!!!
Thanks for all your help,
Andrew
