I’ve never tried a unicycle before but have intentions of getting into it. My goal is to get good enough to hit the trails and rocks. Should I go straight to a trail cycle or start on the road? I know with some things I do better starting where I want to end up. That all depends on if there is a separate learning curve for trails over street though. I’m 6’3" 185 pounds. Let the suggestions and discussion flow lol. Also I’m not trying to break the bank on my first cycle.
Thanks for any help!
Sure you can start out with a unicycle for trails as your first. If you live in the USA IMO it would be a good idea for you to get this muni (muni = mountain unicycle) that UDC (UDC = Unicycle Dot Com) currently has on sale for $290. At that price you won’t find a new muni much cheaper, and nimbus stuff is very good quality to start with. If you feel like $290 is too much you probably won’t be able to start out with a muni. Another option might be a Torker LX, they come with tires suitable for light muni. But keep in mind that an LX has a less comfortable saddle (VERY VERY important) and is significantly more likely to have something break.
I would suggest that you go for the Nimbus 24" MUni. It’s got a great tyre,a gel saddle and is made for hills and trails. It has 150mm cranks which is just right for hill work.
The nobbly tyre means that the MUnicyle is more stable on the grass so that’s where I would start learning on a MUnicycle.
You can get all the details at Unicycle.com and there are some good tutorials on the net,in particular check rbf unicycle tutorials.
Hope this helps.
Awesome. Thanks for the suggestion. I’d prob be starting light anyways. Would the LX be good for both urban and light trail riding? I could always get a new seat if I get into it and decide to start putting money into it. I’m close to DC so I have opportunity for any terrain. I’d like something that’s more of a hybrid for this purpose
IMO it is, and you can always change the tire around if you want to. I had an LX and it held up admirably to pretty much everything I did with it.
Torker also makes a cheaper unicycle called the CX, but it is unsuitable for anything but road riding and the saddle could barely be made more uncomfortable if you tried.
Ok great! Looks like an LX is probably best for my starter cycle. Are there different wheel sizes or options I should look for?
I believe the LX comes in three different wheel sizes, 20", 24" and 26" Of those three if you intend to ride trails I would go with the 26" as it will go a little faster. There is also a better range of tires in 26" than 24".
http://www.amazon.com/Torker-LX-Unistar-Unicycle-Shimmer/dp/B00A6JB6ZI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1372786238&sr=8-2&keywords=torker+lx+26
is the cheapest LX 26 that I can find, or if you prefer ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Torker-LX-Unistar-Unicycle-26-Red-Shimmer-/290940305063?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43bd64bea7
is the same price.
+1 Nimbus Mountain 24. It’s worth it to buy quality the first time and not have the expense of upgrading. You’ll be riding quicker than you think. A quality cycle will make it enjoyable. I’m a beginner with about 7 hours of saddle time. I’m already riding in grass and easy flat trails. I have the Nimbus Mountain 24 and it’s been great for me. I plan to eventually get a 29 but for now the 24 is perfect. Good luck
Glenn
I believe the LX comes in three different wheel sizes, 20", 24" and 26" Of those three if you intend to ride trails I would go with the 26" as it will go a little faster. There is also a better range of tires in 26" than 24". $139.99 is the cheapest I can find the 26ers for.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Torker-LX-Unistar-Unicycle-26-Red-Shimmer-/290940305063?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43bd64bea7
The bigger the wheel the harder to learn on. Your tall and maybe you could consider 26. I went with the 24 because some say it’s bomb proof and I weigh 215.
Lol ok now I don’t know if I wanna go 24" or 26"
Keep in mind I will prob use it on street as well.
The bigger the wheel the harder to learn on. Your tall and maybe you could consider 26. I went with the 24 because some say it’s bomb proof and I weigh 215.
For your height you might want the 26er, even though it’ll make it a bit harder at first. I’m a touch shorter than you and have an LX24. I just started freemounting and realized my seat was too low. I raised the seat post up and now it’s plainly above the max height line. I need to raise it another inch/inch and a half or upgrade to a better unicycle.
Another option is to just replace both the post and the seat when you start to get good enough to want to raise it up. By that time you’ll have beaten the crap out of the bumpers anyways. And then you’ll start debating about whether to get a 29er or 36er next.
Given your height and desire to ride some road, I’d go with 26.
Sounds like a Nimbus 26 might be too expensive to you, but if you really stick to your goals and get into riding muni, it will be worth it. Give it some serious consideration.
If you did get a Nimbus, I’d choose the 150mm cranks, which are more versatile than the “standard” 165’s.
Yea I’m thinking for now, the torker LX 26. Then if I can really get into it and get friends into it, then I’ll invest into something better
If you put the time you’ll probably love it! 
as you have some decent height i can suggest a 26".
Once your cruising around and confident a 29" will suit you great.
24 i feel you wont like practicing much and the saddle will always be awkwardly high. Bigger the wheel more stable to learn. 150mm cranks or similar too
no, 36er! well maybe 29er. nah 36er! hmm…
Yep that’s how it goes. 
Easy guys. Let me just start with the 26" lol