I got my first unicycle for my birthday just over two weeks ago. it has a 16"
wheel and is called a “solo”, I am not sure of the manufacturer but I found that
I could barely make it down my block due to exhaustion. So after reading www.unicycling.org and applying some common sense I saw that a bigger wheel was
what I would need. I just ordered a Norco 24" http://www.norco.com/24uni.htm )
but am still waiting for it to arrive. Before taxes it cost 145.90 (CDN). I
never hear anyone talk about Norco though. Am I getting ripped off? Are these a
brand to avoid? I realize I should have asked these things before ordering, but
I just recently found out about this newsgroup. Thanks.
> Before taxes it cost 145.90 (CDN). I never hear anyone talk about Norco > though. Am I getting ripped off? Are these a brand to avoid? I realize I > should have asked these things before ordering, but I just recently found out > about this newsgroup. Thanks.
Norco is a Canadian cycle distributor. Most of us are in the US, UK and Germany
so there are less Canadians to hear from, not counting super Trials expert Kris
Holm from Vancouver.
Norco’s unicycles are similar to the Savage, Zephyr, Cycle Pro unicycles from
Taiwan/China. Similar in that they are mostly made from the same componenents,
in the same factories. It’s hard to know exactly what they’re shipping at the
moment, but it should be similar to what we get here in the States.
Jon Sutton wrote: > > I got my first unicycle for my birthday just over two weeks ago. it has a 16" > wheel and is called a “solo”, I am not sure of the manufacturer but I found > that I could barely make it down my block due to exhaustion.
I bet! That’s a lot of work pushing that little wheel around! From what I’ve
seen, wheels that small are only used for kids & clowning.
> I just ordered a Norco 24" http://www.norco.com/24uni.htm ) but am still > waiting for it to arrive. Before taxes it cost 145.90 (CDN).
Looking at the photo, it looks exactly like my “Summit” unicycle. I got it at a
local bike shop for $95.00 US and that included the longer seat post I needed
because of my height. I asked the guy at the bike shop about it 'cause I hadn’t
read anything about that brand either and he said it’s not really a brand, just
a bunch of parts they get from their distributor. It’s not a premium unit, but
it’s worked fine for me while learning. The seat could probably be more
comfortable, but I think it’s probably a lot better then some of the
older/cheaper things I’ve seen photos of.
> Among some at the Toronrto Unicycle Club, Norcos have a reputation for being > hard to ride and uncomfortable ot sit on - i.e. a unicycle to avoid.
My two cents:
Any unicycle with a metal bumper seat should be avoided, excepting the DM
Ringmaster seat. The Ringmaster seats are usually found in England (& Europe)
and have large chrome rings front and back. The seats I’m talking about, and on
the Norco, are the same width front and back, with a bolt underneath that often
is so wide it scrapes your legs.