I’ve just re-started uni’ing again for 3 weeks after 20 years. I recently ordered a Nimbus II Longneck w/Kovachi wheel and KH Fusion Air from my local retailer (he is an UDC dealer). I ordered the 4" cranks to go with it.
I would like to do as many freestyle tricks as possible. Which leads to the big question I have for you guys. How many inches do you cut from the seat post if it is exactly at your inseem? So if the longneck has a 31.5 inch minimum and I have a 32 inch inseem, that means I am fully extended–which isn’t a common setup for freestylers right? If I am correct, how many inches of play do you guys suggest or that your run on your setup?
And would having the 4" cranks reduce minimum height restrictions of the longneck by an inch? Does UDC use that inseem restriction taking measures with 5" cranks?
Any help you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated.
BTW, I wanted to thank UniTyler for an old post that helped me pick this model out.
Did you get the Nimbus X Long Neck? What length is the neck?
Seat height for freestyle and Cokering is basically as high as you can go without rocking your hips as you pedal. General rule of thumb is to hold on to a wall and put your heels on the pedals. Now raise the seat as high as you can while still being able to pedal (with your heels on the pedals) without rocking your hips. Now when you ride normally you’ll have the balls of your feet over the pedal spindle and that will give you the right bend in the legs for efficient pedaling. Adjust a few mm up or down from there according to taste.
Inseam measurements are an inaccurate way of sizing a unicycle. The crotch on pants hangs lower than your actual leg length. When you sit on a unicycle everything gets pushed up (so to speak) so that effectively makes your legs longer. Then there is the thickness of your shoes.
From what you say with an inseam of 32" it looks like things will be more than fine. More than enough extra room.
Leave enough seatpost in the frame for future adjustments. A couple inches of seatpost minimum should be in the frame.
Only thing I’d consider changing is going to a thin Nimbus gel or KH Fusion Street saddle. Air saddles are bad for freestyle. Air saddles have too much flop. You need a firm saddle for freestyle so you have a proper feel and connection to the unicycle. A firm saddle will allow you to better fineness the unicycle with your buns. Air seats are not good for freestyle.
Comfy Seat Idea
I realized that the air saddles are never going to be a responsive as the regular KH Fusion. I tried them both at the shop. But being 35 (without kids yet), and considering the people I’ve known to who’ve had prostate cancer, and friends who have blocked urinary problems makes you really consider the trade off for a nice comfy saddle. REMEMBER 1 in 3 men will have some kind of problem down there sooner or later.
As a point of reference for inseam length and frame neck length for a 20" freestyle. I have a 34" inseam for Levies jeans. Levies shrink so I think that puts me at about a 32" for non-Levies pants.
I just measured my freestyle uni and I could accommodate a 450mm frame neck and that’s with 125mm cranks and a slightly low seat height. A 450mm frame neck would put the seatpost clamp a cm or so below my Miyata saddle.
I wouldn’t worry about crotch numbness or prostate problems with a freestyle unicycle. You’re moving around on the saddle enough that it is not an issue, even for long practice sessions. Sometimes you’ll be sitting on the back of the seat, sometimes near the front, sometimes to one side or the other with only one bun cheek on the seat. Other times you’ll be riding seat out. Freestyle is not like Coker riding. Coker riding is the only time I’d worry about saddle comfort and numbness. For Coker riding a KH Fusion Freeride saddle (with the center channel cutout) works great and to me is better than an air saddle for Coker riding.
The studies that bicycle saddles can cause penile numbness or prostate problems are bunk. All they did is scare people who don’t know better. The studies were done with expert level cyclists. They ride a lot. They also ride with a much much lower handlebar position than recreational cyclists can handle or even find comfortable. That riding position puts more of a squeeze on the organs and nerves. Not an issue for recreational cyclists.
I just bought a road bike. The saddle I have for it does not have any kind of a cutout or relief. I am not in the least bit worried that a saddle like that is going to cause me any prostate problems or penile numbness. After high school I rode road bikes for 10 years and did a cross country ride. I used a regular saddle (no cutout, they didn’t even have saddles with cutouts back then) and never had any issues. None. The issues are hype and if they concern anyone it is the expert level and professional level cyclists who spend many many hours in the saddle and have a very low handlebar and riding position.
If you’re concerned then use a KH Fusion Freeride saddle on the freestyle uni. But the Freeride saddle is a bit thick and bulky for freestyle. The thinner KH Street saddle or Nimbus Gel is better suited for freestyle.
welcome back to unicycling
I know an expert cyclist. We share the same gastrologist/proctoligist. He even won the tour de France until it got stripped. MANY of our doc’s patients are cyclists. Maybe just coincidence? Scarring in urethra is also very common accident (watch a person with a catheter–it will make you a changed man). You can also ask ANYONE with hemroids (little speed bumps) how they develop. Perhaps you can’t legally draw a conclusion that this is not the cause, can also use the same argument that smoking doesn’t cause cancer. Just from my experience.