Why exactly do most people get a 20" unicycle? Trials? They seem a little too small for just casual riding, at least for my size.
I have a more-than-vague-but-held-in-check-by-a-need-to-have-my-house-painted-and-secure-a-termite-contract desire to purchase a nice 20", 26" and 28" unicycle. However, I have been trying to figure out exactly what I would use each one for (other than the joy of riding them, for the pure sake of the joy).
I figure I would get a 26" for either off-road stuff or (if somebody ever comes out with a fat enough street tire) street stuff. A 28" would be more for distance casual cruising (for me). However, it seems like a 20" would be redundant with what I plan to use a 26" for.
So, I guess in my desire to clear up what I might possibly use each unicycle for, I figured I’d ask you guys what you use your 20" unicycles for??
(I already have a 24" united trainer, a 24" 1985 schwinn, and a 24" hunter off-road).
> Why exactly do most people get a 20" unicycle? Trials? They seem a
> little too small for just casual riding, at least for my size.
I’ve got a 20" uni with a street tyre… mainly because when I got it I was
totally new to all this unicycling and I’d only ever seen two in shops; a
20" and a 24". I’d heard the 20" was easier to learn on, but the overriding
factor was that it was shiny, the 24" wasn’t. Simple things…
Now I’ve got better at it I think I’d prefer a larger wheel, probably a
24"… however I don’t think I can really justify the expense, so I think
before that I’ll pretend I’ve got a better unicycle by buying a thicker tyre
for the 20"; the street tyre is wearing pretty thin after only a few months
and a few rotations.
Phil, just me
“Cattle Prods solve most of life’s little problems”
“Why is it that I need to purchase something that I don’t know what to
use for?”
My only uni is a 24" Semcycle. Currently I have a 20" Semcycle on loan
which I use to learn skills on. Better control. Both unis have 125 mm
cranks and the 20" is better on steepish trails, but I consider to buy
150 mm cranks to go with the 24" wheel.
I’m happy with my own Semcycle but it needs some company. While the
20" is nice I’m more looking in the direction of MUni.
To sum up what you were after: skills, control, steep, company.
>
>All,
>
>To slightly veer off topic, I wanted to ask:
>
>Why exactly do most people get a 20" unicycle? Trials? They seem a
>little too small for just casual riding, at least for my size.
>
>I have a
>more-than-vague-but-held-in-check-by-a-need-to-have-my-house-painted-and-secure-a-termite-contract
>need to purchase a nice 20", 26" and 28" unicycle. However, I have been
>trying to figure out exactly what I would use each one for (other than
>the joy of riding them, for the pure sake of the joy).
>
>I figure I would get a 26" for either off-road stuff or (if somebody
>ever comes out with a fat enough street tire) street stuff. A 28" would
>be more for distance casual cruising (for me). However, it seems like a
>20" would be redundant with what I plan to use a 26" for.
>
>So, I guess in my desire to clear up what I might possibly use each
>unicycle for, I figured I’d ask you guys what you use your 20" unicycles
>for??
>
>(I already have a 24" united trainer, a 24" 1985 schwinn, and a 24"
>hunter off-road).
>
>Lewis
>
>
>–
>Animation - I unicycle in Mississippi too.
>
>Lewis W Beard
>lewis@lwb.org
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Animation’s Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/615
>View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/17822
>
–
“To trigger/fool/saturate/overload Echelon, the following has been picked automagically from a database:”
“black-ops, interception, finks”
Well there is still a decision to be made there. No I guess I won’t steal your water, and then drain you of your blood for sustenance. I had to face that decision the last time.
What I mean is that there are as many water / storage purchase options to fret over as there are unicycle options.
There is only one choice – Ultimate Direction. I like the Ultimate Direction hydration packs better than the CamelBak’s. The Ultimate Direction packs are better designed and don’t bounce around as much on your back as the CamelBak packs.
Check out a hip bag like the “Shadow” or if you want more water capacity look at a backpack style like the “XSpurt”.
You can hunt the web for good deals on the Ultimate Direction packs. MySimon.com has a price comparison, and there are others. Ultimate Direction is at <http://www.ultimatedirection.com/>
I have never riden with a hip bag; however, after watching a clip of Scott Bridgman and an associate peck up a hill, I would be reluctant to do so. Every time they hopped, the pack would flip up and down- not exactly enticing. Scott PREFERS them to back packs, though; it makes me wonder if he ever found a tight fitting back pack.
MTBR users gave high marks to Ultimate Directions for comfort- but some folks reported leaks. Since the blader isn’t integrall, this isn’t a killer- and UD may have corrected problems with the valve and bladder. Like any public review, manufacturers stuff their ballot box and torpedo the opposition… so I’d value John’s word more than some anon.
Anybody else doing climbs or extensive hopping with hydration?
There are many choices on which container / storage item to get. I was rather put off when Chris showed me a page with like 20 choices on it. It is a whole different area to research. I realize that “not getting one” isn’t a useful option. In order to make life simple, I may just buy the same variety Chris gets, just so I dont have to think about it. Thinking about it would delay the purchase and I will need it soon.
ya,it is a little ridiculas how many options there are.
i remember when camelbax where the only one and they only had one option.(a white bag with pink letters)
I have three different hydration packs that I use. They are an Ultimate Direction XSpurt, CamelBak Bandido, and CamelBak FlashFlo. The Bandido and FlashFlo are hip bags. The XSpurt is a backpack style.
I like the hip style packs because the keep the weight down low on the back where it is more stable while riding. They generally work well. But if you overstuff them they do get unstable and bounce around much more. Some people find the hiphugger style to be uncomfortable but I think that is because they must be wearing it over the stomach instead of down on the hip. For me, my Bandido is the most comfortable bladder pack I use.
CamelBak made one good pack and that was the Bandido. Unfortunately the Bandido is discontinued. You can’t even get the bladder bag for it any more. I like the Bandido because it is very stable, holds a reasonable amount of water (about 60 some odd ounces), and is convenient to sip from because of its bandoleer style strap that goes over the shoulder to carry the drink tube.
The FlashFlo only holds 40 ounces and gets very unstable when overstuffed with either extra water or extra gear. It’s OK as long as you overstuff it. I use it for short Coker rides.
I have not had any problems at all with leakage from my XSpurt. The mouthpiece works great and has never leaked. The roll top bladder bag also works great and has never leaked, but I don’t hang the thing upside down for extended periods. I have sat on the bag and it didn’t leak or burst.
I love the XSpurt. Very comfortable for a backpack style pack. The weight is mostly down on the hips much like a hip bag. You can move your upper body around and move your shoulders around without causing the pack to gyrate or move around too much. I can hop up stairs or logs with the pack on and it doesn’t bounce around too much. It holds more water and more gear than my Bandido and that’s the reason I got it. For some rides you need lots of water. If necessary I can fit a second bladder in the XSpurt to carry even more.
The CamelBak backpack style packs just suck. As soon as you start jumping around with the pack on it will bounce around on your back like some crazed monkey. They are very unstable on the back. You do not want to do any jumping maneuvers with a CamelBak backpack on. I don’t think CamelBak knows how to make a backpack style hydration pack that is stable on the back when jumping around on a muni.
All three of my packs are reasonably stable when doing things like jumping up a flight of stairs. The hip bags are OK as long as they are not overstuffed. The XSpurt is great because it holds more water and more gear. If I had to have only one hydration pack it would be the XSpurt.
But CamelBak has the best slogan “Hydrate or Die”.
> > What I mean is that there are as many water / storage
> > purchase options to fret over as there are unicycle
> > options.
> no there really isnt.water is a necessity,NOT an option.
Oy.
As long as we’re on the subject of rolling up curbs…
There we had a harsh response to a statement that wasn’t made. How about a
recommendation of what kind of hydration to buy?
I can’t speak for any brand other than Camelbak, of which I’ve owned two.
They are expensive, and worth at least as much as they cost. They’re built
extremely well, and do what they are supposed to without complaint. The
bladders are strong, the mouthpieces work, etc.
Mainly you have to decide if you want it on your butt or back, how much
water (capacity) you want to carry (you don’t have to fill it all the way
every time), and how much additional storage or features you want.
I wear a butt bag with my camera and other stuff in it, so it’s definitely a
back pack for me. My current Camelbak Mule works great for me: http://www.camelbak.com/rec/cb_prod.cfm?product_id=146&CATID=6
It holds 3 liters (100 oz.) of water, and has room left over for the pump,
inner tube, patch kit, food bars, and whatever else.
“If people want to truly understand mountain biking, they have to do two
other things: ride a unicycle, and master the trampoline.” – Joe Breeze,
one of the originators of mountain biking, in a conversation with Tim Bustos
I use a hydration system purchased from Mountain Equpment Co-op in Canada. It has a chest strap and two lower straps. the Platypus holds 2 litres of water and the pack has a few pockets as well.
I don’t have a problem with the pack moving around when I hop or climb. the only problem I’ve had with it was from a UPD. I landed on my back and the Platypus burst open soaking everything inside the pack.
I’ve tried a hip pack and found I was grabbing it instead of my saddle causing frustration among other things…
I had to face that decision the last time.