It’s great that you’re thinking of a G-uni. They are a definitely different riding experience and a challenge in a class of their own.
My earlier comments re learning on a G26er perhaps speak more about my general unicycle riding confidence. As I think had I been solely riding my 36er fixed wheel prior to getting a GUni, then a G36er would be perfectly usable.
My personal belief in that any geared wheel is learnable. We can see that evidenced. It’s more that from my “wobbles” and rides of terror, being mindful or prepared to perhaps hate it at first should be mentioned.
It’s therefore a question of picking a wheelsize within the margins of confidence and challenge / overall purpose and going for it.
I am looking forward very much to my G29er with the 2022 hub. And I suspect I’ll enjoy the faster 1:1 gear, better roll over and the fact it’ll have a 3” tubeless tyre (vs the 2.4” on my G26)
I’ve gone with a 180 rotor for this G29er wheel. But for a 36er I think that 203 might be better.
Personally I’d avoid doing this. Perhaps you could go with say a 29” frame but know you could also make a 27.5” wheel if you found 29” too much for your speed needs. But it’s likely just going to be a lot less hassle to try hard to get the right wheel that covers the use cases you want to ride with it.
Some may disagree, but I do believe Roger’s advice that with the new inboard disc hubs it isn’t advisable to build a 36” wheel with the 100mm hub and that the 125mm hub offers the better -or from how I read his view- the only safe way to build a wheel up at that size. I believe it all comes from the bracing angles being low when built with the 100mm hub.
If you go with a G36 I’d suggest just going with the Nimbus 36” frame and then one day you can always upgrade to a nice from from Jakob!
But while the recently posted steel frame is a stunner, for the significant weight of the G36 wheel build. Adding to this with a steel frame is probably not worth it. I’d go with aluminium for this kind of build.
I’ve gone with my 29er frame from Jakob and arranged it all via his Facebook page - but you could use his tag here if you want advice I suppose.
I’ve gone with Sapim CX Rays for my G29er but this is very much over kill really and probably could have used a cheaper Sapim double butted spoke. I did check if better to have different types of spoke for each side, but my wheel builder said it wasn’t needed and that he could build a great wheel with the same spoke type on both sides.
I think you go also forego “special” branded spokes and just use the ones from UDC - and for a 36er you’ll probably have to. And I think they’ll be just fine if you have a wheel builder that is skilled.
Yep I think those rims are great. I have gone with carbon fibre for the 29er as you may have read elsewhere. But this is again because I couldn’t resist seeing how this kind of thing rides - and to allow for tubeless. But the Dominator2 is a great rim and for the 36er the only safe option.
From all that you’ve stated it sounds to me like you probably need to think more about 29”/36” and skip considering the 26”.
I don’t really know and this is only for you to choose, but if you lean towards road / distance riding a G29er or G36er will be the better options.
They both will have downsides which is probably why fans of geared wheels have both (!)… They offer great experiences - but each will be quite different from each other. Some with love their G36 and have the G29er as a backup ride, or vice versa. Or just love both.
I think a G29er might be just a bit easier to learn on. I only say this as for me I needed first feel what high gear rides like before I was able to shift up. Getting on in high gear on a 36er is possible but a lot harder. However if you’re plucky you may not care about hopping on in 1:1 and trying to shift up and see how it feels or just fall off a lot before it all clicks.
It’s a leap of faith to shift up when you have no idea what it will feel like. You could get a friend to help you up in high gear, and then just sit for a bit… then have them run along side you while you get used to the sensation.
This is a long response from a GUni fan, but I’m in no way an accomplished rider. There are others here who have been riding longer and are much much better than me. So their views may be much more pro just trying it and not worrying about the falls or shock to the system I describe.
Anyway. I will wrap this up now. Hope to helps a bit!