Schlumpf Muni: Should I get a 27.5 or 29"?

[johnfoss]

I hope I’m posting this in the appropriate category…

More info: 64-year old with many years of offroading experience trying to decide which would be a better fit for my type of riding. I like a mix of difficult terrain and less-difficult with rolling hills and/or fun terrain. I’m expecting to order a Mad 4 One in the near future and would like to hear from riders who use Schlumpf hubs for lots of Muni. I know the heavy hub will be a factor.

I have ridden my Schlumpf 36" on trails, but these are more flowy and less steep than where I would typically take the Schlumpf Muni. What are the pros and cons in your experience, or what would you recommend?

Thanks very much!

Note that I do have a bunch of Munis of various size, but many of them are from the early days and won’t fit a standard MTB tire. Plus I’ve always wanted a colorful Mad 4 One.

[mindbalance]

This might help

[Wiki] Schlumpf Wheel Size Lexicon - To Help One Decide

The idea here is to make this page a wiki so anyone can adjust the table / add in their points of view or just change it if they don’t agree. It’s WIP - but I think when building a Schlumpf wheel/unicycle, choosing a size can be a bit of a dilemma. I hope this draft helps - it’s just a basic outline of my understanding of the general pros and cons for each size out there … and how they work when geared up Wheel Size 1:1.5 Portable Y/N Pros Cons Description 20” 30” …

Me personally I love my G29er but a G32" is likely in my future too

Smaller geared wheels while more portable probably not the best route. 27.5" might be better if you actually want to use it for real Muni duty rather than XC/Muni

[Maxence]

I’m sure that whatever you chose will be fine because the difference is not that big and may affect you only if you’d like to optimize your build for competition - which I don’t think you are looking for.

On my side, for pure XC, I really like my 29er. It is quite fast and capable of taking me from my home to the start of the trails.

[johnfoss]

Thanks Mindbalance, that’s a great chart! It does a great job of “slotting” what to expect with each size.

And thank you Maxence; solid advice from a guy that’s probably ridden down some spectacular mountains. And since my trails aren’t very close, I don’t ride to them anyway, so I’m thinking more toward the 27.5".

More opinions are welcome though…

[MUCFreerider]

@johnfoss

I like a mix of difficult terrain and less-difficult with rolling hills and/or fun terrain.

Hey John. I think the 27.5" might serve you better.

Preface: I ride mostly ungeared technical Muni on a 29", but also have a 27.5 Freewheel and a Schlumpf in a 29 that I don’t ride very often as I’m more on the others.

I got my Schlumpf 29 mostly to ride high gear in bike parks: for that the 29" is the better choice for the fast flowy bike park trails (but high speed braking overstresses the crank mounted brake of the old Schlumpf generation without the Brakefast adapter).

My thinking: 27.5
29 ungeared is a great size for technical Muni but only if you have the technical skills (it isn’t much bigger but nevertheless does make a difference in turning speed and less falling distance). But with a Schlumpf, riding high gear on a 29" on trails is only for top riders and even then mostly for less technical/flowy or double track. I just rode weekend before last at Elsbet with the French rider Martin Charrier on a 29" Schlumpf (awesome steep technical riding despite added weight and rim brakes on his 29 Schlumpf), and he only rides high gear on easy/fast downhill/flat sections.

With a Schlumpf, even on a 27.5, you will have lots of potential for speed in high gear.

I would say, only get the 29 if you are also wanting to go fast on the road (note: I’m not a road rider but “fast” Schlumpf on the road takes nerves).
Or if you want to ride “Muni” only ungeared and then shift up for flat road or gravel sections. 29 high gear on trail is quite taxing and challenging.

In Europe right now, most of the top Muni racers are going to 29 (ungeared) for XC and DH, but mostly for increased speed potential (Villanders Muni was last weekend).