Hi, I’m not much good at figuring out how to insert pics - but if you go to: http://users.ox.ac.uk/~shil1007/
you’ll find pics of Giraffe, stored in Austin Tx for sale. make an offer if interested. otherwise look out for eBay auction in about a week.
PS - ignore the pictures of Mafeking - that’s the houseboat I live on in England - & whay I have to sell the giraffe. no room
Jim,
Very intrigued by the houseboat. Tell me more. Since this is J.C., I’ll ask a few questions.
Obviously you have electricty. Hardwired in or generated? What about plumbing and sewer?
I assume it’s your permanent residence. How does the local municipality view your plat if you can call it that? Do you have an address? Pay property taxes? Is it permanently moored in that spot?
The other building inspector in the office has famous relatives from England. His last name is Spurgeon.
Bruce
Hi Bruce, yes living in the houseboat is fantastic (and my 24" Schwinn uni fits in just fine)
It’s a permanent private residential mooring so we’re all hooked up - municipal water & electric, full telephone & dial up internet - no broadband access just yet. We pay a little council tax each month. It’s a great lifestyle - a little floaty. Sometimes we even take Mafeking out for a cruise on the Thames and the Oxford Canal - though she’s a little slow - built in 1890 - originally a working boat, drawn by horses to deliver coal - before railways were invented. Eventually converted into houseboat.
Sadly, Mafeking is also for sail as my partner and I have just taken jobs in Bristol UK and cannot find moorings in that area to which to sail her.
cheers,
jim
It’s a good one, latest model! The bottom sprocket is the bolted-on kind, rather than the unscrewable threaded kind. It appears to be in decent shape for its age, though it clearly needs a tire. I would also recommend chain replacement for the new owner, as the old chain may be a little too un-lubricated and it’s safer to just replace it.
Note the frame is a little bent at the cranks, but this is not uncommon for those frames. This probably means somebody used to do running mounts on it.
So, did it stop being a 5-footer when you raised the seat? You’ll notice that when you set the seat at the max mark, it’s exactly 72" from the ground to the front tip of the seat. That’s why the model number is U-72.
Hi John, thanks again for the helpful info. It became a six footer when someone corrected me - It was brand new when I got it in 1980 and never ridden by anybody but me. I only ever mounted it leaning it agains a tall pole & climbing up wheel & pole.
I don’t believe that anything is bent as I’m the only one that ever rode & I din’t ride it much. I have to look closer to try to understand what you meant but as far as I know the only thing wrong with the unicycle is (1) rotted tire & tube (2) chain desperately needs oil or replacement and (3) nobody ever rides her.
It seems like nobody here is particularly interested in making an offer - maybe people are more interested in off-road cycling & generally being closer to the ground. - I know I am. Does anybody know any other forums where people might like to look at a tall one for clowning around?
Cheers,
Jim
Ride higher on: http://users.ox.ac.uk/~shil1007/
It looks bent in the photo posted in the forum, if you follow up the frame from the tyre in a straight line once you pass the pedals the tube deivates, this may just be due to the photo though, possibly the angle the giraffe is leaning at or the angle the photo was taken from. Is there any way you could get this to the UK?
Dave
The bend is visible in the photos, as described above. This bend could have come from the factory, but I highly doubt it as those frames were really well-made. The bend could also have come from forces applied to the uni while it was not being ridden. It most likely has not compromised the integrity of the frame. I think mine is a little bent too.
I didn’t look. Did you list the cycle in the auctions area of Unicyclist.com? Another logical place would be in the rec.sport.unicycling forum. This one is mostly for people with way too much time on their hands.
If you don’t get any bites, I’d go for eBay.
For shipping, the Schwinn Giraffe breaks down into a frame which is exactly 4’ long, and a wheel about 20" in diameter and about 6" wide. That’s you minimum box size.
The tire might actually be usable, but should be replaced as it’s (at least) 25 years old. But all Schwinn whitewall unicycle tires are at least 25 years old, including the one on mine. It’s still fine for the moment.
No room? Egad!
That’s not just a house boat.
That’s an apartment houseboat.
How long is it, anyway?
P.S. Should list the Uni in the Trading Post.
bent giraffe - not!!!
Very interesting about the bend…
I’d bet money that is is an optical illusion from this particular pic ~~ ie. the bottom legs of frame on opposite sides of wheel come together to form an A- frame - 2 legs of frame join up to form one stem above the wheel at the crankshaft. My theory is that there the two angled legs join together to form one stem up toward the seat- this looks like a bend. If I could draw a picture I would - but maybe you’ll see what I mean w/ another look at photo. I’d go have a personal look myself if it weren’t for the fact that unicyle is in Texas - and I’m in a boat on a river - picture that!
Cheers - look out for ebay auction for the Giraffe in a few days. I’ll let everybody know when auction begins.
Boat is 70 foot long - but only 7 feet wide - like living in a long floating hallway. Great lifestyle - would be perfect for the beginner unicyclist!
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Dave! I live in Oxford UK - it looks like maybe you do too. Giraffe’s in storage at my Mom’s in Texas. I could look into cost of shipping - probably pricey - I don’t think I could bring it as carry-on baggage next time I fly from Texas to Heathrow!
OK, i think posatge is beyond my means, just thought if you were maybe shipping other stuff from the US. Where do you live exactly?
I’m going to the inaugral meeting of the Oxford uni-hockey club tonight if you’re interested all welcome, starts at 8, post back or pm me if you would like to come, the more the merrier! What type of riding do you do? I ride mostly in the centre of town, 5ft giraffe and trials/street on a 24" Muni
Dave
