So here’s what happened: Last fall I placed an order with UDC UK, and while I was at it decided to drop a KH24 frame and seatpost into the basket. Whether it was a particularly good deal–or just seemed like it because the price was in pounds, not dollars–I find myself now with all the parts to build up another muni except for a wheel and tire. If only to tinker around and maybe learn a bit more about what works for me and what doesn’t, I’d like to do something with it.
I can see two ways to go here. One would be to get a proper 24" muni wheel, maybe asking on the Trading Post if anyone has one laying around that’s surplus to their needs. I could put a Duro tire on that, or maybe some other chunky tire that’s still available in that size. (Arrow Wide Bite? Felt Berm Master?) The other way might be to build up a 26" wheel with modest rim width (35 mm or so maybe?) and a not-so-big tire (but I’d guess higher tech than current 24" tire choices) that inflated to about 26.5" actual diameter tops, if that could be done. My current 26" muni wheel with a Hookworm on a wide KH rim is a few millimeters too tall for the frame, measuring a bit under 27" actual diameter. I can get the bearings in the holders but the tire tread is snug against the crown when I do.
I’ve been having fun riding a 24" Sun Classic with a CST Cyclops up and down twisty mulch trails at the local Arboretum. That feels less tiring then dragging my 26" muni over the same ground, but the Sun isn’t rugged enough for real muni riding with roots and rocks and drops and stuff. It seems like a good use for the KH24 might be rides that are steep and/or near my skill limits, if it would let me ride longer if slower by not getting as worn out. (And I know the argument that bigger wheels are easier because they roll over obstacles. That’s one of the things I’d like to learn about, trying it both ways.)
Maybe looking for entertainment value here as much as anything, but I’m interested in thoughts, suggestions, comments, etc.
Sure, and I’ve played around with a few skinny 24" knobbies on the Sun Classic already. For the KH24, I’m more in the mode of deciding between using a nice fat 24" such as a Duro, or trying to fit a 26" wheel with a small-ish tire in it.
After a few hours of mulling it over, I’m starting to think that with a 26" I might have to give away more width than I’d want to get the diameter small enough to fit. The lesson I took away from trying skinny knobbies on the 24" Sun was that skinny knobbies aren’t much fun.
But like I said, I’m open to opinions, suggestions, etc. Could be I tried the wrong skinny knobbies.
On my old Onza 24 I had a 26" wheel for a while. It fit with a 26x1.5 tire. So if you want that uni for road use it can work, but your not gonna get anything much wider in there.
I have an 05 KH 24 wheel I’d sell. It has an intense 24x3 tire with low mileage, and 14g DT spokes with brass nipples. I can’t remember what the crank length is, but I think it’s 165. Alternately, if you just want the tire, rim, and spokes we could work something out. I built it up shortly before I put my 26 together, and it hasn’t seen much use at all.
I already have a 700x37c tire in a 26" frame. That one’s my favorite for road riding and I ride the heck out of it, but I’m covered there.
The 26" Hookworm surprised me by coming as close to fitting as it did. If I had to drop down to 2.0" wide to get those few more mm’s of clearance (under 680 mm overall diameter) that would probably kill the deal. If I could do 2.2" with a more high-tech tire design than is sold in 24" these days, then just maybe.
Would that be the KH/Onza hub style with eleventy-seven splines? I’ve got one of those in a 26" wheel, with 150 mm cranks for it that I use and 165s that I don’t.
Can I say definitely maybe? I’m still thinking this through but that’s the kind of thing I’m considering.
It is a KH/Onza hub. It sounds like you have cranks, so if you want the wheel without cranks that would be an option too. I have the same hub on my 26, and maybe the 165s could be useful on that someday?
To be honest this wheelset has been sitting around so long I’m not in any rush to get rid of it, but I’d be happy to send it along to someone who will use it. Let me know if you want any or all of it. We can work out some kind of compensation that works for both of us. The tire is probably the most valuable part of the kit at this point.
Hey LargeEddie, would you still recommend this tire for very light muni? I’d like to try out muni before buying another uni. Perhaps buying this tire and putting it on my Sun would be a good option.
There is a Nimbus 24 on Seattle Craigslist in Pioneer Square right now for $160. If you don’t like it I’m sure you could get your money back out of it if not make money. I would pick it up for my son to grow into if I hadn’t just spent a bunch of money at UDC yesterday.
Matt
I just put a 26x1.95 wheel in my 24 KH frame with 125mm cranks and later 150mm cranks. Even though my seat height was perfect, I still felt as though I was riding a unicycle that was too small for me. My knees felt like they were squished. The wheel fit just fine in the frame but I wasn’t able to ride comfortably compared to the same wheel in a 26" frame. Not sure how to explain it. Has anyone else experienced that?
But I think I’ve decided to get a new 26 muni instead.
@Vertigo
I bet you could offer the guy 140. It started at 200, then recently he lowered the price to 160. Crappy picture, but it looks like its in real good shape, barely used. Even at 160 it’s a great deal.
Oh, I didn’t see it start at 240 ! I’ve got plenty of road riding, I’m jones-ing for some muni. I’ll have weekends free again after Christmas. We’ll hook up then.
