I was thinking why aren’t trials unis 16". A 16" wheel would be cheaper, stronger, and lighter. The only problem is that not many places make the right stuff for a 16" trials uni. Other than that not much else is wrong for having a 16" trials uni. Someone should start making 16" trials wheel parts and frames.
Re: Why not 16" trial unis?
There was someone in Universe 1 who was riding what looked like a 16" trials uni. it was smaller than 20", or looked like it, anyway.
You could probably spend like 50 bucks on a 16" united uni, and put a 16x2.125 tire on it, then put an extra long neckk on it, and some Dotek or Bike Euro Cranks(avalable in 89-110mm) and some small pinned pedal on there, I imagine you might be ale to add some height to your jumps, and that grinding would be a little easier. If someone has 100 bucks lying around, and nothing better to do with it, I’d give it a try.
I actually have a 16"x2.4" tire.
Once I get enough for a profile hub and cranks i’ll make one. Do u use that 16"x2.4" tire?
Also where did u get that tire?
are you planning on putting the profile hub and cranks on the 16 inch wheel? Because i don’t think that would work, I’m fairly certain that the smallest profile crank is 145 mm which would be way to big for a 16 inch wheel.
general dibbles has a point.
if you used a kris holmm hub you might be able to make some 100mm 8 spline cranks to go with it.
Doesn’t anyone sell shorter cranks that fit a profile hub? Otherwise ill have to go with a KH hub and cranks.
i think the shortest splined cranks you can get are 127 mm for the kh/onza hub, qu ax, and qu ax makes 127 mm cranks for the first addition kh hub.
I made a similar thread a while ago you may be interested in reading.
http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26413&highlight=16+for+trials
Andrew
hey andrew did u ever end up getting that 16" trials uni or did u decide to get just a normal 20" er
a 19x2.5 trials tyre is slow enough, i couldnt imagine trying to do a gap or get momentum to clear some stairs on a 16"… not to mention the cranks hitting the ground on every turn.
19" is great b/c we can play off of the mod trials bike equipment. The wheels are bombproof if you keep enough air in them. Good tire selection.
Saying that we have access to equipment of similar quality, what would the benefits be of having a 16" wheel?
It would be smaller and lighter. But, I agree with jagur. 19 inchers are already a pain to go any distance on (even from one obstacle to another), 16 would be slower then walking. After a certain point, it becomes more like a pogo stick with small wheel attached then a unicycle.
No, I never put together a 16" trials uni…the parts wouldn’t have been strong/well developed enough.
Andrew
the problem is rims. there is no 16" rim of high enough quality for what we do. (i think) i would murder a 16" rim doing one day of trials.
i think it would be a kick to try and make a rim.
i think its worth a try.
E.
As Jagur said, I think the biggest problem would be pedals hitting the ground. This is after getting someone to manufacture a quality rim, tire, and short cranks to go with it.
But assuming someone starts to manufacture the necessary parts, 16" makes sense for many types of Trials. Also for high-jump competitions. Smaller wheel is not only lighter, but extends a smaller distance below your feet. Higher jumps and grabs should be possible.
But anything requiring speed or momentum would suffer.
I think I will make one!