Anyone here know anything about Unicycles ? Thought I might get one for my Nieces, but want to make an informed decision. Thanks.
They are a blast and a great workout. The upper is used to balance the bike and you will be sore after a long ride. I used to ride around a small lake in Dallas all the time.
I have one. Haven't ridden it sober in 10 years. I used to ride 2-3 miles at a time. Suggestion #1 - Buy a good used Schwinn to learn on. I started on a $30 Sears cycle then went to a Schwinn. The difference in the ride was surprising. I could have learned quicker on the Schwinn. Suggestion #2 - Don't try to learn in the yard. You'll never get the damn thing rolling. Learn in the driveway. Take your lumps. When I started I did nothing but fall for three or four days. Then I could go 6-10 feet, then to the end of the driveway, then down the street, then downtown (small town). Then...........well, let's just say I felt a lot like Forrest Gump. They are a lot of fun once you get beyond busting your ass all the time. JH
http://www.creativegeckos.com/pages/rigid-frames.htm "Borrow" some of their ideas and build one Ian. Maybe magnesium instead of titanium, for that old time feel.
Like this??? I had almost forgotten about Kerry McLean and his Monocycles. Wouldn't have as far to fall. But you would be going faster. Maybe that would be a better choice ?
yep! SCHWINN all the way! if my pic comes out, the small one is a schwinn and the 6 footer is an Oxford cycle out of the U.K. it took a lot of practice to learn how to ride. Concret driveway and if you have something like a fence to help guide you it helps you to learn how to balance your weight!
A fellow mechainic at the bike shop I work at got one, I think it listed for $150 (canadian dollars). That was a decent one, with a trials tire and rim, which can be ridden offroad if you get good enough. Kris Holm is REALLY GOOD. It does take a while to learn to ride.... me and the other guy worked at it for a couple weeks during lulls in business at the shop, and I got so that I could ride from the service counter to the front of the shop. They take a while, but aren't that bad to learn, since they loop out so fast you are left standing there, and the uni goes flying away........ the worst wipeout I had was lightly landing on my rear end and putting a hand down. so yeah.... you should be able to pick one up fairly cheap, if you can't find a used one, go into any bike shop, and if they don't have one sitting there, they can order you one. If they tell you they cant get one, they are probably giving you BS. Ask them to look in their supplier catalouges, they seem to all have one or two listed in the back somewhere.
Hey, unicycles are a blast. I bought a used Schwinn at an antique mall for 50 bucks. Took it home shined it up and crashed the hell out of it. Never got hurt, just sore. It took me a good 6 weeks, on and off, before I could go around the block. I still can't get on it without leaning on something. When I get tired of working on the car or mowing or what ever I get it out for a few minutes. It's a good break. I say go for it.
When you find one, make sure they can get seats, cause the first one will probably get detroyed quick.
I wanted to join the Circus when I was younger, but the guy running the Freak Show said I was "over qualified".
Schwinns are real nice. How big is she? If she is short, go with the 20", if she is "normal" sized (5'5 and over) try and find a 24"er. I have found that the 24" wheel is a bit more stable and was easier to teach people on. When you set her up on the uni, make sure that her legs get at least 3/4 extension, it is much easier to ride that way.
A "Penny Farthing" is as close as I'd get to a Unicycle...!!! http://www.inet-shibata.or.jp/~HSbicycles/HISTORY1.htm Real Scary if you got to stop fast...!
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