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Any unicyclists around here?

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Started 3 years ago by pixlfarmer
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pixlfarmer
Dublin
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In all seriousness...
I know there's no shortage of cyclists on here, but are there any unicyclists?
I've been learning over the past month on a 20" Torker LX. I can scoot around the neighborhood fairly well, and just learned how to free-mount it today. :D (now I just need to learn how to idle)
Anyways, I'm really itching to meet up with some other riders, and maybe try out other uni's... the 20" seems a little slow, and I really would like to see how a 24" or 36" wheel feels. I could really use a good critique, or someone to just do some cycling with.
And before the clown jokes begin, check out what people are doing with them nowadays on youtube.

Posted 3 years ago #
Cyclist
Peach District (State of Mind)
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Man, you're such a trendster with your little fixie.

Posted 3 years ago #
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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My friend is long time cyclist in SF (was involved for many years in critical mass, etc.) and tells me that there is now a large contingent of unicycle commuters in SF. He recounted his experience going out on a ride with one of them and how he had trouble keeping up with the dude.
I also saw a guy out west when I was driving around the mountains north of Santa Cruz last fall when I went on vacation. The guy was riding down a 9-10% grade on a 36" unicycle, and he had to have come up from the other side since there was nothing else around. He had a big evil grin on his face.

Posted 3 years ago #
pixlfarmer
Dublin
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Cyclist wrote Man, you're such a trendster with your little fixie.
They make geared uni's now too. :P

Posted 3 years ago #
pixlfarmer
Dublin
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michaelcoyote wrote My friend is long time cyclist in SF (was involved for many years in critical mass, etc.) and tells me that there is now a large contingent of unicycle commuters in SF. He recounted his experience going out on a ride with one of them and how he had trouble keeping up with the dude.
I also saw a guy out west when I was driving around the mountains north of Santa Cruz last fall when I went on vacation. The guy was riding down a 9-10% grade on a 36" unicycle, and he had to have come up from the other side since there was nothing else around. He had a big evil grin on his face.
Yeah, it's pretty crazy... unicycling is apparently pretty big out on the west coast, specifically SF and Vancouver. (as well as the UK and Japan) You can cover some distance with a 36" tire, and they market them specifically as "commuter" unicycles. There's all sorts too... Here's an article and video on the NYT on mountain unicycling, though I think I'm probably a bit old to be attempting that sort of business.

Posted 3 years ago #
pixlfarmer
Dublin
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Here's a video of some guys on commuter wheels, to give you an idea of their speed and agility

Posted 3 years ago #
Ndcent
OTE
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Thats a cool video.
I have a 20" unicycle also, although I'm not sure where it is currently. I never did get the hang of it, but I sure did wreck my hallway in my old house trying to learn.
I feel like the larger wheeled ones would be better for learning, but they're taller so maybe not?
I think unicycle trials are also neat, among other things unicycle like Uniracers for SNES (easily one of the best games ever for that system.)

Posted 3 years ago #
Ndcent
OTE
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Posted 3 years ago #
Matthew
Hilltop
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I used to unicycle. I think the worst thing about them is that you can't stand up to rest your butt, which starts to go numb after an hour or so. I haven't done it in ten or more years now though.

Posted 3 years ago #
blammo
in the shadow of the wonder of bread
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Dammit! Now I gotta get a unicycle.

Posted 3 years ago #
Cyclist
Peach District (State of Mind)
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pixlfarmer wrote
Cyclist wrote Man, you're such a trendster with your little fixie.
They make geared uni's now too. :P
O yeah

Posted 3 years ago #
misskitty
Columbus
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there is a guy I see biking down my street on occasion he looks real happy about his cycle I will hip him to this web site next time i see him

Posted 3 years ago #
pixlfarmer
Dublin
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Ndcent wrote
I feel like the larger wheeled ones would be better for learning, but they're taller so maybe not?
Yeah, it would almost seem that way, but from what all the forums and instruction online, everyone says 20" is the easiest to start on. Now that I've sorta got the hang of it, a tad more speed would be nice.

Posted 3 years ago #
pixlfarmer
Dublin
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misskitty wrote there is a guy I see biking down my street on occasion he looks real happy about his cycle I will hip him to this web site next time i see him
If you're in southern Clintonville near the market, that's probably me. :wink:

Posted 3 years ago #
pixlfarmer
Dublin
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blammo wrote Dammit! Now I gotta get a unicycle.
FYI if anyone is serious about getting one, don't make the same mistake I did... Avoid the ultra-cheap, no-brand unis. Though there aren't many parts to a uni, they have to be made well and with precision. I picked up the first one I found in the store, (I'm talking about you, BikeSource!) not even thinking that there might be better brands or quality. The cheap-o ended up bruising my tailbone pretty bad, and I shelved the idea for a couple years. Get a Torker brand or better. The main thing is you want one with a decent saddle on it. Torkers are about as cheap as you want to go for a real, ridable uni.

Posted 3 years ago #