24" or 26"?

I've been learning on a very basic 20", and now looking to get my first
"proper" uni. Looking for something to do some distance and basic Muni
on. Haven't got an unlimited budget, so was loooking at Nimbus, but the
choice is then 24" or 26". Is there a big difference? As I am looking
at distance rather than technical, big drops etc then thought 26 would
be better, but will I regret it eg when climbing hills?

I've been learning on a very basic 20", and now looking to get my first
"proper" uni. Looking for something to do some distance and basic Muni
on. Haven't got an unlimited budget, so was loooking at Nimbus, but the
choice is then 24" or 26". Is there a big difference? As I am looking
at distance rather than technical, big drops etc then thought 26 would
be better, but will I regret it eg when climbing hills?

I don't think for things like hills there's a huge difference - it's not
really that much bigger, and bigger wheels can actually be quite nice
for hill climbing. I think the main advantage of a 24" wheel is the
strength inherent in a smaller wheel. I've currently got a 24", and the
idea of a slightly larger wheel to get a bit of extra pace is
attractive - particularly when riding in a group with the person behind
you on a 26" shouting "Fasterfasterfaster!".

John

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johnhimsworth

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I don't think for things like hills there's a huge difference - it's not
really that much bigger, and bigger wheels can actually be quite nice
for hill climbing. I think the main advantage of a 24" wheel is the
strength inherent in a smaller wheel. I've currently got a 24", and the
idea of a slightly larger wheel to get a bit of extra pace is
attractive - particularly when riding in a group with the person behind
you on a 26" shouting "Fasterfasterfaster!".

John

--
johnhimsworth

Never argue with an idiot; they drag you down to their level and then
beat you with experience.
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I don't think for things like hills there's a huge difference - it's not
really that much bigger, and bigger wheels can actually be quite nice
for hill climbing. I think the main advantage of a 24" wheel is the
strength inherent in a smaller wheel. I've currently got a 24", and the
idea of a slightly larger wheel to get a bit of extra pace is
attractive - particularly when riding in a group with the person behind
you on a 26" shouting "Fasterfasterfaster!".

John

--
johnhimsworth

Never argue with an idiot; they drag you down to their level and then
beat you with experience.
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I personally wouldn't recommend the nimbus frame. I have a nimbus
trials, and I really dislike the frame. I find the crown has a nasty
tendency of knocking into my legs, and I know on the 24" it hits your
knees. But I guess it just depends on what you get used to.

--
Zee
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I personally wouldn't recommend the nimbus frame. I have a nimbus
trials, and I really dislike the frame. I find the crown has a nasty
tendency of knocking into my legs, and I know on the 24" it hits your
knees. But I guess it just depends on what you get used to.

--
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I personally wouldn't recommend the nimbus frame. I have a nimbus
trials, and I really dislike the frame. I find the crown has a nasty
tendency of knocking into my legs, and I know on the 24" it hits your
knees. But I guess it just depends on what you get used to.

--
Zee
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Thanks for the info on Nimbus - I had thought the main issue was around
its strength. Are there any others at a similar price? Most of the
alternatives seem to be more than £100 more, which would require some
re-negotiation!

Thanks for the info on Nimbus - I had thought the main issue was around
its strength. Are there any others at a similar price? Most of the
alternatives seem to be more than £100 more, which would require some
re-negotiation!

Thanks for the info on Nimbus - I had thought the main issue was around
its strength. Are there any others at a similar price? Most of the
alternatives seem to be more than £100 more, which would require some
re-negotiation!

The nimbus II frame is fine for me, I've got two of them, on the 29er
and 26" and they both don't hit my knees. If you're really short or
have funny legs the frame shape might make a difference. Frame strength
isn't an issue because hardly anyone breaks frames.

For wheel size, 26 is fine if you don't want to do big drops. You'd
probably break cranks on big drops way before you'd break a well built
26" wheel anyway. There's not much difference on uphills, I think I
slightly prefer a 26" on uphills cos of the extra rolly overness for
bumps, but that's mainly just what I'm used to. I'd say go 26 if you're
more distancey. A 26" has more tyre choice too, which is handy if
you're not sure what kind of riding you want to do. There isn't much
difference between the sizes though, you'd probably be happy with a 24"
too.

It might be worth phoning Roger at unicycle.com UK to talk about wheel
size because he's one of the few people out there who rides 26" and 24"
unicycles with similar setups a lot, whereas pretty much everyone on
here will just recommend the wheel they happen to have (you can tell
I've got a 26" wheel right?).

Joe

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The nimbus II frame is fine for me, I've got two of them, on the 29er
and 26" and they both don't hit my knees. If you're really short or
have funny legs the frame shape might make a difference. Frame strength
isn't an issue because hardly anyone breaks frames.

For wheel size, 26 is fine if you don't want to do big drops. You'd
probably break cranks on big drops way before you'd break a well built
26" wheel anyway. There's not much difference on uphills, I think I
slightly prefer a 26" on uphills cos of the extra rolly overness for
bumps, but that's mainly just what I'm used to. I'd say go 26 if you're
more distancey. A 26" has more tyre choice too, which is handy if
you're not sure what kind of riding you want to do. There isn't much
difference between the sizes though, you'd probably be happy with a 24"
too.

It might be worth phoning Roger at unicycle.com UK to talk about wheel
size because he's one of the few people out there who rides 26" and 24"
unicycles with similar setups a lot, whereas pretty much everyone on
here will just recommend the wheel they happen to have (you can tell
I've got a 26" wheel right?).

Joe

--
joemarshall

my pics http://gallery.unicyclist.com/albuq44
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The nimbus II frame is fine for me, I've got two of them, on the 29er
and 26" and they both don't hit my knees. If you're really short or
have funny legs the frame shape might make a difference. Frame strength
isn't an issue because hardly anyone breaks frames.

For wheel size, 26 is fine if you don't want to do big drops. You'd
probably break cranks on big drops way before you'd break a well built
26" wheel anyway. There's not much difference on uphills, I think I
slightly prefer a 26" on uphills cos of the extra rolly overness for
bumps, but that's mainly just what I'm used to. I'd say go 26 if you're
more distancey. A 26" has more tyre choice too, which is handy if
you're not sure what kind of riding you want to do. There isn't much
difference between the sizes though, you'd probably be happy with a 24"
too.

It might be worth phoning Roger at unicycle.com UK to talk about wheel
size because he's one of the few people out there who rides 26" and 24"
unicycles with similar setups a lot, whereas pretty much everyone on
here will just recommend the wheel they happen to have (you can tell
I've got a 26" wheel right?).

Joe

--
joemarshall

my pics http://gallery.unicyclist.com/albuq44
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I agree with Joe about the Nimbus II frame. Mine's a 26" and I don't
hit my knees on it. There's a nice amount of clearance around a 3"
tyre as well - no rubbing even though it flexes a fair amount when
pedalling hard. The only thing I don't like about it is the colour
(I'm not a fan of chrome frames) but I can't be bothered to paint it or
get it powder coated, so it's just a tasteful mixture of chrome, mud
and stickers at the moment 🙂

--
rob.northcott

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to
skydive twice
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I agree with Joe about the Nimbus II frame. Mine's a 26" and I don't
hit my knees on it. There's a nice amount of clearance around a 3"
tyre as well - no rubbing even though it flexes a fair amount when
pedalling hard. The only thing I don't like about it is the colour
(I'm not a fan of chrome frames) but I can't be bothered to paint it or
get it powder coated, so it's just a tasteful mixture of chrome, mud
and stickers at the moment 🙂

--
rob.northcott

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to
skydive twice
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I agree with Joe about the Nimbus II frame. Mine's a 26" and I don't
hit my knees on it. There's a nice amount of clearance around a 3"
tyre as well - no rubbing even though it flexes a fair amount when
pedalling hard. The only thing I don't like about it is the colour
(I'm not a fan of chrome frames) but I can't be bothered to paint it or
get it powder coated, so it's just a tasteful mixture of chrome, mud
and stickers at the moment 🙂

--
rob.northcott

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to
skydive twice
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Hey John,
LIFE IS SHORT! Get a Coker or 29. You said you are looking to cover
distance and you already own a 20' so get a BIGGER tire. I had a 24'
and it's not much difference. You will still be squirreling around. On
a Coker or 29' it's a whole new LEVEL of riding a uni. If you ACTUALLY
want to compete with bike riders and even PASS them then get a Coker! I
PROMISE YOU WON'T REGRET IT!! 🙂

--
leadpan

"Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever" - Lance Armstrong
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Hey John,
LIFE IS SHORT! Get a Coker or 29. You said you are looking to cover
distance and you already own a 20' so get a BIGGER tire. I had a 24'
and it's not much difference. You will still be squirreling around. On
a Coker or 29' it's a whole new LEVEL of riding a uni. If you ACTUALLY
want to compete with bike riders and even PASS them then get a Coker! I
PROMISE YOU WON'T REGRET IT!! 🙂

--
leadpan

"Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever" - Lance Armstrong
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