36" vs. 29"

An important thing to consider is what type of streets you'll be on. If
you'll be on busy city streets, then the smaller wheel will certainly
have a shorter stopping distance. I live just outside of Boston and
knowing the city, I'm not too keen on bringing my 29" (I ride w/ 125
cranks) into any situation where I'd have to "stop really short" - it
just wouldn't be fun. I'd be more prone to ride a 26" in the downtown
core than a 29" and wouldn't want to think about having to stop really
short on a 36".

Plus, shorter cranks will also reduce the stopping distance.

It's far from the only thing to think about when going for a larger
wheel, but "going faster easier" is not the only thing to consider
either.

--
bmemike

I dub thee Sir Phobos, Knight of Mars, beater of ass. Be a hitter,
babe.

------

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<> Unicycling for Fish <><

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If you'll mostly be doing long distance for fun rides, I'd go with the
coker...if you're gonna be using it for commuting purposes, then the
29er could be better. The Coker is harder to control, or it can be, so
its not as good as the 29er to ride on crowded streets...but if you
live in a small town, then you can get the coker too. Depends on the
streets you'll be riding on.

--
James_Potter

i still believe that all you need is love...john
lennon
'*mikael atkinson*' (http://www.barefoothippie.com)
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thayr said:

I do mostly street riding, point A to point B.

Coker, absolutely, hands down, no question.

--
harper

-Greg Harper

B L U E S H I F T

*jc is the only main man. there can be no other.*

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Sounds like both then. 🙂

Cathy

--
cathwood

Say no to unicycle genre discrimination! - MrBoogiejuice

http://www.chuckingandtwirling.co.uk
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trials_uni said:

Coker, without question. Thats what most distance riders will tell you.
Some will say"No get the 29er, its more versatile!" But most will say
that a Coker will do anythign a 29er will do.

What about your experiences on 36ers and 29ers, trials_uni? How much
urban riding have you done on these wheels?

--
maestro8

Those are my principles. If you don't like those, I have others. --
Groucho Marx
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None what so ever. Which im pretty sure you already kno because you said
you were gonna call me out on my advice some day. I was simply offering
my opinion based on my reading from other members. The Coker and the
29er both have their advantages and all i said was that
"others"(seasoned distance riders) would probably recomend the Coker.

--
trials_uni

TRIALS 4 LIFE !

Quoted message said:

<>UNICYCLING FOR MYSLELF<><

'Check Out The Newbie Guide' (http://tinyurl.com/99yez)

koebwil said:

I'm too hardcore to type. I just punch the keyboard and delete the
letters I don't want

w00t...i got reply # 60666 in MR
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My 29er usually gets ridden one ~couple of mile journeys to work or
around town, and I find it's quite comfortable to do that sort of
distance on it. I've never ridden a coker, but for dodging round
pedestians in the crowded town centre, the smaller wheel is helpful. I
suspect the 29er is quite a good compromise for threading through
narrow, busy streets and still getting there at a reasonable pace. I
still have to dismount when things get really busy.

The furthest I've done in a day is about 18 miles, and I'm sure I would
have been happier with a Coker for that sort of distance. Maybe one
day, when I've got more money ;-)

--
mark williamson

Dave: Just a question. What use is a unicyle with no seat? And no
pedals!
Mark: To answer a question with a question: What use is a skateboard?
Dave: Skateboards have wheels.
Mark: My wheel has a wheel!
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How far is your A to B, and through what types of environments?

bmemike said:

If you'll be on busy city streets, then the smaller wheel will certainly
have a shorter stopping distance.

Plus it will be more maneuverable. If it's not the type of riding where
you can just cruise in a mostly straight line, the Coker will be a
little harder to work with.

Quoted message said:

Plus, shorter cranks will also reduce the stopping distance.

I think he was trying to say shorter cranks will *increase* stopping
distance. But on a cruising-type uni, stopping is seldom the solution
to obstacles. A quick turn is usually faster and safer than possibly
dismounting onto somebody's feet.

My former commuter to work was pretty flat, and I used a Coker with
125s. I'd recommend using the 150s that come with it until you get
comfortable before considering shorter cranks.

If you want to ride 3 miles at a time or more, I'd say go for the
Coker. You can always get an in-between wheel size in the future if you
think you need one, but if you want to ride longer distances, the Coker
is what you'll want.

Brake? You'll only need one of those if you ride lots of hills. It
doesn't do a thing on flat ground.

--
johnfoss

John Foss
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com
-----------------------------------------------

"The worst thing you can do on a unicycle when you land is stop dead."
-- Kris Holm, world's expert on high-consequence unicycling
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thayr said:

So it's getting down to the wire... about to make that purchase for a
bigger ride. The largest wheel I've ridden on is 26". Should I go up to
a 29, or go for a 36? I've heard sitting on a 36 puts you way up in the
air but I ride a 6ft so I don't think that would be a problem. I do
mostly street riding, point A to point B. On my 26 I use 125 cranks,
sometimes when I have to quickly slow down I can feel a bit of a
strain, so I can imagine that would be greatly increased on a 29, and
with a 36 even more so (would I need a brake?). So, can anyone give
some riding experience on a 29" with 125 cranks vs. a 36" with 125
cranks (or any other size cranks)?

I have only unied for <2 yrs, but this (my second) year, my stable of
unis filled out: Original:TorkerLX24, then KHXC29, then a TorkerDX20
and a Radial 360.

I ride the LX24, never...permanent loaner;
Next, I ride the 20DX fairly often to practice trialsy stuff.
Next, the KH29 is my only Muni, and I love [censored] Muni, so I ride it
alot, and it's also (with a road-slick tire) my climbing wheel.
Last, and MOST OF ALL! I ride the 36" when I have to get somewhere
quick, but not car-quick or bike-quick.

-However -the real treat for me is aking the 36" for a good exercize
ride - the bliss of riding a big wheel through miles of empty farm
roads is a release of the sweetest proportions.

All that being said, get the 36" 😄.

Brake? You don't need no stinking brake! If you have to stop fast,
jump off. I walk my 36" through crowds, but I'd probably walk my 20",
too, because non-uniers have no idea if you none, some, or complete
control.

--
steveyo

steveyo

...like having your own personal rollercoaster...
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A 29er has a number of advantages over a coker.
It's lighter,
It's smaller and easier to transport and store.
Easier to find tires and tubes
Easier to adapt to than a coker
Easier to mount
Easier to start and stop with a given crank length.

That being said, i LOVE my coker, and I find it to be an ideal city
machine.
It DOES take more time to adapt to, but once you do.
It's plenty maneuverable.
It's faster
125's usually give enough leverage for ok stopping times.
More than adaquate leverage with 150's
It's SAFER than a 29er for riding in the city for the following reason:
You are higher up, and theremore more visable. Cars go out of their
way to avoid you. When I go riding with my girlfriend (her on bike) she
almost gets run over, but cars go in the opposite lane to avoid me.

Mounting is frustrating at first, especailly in a city where you have
lots of lights. I deal with this by holding on to sign posts, or doing
still-stand hop still-stand at lights (this impresses people a lot)

My vote is for 36er.

Note: As for the brake, they are only useful on steep decents. I don't
use one.

thayr said:

So it's getting down to the wire... about to make that purchase for a
bigger ride. The largest wheel I've ridden on is 26". Should I go up to
a 29, or go for a 36? I've heard sitting on a 36 puts you way up in the
air but I ride a 6ft so I don't think that would be a problem. I do
mostly street riding, point A to point B. On my 26 I use 125 cranks,
sometimes when I have to quickly slow down I can feel a bit of a
strain, so I can imagine that would be greatly increased on a 29, and
with a 36 even more so (would I need a brake?). So, can anyone give
some riding experience on a 29" with 125 cranks vs. a 36" with 125
cranks (or any other size cranks)?

--
mscalisi
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johnfoss said:

I think he was trying to say shorter cranks will *increase* stopping
distance.

Thanks for catching that - that's exactly what I meant. *slaps
forehead*

--
bmemike

I dub thee Sir Phobos, Knight of Mars, beater of ass. Be a hitter,
babe.

------

Quoted message said:

<> Unicycling for Fish <><

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coker.. i have both.. the speed is nothing like one another.. get a
coker with 125's and a nice seat.. you adapt to it like any other uni

Chase

--
Unitik908

All hail the exhaulted Sigpoose, for he is forever king...
R.I.P Unibiker
R.I.P Gazzaloddi
R.I.P Paul Hester
R.I.P James Doohan
R.I.P Mitch Hedberg
R.I.P Peter Jennings
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R.I.P James_Potters_Cat
YAMS

-last edited by the dave and sigpoose on 2005-09-05 at 08:56 pm -
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There are only two good reasons not to buy a Coker.

1) The terrain your riding is the mountains of Santa Barbara,
California
2) You are a trials nut. (but, I would still keep one for long trips)

I can ride my Coker to, from and through any place that anyone else can
ride a 29”. (almost anyone else)

It’s all practice. Once you master the Coker, you can do everything you
would on a 29” It just increases the fun factor.

All your initial fears and those Coker misconceptions about the size,
weight and maneuverability will disappear with practice.

I’ve been riding my whole life and have tried all the different wheel
sizes and types of terrain and there is nothing like the feel of a
Coker when you’ve finally mastered it. I’m not against other wheel
sizes, I own one of each but, The Coker experience blows them away.
Plain and simple, it’s just BETTER!

If you don’t buy a Coker now you will regret it. More people have been
buying Coker’s for a reason.:eek:
On my monthly Muni rides the number of Coker riders has tripled. It’s
only because people are just first learning about the possibilities you
have with a Coker.

Once you can ride a unicycle, you can ride any size wheel, it just
takes a small adjustment period.

It’s worth it.

I promise!

Adam

--
JustOneWheel

There is no better way to have Fun and Exercise. "UNICYCLE"
Every one should have "FUN ON ONE"
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coker

--
iridemymuni

In theory, there is no difference between practice and theory, in
practice, there is.
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Quoted message said:

coker

iridemymuni

i agree, get 125 cranks with a brake to take away the strain. if ur not
gonna be going majorly long distances i rekon a 29" would be fine.

--
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Thanks for all the replies. It seems like the majority lean towards the
36". Right now when I'm on my 26" I generally stay on the sidewalk and
only venture out on the road if there's a wide shoulder or bike lane. I
feel very meager on the road riding a 26". I liked what someone said
about really standing out while riding a 36.

Most of my street riding has been done around London and Los Angeles.
People are much more bike aware in England, in LA everyone is just
zooming about trying to beat the next traffic light. I've never had
problems riding the roads in the UK (aside from someone trying to be
funny and screaming at me right as they drove by). In LA I've had quite
a few things happen, including twice having cars backing up out of
driveways/parking lots (both times I got their attention by slapping
the trunk of the car, which causes the drivers to put on the brakes and
give you a nasty look).

So I think that settles it, 36". A few more paychecks and I'll make the
purchase!

--
thayr
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give me a nimble 29er over a boat anchor 36 anyday.

--
forget_your_life

dream one dream many....
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I love my 29ers and ride every day when I can. However, I have given in
to temptation to buy a 36". It will come in a couple of weeks, so give
me a couple of months or so to get used to it and I'll tell you how
they compare.

Cathy

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cathwood

Say no to unicycle genre discrimination! - MrBoogiejuice

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I've been sticking with not buying a Coker thus far--we'll see how long
that lasts. My reasoning is that I can already ride faster on a 29er
than I can run out a UPD, and I don't really care much for long
distances on pavement. If I really want to go faster or farther on
pavement, I have an assortment of bicycles that can go much faster and
much farther without the dreaded UPD.

For muni, a strong 29er is still considerably cheaper than a strong
Coker, and I think I'd have to run longer cranks than my short legs
would like in order to ride a Coker up the steep trails I frequent.

--
phlegm
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