Purchase Question

I have a 28" Sun and it's quite easy to ride. I learned how
to ride on a 20" Torker, then a 24x3 MUni with a Gazz (same
effective wheel diameter as a 26"😉 then bought a 28" Sun
before purchasing a Coker. It may take a little time
adjusting to the 28" going straight from a 20" wheel, but I
would highly recommend the 28" Sun for short road riding.
They come with a relatively comfortable saddle. The ones
that Unicycle.com sells have a steel wheel that is not as
strong as an alloy rim would be. I saw a place that was
selling new 28" Suns with an alloy wheel on ebay a while
back. I would suggest trying to get my hands on one of those
if possible.

--
Krashin'Kenny - Crash Tested

If you ain't crashing, you ain't going fast enough!!!!!!!!!!!

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UniMike <[email hidden]> writes:

I bought a Sun 26". I am basically happy with it, and I can
easily ride several miles, but I expected to have to upgrade
parts as they broke. As it turns out, those upgrades
happened wuicker than I had expected. After three months the
only original parts left are the hub, bearings, frame,
seatpost and clamp. OK maybe I kept the innertube, too.

One of the pedals self destructed right away, leaving a
trail of ball bearings in the street. I had much more
durable pedals in my parts bin, so I didn't ask for
replacements. New pedals would have cost: $20

Then I started riding distance and bought a KH seat for
comfort. Definitely an improvement, but in comparison the
old seat wasn't so bad. cost: $48.

About this time, the cranks started coming loose on me.
After three tries to fix them, I went to the forum archives
and followed someone's advice to hammer the suckers on (I
used wood blocks and a big rock). So far, so good.

Next, I made the mistake of trying skills on the Sun. Just
as I succeeded on my first few side mounts, the rim potato
chipped (tacoed?) on me. I blamed myself, knowing that a
cheap steel rim wouldn't last long, so again no complaint. A
trip to my bike shop yielded a second hand rim and new
spokes so I could build a new wheel. Cost: $50.

Did I mention that the bearing bolts somehow came loose? No
biggie, but carrying allen wrneches is a good idea.

By the way, the stock tire turns out to be too small to fit
a quality rim. At least without serious effort.

I changed to a studded tire for winter. Not only was it hard
to remove the stock tire, but the bead was damaged, with a
bunch of steel exposed where the rubber was abraded. I
decided not to mess with this tire any more and bought a
Maxxis Hookworm. Cost: $35.

I find that stock 150mm cranks are longer than I want for
this uni. Santa sent me a set of 125s. Cost: Around $10-$20.

At this point, the seatpost is pretty thoroughly mashed
because it is very soft and bends each time I adjust the
height. I'll probably need a new one before long. Aside from
the seatpost, I expect this unicycle to survive in its
current configuration for a long time. The hub is likely the
weakest link, and I'd upgrade to the unicycle.com chromoly
hub (plus new spokes) if this one bends.

The bottom line is I am very happy riding my "Sun" uni,
but it has required a lot of attention and upgrades in a
short time.

Ken

After reading everyone's opinions, I came to two conclusions:

1. My English really sucks. I had thought I was pretty
clear on what I wanted to do with a unicycle (ride to
the store on somewhat bumpy roads and ride around the
neighborhood, maybe to and from work), I just needed
opinions on brands. Oh well. I'll get better with
age. Or not.

2. Stay away from lollipops.

So I bought the Sun 26" and am having a blast with it!
Krashin' Kenny, you're right, the alloy wheel would have
been a LOT better, but I'm not sure I could have jumped from
a 20 to a 28. Wish I could have got that wheel on the 26.
And Ken Cline, you gave me a lot to think about, but I
didn't want to spend a lot of money to start with. This is a
learning experience for me. I can get a better ride after I
practice with this a bit.

Mikefule, you're not sounding harsh at all, you're
absolutely right. I had a heart attack last year, was badly
out of shape, and am now working toward getting into better
shape to prevent another one. That's why I started
unicycling last summer. So yes, it does tire me out to ride
a quarter mile (440 yards, as you say) and no, I don't
expect to get on the 26 and ride 10 miles tomorrow. In fact,
I don't plan on ever riding 10 miles - period. What I plan
on is doing two miles nearly every day. On the other hand,
I'm not falling down and gasping for air after 440 yards,
either. I just want to have fun - and I'm doing it. I'll
leave the 20 miles per day on a 20" to you guys and gals!

And THANKS EVERYONE who responded! I really appreciated
the input!!

Now then, with a brand new Sponge Bob Square Pants sticker
on my helmet, off I go - thanks, ya'll!!

YIPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0 _!_ / (+)

I don't have any experience with either of these two unis,
but'here' (tinyurl.com3248fOpen ↗) is a thread in the
product review forum for the Sun.

Personally, I would go with a better/ stronger uni then
the two you listed. It will cost more, but will also last
much longer and you won't have to be as careful about
breaking it. A couple models I'd look at are the Semcycles
and the Yuni.

I have a Semcycle 26er and it has serverd me very well.

There's my $.02 Daniel xcv

--
daino149 - How's it going, Texas?

there ain't enough body armor in the country for me to try that. -- Ken
on the mtbr forum in reference to MUni
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daino149 said:

*I don't have any experience with either of these two
unis, but 'here' (tinyurl.com3248fOpen ↗) is a thread in
the product review forum for the Sun.

Personally, I would go with a better/ stronger uni then
the two you listed. It will cost more, but will also last
much longer and you won't have to be as careful about
breaking it. A couple models I'd look at are the Semcycles
and the Yuni.

I have a Semcycle 26er and it has serverd me very well.

There's my $.02 Daniel xcv *

--
daino149 - How's it going, Texas?

there ain't enough body armor in the country for me to try that. -- Ken
on the mtbr forum in reference to MUni
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Avoid the United 26" unicycle. It has the poorly
designed Taiwanese lollipop bearing holders. The frame
will crack around the bolts that hold the lollipop on.
In your price range you need to avoid anything with
lollipop bearing holders.

The two Sun unicycles have the much better main cap
bearing holders.

So your choice is down to the 26" Sun or the 28" Sun.

--
john_childs - Guinness Mojo

john_childs (at) hotmail (dot) com
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The 28" Sun with the alloy wheel that I referred to earlier
has a "buy it now" option for less than $90 including
freight if you're in the U.S.

Here's the link:

tinyurl.com595rOpen ↗

--
Krashin'Kenny - Crash Tested

If you ain't crashing, you ain't going fast enough!!!!!!!!!!!

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I'm going to have to agree with daino in that I'd go with a
bit more pricey but much more quality unicycle...if you buy
a Sun then before long you will most likely have but enough
money into it to have bought a quality unicycle. Not saying
sun isnt quality im just saying there are much more long
term smart buy choices. Also for long distance im hearing
that 29ers are the best.

--
fluffinator007
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UniMike said:

[B I'm doing pretty good with it, I find that just
peddling 1/4 mile or so tires me out pretty badly. I need
a bigger wheel! [/B]

At the risk of sounding harsh, if pedaling 440 yards (406
metres) tires you out pretty badly... a 20 should cruise
easily at around 5 mph, which is a mile every 12 minutes, so
1/4 mile will take 3 minutes...

Assuming you are not being self deprecating about your
ability, the problem isn't the size of the wheel.

A 26 is good for MUni, although if I had the choice
again, I'd a get a 24 with a fatter tyre, and a 28/29 is
good for distance. If you're going to do either of these
things, you're going to be spending hours in the saddle.
On a road ride, it's common for me to spend 30 - 40
minutes without dismounting, and I have often ridden for
over an hour without dismounting. On my 20, I once rode
20 miles in a day.

You will get less tired the more you practise, and the more
you relax into the riding. You can then optimise the uni for
your preferred style of riding by changing the cranks and
improving the pedals. I've seen MUni done on 20s. I have 110
mm cranks on mine now and often ride 3 or 4 miles on it
alongside my friend on his 24.

Sooner or later you will develop a preference for a
certain type of riding (MUni, touring, speed, freestyle
etc.) and then you will be in a position to make the best
choice for you.

--
Mikefule - Roland Hope School of Unicycling
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UniMike said:

*I find that just peddling 1/4 mile or so tires me out
pretty badly. I need a bigger wheel!*

Get a Coker! They are bigger than 20", 24", 26", 28" and 29"
unicycles. I think you will soon get tired on any Unicycle.
A similar amount of energy is used on different wheel sizes
to get places. It's just on a small wheel you cruise slowly
without expending much energy and on a big wheel you cruise
faster but it takes more energy to get it up to speed.
Cokers have the momentum (flywheel effect) which make them
more efficient for long distance than 20"ers, but any size
requires constant pedalling. I've ridden a reasonable
distance (35k) on a 20", and it didn't tire me out much, it
just took a long time and chafed my inner thighs more than
usual. I'd say lots of practise will help more than changing
wheel size, but a new Uni can't hurt.

Concentrate on putting most of your weight in the saddle
rather than on the pedals, and you might find that you can
go further without getting so tired. If the seat is killing
you then maybe you need a seat upgrade (if you get a new
Unicycle make sure it has a Kris Holm saddle).

A 28" sounds like it would be perfectly suited to what you
want to use it for, but if those rough roads are very rough
a 29er might do the job better, because bumps can throw you
off a 28" pretty easily. The more money you spend initially,
the less you will need to spend on upgrades in the future
when parts fail (in theory), so don't always go for the
cheapest option. I bought the second most expensive MUni on
Unicycle.com because I got sick of inferior parts breaking.

Good luck in making the best decision UniMike, and keep
practising distance riding on your 20" while you save for a
bigger wheel, it will help prepare you for what is to come.

--
Rowan - Another Unicyclist
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I'm with Mikefule. Keep at your 20" and play with a couple
of different tires and tire pressures. Buying a bigger wheel
won't really make you go that much farther. Work on some
skills like idling and backwards, and soon what your next
wheel should be will become apparent.

--
U-Turn - Wholly Roller

Weep in the dojo... laugh on the battlefield.

'Strongest Coker Wheel in the World'
(unicyclist.comalbup39Open ↗)

'Unatics Website' (newyorkunicycle.comnewyorkunicycle.comOpen ↗)

-- Dave Stockton
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UniMike said:

*After reading everyone's opinions, I came to two
conclusions:

1. My English really sucks. I had thought I was pretty
clear on what I wanted to do with a unicycle (ride to
the store on somewhat bumpy roads and ride around the
neighborhood, maybe to and from work), I just needed
opinions on brands.

Mikefule, you're not sounding harsh at all, you're
absolutely right. I had a heart attack last year, was
badly out of shape, and am now working toward getting into
better shape to prevent another one. *

Ah, well you didn't give us all the facts. I guess that most
of us who replied foolishly assumed that your stated goals
were subtly understated...

And if I'd known there was a medical reason for your
fatigue, I would have been less harsh. Sorry.

That said, my point was not that anyone who's out of breath
after 1/4 mile is a wimp, but that the answer to improving
performance is (generally) more to do with the rider than
with the machine. Experience develops stamina, but (more
importantly) it develops an economical technique. I can now
ride for miles at a time without significant fatigue, not
because I'm super fit, but because I've learned how to ride
for miles at a time.

The difference between a 20 and a 24 is 20%; between a 20
and a 26 it is 30%. Looked at in this very simplistic way,
changing up from a 20 to a 26 will make your rides 580 odd
yards long, rather than 440 yards long.

Of course, it isn't that simple, and if you have a heart
condition, anything that makes the riding smoother and
easier has to be good. You will soon find yourself riding a
mile or two with ease.

My much loved step father had a heart attack in early 2003
and is now managing 20 - 30 minute walks, and even doing a
little bit of ballroom dancing. I wish you every bit as
much success in your recovery, and I hope you enjoy the
unicycle for its own sake as well as it being a means to an
end. Good luck.

--
Mikefule - Roland Hope School of Unicycling
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UniMike said:

*After reading everyone's opinions, I came to two
conclusions:

1. My English really sucks. I had thought I was pretty
clear on what I wanted to do with a unicycle (ride to
the store on somewhat bumpy roads and ride around the
neighborhood, maybe to and from work), I just needed
opinions on brands. Oh well. I'll get better with age.
Or not.

2. Stay away from lollipops. *

You have to keep in mind that those of us who post on RSU
are not normal. We're the 0.1% of unicyclists who obsess
about equipment and unicycle riding. Ask an obsessive person
a simple question and you'll probably get a complicated
answer. 🙂

--
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john_childs said:

* Ask an obsessive person a simple question and you'll
probably get a complicated answer. 🙂 *

Why? :p

--
Mikefule - Roland Hope School of Unicycling

Sometimes I ride like a demon, sometimes like a lemon. It's an L of a
difference.
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Mikefule said:

*Why? :p *

If the answer is simple then there is less to obsess over.
The truly obsessive obsess over the simple things too and
discuss those obsessions here on RSU.

The point I was trying to make is that:
(1) We're not representative of the normal unicycling
population here.
(2) We're more likely to take a simple question from a
beginner and twist it into something more complicated.

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john_childs said:

Mikefule said:

*Why? :p *

If the answer is simple then there is less to obsess over.
The truly obsessive obsess over the simple things too and
discuss those obsessions here on RSU.

The point I was trying to make is that:
(1) We're not representative of the normal unicycling
population here.
(2) We're more likely to take a simple question from a
beginner and twist it into something more complicated.

I don't think that was a complicated answer. So assuming
that "probably" worked out in this case to be "certainly",
this sort of proves that John Childs is not obsessive. Hmmm.

Klaas Bil - Newsgroup Addict
--
You have to keep in mind that those of us who post on RSU
are not normal. - John Childs

And in any case, I'm having fun with my new 26" Sun. You all
can be as obsessive as you want! Heh heh.

I did get good answers and am enjoying the fruits of them
all!

(Klaas Bil) said:

On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 16:08:59 -0600, john_childs
<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Mikefule said:

*Why? :p *

If the answer is simple then there is less to obsess over.
The truly obsessive obsess over the simple things too and
discuss those obsessions here on RSU.

The point I was trying to make is that:
(1) We're not representative of the normal unicycling
population here.
(2) We're more likely to take a simple question from a
beginner and twist it into something more complicated.

I don't think that was a complicated answer. So assuming
that "probably" worked out in this case to be
"certainly", this sort of proves that John Childs is not
obsessive. Hmmm.

Klaas Bil - Newsgroup Addict