29" or 36" for mild commuting???

If you have the money, get the Coker. Otherwise, it sounds like a 29er
would work perfectly for you.

--
James_Potter - Rettop_Semaj

-If there was an eleventh commandment, it is to be "thou shalt dip thy
pizza, for it is, wicked."-
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me and ryan (me 36"/127's, him 29r"/102's) came within minutes of each
other over a 60km course featuring gravel roads, paved roads, and mild
offroading.

Either one you get will be fine for commuting, it's what you are looking
for in a 'total' unicycling package.

The Coker is tougher to master, a completely unique ride, more of a
challenge, and is a lot cooler. (personal pref, but you tower over
pedestrians and bikers while you ride) Does your commute contain slushy,
icey, or snowwy sidewalks in the winter? The Coker will plow through
stuff that the 29r can't handle.

I can only lock my Coker up to the end of a bikerack because it doesn't
fit in the wheel holes.

The stock rim, while weak, is all you need for commuting. An alluminum
rim is also available.

There is only one tire you can get with the Coker. This tire is great
for the road, and fine in the trail. It only craps out in mud (deep or
slick mud in the trails, not road mud)

I'll never own a 29r, but those who do seem to like them.

Being as unbiased as I can be (because if I wanted a 29r, I'd have one)
I'd get the Coker if I were you!

--
Sofa - you - pee - dee

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There are a number of factors that go into deciding whether to get a
29er or a Coker.

Cokers are faster and provide much more of a rush than 29ers. However,
they also require much more practice and strength to freemount and idle.
Freemounting isn't that difficult, but particularly with shorter cranks,
i.e. 5" and shorter, and when fatigued, it can become a challenge.
You'll cover more distance in a shorter time with a Coker. They look
very cool, too.

29ers are somewhat slower. However, freemounting even with shorter
cranks is much more manageable. And if you can idle on a 24" uni, you'll
have no trouble idling a 29er. On a 29er you'll simply feel and be more
in control of the beast. And 29ers are by no means slow; just more so
compared to a Coker.

I have owned both. I sold my Coker based on the fact that at 5'5", it
was simply too difficult to manage both in terms of regular and
consistent freemounting and idling. I did the former regularly, but
again when tired after longer rides, it became a challenge. As for the
latter, I never managed it at all. For me this made the Coker
impractical, even the experience of riding it was a thrill.

Note, please, that there are many riders who freemount and idle
effortlessly or close to it on a Coker. If you have reason to believe
you are or might be one of them, this, of course, will affect your
decision.

As for crank length the longer they are the slower you'll go, but have
more control. As they get shorter, you'll ride faster but lose out on
some of the control. I'm basically a wimp in this respect. I use 6"
cranks, but if you want a bit more speed, 5" cranks on a 29er or Coker
are fairly common.

All of this is to say that your decision will be affected by your age,
height, weight, degree of physical fitness and pocketbook. If you're a
slender, tall, buff, rich dude, go with the Coker. If you're a short,
pudgy, poor slob, go with the 29er. If you're in between, slide the
scale and figure out which it leans toward.

Good luck and have fun. You're not likely to be disappointed whatever
decision you make.

Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ

--
JJuggle - Last of the Dogmato-Revisionists

Faith's understanding is first and foremost not achievement, but
sympathy, empathy, care, concern, kindness -- in a word, compassion. -
Lars Clausen, -One Wheel - Many Spokes-, page 58
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I'm biased (thousands of Coker miles vs dozens of 29er miles), but GO
COKER! It's better in every way for road riding. For long distance,
there is simply no question.

---Nathan

--
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I only tried the Coker last weekend, and I thought it was fun. However,
for commuting I think I would prefer the 29er, I do have more control, I
go almost as fast as I did on the coker, and can still do some tricks on
it (like go up stairs, ride one footed). The 29er is nice for hilly
areas as well.

--
siafirede - unicycleXcore
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Coker. No question about it. Nothing compares for commuting.

--
harper - Statuesque

-Greg Harper

B L U E S H I F T

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Coker. No question about it. Nothing compares for commuting.

--
harper - Statuesque

-Greg Harper

B L U E S H I F T

"You go through life and you choose." - Greg Harper

"Find weak people and take stuff from them" - Greg Harper
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Thomas_Roth said:

*I'm thinking of purchasing a new uni that i'm only going to use for
long distance riding but i'm not sure what would be more sutable a 29"
or a 36". *

Disclaimer: I have spent almost no time on a 29".

For distance riding, I'd say the Coker is the clear choice. JJuggle's
observations are also all correct, however. Although the more I ride it,
the more confident I get at slow speeds, tight cornering, etc.

I would say if the distance riding you are planning is all urban, city
block type commuting, the 29 would be better due to superior
manueverability. If it's open road or open trail or even open
neighborhood, the 36 dominates.

Tom
(who did a quick 11 miles after dinner to bring the new GB4 36 to the
100 mile mark)

--
tomblackwood - Registered Nurtz

Tailgate at your own risk.....

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If your commute involves stopping and waiting at many intersections,
stop sign, road crossing, traffic signals, pedestrian signals, and other
traffic control devices then the 29er is going to have an advantage.
It's simply easier to dismount and remount on a 29er. It's easier to
maneuver a 29er over to a sign pole or other object that you can lean on
while waiting for a light to change. On a Coker the stopping, and
going, and dismounts, and such is more difficult and takes the fun out
of the ride.

If you have to weave around to avoid people, road debris, rocks on the
road, storm grates on the road, cutouts to get up sidewalk curbs, and
other obstacles then the 29er is going to have an advantage. A 29er
(with appropriate cranks) is more maneuverable than a Coker. It's like
the difference between a sedan and a semi-truck. The Coker is the
semi-truck. The 29er is the little sedan.

For long stretches of bike path where you can just cruise, the Coker
rules.

It all depends on the nature of the ride and the whim of the rider.

--
john_childs - Guinness Mojo

john_childs (at) hotmail (dot) com
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I've done a few thousand Km's on both the 29er and Coker.

I think it would depend on your type of commute:

If you're riding short distance eg <10km then a 29'er might be more
practical. It's easier to weave in and out through pedestrian traffic,
you can hop up onto the footpath or ride on the road, and still get
there almost as fast as a Coker. It's easier to store (eg in the boot
of your car), and you can wheel it into places like supermarkets without
causing too much offence. Over 10km the difference (for me) between a
Coker and a 29'er is only a few minutes. In fact, it may be even be
faster on a 29'er if there is a lot of pedestrians/traffic lights etc
etc. So yeah- if I was riding to the corner shops or a short distance
to work I'd go 29'er.

If you want a long distance commuter eg >10km then you want something
that will get you there a bit faster- and a Coker is the only way to go!

--
GizmoDuck - New Zealands fastest unicyclist

o-kO

"Give a man dead fish, and he feed himself for lunch, teach man to catch
fish, and he feed himself for life. Teach man to wheel ride, and he
make friends everywhere, and even have lunch at their place."

Ancient Chinese saying
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harper said:

*Coker. No question about it. Nothing compares for commuting. *

This from the inventor of Blue Shift?

Caution, Thread Jacking -> Hows the mass production of the shifter
coming anyway?

Danie

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

Check out my pics: www.unicyclist.com/gallery/daino Updated: 04.06.14
Giraffe
Bugman - "if you are a little left of them, it would seem like they are
on the right"
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When things go wrong on a Coker, they can go very wrong indeed. To ride
a Coker in traffic, you need absolute confidence in your ability. A
28/29 is safer, more manoeuvreable, lighter, and less likely to annoy
motorists.

On the other hand, if practicality were your only criterion, you'd
choose a bicycle or a moped. So, if you think you''re route is safe and
easy, the Coker's the way to go. If you have to mix it with traffic,
hills, junctions etc., a lot of fun can be had on a 28.

(I've ridden 29s. Neither fish nor fowl.)

--
Mikefule - Roland Hope School of Unicycling

Well, it all depends on what you mean by "semantics".
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I've done about 4000 miles on a coker and probably a bit under 2k on a
29er, 950 miles of that with a big apple tyre.

For city commuting, once you've done a few hundred miles on a coker, or
about 100 on a 29er, they're pretty similar things if you have the
equivalent crank length. The coker takes a bit more time to learn, but
if you have the standard 150mm cranks on, you can control it really
easily with practice and once you've got that down, 125 or 110 cranks
aren't impossible.

The thing about a coker is that it's easy to control if you ride it
regularly for long distances, but not something you can just pick up
every so often and ride well.

The coker really comes into it's own for distances above 30 miles or so,
which are that bit more relaxing on a coker. However, the difference
isn't that much once you've got short cranks and a big apple tyre on the
29er. The 29er is better however in tight traffic and jams, where you
want to be able to stop and hop on the spot, do 90 turns in a restricted
space, preferably hop kerbs, etc. and where the smaller wheel gives you
that bit more space to use.

Talking of which, the big apple tyre is the 29er tyre you want, you get
speed and comfort. It's super, no other tyre compares.

I'm also biased here, I haven't ridden my coker at all since I got the
big apple tyre on my 29er, but I'd say, if you're intending to ride 3 or
4 times every week including commuting almost all the year and some
really long rides, coker is the one. If you're riding less regularly, or
aren't doing regular >30 mile rides, or are in a big city, then get a
29er, they're more versatile. If you want to ride lots of offroad, or
have the flexibility to change to mud tyres for winter I'd go for 29er
too.

Don't ride the coker or 29er in heavy traffic until you know you won't
fall off. In fast traffic, you need to be able to hold back a bit of
speed so that you know 100% you're not going to crash out in front of a
lorry. Save the riding as fast as possible for deserted or very slow
moving roads, or offroad.

Joe

--
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joemarshall said:

*
Talking of which, the big apple tyre is the 29er tyre you want, you
get speed and comfort. It's super, no other tyre compares.
*

Hi Joe,

I've got a 29-er with a 2.1" IRC Notos tyre and 5" cranks.

I've considered getting a Big Apple but havn't yet because I think I'll
need to get a new frame to fit it (currently it's a 28" round top
nimbus, and I believe that you need a 28" flat top to get the Apple
in).

So I'm wondering if you've ridden with a 2.1 Notos and if the Apple is
substantially better?

If so I may invest 🙂

Also, in what ways exactly is it better- just extra comfort, or is there
a Coker like momentum effect from the extra tyre mass?

I definitly noticed a big improvement when I went from the original
skinny 700c tyre to the 29-er.

--
onewheeldave - Semi Skilled Unicyclist

"He's also been known to indulge in a spot of flame juggling - but it's
the Muni that really fires him up."

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Coker advantages:
- Less effort for same speed; more speed for about equal effort.
- Flywheel effect makes for a nice, steady ride.
- Looks cool, turns heads, higher view from up there.

Coker disadvantages:
- Heavy. The more hillier the ride, the less Coker advantage.
- Only one choice of tire.
- Less maneuverable in tight spots.
- More work to mount and dismount.
- Big; takes up more space when stored or carried around

29er advantages:
- Literally hundreds of tires to choose from (though most are skinny).
- Light as a feather compared to Coker wheel.
- More exercise for equal distance ridden.
- Fits much more easily into car, closet, cubicle, etc.
- More choice of frames.
- Stronger wheel.

29er disadvantages:
- More pedaling to go same distance
- Less flywheel effect, so a little more effort to cruise, even at
comparable rpm.
- You don't stand out as much as on a Coker (this is optinally an
advantage).

My commute to work is about 8.2 miles, with minimal hills. My Coker with
125s (and a nice Wyganowski handlebar) does it great, and I get there in
about 40 minutes.

The other day I tried my new 29er with 102 cranks. I could feel it was
more wear & tear on my knee, which started to bother me about halfway
there. I slowed down after that. When I arrived at work and stopped the
stopwatch, it was only a few minutes slower than my average Coker ride.
Amazing! So it was more pedaling, but the overall time was very close.
The 102s felt pretty comfortable. I don't know if I would be happy with
shorter ones, though I would try 89s if I had 'em.

I prefer the Coker for my commute, but I won't be racing on it in Japan,
so I will try to ride the 29er to work as many times as possible before
NAUCC (after I recover from Mt. Diablo on Saturday, 29er with 140
cranks).

The more hilly your ride will be, the more you might prefer the 29er.
Also if there are lots of stops or obstacles like pedestrians. On the
other hand, the further your ride is, the more you might lean toward the
Coker. I know not all of Ottawa is flat, as I've ridden around the
downtown (Unicon V and International Cycling Festival). Outlying areas
might be dead flat though.

The Coker is likely to be a bigger change from what you're used to
riding. If it comes with 150s, start out by riding with those until you
get comfortable. Then you can switch to shorter ones and you'll
appreciate them much more. Give the cycle time for you to get used to
it; don't pass judgement after only a few rides.

JJuggle mentioned idling. Cokers are not for idling. When I get to a red
light I get off. People in cars love watching you get on your unicycle
anyway. Getting off is a rest for your crotch. Though you can idle a
large wheel, it doesn't really do much for you, other than take up a lot
of space (usually not a good idea at a red light). Hold the post or
dismount. Idling on a Coker or larger wheel is like using a road bike
for Trials.

--
johnfoss - Walkin' on the edge

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com"
www.unicycling.com

"That sucks." -- Ryan Atkins, at the bottom of a 10' cliff he just
jumped off at the 2003 California MUni Weekend, looking at his bent
seat.
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onewheeldave said:

*

I've considered getting a Big Apple but havn't yet because I think
I'll need to get a new frame to fit it (currently it's a 28" round top
nimbus, and I believe that you need a 28" flat top to get the Apple
in).

So I'm wondering if you've ridden with a 2.1 Notos and if the Apple is
substantially better?

Also, in what ways exactly is it better- just extra comfort, or is
there a Coker like momentum effect from the extra tyre mass?
*

It's definately a lot better, more comfort and more momentum.

Some people have managed to fit them into standard nimbus frames by
doing something nasty with shims in their bearing holders to make the
wheel a little bit further away. I dunno what though.

If you're not in a hurry to buy it, I'll be moving to Nottingham at some
point, probably around september, which isn't too far on the train from
Sheffield, you could have a go on my 29er and see if you thought the
difference was worth it.

Joe

--
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BTW, I have a Big Apple tire on its way to me now. Everybody seems to
recommend it for road, though it doesn't have any tread to speak of for
dirt.

Meanwhile, I have the WTB Nanoraptor on there. Fine in the dirt, but not
so great on the road with its center ridge. As long as you're going
perfectly straight you're fine, but turning is annoying. So if most of
your riding is on pavement, go for the Big Apple. Nanoraptor for mostly
dirt, and lots of air in it for pavement.

--
johnfoss - Walkin' on the edge

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com"
www.unicycling.com

"That sucks." -- Ryan Atkins, at the bottom of a 10' cliff he just
jumped off at the 2003 California MUni Weekend, looking at his bent
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daino149 said:

*

This from the inventor of Blue Shift?

Caution, Thread Jacking -> Hows the mass production of the shifter
coming anyway?

Danie *

The Coker is a commuter. Blue Shift is for break-neck speeds and a real
workout trying to stay in the balance envelope. Passing bicyclists on
Blue Shift is fun. Falling off at bicycling speeds is not. It doesn't
make a good commute.

--
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-Greg Harper

B L U E S H I F T

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joemarshall said:

*

Some people have managed to fit them into standard nimbus frames by
doing something nasty with shims in their bearing holders to make the
wheel a little bit further away. I dunno what though.

Joe *

What about the 2" big apple tyre, I got one with the nimbus 1 and know
that it fits no problem, I'm yet to fit it yet though as I've decided to
wear out the original tyre practicing idling and tight turns and things
like that.

--
Matt.P.Herbert - Muni Hungry Newbie

Two wheels good, Four wheels bad,
One wheel wonderful.
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