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Building a freestyle uni

Started by Ken Cline · · Last activity · 4 posts · 613 views

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rec.sport.unicycling archive
Published
4 April 2004
Last activity
25 April 2004
Original author
Ken Cline
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4
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Public discussion
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Topics
Spoke countFrame sizingSaddle choice

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  1. Original post
    Ken Cline
    Archived post
    #1

    I'm planning to build a freestyle unicycle and I'm want to
    know if my choices are good ones. The cost of the parts I'm
    looking at add up to a lot less than a comparable assembled
    uni, plus this way I get to choose the parts myself. I plan
    to us the unicycle for learning skills outdoors (currently
    polishing level 3 and learning level 4). I am 5'10", weigh
    175, and have been riding for 6 months.

    Here are the parts I have picked:

    Suzue 48-hole hub Sun BFR double-walled alloy rim Maxxis
    Hookworm 20 x 1.95 freestyle tire 102-mm alloy cranks
    United deluxe pedals Semcycle XL longneck frame and
    seatpost KH saddle

    This all adds up to about $260 (US) from Unicycle.com.

    In addition to general comments, I have a few specific
    questions:

    Is building a 48 spoke wheel worthwhile? 36 spoke parts
    seem more easy to locate and may be marginally less
    expensive.

    Are wide rims like the BFR useful here? My guess is a
    narrower, lighter rim might be better, but I don't know if
    they are available drilled for 48 spokes.

    Which cranks do you like? I think 102 should be a
    comfortable length since I ride a 26" street uni with
    125s.

    If I go with the Semcycle longneck frame, is the 7"
    seatpost the right size for me?

    AtDhVaAnNkCsE,

    Ken

    Report
  2. Daino149
    Archived post
    #2

    Sounds like you have the right idea. I don't know how much
    you need the 48 spokes, it seems a bit overkill for
    freestyle. Also, the KH saddle isn't the best for freestyle.
    It is very large and hard to do things like unispins and
    other skills.

    I'm just looking at unicycle.com and I see some advanced
    freestyle unis that look decent and quite a bit cheaper.

    Daniel

    --
    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
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    daino149's Profile: unicyclist.com933
    View this thread: unicyclist.com31546

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  3. Cline
    Archived post
    #3

    Here's an update on my new unicycle. I built the wheel with
    a Unicycle.com hub and BFR rim. the frame hasn't arrived, so
    I've been riding on my 26" frame.

    The first problem is that my ankles hit the Bicycle Euro
    110mm cranks. I never hit the nubs on my KH24's cranks, so
    I was surprised to have this problem. Which is better,
    dealing with the problem or getting new cranks. I don't
    know if new cranks will help, and the only other 110s
    Unicycle.com has are $65 Doteks. Of course I could go down
    to 102 (125 won't work since I'm scraping my shoes on the
    ground with the 110s as it
    is).

    The second problem is a real letdown. The 20x1.95 hookworm
    tire pales in comparison to its 26x2.5 big brother. The
    small version is floppy off the wheel and feels like it is
    folding under when I make sharp turns. Am I just imagining
    this as I get used to riding a 20" wheel, or should I look
    for a replacement.

    Thanks for your advice.

    Ken

    --
    cline
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  4. U-Turn
    Archived post
    #4

    I'd wait on the ankle thing until you've ridden it for a
    while. I think the problem will just go away.

    Your saddle choice also drastically affects your foot
    placement, depending on your body geometry. If you are
    still having foot issues after a while, then try a Miyata
    saddle, which is narrower and less bulky, although probably
    a little harder.

    Increase the pressure in your tire and the tire will stop
    folding. For freestyle hopping is essentially a low-priority
    activity except for unispins, and the higher pressure gains
    you smoother turns and the like. However, a higher pressure
    may insist on a smoother practice area, which is reasonable.

    As far as the comparison with the larger tire, that too,
    will go away. The 20" freestyle is for different things, and
    as your riding changes to match the unicycle, so you will
    see that the tire is excellent for freestyle.

    --
    U-Turn - Member of Generation XO

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

    '29er Tire Study' (u-turn.unicyclist.com29erTireStudy)

    'Strongest Coker Wheel in the World'
    (unicyclist.comalbup39)

    'New York Unicycle Club' (newyorkunicycle.comnewyorkunicycle.com)

    -- Dave Stockton
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