Touring uni parts?

I'd change a couple of things.

Firstly the rim, I'd use a KH rim. You really really want a wide rim on
a 29er uni, and this is the only wide 29" rim. You want this, because
for a touring uni, you really want a big apple tyre, rather than a
narrow tyre. It's faster over any real roads, because small bumps slow
down the narrower tyre so much. Narrow tyres are nice on a smooth
track.

This also means you may not want the frame, as that's a narrow top
frame, which probably doesn't fit a wide tyre. Over here you can get
the Nimbus rounded top 29" frame that fits the big apple, or the nimbus
II frame, I think the rounded top one is nicer.

I'd recommend getting metal pedals if you want to ride distance, as
you're bound to get caught in the rain at some point, and plastic
pedals are rubbish in the rain. Metal pin pedals will give you so much
more grip generally.

Joe

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joemarshall said:

I'd change a couple of things.

Firstly the rim, I'd use a KH rim. You really really want a wide rim on
a 29er uni, and this is the only wide 29" rim. You want this, because
for a touring uni, you really want a big apple tyre, rather than a
narrow tyre. It's faster over any real roads, because small bumps slow
down the narrower tyre so much. Narrow tyres are nice on a smooth
track.

This also means you may not want the frame, as that's a narrow top
frame, which probably doesn't fit a wide tyre. Over here you can get
the Nimbus rounded top 29" frame that fits the big apple, or the nimbus
II frame, I think the rounded top one is nicer.

I'd recommend getting metal pedals if you want to ride distance, as
you're bound to get caught in the rain at some point, and plastic
pedals are rubbish in the rain. Metal pin pedals will give you so much
more grip generally.

Joe

I'm going to second both the metal pedals and the KH rim. The KH rim is
also pretty cheap, and pretty light so its not a huge issue really, its
just plain better. Metal pedals also make it safer in general, its more
of an issue with a coker but even on a 29er I find metal pedals help
alot.

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The Nimbus 29er Rim is also very wide (roughly the same as the KH), a
bit lighter but less strong (not double walled). It also comes in
pretty anodized red and blue.

In the UK at least, last time I checked, they cost about the same.

--
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?
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I'd get the new KH freeride seat also. I'm finding my nimbus gel to be
less and less comfortable for any period of time. you might want a QR
clamp too.

--
mornish

vuniw said:

its like doing drugs except healthier

dan de man said:

this game is worse that playing Rock Paper Sissors on an internet forum

tugboat said:

Hopping over a 7 set rail... I made it over and and cleared the set, but
the impact apparently wasn't good for the wheel...

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This may be getting away from cheap but, I'd go with a rail adapter and
a rail type seatpost. You will want the extra tilt for comfort on a
touring uni.

--
pdc

"What doesn't kill you strengthens you, what kills you strengthens your
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joemarshall said:

This also means you may not want the frame, as that's a narrow top
frame, which probably doesn't fit a wide tyre. Over here you can get
the Nimbus rounded top 29" frame that fits the big apple, or the nimbus
II frame, I think the rounded top one is nicer.

On UDC US, the nimbus X was the only frame I saw. Are there others
available in the US?

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Also, with the wider KH rim, would I be able to put on a standard
700x25c tire? Or is the rim too wide for that. The Big Apple tire is
really expensive...

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onelesscar said:

700x25c tire?

You should talk to Mikefule about 'his road razor and bacon slicer'
(http://tinyurl.com/ycvo3p)...

If you want to cover distance, why aren't you considering a 36 inch
wheel?

--
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This is a unicycle I advised a dutch unicyclists to get:

23.90 Big Apple tire
06.90 Tube
39.90 KH rim
30.00 Wheelbuild
39.90 UDC 100mm hub
07.40 United Cranks
19.90 BMX Pedals
29.90 Nimbus Frame
08.90 Seatpost chrome
03.50 1 bolt seatpost clamp
36.90 Nimbus gelsaddle

It comes down to a total of 247.10 euros, you won't have to pay for
wheelbuilding as you're doing that yourself, so 217.10 euros, prices
are from www.municycle.com (german udc)

It basically goes with all Joe said, you'll want the extra grip of
metal pedals, the wider rim for more stability, and the bigger tire for
a more comfortable ride.

Cheers,

Dustin

--
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Sponsored by 'MUNICYCLE.COM' (http://municycle.com) and 'SEMCYCLE'
(http://semcycle.nl)
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phlegm said:

You should talk to Mikefule about 'his road razor and bacon slicer'
(http://tinyurl.com/ycvo3p)...

If you want to cover distance, why aren't you considering a 36 inch
wheel?

$$$...

I don't have $500.

--
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pdc said:

This may be getting away from cheap but, I'd go with a rail adapter and
a rail type seatpost. You will want the extra tilt for comfort on a
touring uni.

How does the additional tilt help?

--
aneedles

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
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aneedles said:

How does the additional tilt help?

While tilting the seat back may look uncomfortable, it actually gets
your weight on your butt bones and off your middle area which causes
numbness.

--
pdc

"What doesn't kill you strengthens you, what kills you strengthens your
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onelesscar said:

On UDC US, the nimbus X was the only frame I saw. Are there others
available in the US?

I dunno, you'd have to call them, all the other unicycle.coms have the
nimbus 29" frame though.

onelesscar said:

Also, with the wider KH rim, would I be able to put on a standard
700x25c tire? Or is the rim too wide for that. The Big Apple tire is
really expensive...

I'd not recommend it, it'd be less wide than the rim, the rim is
something like 38mm wide. But you don't want a 25mm tyre on something
you'll be riding for any distance, remember you've got half as many
wheels to support the weight as on a bike.

Big apple is cheaper from here, might be even cheaper other places
http://www.speedgoat.com/product.asp?part=111196

Joe

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pdc said:

This may be getting away from cheap but, I'd go with a rail adapter and
a rail type seatpost. You will want the extra tilt for comfort on a
touring uni.

I wouldn't bother with this for your first touring unicycle, I find if
I ride regularly, the rail adapter makes no difference in comfort. I've
got them on the schlumpf , not on the coker, and haven't been persuaded
enough to put one on my coker.

Joe

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The RhinoLite rim is excellent, and imho a better match for your tire
than the KH. The CR-18 is not nearly as good as the RhinoLite for a
unicycle.

You can easily use a Big Apple (either width) on the RhinoLite should
you decide you want a fatter tire.

Consider using 14/15 spokes on your wheel; they are a better match for
the rim and overall weight of the wheel.

--
U-Turn

Weep in the dojo... laugh on the battlefield.
'LiveWire Unicycles' (http://www.livewireunicycles.com)
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Thanks for the help so far. I've changed some things as per your
suggestions, but a few more questions:
1) What's the smallest width rim that can hold a Big Apple tire?
2) Could I fit the Big Apple (2" wide, the smaller of the two) in the
Nimbus X frame?
3) As I'm still waiting for a response from UDC, does anyone know what
size hub (61 or 71 mm flange-to-flange) would fit in the Nimbus X?
4) Finally, I've never really used cotterless cranks (square taper). Do
alloy cranks work better/weigh enough less to justify the extra cost?
Or is steel fine?

My cost is up to $250 plus whatever tire I get. I figured if I'm gonna
get the components now, I might as well get the ones I really want. My
biggest undecided is really what rim to get. I really want a skinny
tire (like 25C) even despite its unpracticality, but I want the option
to put a cushy tire on if I feel like it.

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1) I personally wouldn't go less than the RhinoLite for a Big Apple tire
of either width.

2) *shrug*

3) *shrug*

4) Get a pair of steel Bike Euros or even the Miyatas or Torkers to
start. When you're totally used to your new uni, play around with a
good set of aluminum alloy cranks.

Caveat: I have not tried to put a 25c tire on a RhinoLite. I doubt
that it would be very satisfying if it worked at all; you probably
would prefer a narrower rim to go with that tire (not a CR-18 though).
'Sheldon Brown's tire chart'
(http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html#iso) says that the
RhinoLite is pretty much out of the limits for a 25c tire. None of the
rim sizes in the green for a 25c tire would be suitable for a Big Apple
on a unicycle. So essentially you oughtn't try to do both with one
wheel. You might consider simply having a skinny wheel and a fat
wheel; your choice as to which to purchase or build first.

--
U-Turn

Weep in the dojo... laugh on the battlefield.
'LiveWire Unicycles' (http://www.livewireunicycles.com)
'Strongest Coker Wheel in the World'
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'29er Tire Study' (http://u-turn.unicyclist.com/29erTireStudy/)
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Thanks for the response!

U-Turn said:

you probably would prefer a narrower rim to go with that tire (not a
CR-18 though).

Why not a CR-18? I understand it's not the best quality, is that the
only reason? The width seems to be appropriate (fairly wide) for a 25c
tire.

U-Turn said:

'Sheldon Brown's tire chart'
(http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html#iso) says that the
RhinoLite is pretty much out of the limits for a 25c tire.

That is a *great* chart, thanks so much!

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3) My 20" Nimbus X has a 71mm flange-to-flange UDC wide hub.

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