Forums > Help! > Buying a unicycle

Posted: 9th Feb 2004
First, be wary of buying a unicycle from e-bay, there have been some posts on unicyclist.com forum about bad deals.

You need to do some research; where are you? unicyclist.com has branches in several countries and sells unicycles that are well designed, so check that out.

What are you going to do with it? i.e. just learn to ride a bit or maybe get into muni ('off roading') or do distances on it?

Many people will say 20" wheel for beginners- it's an out of date cliche; a 24" has many advantages especially if you want to ride in the streets or off road.

I wrote a FAQ covering some of the issues with different wheels sizes, its's here: -

https://www.poiinthepark.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=19

There's links to some excellent unicycle resourses and links to some very inspiring Kris Holm vid clips.

If you're buying new you can get a cheap uni such as: -

https://www.unicycle.uk.com/shop/shopdisplayproduct.asp?catalogid=511

Fine to learn on, but note from the description that it has 'lollipop bearing holders'; this means that eventually it will break- the frame will develop cracks where the bearing holders fit in.

If you can afford something like this: -

https://www.unicycle.uk.com/shop/shopdisplayproduct.asp?catalogid=485

then consider it. Nimbus ('Yuni' in the U.S.) unicycles are excellent for the price, my 24"x3 Nimbus has ridden a lot of miles, both on and off road, over the past few years, it's still in excellent shape.

You'll see from the description that it's 'entry level'. that means that you can't land 4 foot drops on it without it breaking. However, for street riding and off roading without such extreme drops it's a superb machine.

It has 'main cap' bearing holders, which means there are no frame cracking issues. (sorry I've no pics of the difference between 'lollipop' and 'main cap' bearing holders, just be aware that there are issues with lollipops)

Read the FAQ, check some sites, take notes; feel free to post further questions and I'll try to answer them. (Please don't pm me; I've been getting a fair few pm's asking about unicycle stuff and I'd rather answer on a public thread cos then more people can get the info).

Good luck, unicycling is great, especially if you get into the outdoor stuff, it can be as life changing as spinning

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!

Posted: 9th Feb 2004
Wow, thanks.

I was only considering it as a thing to play with in the driveway, to be honest i never really considered off-road unicycling, or actually using it to get places! . Presumably you get tired alot quicker then on a bike? I have saved a few hundred dollars for a new bike, but i may be able to donate some to the unicycle if i can justify it as more then a 'toy'. Don't know if i really want the attention from passing moterists though.

You helped so much. Will do some research of my own ( ) on the webpages you gave me and if i have any other questions then you will know about it!
Thank you, thank you!

There is a world made of air, one of earth and one of water.
And there is one made of fire, and all of them fight for supremacy. They are fighting now, in my head.

Posted: 9th Feb 2004

Quote:

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...Presumably you get tired alot quicker then on a bike? I have saved a few hundred dollars for a new bike, but i may be able to donate some to the unicycle if i can justify it as more then a 'toy'. Don't know if i really want the attention from passing moterists though.

---

No, once you've learned to ride it it can compare favourably to a bike.

That's assuming a big wheel i.e. 24" with fat tire or 28/29", and a lot of hours in the seat.

I've got a bicycle and two unicycles(a 24x3 and a 29"-er) and I'd estimate that I use the unis 95% of the time and the bike 5%.

Bicycles are faster cos you can free wheel down hills, they're also better on roads.

the unicycle has the advantage of being good on pavements/sidewalks and being more fun to ride. You can also carry it into shops etc.

if I need to get somewhere fairly fast, then it's got to be the bike. But, if speed isn't a priority and I want to enjoy the journey, then it's generally one of the unicycles.

Unicycling on the road is only for the very experienced, and really you need at least a 29"-er for it to be practical.

if I were you I'd seriously look into a low end, but decent, 24"-er with a fat tyre, such as the Nimbus. It's the kind of thing that'll be ok for 'playing around in the driveway' but can also be used for a bit of travelling around on, and is great if you get into off roading.

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!

Posted: 11th Mar 2008
Lidl currently have a £25 special unicycle offer

https://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20080310.p.Unicycle.ar6

I understand cheap cycles are a bad idea often but some feedback on unicyclist.com suggests it might be fine to learn with.

https://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68146&highlight=lidl

I'm going to give it a go anyway

Posted: 11th Mar 2008
We noticed that today

Shame that we already have one

Posted: 12th Mar 2008
I work next a lidl they sold bolt cutters one week for £4 then bikelocks the next week for £2.

I've been tempted to get another for the sake of it, £25 is nothing kinda, but like dave said Lollipops are only good when there are in your mouth!

*Thats one of my favourite Nurseries over there,*

Roman, Trippie Hippie,On the way back from Play Festival

Posted: 13th Mar 2008
In your mouth? Whaaaaa?

Posted: 14th Mar 2008
what if your riding a unicycle while eating a lollipop and you fall off and swallow it, what happens then?

you just lost the game!!!!!! !!!!!

knowledge is power, power corupts, study hard, become evil.

Posted: 14th Mar 2008
OK OK.. you're referring to the forks right? The uni doesn't have lollipop ends.. at least I don't think it does (having done a little reading).

I saw you post over on Unicyclist.com fake t, have you heard any other comments on this particular uni?

Posted: 14th Mar 2008
the lidl one? only what's on uni.com, but for £25 you can't go far wrong, especially if your learning or just want to try it out, even if it falls apart you can find out whether you like it or not.

i might buy one and do a "review" that way i have an excuse to buy it

you just lost the game!!!!!! !!!!!

knowledge is power, power corupts, study hard, become evil.

Posted: 15th Mar 2008
i havent really got time to read all this stuff, but i do have a 20" trials uni for sale if anyone is interested pm me!

I like Languages.

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