I’ve been thinking about getting one of these for a while. I think it’d be excellent as a tool for working on my muscular balance/coordination and motoring uphills seems like it’d be great for my core strength.
They are quite dorky, yes, but just the same, I’d ride one. Any sincere advice?
No advice other than to make sure you see Demerly about a fitting. 
In all seriousness, I’ve kind of wanted one for years. Not enough to have goneout and bought one, but I always thought it would be fun. Never thought about core strength or anything like that… just balance, road feel, and FUN!
I’m not sure what it is about them, but they are quite fruity. I’ve read they used to have stage races where the riders used unicycles. Bizarre. Descending a mountain on one of those things sounds slightly mad.
Maybe I’ll get one, get good at riding it, then dress up like a clown or darth vader or something and ride it when it’s time to do the next ST Hillclimb out at Palomar or Baldy or wherever it ends up.
The Slowtwitch of Unicycling:
If you are starting out (like I almost did a while back when I had some freetime), the Torker LX’s & DX’s on Ebay seemed a good bet.
The razy stuff is seeing people do trials on these things.
Also, the best way to learn IMO is to ride along a chest high fence that you grab on to. Or to have two friends walk with you, supporting you as you ride.
Are they UCI legal?
Ditto,
And how can I get some Profile Carbon Strykes on them so I can get in a decent position for racing?
Seriously tho, my wife has banned me from buying any more bikes, so I thought a Unicycle my get though the technical loophole. What do you think? Should I give it a go?
I think your wife would welcome the pricepoint of unicycles. I’m seeing that there are lots of them for under a $100 that seem to be fairly respected by the unicycling community.
I do fit unicycles, except for off road unicycles. I also ride unicycles and have ridden since I was 15.
As a beginner to single wheel cycling, you are best served to simply buy an inexpensive unicycle with a good saddle bumper. The saddle will be hitting the pavement a lot as you learn to mount.
While some people use poles to learn I don’t recommend it. I learned from my friend Brian Mitton (an accomplished unicyclist) by leaning on parked cars. If you are already a proficient cyclist then transitioning to a unicycle will probably take an afternoon. Wear gloves and a helmet, skateborad wrist braces are a good idea at first too.
In general unicycles are sized by wheel diameter. Saddle heights tend to run high. If your saddle is too low on a unicycle you will get a murderous knee injury quickly if you can even manage to ride the thing.
Once you learn to ride you will be amazed that it becomes better than feet. You can turn literally on a dime by pivoting in place. They are a good workout too, especially at first.
I love riding unicycles. Big fun.
Saddle heights tend to run high. If your saddle is too low on a unicycle you will get a murderous knee injury quickly
…tend to run high, meaning a knee angle around 155 degrees at BDC? More?
The crazy stuff is seeing people do trials on these things.
Also check out this guy tearing through a gnarly forest course/path… on a unicycle.
My dad gave one to my 23yo brother last year for his birthday. Dad was just walking through the bike store one day and thought, that would be fun. We declared it the “Most Random Gift Ever”.
I knew when I saw this thread someone would bust out the Chris Holm video. A friend of mine went to grad school with this guy in vancouver and said he was absolutely nuts and would do anything. It must be tough on your knees. Way worse than fixed gear cycling.
I got one for my 8th birthday and rode itinto the ground. I also had one of the 6 foot tall ones called the schwinn “Giraffe”. Ton’s of fun and the looks you get are priceless. I rode the tall one to school almost every day in middle school and in lots of parades. Seat bumpers must be a new thing, mine never had one, but it’s a good idea. It takes a lot of practice but once you get it you got it for life. I saw a kid on one at the park a few months ago and I asked to ride it. Took about two seconds to get the feeling back and I was off to the races.
I’d suggest a 24" model to start off, unless you really feel aggressive, then go with a 26". Use slicks for learning then slap on a knobby and get crazy!
Cheers, Karma
Ha. I rode one for many years. It was my main mode of transportation when I lived at the beach in college. You won’t develop leg strength from climbing hills on it - the bicycle is better, much better. Also, I doubt you’ll find any balance benefits from riding one when you’re on the bike because you already have the balance needed to ride a bike.
But they’re pretty fun, and not much chance of having it stolen as not many can ride’m.
The smaller wheeled ones are more responsive but the larger wheels can go faster.
Be prepared for jokes “where’s you other wheel dude?”, etc… I used to buy 2 cases of beer and have the liquor store dude put one on each shoulder and ride back to the beach house that way. Idling back and forth at a stop light with a case on either shoulder was a great attention getter.
Go buy one - they’re fun.
I have one that I bought for my son a few years ago. He could never learn to ride it. I’ll sell it to you cheap.