Unicycle Buying Guide
First, the basics
If you've never ridden a unicycle, you need to know some of the characteristics of the design and the basic physics of it all. First of all, there are no gears, so the bigger your wheel, the faster you'll go. A small wheel provides greater maneuverability and control, so it's ideal for newer riders.
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Next you look at the crank arms. These are known as 'pedals' on bicycles, but crank arms is a little more descriptive for our purposes. Thinking for a moment about it will reveal that shorter crank arms will move you faster but require more effort, while longer arms are like being in a low gear; less effort, but less speed, too. Appropriate sizes The size of a unicycle, quoted in inches, refers to the diameter of the wheel. Therefore, a 20-inch unicycle has a 20-inch wheel, irrespective of the height of the seat. Young riders with inseams less than 23 inches should get a junior unicycle of 16 or 18 inches. Generally, those with inseams between 23 and 27 inches require a 20-inch unicycle. Another common size is the 24-inch unicycle, for taller riders and those interested in various uses of their unicycle. Possible uses include freestyle, unicycle basketball and hockey, and mountain unicycling. |
Crank arm length
For general purpose riding and for beginners, crank arms should be 4.5 to 5 inches long. This assumes a 20 inch unicycle. For touring purposes and mountain unicycling, wheels and crank arms can get much bigger. Special unicycles known as 'cokers' have 36 inch wheels and have 6 inch crank arms. These should only be ridden by experienced unicyclists, since the larger the wheel and longer the crank arms, the less control you will have.
