Measuring for a Unicycle
Not hard, but not a trifling matter
The most important piece of information regarding the unicycle you'll buy is not your height, but rather your inseam. When you step on the unicycle and sit, you want your leg to be nearly straight when touching the pedal at its lowest position. Unfortunately, this may translate to a number of different post and crank lengths.
Many sites that sell unicycles have charts listing recommended models for particular inseam lengths. Even then, you'll want to double check the charts and recommendations and consider the possibility of wanting to change crank arm length as you improve.
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The long and short of it Of course, seats are adjustable by a few inches, meaning the unicycle may have a range of users. However, if you plan to share your unicycle with somebody much shorter or taller than you, keep in mind that you'll have to make frequent adjustments. Even if you don't plan on sharing the unicycle, adjustable unicycles will be able to accommodate anyone you can pressure into trying to ride it for the sake of photographing their falls. Considering the adjustability of unicycle seats, maybe your most important concern is wheel size. Large wheels, as the analytically minded will smugly point out, move you further per rotation for any given crank size. This is going to require more effort, and as such is recommended if you're going to be travelling or racing with your unicycle. Smaller wheels, generally considered 20 inches and smaller (though 20 inches is the norm), are perfect for learning and mobility. They don't move as fast, but if you're learning how to ride a unicycle, you're probably not in a hurry. |
