Wizards 50th Birthday

I'm happy to say I did my first self-mount on the 36" Big Wheel today!

Quote: Wizard

I'm happy to say I did my first self-mount on the 36" Big Wheel today!

Terry Peterson does a tutorial on that subject. I don't know if it helps.

Quote: Pacomartin

Terry Peterson does a tutorial on that subject. I don't know if it helps.

I wonder if he used his ventriloquism skills to play the narrator.

My technique was pretty much how he did it. However, I think he over-emphasizes the point about not putting weight on the first foot. You can put a little bit. The key is you don't use it like a step but have to make a nice big hop to get on the thing. It is a little frightening at first. When I have it down I plan to make my own video about it.

http://www.wikihow.com/Mount-a-Unicycle

Is it radically different than mounting a 29" unicycle, or is it the same basic steps?

I did my first ride outside the neighborhood on my 36" "Big Wheel." You can see the details on Strava.

My speed, when moving, ranged from 9 to 10 MPH, which is about 1-2 MPH faster than on my 29." However, it is also more tiring. At this point I think I could travel longer on my 29" but the 36" should be better at building muscle strength. It is a lot heavier and it requires more work to rotate that huge heavy wheel.

My self-mount frequency is about 1 in 10 at this point.

Quote: Pacomartin

http://www.wikihow.com/Mount-a-Unicycle

Is it radically different than mounting a 29" unicycle, or is it the same basic steps?

It is the same basic steps, but just harder. For one thing, with the 29" you can start with your dominant foot close to the low-point, so you don't have to worry about putting weight on it. With the 36" you have to have the pedals at the 90 and 270 degree points and can't apply too much weight on the dominant food pedal when hopping up. I find the hardest part to be to actually get moving once you've hopped on. It is not easy getting that big 19-pound unicycle to start moving from a stand still.

Just riding it is different too. It is pretty easy steps to go from 20 to 24 to 29 and the 36" is just a beast of another color.

Quote: Wizard

It is a lot heavier and it requires more work to rotate that huge heavy wheel.

You also went from 125mm to 110mm to 150mm in addition to the heavier wheel. I know you need more crank to get up hills, but that extra distance also tires you out.

At least you have a way to train hard when you only have an hour to ride.

Quote: Pacomartin

You also went from 125mm to 110mm to 150mm in addition to the heavier wheel. I know you need more crank to get up hills, but that extra distance also tires you out.

At least you have a way to train hard when you only have an hour to ride.

Yes. I plan to use it for my shorter rides but go back to the 29" for the long and/or steep rides. I bought some shorter cranks for the 36" already and will switch to them once I'm more used to the current ones.

Quote: Wizard

I bought some shorter cranks for the 36" already and will switch to them once I'm more used to the current ones.

So you would actually be better off than with the EBU (below), because you (1) can balance already, (2) will be able to hit peak speeds of 12.5 miles, and (3) you can go much further than 7-10 miles. What is the weight of your 36""?


On level ground and full charge, however, it will go 12.5MPH depending on rider’s guts (mentally and physically). Distance depends on many factors. Rider weight is the largest factor. In general a 130lb rider will go 10+ miles per charge while a 230lb rider will go 6-7 miles per charge. Weight 27 lbs.

Quote: Pacomartin

So you would actually be better off than with the EBU (below), because you (1) can balance already, (2) will be able to hit peak speeds of 12.5 miles, and (3) you can go much further than 7-10 miles. What is the weight of your 36""?

Self-powered unicycles should never be compared to electric ones. An electric unicycle will never give anybody the satisfaction of using his own muscles to get anywhere.

My 36" weighs 19 pounds.

Quote: Wizard

Self-powered unicycles should never be compared to electric ones. An electric unicycle will never give anybody the satisfaction of using his own muscles to get anywhere.

Of course, for exercise. But people have very real commuting problems as well.

Where I am there about 70 buses per day that go to New York city. Cost on bus for the 87 mile (standard trip to PABT) is $527.75 for 20 round trip rides in a month. Many people try to sleep on the bus and are willing to pay the bus fare for much higher wages.

But there are the real cost of getting to the Park and Ride and around in the city. A 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard on sbuway costs $112.

Via bike trails it is 2.3 miles to for me to get to the bus terminal, and on the other end, even with a subway ride, you may have to go a mile to get to an office building.

The standard solution is to purchase and insure a beater car that you don't mind leaving at the terminal all day. Motoricycles usually get stolen, and bicycles cannot be taken on a bus. So they usually get stolen. Electric bicycles also can't be taken on a bus.

The electric unicycle seems like a natural option. But your experience says if you can learn to balance, you may have a 19 pound vehicle that could get you on a 2.3 mile commute, and you could throw it on the bus.

Trainer 29 in. Unicycle for $160 could fit the bill. It's light enough to carry on a bus, or it can be locked up at the terminal. If it is periodically stolen, it's a loss you can stomach.