There are two different mindsets you can have when buying a unicycle. The first is as a beginner, who is just starting to unicycle and is looking for a cheap unicycle that will get them riding quick. The second is as someone who is ready to take unicycling to the next level and choose their path. Each discipline of unicycling is best done with a unicycle made for that discipline (See What is Unicycling? for more info on the different disciplines of unicycling). These unicycles tend to be more expensive, but also more durable and of higher quality.

I’m a Beginner, Where do I Start?

Excellent question! The answer, in short, is anywhere. If you’re a beginner you should look for a cheap unicycle wherever you can find it: bike shops, craigslist, ebay, etc. Note that I listed bike shops as a seller of cheap unicycles. More info explaining this is in the next section. Any of these options will often have plenty of options for unicycles being sold under $100. Beginners should be looking to buy a unicycle priced $100 or less. any more than $100 and you’re most likely not getting much of a rise in quality unless you go well over $100. In an ideal situation you can find a unicycle for around $50 or even less. However if you are willing to go a bit over $100 and get a more durable unicycle, unicycle.com offers a few beginner unicycles for around $135. Occasionally you can find people selling for insanely low prices because they don’t need their unicycle and have no use for it. This means unicycles occasionally pop up in garage sales, or just sitting around in sheds of people you may know. Common beginner unicycle brands are Torker and Sun. These unicycles aren’t the greatest quality, but they get the job done and will help you learn the basics without breaking the bank.

The next thing to consider is what kind of unicycle you want. With cheap unicycles there isn’t much variation, however you should definitely look for a 20″ unicycle (meaning its wheel has a diameter of 20 inches), or a 24″ if there is a good opportunity to buy one. Assuming you are a college student or older, you should avoid 16″ unicycles as these are really only a good fit for small children. The other thing to consider is the seat post. If you have a chance to try the unicycle, make sure the seat post adjusts properly to the length of your legs, whether that means it goes high enough or low enough. If the seat post isn’t the appropriate length, look into getting a longer one or cutting down the one you have at a bike shop or with a hacksaw (as long as you’re careful). Unicycle club members with seat post issues should refer to this page and contact club president Nick Braun for further assistance.

Aside from the wheel diameter and seat post length, the other parts of the unicycle should be in working order but do not need to have any specific properties. If at any time you experience a broken, loose, or otherwise finicky part, unicycle club members should again refer to this page and/or contact Nick.

I’m Ready to Take it to the Next Level.

Ok, first things first. When you say next level, you’re going to have to decide what that means specifically. If you haven’t familiarized yourself with the different disciplines of unicycling, take a look at What is Unicycling? and come back here when you’ve chosen your path. Regardless of which path you choose however, you’ll most likely be buying a higher end unicycle from unicycle.com. Unicycle.com (UDC) is by far the most popular unicycle vendor worldwide. They offer a plethora of quality unicycles made specifically for the discipline that you’re interested in. For the most part UDC will be your primary source of unicycles and unicycle parts. Other vendors specializing in unicycles (such as Compulsion Cycles or Mad4One) may be considered as well. Bike shops typically should not be considered when buying or repairing a higher end unicycle (more info on repair here) unless they are a vendor of UDC and have higher end unicycles in stock. As we explore the different types of unicycles, I may use some unfamiliar terms to emphasize certain parts of the unicycle. You can reference this page if you do not know what part a certain word is referring to.

Road/Commuter Unicycles

The unicycles in this section will have large wheels and they will be faster than the rest. If you’re all about long distance rides, you should consider a road/commuter unicycle. The commuter/touring section of UDC provides the best options you’ll find for a long distance unicycle. All of these unicycles are great unicycles with quality parts. Some include handlebars but most can be fitted with handlebars separately as well. One of the biggest thing to consider here is whether you want a brake or not. A brake can give you more control over your speed and lessen the energy used up by your legs to stop, however it is by no means necessary. Stopping on a unicycle is relatively easy with just your legs, as the rotation of the pedals is directly connected to the wheel. The addition of a disc brake is costly, and it is a luxury that you may or may not choose to spend the extra money on.

The Nimbus 36″ Nightfox, one of the most popular long distance unicycles

Freestyle Unicycles

Freestyle unicycles are strictly 20″ unicycles (except for small children) that typically have white tires and short cranks. Many UDC unicycles are lightweight and freestyle unicycles are no exception. When buying a freestyle unicycle you may want to consider the weight of the unicycle. On UDC the freestyle unicycle selection doesn’t have many options, so if you want to get a high quality freestyle unicycle you’ll most likely want to go with the nimbus eclipse or the nimbus equinox, as they have short cranks and are made of durable lightweight parts. Nimbus as a whole is generally a good brand to go with for any type of unicycle as they are one of the top brands and always make quality parts. Although the eclipse and equinox are the clear winners here (as demonstrated in the price as well), other unicycles should not be downplayed if you don’t have the largest budget. With many unicycles you can substitute parts and get for example, shorter cranks, sometimes at no extra cost.

The Nimbus Eclipse, with a white tire and short, 89mm cranks

Mountain Unicycles

The main factors in choosing a mountain unicycle (muni) are wheel size and whether the unicycle has a brake or not. Choosing a wheel size depends mainly on the intended purpose of the unicycle. A unicycle with a smaller wheel diameter such as a 24″ will have greater manoeuvrability and lower weight. This can be helpful for muni courses that are technical and involve jumps. Larger wheels such as 29″ wheels are useful for less technical long distance or fast paced muni, such as some downhill or cross country courses. The sizes in between can be used for either to a different extent as well. The wheel size should be selected based on what the rider thinks will suit them best. The decision of whether to get a muni with a brake or not is dependant on the intended use as well. A brake is tremendously helpful in lessening the energy expended slowing down while going downhill. If you intend on doing downhill muni often, a brake may be something you consider including on your muni.

As far as choosing a brand goes, UDC has a great selection of munis that you really can’t go wrong with. Generally, the price is an accurate representation of the quality of the unicycle and will reflect the individual quality of the parts included in the unicycle. The top brands in muni are Nimbus and Kris Holm, as can be seen by UDC’s selection of munis. Both of these brands make high quality unicycles that you won’t regret buying.

The Nimbus 29″ Oracle with a disc brake: one of the most popular munis

Urban Unicycles

Unicycles made for all 3 subsets of urban riding generally contain the same parts and are made similarly. UDC typically stocks the newest models of urban unicycles made by the top brands. Mainly Impact, Nimbus and Kris Holm dominate the urban unicycling scene in North America, but an increasingly popular European brand, Mad4One, also makes high quality unicycles. Urban unicycles almost always have 19″ wheels (with a thick tire that essentially makes them 20″). Many urban riders develop specific preferences over time, but some parts have certain effects on the ability of the rider to do certain tricks more easily. Two of the most influential parts to doing tricks are the frame and the cranks.

Some unicycles have frames with square crowns, allowing for a greater variety of tricks. Trials riders may not mind a unicycle without a square crown, but if you would like to learn tricks such as coasts or one footed riding, a square crown is essential.

The second thing to consider is the crank. Many cranks are designed similarly but some feature things like the rolling disc on the impact groovy cranks or the multiple pedal insertion holes in the Nimbus VCX Plus. For crank tricks and rolls it is especially useful to have wider cranks, or an extension such as the rolling disc to help keep your shoes on the pedals.

The Nimbus 19″ Vegas trials unicycle owned by Treasurer Molly Loughridge

Conclusion

As with any of the information on this website, I encourage you to reach out to me if you have any questions. I would be happy to help you choose a unicycle to purchase for yourself or provide more information and suggestions on parts.

Happy Unicycling!

Written with love by the Founder and President of Unicycle Club,

Nick Braun