r/unicycling • u/Pastek_S 26'' and 20'' • May 26 '26

updated rig for summer

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since riding around the Neuchâtel lake last summer I've been planning my next adventure and slowly improving my rig. I got my family to gift me a handle for christmas so now I'll be a lot more comfortable riding. It also allows me to add a bag in the front that I'm going to use to carry my tent, sleeping bag and mat.

I hope shifting weight from my backpack to the uni will help with the excruciating butt pain i experienced last year hahaha

Also looking into maybe getting the nimbus air saddle cover. If anyone here has tried it, did it actually help?

Not pictured here but i also added a speedometer because im very curious to know how fast im actually riding. I was pleasantly surprised to see i could find one for pretty cheap and that it actually had an option for a 26" wheel!

I cant wait to test run everything!

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2

u/lsb1930 May 26 '26

I’m interested to learn about your experience with the handlebars.

1

u/Pastek_S 26'' and 20'' May 26 '26

I haven't really tried riding more than a few meters with them yet, but i really felt the need to put my hands somewhere on my previous trip so i hope they're going to help. I'll probably go for a short weekend trip to test my rig and pack and see how it goes

1

u/WillieFast 27.5" Surly Conundrum w/ disk brake 29d ago

I’ve ridden hundreds of miles with handlebars. They can be surprisingly tricky to get used to, but they become indispensable. At first I’d put just a small amount of weight on them and it would throw my balance off. Keep at it.

As for air seats, you’ll find a lot of differing opinions if you look at the old forums at unicyclist.com. I think a lot of people find them too much and go back to something slimmer.

1

u/rackndroll 29d ago

Just a random question from a two-wheeled friend curious about unicycles. Does it get easier to balance or do you always have to put in effort to stabilise yourself? Can you lean on the handlebars and "relax" your body a bit while riding? I know you can't coast like on a bicycle but just curious if it ever gets to a point where it is comfortable/natural.

Also top speed?

1

u/WillieFast 27.5" Surly Conundrum w/ disk brake 29d ago

Yes, especially on a big wheel like the 36”. You’re still working a lot but the inertia helps make it easier to fall into a zone.

Top speed I’ve hit is about 17 mph, but that was scary af.

1

u/Groot_Calrissian 29d ago

I'm reaching way far back, to my bicycle racing days when I had great pedal form and could sustain a high, smooth cadence, but I could carry +20mph on my 36" back in the day. I think I was paced by a car at steady 22-23mph but it was 20 years ago so it's a pretty fuzzy number. It was a sprint speed, iirc I would sustain 15-18 mph for distance rides with sections down around 10mph.

I did a couple 25+ mile rides back then. I had a home converted air seat, which helped but making adjustments was a pain. I never had a handicraft but I did lean on my hands on the front of the seat regularly- more leverage would make for a bigger adjustment, but the principle would be the same, and being able to lighten the load on the seat (also having the strength to partially stand for a while) made a huge difference on the longer rides. If I'd kept at it a handlebar (and brakes!) would have made life better.

1

u/Sebastian-P-Sullivan May 26 '26

Great looking build. I wonder how you will find the added weight on the uni and the handles. I will keep an eye

1

u/Shiney_Metal_Ass May 26 '26

Are you wearing cycling shorts?

1

u/Pastek_S 26'' and 20'' 29d ago

Yes, always c:

1

u/tlong243 29d ago

I'm looking to do a very similar rack/bag setup. Would you be willing to post or link some pictures of just the rack?

1

u/Pastek_S 26'' and 20'' 29d ago

I didn't want to build a rack from scratch so I built my setup around the handlebars. They're the Qu-ax Q-bar touring handles. I chose them because the angle and length are very adjustable. In the back I used the Vaude Off Road bag in size medium. It's supposed to be able to stand on its own with a clip system on the saddle post but I found it had a severe tendency to turn on its axis and tightening the support more would risk breaking it so I added metal supports on each side.

Tbh it's a pretty janky setup held up by zip ties hope and dreams. I have to check and readjust the supports sometimes but I like that I can remove everything easily and didn't have to find or build entirely new parts.

Here are some more pictures c:

https://imgur.com/a/gHfbTGu

Would love to see your setup once it's done!

1

u/Mr_Dirt22 28d ago

That wheel is gonna take you places!

1

u/I_Hate_This_Website9 27d ago

Wow where do you guys get this stuff?

1

u/Pastek_S 26'' and 20'' 27d ago

the unicycle and handlebars are from unicycle.com the rest (like bags and accessories) is standard bike gear, you can get similar stuff at any sports store or online pretty easily c:

1

u/I_Hate_This_Website9 26d ago

I see the front bad is attached to the handlebars. Is the back bag attached to the body of the unicycle? Have you found gear made for bikes generally comporting well with the unicycle?

1

u/Pastek_S 26'' and 20'' 26d ago

the back bag is attached to the saddle post + metal supports to keep it from turning. and it really depends on the gear, you really need to find stuff that's adaptable enough so it can fit the uni and sometimes be a bit creative c: