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Should I buy a conundrum fat unicycle?

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Nakedbabytoes

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Should I buy a conundrum fat unicycle? UPDATED!! WITH PICS!

I don't unicycle but I have a thing for unique. I'm not afraid to learn though, I can ride pretty well with no hands on any bike really, so my balance is decent.
They don't make them anymore and are getting harder to find, I would need the 24" model.
Should I go for it or buy a cheap one first and see if I like unicycleing?

Anybody ride a uni, preferrably off road?
 
#2 ·
Conundrum is a very cool ride. There are better deals for completes like the Torker. If it was a 26" I'd say buy it now. I've got 5 munis in the stable and ride the 26" with a Larry most often. Find an unfinished basement and 3months of winter and you'll be ready to ride trail in the spring. Good luck!
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Yeah, at 5'3" tall and 115lbs, I think the 26 might be overkill. As it is, the 24 will be pushing it size & weight wise. I kindof have a thing for Surly, so I definately want a conundrum eventually, if I end up liking munis. I just dunno if I want to spend it now or later, I can still get new frames but who knows in 6 mos if I can. Stock is getting low in US. Maybe I should wait for complete used to come up. Buy a cheaper one now.
That would be smart, huh?

There is a q-AX 20" muni on eBay for $159 used, maybe that would be a good starter one?
 
#4 ·
Qu-Ax is a good start. Smaller wheels is easier to ride for learning. Once you've mastered, then you can jump to bigger size. But if you can find conundrum for sale, don't wait. Just grab and learn using conundrum. I did that and having fun since day one buying conundrum.
 
#5 ·
I thought the Conundrums were pretty cool and wanted to own one. But then one day I discovered the Nimbus Oregon! :eek::thumbsup::cool: Just need to justify spending more than $800 on something that has only one wheel. :skep::nono:
 
#6 ·
Start small and build up. It is the most frustrating fun you'll ever have. I have a 24 and am 5'3' and 28 in inseam. Most of the big wheeled muni are not ideal for the stubby of leg.
Go over to the unicycle forums and you will find more help and info than you'll ever need.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Cool! Thanks! I might have a line on a used 24 via an mtbr member, how awesome would that be??!! Waiting on info. Meanwhile, off to the uni forum!
 
#8 ·
I have 8 unicycles at the moment, including my fat ride with 26x4.0 Devast8or (or Larry) tire on 80mm GFS rim in a Triton frame.

I would NOT suggest starting with a fat wheel for various reasons, mostly because they need more body english to convince them to go where you want. Larry is much better than Devast8or in this regard but lacks a certain amount of grip.

Wide frames can also be hazardous to the inside of your legs, though I think a Conundrum or a Oregon would be better in this regard than a Triton frame.

The QuAx would probably be a good starter but don't be afraid to start on a 24 as it would probably be more useful in the long run.
 
#9 · (Edited)
I had a Surly Conundrum and regretfully I sold it.
There is no reason you cannot learn to ride on a Conundrum .
Put a Schwalbe Big Apple tire on it and practice on pavement. (much less resistance)
If you have the cash and can get a good deal. Go for it.

Torker is also a great unicyle and very reasonably priced if you want to save money and see how you like unicycling.
 
#10 ·
I'm standing at 5'5" but with a 28 1/2" inseam. Basically a human bassett hound. I regularly cut my uni frames down and hand key them for the seatpost clamp. It's worked stock up to a Kris Holm 29er. I rode a 36 which I had to direct mount the saddle plate/seatpost to the crown by running a bolt through it and filling it with JB Weld. The shorter 155 or so cranks were awesome when they first came out.
 
#11 ·
If you decide to try go fat after all, here is another option. My son is getting one of these this winter but he is pretty experienced...It's the Oregon at unicycles.com (which is a great source for all things one wheeled).
 

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#13 ·
I used to mountain unicycle a lot. Even rode with tommillermn a few times back in the day before he moved west. I had a custom built up with an Enomorph and Large Marge before the Conundrum came out. It was fun, but I sold it last year since I never rode it anymore. I say get and have fun. You can always sell it if you want later.
 
#17 ·
If I were to buy another conundrum I would go with the 26". I have a 24. With the larger of the two you have much better tire and rim selection for the frame. One thing that I really like about the Surly uni frame is the crown it provides a good platform for your feet when coasting or one footing. Now I look at it as a collectors item. There weren't too many made and they are out of production. I still ride it from time to time. One thing that I have found is that when I ride Uni regularly it greatly improves my posture. I would not learn on the Conundrum though. I tried and it is very difficult as someone mentioned earlier it takes way more body english ride one. I moved to a 20" freestyle uni and pretty much learned how in a afternoon. going forward that is. it is a skill that can always be built upon.
 
Discussion starter · #18 · (Edited)
ziax01 said:
Did you get it?

--Lars
Click to expand...
Well, I bought it(thanks mtbr member gregclimbs!) but it has yet to show up at my doorstep. I'll post some pics once it does. A 24" complete in the champagne pearl color, with a Maxxis Hookworm 2.5 tire.
Last week was a short shipping week with the holiday, so hopefully sometime this week, I'll be riding(or more than likely, falling!)
 
#19 ·
Borgschulze said:
I occasionally miss my 36'er...
Click to expand...
I sort of miss mine too. Problem was that it was just too much planning going on rides with it, and usually I was riding with my kids… we'd be going along and they'd all of a sudden stop right in front of me and I'd have to make a panic dismount. Then they'd do it again, and again, and again. Plenty of crashes. I think I only rode mine about 50 miles tops. Sold it since I started getting hardcore back into mountain biking. But the Oregon… if I had one… I'd be taking it up the local steep-ass cardioclimb trails and some semi-technical stuff on a weekly basis.
 
#20 ·
I've never been on a unicycle but I have been a little curious. Looking at that Oregon how do you apply the brake? It looks too far away to reach and turned in the wrong direction. Also can you use it to slow down or is it just to lock up the wheel when you are hopping up something? I'm surprised no one has come up with a D shaped lever so you could easily grab it from any hand position.
 
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