The machine is a Nimbus 29er commuting unicycle manufactured by Unicycle.com. It’s got one of the widest mass produced 700c rims.

I’ve customised it quite a bit:

• a new saddle (a Kris Holm Fusion Freeride – these have a channel down the centre, similar to modern bike saddles)
• Kenda Klaw 29er tyre (it originally had a Big Apple 28×2.35″)
• Unicycle.com T7 handlebar
• a BMX calliper rim brake (these are easy to fit and are able to reach over the fat 29er tyre)
• bottle cages
• a variety of crank lengths (on a standard “fixed” unicycle varying the crank is the closest you can get to varying the gear).  I’ve standardised on 125mm cranks for this machine.
• almost all of this stuff came from Unicycle.com, they’re really the best supplier in the UK
• cyclometer
• bell
• cateye LED lights front and rear
• sometimes a saddle pack for tools and snacks

Usage:

I usually wear a rucksack (I use a Dakine Helipak because this is easy to strap a small unicycle to for transport) whilst unicycling. I’ve been known to carry a 20″ trick unicycle on this whilst riding my 29er muni. I often supplement the fixed forward facing light with a head / helmet mounted light when I’m riding offroad in the dark.

I often ride the 29er to work (about 1-2 miles away) and back and to get around town. For short journeys it’s almost as quick as a bicycle but much easier to tote around once you dismount. The fat tyre and fairly low gearing associated with offroad unicycles in general makes it quite practical to use like this. Because it’s a fixed gear, I can go into an “idle” (unicyclist’s track stand) at traffic lights or in slow traffic in order to avoid dismounts. I can also jump it up and down curbs (or even sets of stairs, if I’m feeling really enthusiastic).

I get up to speeds of about 15mph max (for instance when overtaking some of the slower bikers around town) and typically cruise at around 11mph when feeling relaxed or 13mph when feeling energetic. More advanced riders would completely blow away those speeds, on the same equipment.

I’ve taken it on everything – smooth roads to boggy mud, tightly packed single track, loose gravel. The grip is always secure and it rolls fairly easily over most bumps. I’ve found that on the rare occasions it snows here the muni is actually grippier than my feet – pedestrians are sliding around whilst I cruise securely by. It’s easy to fit in the back of a car – or on a bus or train – if I want to go further afield.

Cheers,
Mark

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