What Size Unicycle?

In general the smaller the wheel, the easier it is to learn to ride and learn new skills. Larger wheels are better for transportation and speed.
- 12" and 16" wheels are good for children. (unicycles are described according to their wheel size - hence a 16" unicycle has a 16" wheel) (sorry - they haven't gone metric)
- 20" wheels are good unicycles for adults who want to acquire new skills.
- 24" wheels still work for a lot of tricks and give you decent speed. This is the best general-purpose size. Bigger wheels are better for higher speed riding. 24" work well for commuting.
- 29" wheels are good for commuting (the bigger the wheel, the faster you go)

For Younger Children to Learn On
The best size for younger children to learn on is 16". This suits ages from about 5 (depending on their height) to 9. We recommend 16" up to about 8 years age.

For Older Children To Learn On
The best size for older children to learn on is 20". 20" is the most common unicycle size, and suits up to adults - so children who learn on a 20" will be able to keep riding it for a long time. We recommend 20" from about 8 years age (depending on their height). Our 5th child learnt on a 16" from age 5, but switched to a 20" as soon as he could (when he was 6 1/2 - he's a tallish boy)

For Adults To Learn On
We think he best size for adults to learn on is 20". 20" is the most common unicycle size. Some research we have seen indicates that it is about 30% faster to learn on a 20" than on a 24" unicycle (I wish I'd known that before learning on a 24" ...). The 20" are shorter than the 24", and the axle & pedals are closer to the ground (so you centre of gravity is lower). They are also a bit slower than a 24", so feel less scary when learning.

About the Unicycle Sizes
12" wheel unicycle: this is really a trick unicycle. It takes a lot of skill to ride it, especially for people over 6ft – you will need to learn to ride a larger unicycle. The small wheel makes a lot harder to ride on tough terrain. This is not a very common unicycle and can be very hard to find. It is great for anyone who can already ride a unicycle or for young children aged 4-6 learning to ride.

16" wheel unicycle: This is a great unicycle for children aged 6-9. Like the 12", the small wheel makes it generally best to ride on smooth surfaces but it can go quite a bit faster than the 12” unicycle.

20" wheel unicycle: If you've ever wanted to learn to ride a unicycle, then this is the bike for you. This unicycle is good for riders who stand 4 feet five inches tall to about six feet. It is a great first unicycle size to learn on. The 20" Unicycle is ideal for free style. The wheel size is smaller and gives you the ability to manoeuvre easily but unlike the 12” and 16” unicycles it is much easier get around on.

24" wheel unicycle: A 24" is very flexible; you can do tricks, longer distances, Unicycle Basketball & Hockey, as well as some MUni (Mountain Unicycling). If you are only buying one unicycle and you want to use it for multiple purposes you should definitely buy a 24" unicycle if you are big enough (over 6ft)

26" wheel unicycle: A 24" is better for longer distances & higher speeds. they make a great second unicycle - great for cruising the streets, riding to the shops & showing off.

29" wheel unicycle: A 29" unicycle is really designed for commuting. The larger wheel makes them faster & straighter. They normally come with 152mm cranks, but you can speed them up (or reduce the speed of your feet) by putting shorter cranks on them (127mm or 102mm) - although this makes it harder to go up hills, as you have less leverage.

Giraffes: A giraffe is a unicycle driven by a chain the most common type of giraffe unicycles are 5 or 6ft tall. Giraffes are easier to ride than normal unicycles because you have more time to make corrective movements so you wont fall off. After you have over come the fear of being so high, riding a giraffe is relatively easy, however because of the height learning to ride a unicycle on a giraffe is not recommended.

What Size: When choosing a unicycle - ensure the unicycle will fit you and the suit type of riding you want to do. Here is a table showing what leg length you need to fit each unicycle wheel size (with a standard length seatpost).

Note - these are approximate sizes only. If you are too short, the seat post can be shortened (a 300mm seat post can be shortened by about 85mm). If you are too tall, longer seat posts are available.