Believe it or not, the people that ride unicycles are ultimately the ones that made it possible for the bike world to start taking advantage of everything 32 inch tires have to offer.
It’s easy to overlook, as a biker, since we have the benefit of using basically whatever wheel size we want. Sure, smaller tires are a little bumper or tough terrain and require a little extra effort from you to carry momentum, but the chain drive does the rest.
This is not the case with unicycles, since wheel size is effectively the only factor that determines speed and agility. So, with that said, let’s take a closer look at 32 inch tires by starting with the sizes that flank them.
What the 29 Offers
A unicycle with 29 inch tires is just one step down from a 32, and while it is slower at its top speed by a few miles per hour, it offers a pretty big advantage in terms of handling.
With such a smaller diameter, it is easier to control a one-wheeler with a 29 inch wheel, and it also handles much more nimbly.
This is one of the reasons that 29 inchers are relatively popular among trail riders and muni riders. Not only is handling vastly improved, but when you do take it off the trail, it’s not so bad in terms of speed either.
What the 36 Offers
All the way on the other end of the spectrum, we have unicycles with 36 inch tires, which are the racehorses of the unicycle world. Also due to average human heights, a 36 inch model is basically a soft limit - you need pretty long legs to ride one in the first place. Engineers couldn’t get much bigger than a 36 if they expected people to be able to ride what they built.
Even so, 36 inch models are capable of reaching and maintaining the highest top speeds on a unicycle. They’re a little harder to get started and to stop, because the wheel carries so much rotational momentum, but at the same time, that also helps a rider maintain a high speed with less fatigue.
The downside is 36 inch unicycles genuinely don’t handle well. Think of it as though you’re driving a dump truck or an 18 wheeler (a fast one). They hold that momentum, but they’re tough to stop and maneuver.
So Why 32 Inch Tires?
Here’s why 32 inch tires have really started to grow in popularity. They offer you the best of both worlds - they handle similarly to a 29 and are only a bit slower than a 36 - but with none of the drawbacks.
A unicycle with 32 inch tires will be faster than a 29 inch model by a few miles per hour and will handle very similarly to it, whereas it will only fall short of the speed of a 36 by a little, all while offering vastly superior agility and responsiveness.
Plus it just doesn’t feel that big. You might think you were riding a 29 that just happened to be faster. If that doesn’t make a strong case for 32 inch tires, not much else will.
Unicycle Parts and More
Whether you’re actually looking for replacement 32 inch tires or tubes for your current ride or you want to refresh your collection with a unicycle that has 32 inch tires, the place to start your search is the same: Unicycle.com.
Unicycle.com not only carries unicycles with 32 inch tires, they were instrumental in the development and proliferation of this tire size in the first place. For more information visit their website or get in touch with them directly for a little more help.
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