Early Summer Tune-Ups for Your Unicycle:

Let’s say you’re just a bit late to the spring tune-up party and you’re just about to dust off the old unicycle now and get it ready for summer riding season.

These are pretty simple machines. There isn’t a lot you need to do with them to make sure they’re in riding shape.

But there’s not nothing, either. You’ll still want to give your one-wheeler a once-over just to make sure it’s ready for you to get in the saddle. Winter is long and you want to make sure everything’s tight and in good shape before you ride - whether you’ll be riding to work or hitting a mountain trail.

So, with that said, here are all the high-level things you should check (and do) to get your unicycle back in riding shape.

Check the Tires

First things first, check the tires. There are two things to look for. One is damage, the other is to make sure they’re inflated properly.

Damage arises in two forms. One is dry rot, which can happen under effectively any circumstances. What you should be looking for are discoloration and those tiny cracks that form in the sidewall. Normally, they start to manifest after a few years.

When your tires start to dry rot, it’s time to replace them. Get a new tire, break out the tire lever, and get to work.

Exposure to UV radiation - that is, sunlight - can also cause your tires to decay. This is one of the main reasons that you shouldn’t store your unicycle outdoors. Again, inspect the tires for signs of UV damage - browning discoloration and cracks in the sidewall are what you’re looking for.

If the tire checks out, give it a squeeze. Tires let out air on their own over time, so after a long hiatus in the shed or garage, you’ll likely need to refill the tires before you hit the trail again.

Otherwise, if all of this checks out too, move along.

Check the Pedals

Once you’re done with the tire, give the pedals a spin. The pedals could come loose, and if you ride with loose pedals, they might unscrew themselves as you ride. This is not just a massive inconvenience, it can damage both the pedals and crank arms to the point that you need to replace either or both.

The solution is simple. Just give them a test spin to make sure they’re tight, and if you have any qualms at all, do the safe thing, break out the pedal wrench, and cinch down on them. The last thing you want to be worrying about while you’re riding is that the pedals come off.

Check the Saddle

 

Once you’ve checked the pedals and tire, give the saddle a squeeze. After a few years, the padding in the saddle, like the tires, can dry rot and break down. This will eliminate some of the spring of the saddle and make it feel a lot more spongy.  

Now, to be clear, this is not necessarily a bad thing, and many riders actually prefer the feel of a broken-in, worn-out saddle. Like a broken-in pair of leather boots, a spongy, well-ridden saddle is a thing that will fit a rider like a glove.  

Anyway, this is a matter of preference rather than necessity. If you end up riding and like the way the saddle feels, stick with it, otherwise, it’s an easy enough part to replace.

One more thing: check the saddle height. If it’s not adjusted comfortably to you, for any reason, you can adjust the saddle height by loosening the bike seatpost clamp that cinches down on the tube, then sliding it up or down.

Do the Drop Test 

Lastly, do the basic drop test. This is designed to help you catch anything that you might have missed during your initial “preflight check.”

Beyond the pedals, saddle and tires, the drop test will let you know if anything is loose on the unicycle - the bearings, the pedals, anything like that. It’s simple enough to do, too. Just pick the unicycle up a few inches off the floor, suspend it by the saddle, and let it drop right onto the tire.

It’ll bounce a bit, but you’re not looking, you’re listening. Listen for the telltale rattle of loose hardware. If you don’t hear anything, you’re good to go. If not, you need to do some sleuthing.

Fortunately, unicycles are simple machines with little hardware. But if you hear a rattle, get into it, find what’s loose, and tighten it - then you’re good to ride.

Special Notes for Those of You With Kids…

One more special note for any of you that have youngsters around the house. Kids might be liable to bump into your unicycle, even knock it over once or twice, and they might not be prudent (or forthcoming enough, you decide) to let you know when that happens.

It’s more likely a youngster bangs into a one-wheeler, knocks it over, and then props it back up without saying anything. These bumps and knocks are more than likely the cause of more than one loose bearing or pedal.

Either way, not to point fingers, but let’s just say be a little more wary about your once-over if you have kids around. Be extra vigilant in your assessment of the unicycle before you ride.

Need to Replace Your Saddle, Tire, or Get a New Bike Seatpost Clamp?

If, when you conduct your pre-season investigation for your unicycle, you determine there are some parts you need to replace or upgrade, we can help. We carry a wide assortment of unicycle parts such as tires, tubes, saddles, bike seatpost clamps, pedals, and more. We also carry unicycle tools you might need to execute the tune-up, like tire levers and pedal wrenches. Take a look through our catalog and if you have any questions about any parts or tools we sell, or about how to make repairs, get in touch with us directly and we’d be happy to