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mark1991 Veteran user Boston, Lincolnshire, England 311 Posts |
Hi there,
With the run up to Christmas, I've been asking everybody for money to get myself a Giraffe unicycle. My plan is to buy this one from Butterfingers: http://www.butterfingers.co.uk/Ko-Bespok......UNI01006 Just wandered if anybody on here had any views, thoughts or opinions about this particular model or what to look out for in a good giraffe uni. Any help and advice is always greatly appreciated! Take care Mark
http://magicnewstelevision.com/mn/magicalmark
Magical Mark Watson - Christian magician, juggler, puppeteer, all-round entertainer and lover of Christ! |
SeasideShowman Elite user Myrtle Beach, SC 443 Posts |
Hey Mark,
I'm a little confused by the picture on the website you linked. The product claims that it goes from 5 foot - 7 foot but the picture shows two different uni's. It appears that the taller product has an extension piece added to the frame and (naturally) a longer chain. If the company includes that extra piece and the longer chain all for one price then I understand how that can be. A rigid frame is important the higher you go because you don't want the frame to twist when you rock (idle) or make turns. A good frame will be made from box shaped tubing vs. a round tube. The picture makes it hard to tell what they are using. It does look like it has a quick-release above the cranks hence the comment from them about 'Can be rapidly dismantled for ease of transportation'. The comment about 'can be disassembled into four sections which fit into an ordinary suitcase' would require some tools to make that happen. But it could happen. Hope this helps and best of luck on your move on up ... Cap'n Mike ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I didn't care if they were laughing at me or laughing with me ... as long as they were laughing" - Unknown
www.MagicAtTheBeach.org "I'm with it" |
fettucinibrother Veteran user North Carolina 306 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-12-02 21:13, SeasideShowman wrote: That actually looks like the same uni that Karl Salider aka Taxi Trix owns (Hilby too, I think). I've seen it up close and in use. It's a good uni. The two unis in the photo are images of the same uni, but in the two different configurations. I do believe that it does have a round or steel tube frame, but still has no problems or issues with it twisting or torque during idling. My giraffe also has a steel tube frame and it is solid as it can be. Good luck. seems like a reasonable price for a versatile unicycle. Nice that it breaks down for packing. Cap'n... I know that your Semcycle has a box steel frame, but it also weighs about twice as much as my tube framed uni. In these days of extra baggage charges and extra weight charges, if you are planning on flying with this uni, weight should also be a factor to consider. AL
http://www.fettucinibrothers.com
http://www.greatfettucini.com http://www.fettucinientertainment.com "A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool - William Shakespeare |
SeasideShowman Elite user Myrtle Beach, SC 443 Posts |
Fettucinibrother wrote:
" Cap'n... I know that your Semcycle has a box steel frame, but it also weighs about twice as much as my tube framed uni. In these days of extra baggage charges and extra weight charges, if you are planning on flying with this uni, weight should also be a factor to consider. AL " Thanks for confirming what I originally suspected about the same uni being configured in two different ways. That's really cool. But a correction - my tall uni is not a Semcycle (although Sem Abrahams makes some good stuff). Mine was custom made for me by Tom Miller of The Unicycle Factory in Kokomo, IN. I don't agree that weight of the uni is that important. Although my uni may weigh more than cheaper (more affordable) models it should be noted that I also weigh more than other models (rim shot here). I haven't ever flown with mine but if I did the client would pay for the expense, not me. Yes, I can still ride it. No, it's not in the show. Now ask me if I can still free-mount it ... :O) (no, I don't think so) Keep those questions coming. I'm always willing to help, Cap'n Mike Myrtle Beach, SC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I didn't care if they were laughing at me or laughing with me ... as long as they were laughing" - Unknown
www.MagicAtTheBeach.org "I'm with it" |
fireperformer911 Special user 547 Posts |
I own one and use it in my show it is awesome. The tubing where it joins has male and female cuppling that make the joints very strong. There are two sets of chains (as the uni uses two chains) one for 5ft and 7f. From a spectator point of view 7ft better but sometimes because of a venues celling height only 5ft can be used. Please feel free to PM if you have any more questions.
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fettucinibrother Veteran user North Carolina 306 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-12-03 12:06, SeasideShowman wrote: That's right... I knew that yours was a Tommy Miller, I just typed in the wrong name...doh! Yeah, Tommy does make great stuff. However, good luck to anyone in actually getting anything from him these days. I've heard stories of people waiting months, sometimes years for one, and still not getting it. I do believe that Semcycle incorporates the box frame into his design, but overall there are not many designs that do. I just inherited a collection of about 25 unicycles, 7 of which are giraffes from various makers and none of them have box frames. On the weight thing... coming from someone who actually travelled with and performed on my giraffe uni for about 13 years, and in the process schlepped the thing all over the world, weight should always a concern. Naturally, whenever I am flying to a gig, the client bears all the cost of extra baggage and weight. That is always assumed, is it not? The time that is of more concern to me is all of the other times: getting it to and from the airport as well as to all of the other gigs (most of them) where I do not fly and I am traveling by car and moving my own gear. But, of course, if the uni that Mark is buying is for more of a hobby (like with your's Cap'n) and you will not be traveling and performing with it, then weight certianly becomes a lot less important. And Cap'n, btw, I, for one, was quite aware that your uni is not in your show. You'd have to dust it off and remove the cobwebs for that. LOL Oh Yeah... free mounts... I remember when I used to have that trick down pat. Probably wouldn't even attempt it these days. AL
http://www.fettucinibrothers.com
http://www.greatfettucini.com http://www.fettucinientertainment.com "A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool - William Shakespeare |
SeasideShowman Elite user Myrtle Beach, SC 443 Posts |
Fettucinibrother wrote:
" But, of course, if the uni that Mark is buying is for more of a hobby (like with your's Cap'n) ... " LOL ... You know actually I used to perform my flaming five torch finale atop of my tall uni to conclude my street shows. That's right - I used to street perform way back in 19(da,da,da,da) I don't mind tellin' ya !! :O) But enough of you and I poking each other with sticks ... back on topic - Mark, looks like you've choosen a nice tall uni. Be Good, Cap'n Mike ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
"I didn't care if they were laughing at me or laughing with me ... as long as they were laughing" - Unknown
www.MagicAtTheBeach.org "I'm with it" |
fettucinibrother Veteran user North Carolina 306 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-12-04 22:02, SeasideShowman wrote: Right, You and Dave Altman used to do that trick together, right. Who is poking who with sticks here? I was poking you with a giraffe uni. AL
http://www.fettucinibrothers.com
http://www.greatfettucini.com http://www.fettucinientertainment.com "A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool - William Shakespeare |
SeasideShowman Elite user Myrtle Beach, SC 443 Posts |
Fettucinibrother wrote:
" Right, You and Dave Altman used to do that trick together, right. Who is poking who with sticks here? I was poking you with a giraffe uni. AL " Whooooa ... how'd Altman's name get in here? Now you're no longer poking me with a giraffe uni you're beating me over the head with it !! :O) Trivia: You know Altman invented the spring loaded step used to free-mount really tall uni's during his street performing days in Key West - he'll tell you so. Where is Altman (that's German for 'old man' isn't it?) ? Cap'n Mike (who's going outside to practice his 7 paddleballs on the tall uni bit now) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I didn't care if they were laughing at me or laughing with me ... as long as they were laughing" - Unknown
www.MagicAtTheBeach.org "I'm with it" |
fettucinibrother Veteran user North Carolina 306 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-12-05 23:40, SeasideShowman wrote: You know... I think you are right.
http://www.fettucinibrothers.com
http://www.greatfettucini.com http://www.fettucinientertainment.com "A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool - William Shakespeare |
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