Domain: unicyclist.com
Stories and comments across the archive that link to unicyclist.com.
Comments · 8
-
Re:Bike helmet?
-
Unicycles - quite a good urban vehicle
I commuted to work by unicycle for several years and have done hundreds of miles in total. Modern unicycles have come a long way from the old days of a circus exhibit. There are lot of people who ride very long distances on them. A unicycle won't suit most people for commuting but it actually has more plus points than you'd think
...* Lighter weight than a bike, relatively easy to pick up and carry, or wheel along.
* Takes less space than a bike to store indoors.
* Cheaper than a bike of equivalent quality.
* Once you're skilled you can "idle" on the spot (or just hop occasionally to shift the thing back under your centre of mass) so you may not have to put a foot down when waiting in traffic or at lights.
* Potentially very mechanically simple.
* Good exercise, including for your core muscles due to the postural component of keeping balanced.It's also a good attention grabber, if you like that sort of thing. I've observed that a lot of geeks, particularly computer geeks, seem to like unicycling. My guess is that this is because, relative to a bike, it requires a high degree of mental engagement but in a non-intellectual way. So you get to exercise your brain but in a way which distracts you from the pressures of logical thought processes.
There are some commuting unicycles here:
http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1&subcat=7&cat=Commuter
Note that handlebars are available, which allows experienced riders to take some weight of their "bits". Combined with modern saddles, a unicycle is a lot less punishing to your nether regions than you'd expect, though you obviously still need to take care!Finally, at the high end of the price range, there are unicycles with the Schlumpf (and Kris Holm-Schlumpf) hub-based gearing system. No exposed gearing but you can get something like a 1.5:1 increase in gear ratio, allowing you go go much faster whilst still having the wheel be small and light. In some ways I'd think this would be the best urban commuting unicycle for experienced riders.
There are clear disadvantages to a unicycle to but I figure some folks here might be interested anyhow. Because an unpowered unicycle has made such a good commuting vehicle for me I wouldn't be surprised if an electrical one is actually more practical than you'd expect.
[if anyone wants to find out more, the rec.sport.unicycling newsground, also available as a forum http://unicyclist.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=3 will be able to answer your questions or you can just reply to me here - it's arguably even on topic!]
-
Re:Unicycle hockey
You mean you didn't believe me?
:)Unicycling is great. Think a combination of skateboarding, bmx, mountain biking and just generally good stuff.
Mountain unicycling exists, people compete in mountain biking events on unicycles. (See Moonride and Moonride pics for an example (I just googled for that and know nothing about it))
Trials is very big as well. This video is from the British Unicycle Convention this year.
Some other silliness:
On cliff, then off the cliff and a jump
If you're just going to look at one thing from this comment though, look at this one: http://www.sykoproductions.com/U2trailer.mov
Enjoy!
Roger
(none of that is me by the way - I wish!)
-
Re:Unicycle hockey
You mean you didn't believe me?
:)Unicycling is great. Think a combination of skateboarding, bmx, mountain biking and just generally good stuff.
Mountain unicycling exists, people compete in mountain biking events on unicycles. (See Moonride and Moonride pics for an example (I just googled for that and know nothing about it))
Trials is very big as well. This video is from the British Unicycle Convention this year.
Some other silliness:
On cliff, then off the cliff and a jump
If you're just going to look at one thing from this comment though, look at this one: http://www.sykoproductions.com/U2trailer.mov
Enjoy!
Roger
(none of that is me by the way - I wish!)
-
Re:Unicycle hockey
You mean you didn't believe me?
:)Unicycling is great. Think a combination of skateboarding, bmx, mountain biking and just generally good stuff.
Mountain unicycling exists, people compete in mountain biking events on unicycles. (See Moonride and Moonride pics for an example (I just googled for that and know nothing about it))
Trials is very big as well. This video is from the British Unicycle Convention this year.
Some other silliness:
On cliff, then off the cliff and a jump
If you're just going to look at one thing from this comment though, look at this one: http://www.sykoproductions.com/U2trailer.mov
Enjoy!
Roger
(none of that is me by the way - I wish!)
-
Re:Unicycle hockey
You mean you didn't believe me?
:)Unicycling is great. Think a combination of skateboarding, bmx, mountain biking and just generally good stuff.
Mountain unicycling exists, people compete in mountain biking events on unicycles. (See Moonride and Moonride pics for an example (I just googled for that and know nothing about it))
Trials is very big as well. This video is from the British Unicycle Convention this year.
Some other silliness:
On cliff, then off the cliff and a jump
If you're just going to look at one thing from this comment though, look at this one: http://www.sykoproductions.com/U2trailer.mov
Enjoy!
Roger
(none of that is me by the way - I wish!)
-
Re:Unicycle hockey
You mean you didn't believe me?
:)Unicycling is great. Think a combination of skateboarding, bmx, mountain biking and just generally good stuff.
Mountain unicycling exists, people compete in mountain biking events on unicycles. (See Moonride and Moonride pics for an example (I just googled for that and know nothing about it))
Trials is very big as well. This video is from the British Unicycle Convention this year.
Some other silliness:
On cliff, then off the cliff and a jump
If you're just going to look at one thing from this comment though, look at this one: http://www.sykoproductions.com/U2trailer.mov
Enjoy!
Roger
(none of that is me by the way - I wish!)
-
Check out this!!
in regards to unicycling you gotta check out Kris Holms web site. He is the best cross country unicyclist and does stuff on his unicycle I would not even think of on my mountain bike. His videos are truly awesome.. and he makes the best unicycles around too.
Check it out!
http://dangeruni.unicyclist.com/