Unicycle corner
Quote: WizardYesterday I went on a long unicycle ride. The strange thing is that after doing an unusually long ride, my arms feel more sore than my legs.
I am not quite sure what I would think about seeing someone on a unicycle on a bike trail. Not something you see everyday.
I went for my longest bike ride ever last week. We went 21 miles. It made me laugh when I got home because it took me half a day and I felt like death yet people run the marathon. I can not imagine running that far.
My ass hurt for 2 days but the rest of my body felt good.
Quote: WizardYesterday I went on a long unicycle ride. The strange thing is that after doing an unusually long ride, my arms feel more sore than my legs.
I'm guessing you felt unsteady, and your feet and legs had something to push against, and your arms just kept tensing and waving with nothing to grab onto.
Total SWAG.
Quote: GWAEI am not quite sure what I would think about seeing someone on a unicycle on a bike trail. Not something you see everyday.
If you lived in north Summerlin then you would see me doing it a lot. About 75% of people don't seem to care. The other 25% seemed impressed. I get comments like :
That looks hard.
How do you do that?
You're missing a wheel.
Good job.
I'm impressed.
Quote: WizardIf you lived in north Summerlin then you would see me doing it a lot. About 75% of people don't seem to care. The other 25% seemed impressed. I get comments like :
That looks hard.
How do you do that?
You're missing a wheel.
Good job.
I'm impressed.
I would like to see you do it in Pittsburgh with our hills. I think that would be entertaining. I can't imagine going downhill on one.
Quote: WizardIf you lived in north Summerlin then you would see me doing it a lot. About 75% of people don't seem to care. The other 25% seemed impressed. I get comments like :
That looks hard.
How do you do that?
You're missing a wheel.
Good job.
I'm impressed.
My son just bought a unicycle, but he can't seem to get the hangs of riding it. He's trying really hard though and I think eventually he wil get it. It's harder than it looks and it looks hard lol.
Quote: Mikey75My son just bought a unicycle, but he can't seem to get the hangs of riding it. He's trying really hard though and I think eventually he wil get it. It's harder than it looks and it looks hard lol.
Hold his hand as he rides. He will learn to rely on it less and less until he go without it.
Quote: Mikey75My son just bought a unicycle, but he can't seem to get the hangs of riding it. He's trying really hard though and I think eventually he wil get it. It's harder than it looks and it looks hard lol.
As a kid, I learned on a driveway. Not sure but I think the gentle slope helped get started.
Quote: RogerKintAs a kid, I learned on a driveway. Not sure but I think the gentle slope helped get started.
I wouldn't have recommended that. It is actually harder to go downhill than on a flat surface, because you have to use effort to not go too fast.
If one must learn by himself, as I did, I recommend a tennis court and hanging onto the net.
Quote: WizardI wouldn't have recommended that. It is actually harder to go downhill than on a flat surface, because you have to use effort to not go too fast.
If one must learn by himself, as I did, I recommend a tennis court and hanging onto the net.
Anytime I hear you mention a unicycle I think of one that you would see in a circus that is 7 feet tall. In reality after your mentioning holding onto a net I guess they are the same height as a bicycle.
Quote: GWAEAnytime I hear you mention a unicycle I think of one that you would see in a circus that is 7 feet tall. In reality after your mentioning holding onto a net I guess they are the same height as a bicycle.
That is called a giraffe unicycle. I personally have three unicycles, but none of them is a giraffe.
In the late 1980's I was a monitor for a man named Floyd as he set the Guinness world record time for 100 miles on a Unicycle. His time was outside. His time was beat by a Japanese man on an inside course about 6 months later, so Floyd never made the book. I believe Floyd's time was about 7.5 hours. The current record appears to be 6 hours and 44 minutes (Google search).Quote: WizardYesterday I went on a long unicycle ride. The strange thing is that after doing an unusually long ride, my arms feel more sore than my legs.
Of course, my native blood would put a damper on the requisite handle bar moustache, but I'd do the best I can.
Quote: teliotIn the late 1980's I was a monitor for a man ...
What was the diameter of the wheel on his unicycle?
Quote: WizardWhat was the diameter of the wheel on his unicycle?
I also ride a unicycle, but I no longer own one. I did notice a few for sale at a bicycle shop a short while ago, and I ALMOST bought another one.
Doing group unicycle rides on the strip could be fun if we could get enough people interested to participate.
When I was a teenager, I rode my unicycle through a mall weaving in between people while a friend chased behind me on foot. I haven't done anything more unusual on the unicycle besides just goofing around in front of my house. But they are easy to throw in your car and transport to a destination if you have something fun in mind to do with it when you get somewhere.
Quote: WizardHold his hand as he rides. He will learn to rely on it less and less until he go without it.
Thanks for the suggestion. I've tried that and he can go a little ways on it. Believe it or not he can ride it farther by himself than with me holding his hand. He is getting there I just hope he doesn't lose patients with it before he learns it.
I don't recall exactly, but it was a high performance lightweight touring unicycle, I think over 30 inches.Quote: WizardWhat was the diameter of the wheel on his unicycle?
I knew Floyd had passed away, but I never looked it up. I just did that now and found a thread on a sight discussing Floyd.
http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33249
Quote: threadFloyd Beattie was a former holder of the Guinness 100 mile record. It was a battle, in the late 80s, between him and a handful of other (younger riders). That battle ended a week after Unicon III in Japan, with a 100 mile *race*. Yes the Takauiki Koike current 100 mile record was set in an actual 100 mile unicycle race. I'm not sure how many other riders participated, if any, but the 18 year old Takayuki set a mark that was way beyond the training of the 30+ Floyd.
You can see he was from Athens, Ohio -- where I was working at the time. I found this picture of him. This looks like the bike path he rode for his record, and this may even be from his record ride:
Quote: AhighI also ride a unicycle, but I no longer own one...Doing group unicycle rides on the strip could be fun if we could get enough people interested to participate
If you get one, let me know, and we'll do some 2-person rides. I don't think the Strip is a good location but a nice quiet bike path.
Quote: teliotI don't recall exactly, but it was a high performance lightweight touring unicycle, I think over 30 inches.
That looks like a 36-inch wheel. That thin tire would be optimized for speed as well. All that facial hair would be an aerodynamic drag.
Quote: AcesAndEightsWiz, did you learn to ride as a kid or an adult? How long is a "long" unicycle ride?
Adult. When I lived in Baltimore a friend got me into it. I taught myself on a tennis court, as I previously advised doing. I'm a embarrassed to say a "long" ride for me is only about six miles, but I only recently started to get back into it. Give me a little time and I'll get to at least 20. Also, I've been riding on a 20-inch wheel.
Quote: MoscaIs the fact that you started this topic in WoV instead of DT a concession that DT is a moribund backwater, and discussions get more interesting play here rather than there?
No. This was a split-off from the Miscellaneous Discussion Thread.
Quote: WizardI'm a embarrassed to say a "long" ride for me is only about six miles, but I only recently started to get back into it. Give me a little time and I'll get to at least 20. Also, I've been riding on a 20-inch wheel.
What's the efficiency of a unicycle like, as opposed to a bicycle? Riding six miles on a bicycle is nothing (especially if it's flat), but I have no context for how much effort that would require on a unicycle...
Quote: AcesAndEightsWhat's the efficiency of a unicycle like, as opposed to a bicycle? Riding six miles on a bicycle is nothing (especially if it's flat), but I have no context for how much effort that would require on a unicycle...
Here's an interesting link on the subject.
http://www.glacierview.net/geowinters/balancePage.html
Quote: AcesAndEightsWhat's the efficiency of a unicycle like, as opposed to a bicycle? Riding six miles on a bicycle is nothing (especially if it's flat), but I have no context for how much effort that would require on a unicycle...
It is significantly more on a unicycle. If forced to compare, I think covering a mile on a 20-inch unicycle is about as hard as it is to run it. My 24-inch unicycle is in the shop, which is easier to cover miles on.
Quote: WizardIt is significantly more on a unicycle. If forced to compare, I think covering a mile on a 20-inch unicycle is about as hard as it is to run it. My 24-inch unicycle is in the shop, which is easier to cover miles on.
Very interesting. Thanks for tolerating my questions!
Quote: AcesAndEightsThanks for tolerating my questions!
You're welcome!
Quote: FaceI've always wanted a penny farthing, just to be absurd. Could ride around in knickers and a top hat, entertaining lookers on.
Got to say, it wouldn't be my first choice for stability.
Quote: AyecarumbaAre there unicycle that freewheel? i.e., The wheel can spin without pedaling, allowing the rider to coast?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFxmbiFfpN3shQ7lG2efocg
lmgtfy
Quote: djatcI would actually like to learn how to ride an unicycle. Wizard are you offering lessons?
I can teach you how to hop on a shovel. Its almost like a unicycle.
Quote: rudeboyoiI can teach you how to hop on a shovel. Its almost like a unicycle.
I suspect you need some help gardening.
Quote: Ahighhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFxmbiFfpN3shQ7lG2efocg
lmgtfy
Thanks Ahigh! That was a lot less cool than I imagined, but kudos to the engineering.
Quote: AyecarumbaThanks Ahigh!
I think this is the first time anyone has ever thanked me on this forum.
Miracles never cease!
Now if only I were in shape.
Quote: WizardThat is called a giraffe unicycle. I personally have three unicycles, but none of them is a giraffe.
Quote: Wizard (on a different topic)That looks like a 36-inch wheel. That thin tire would be optimized for speed as well.
The topics of the tall unicycles and speed riding brought a question to mind: are the chain-drive cycles always geared at a 1:1 ratio, or can the gears be sized to ride at higher speeds?
My guess is that it might take quite an adjustment on the rider's part to get used to a different ratio.
http://www.unicycle.com/review/product/list/id/3034/category/20/
Quote: Doc
The topics of the tall unicycles and speed riding brought a question to mind: are the chain-drive cycles always geared at a 1:1 ratio, or can the gears be sized to ride at higher speeds?
My guess is that it might take quite an adjustment on the rider's part to get used to a different ratio.
Unicycles are relatively uncommon, but there is quite a variety.
http://randomascii.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/riding-faster-on-one-wheel-geared-unicycles
This site goes into detail on gearing.
Quote: WizardI'm throwing down the gauntlet. Ahigh, I challenge you to a unicycle race! I'm open to the particulars but I prefer long distance.
I will work on some details to make it as entertaining as possible. Sounds like fun to me.
Quote: AhighI will work on some details to make it as entertaining as possible. Sounds like fun to me.
Yes! May the betting begin.
Quote: AhighQuote: WizardI'm throwing down the gauntlet. Ahigh, I challenge you to a unicycle race! I'm open to the particulars but I prefer long distance.
I will work on some details to make it as entertaining as possible. Sounds like fun to me.
Downhill, Mt Charleston.
Quote: AhighI propose trials instead of a race.
I'm open to negotiation, but tricks are not my strong suit. Personally, I'd prefer ten miles on a paved bike path.
How about a race from the El Cortez to the Plaza before the McNuggets challenge down Fremont Street? With all the pedestrians it should be interesting.
Quote: WizardI'm open to negotiation, but tricks are not my strong suit. Personally, I'd prefer ten miles on a paved bike path.
How about a race from the El Cortez to the Plaza before the McNuggets challenge down Fremont Street? With all the pedestrians it should be interesting.
I suggest just doing a mile circuit..... around a McDonalds where each of you has to stop and eat 2 McNuggets for each time your feet hit the ground in the past mile as a penalty.... 10 laps away you go
