Uncycling or Unicycling?

Ahh my bike... two wheel fun! I was caught unawares last week while out. Walking down a quiet suburban street in Glebe when a unicyclist passed me travelling on the road. He skillfully turned a corner and then avoided on coming cars. What?!?

Forgive me for my lack of unicycle knowledge but having only seen unicycle acts performed for entertainment (say clowns and those high-pant-wearing-fire-swallowing-juggling-carnies) and not as any form of transport. I had no idea you could propel so well along and without going backwards to stay upright. And of course that is providing you have more coordination and balance then I could ever hope for. I immediately told J-Bot who told me of seeing a LYCRA-CLAD-HELMET-WEARING UNICYCLIST at Manly on the weekend. Photo? Nooo, but she told how he rode casually weaving around traffic up the main street. Whoa!

I have found a photo to recreate this for you here:

This just proves that Lycra looks bad no matter what you ride.

So after registering my disbelief with J-Bot that these people exist I did some research on my numerically-wheel-challenged fellow cyclist. Here is what I discovered...

I found the entertainment types:

Clowns / Trippers

But then I found the riders. People who do it for the challenge, the skill and the means of getting from A to B or to Iceland. Yep Iceland. Check out Florian Kaiser's epic unicycle ride across Iceland. Why? Why ? Why??

So I googled crazy unicyclists.

Hmmm not helping but fitting.

I wondered if I could learn to unicycle to aid my understanding and my balance.

Aaah perfect.

But I needed some inspiration. I wonder if any celebrities have made unicycles look good?

Donald Rumsfeld and Jesus?

Not really, so I tried to think of the positive aspects of unicycling. Then I tried harder and googled more...

Less lycra was a must:

But it all looked so awkward. I mean what do you do with your hands?

Better! But where do you store that? I like this idea...

I am still craving handlebars though. If I was a man I would grow this:

And then hold on to it. Aaah the joys of a handlebar moustache! Like a low rider!
Then thinking of body hair I came up with my rule:

2 Eyebrows - 2 Wheels.

I mean there are just some things you should have two of!

Maybe if I googled feminine unicyclists...

This one reminds me that unicycles are funny and makes
male chauvinism even more funny.

But then I found girls. Gangs of girls. Gangs of girls getting around on unicycles. Check out this group from Japan!

It combines the glory and wonder of sychronised swimming, the atmosphere of gymnastics and cheerleading and when you think it can't get any better it adds unicycles. Perfection!

So while I don't profess to understand it and might occasionally have nightmares about this becoming trendy in Sydney, I do bow my head in respect to the balance-elite, the unicyclist. Although we always have to put the Feather Brigade twist on things...

Like baskets and spokey dokes, pinwheel hats and wings!! And tutus and, and, anything just might be possible...

P.S. Aldi stores in Sydney are currently selling unicycles for $69.95. And ebay is full of them. Oh and I am still yet to click a snap of this elusive breed of cyclist so if you manage to... send a pic our way PLEASE!

Pish Tosh xx