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

Bike in Lights!

Summer in Sydney is sweltering... What good reason could there be to go for a bike ride in 33deg heat and 78% hummidity? To see your name in lights of course for the Sydney Festival or in our case our crocheted monkey Milky Joe's name!

To get there was a sweaty but enjoyable ride. S-boy practised his Tour de France waterbottle moves...

Whereas I just glistened...

We arrived and camped out in the 1 metre patch of shade we found. Phew!

While we waited for the big moment to arrive Milky happily posed for pictures.

And tried on new names that sounded cool...

Then it was time... Milky Joe SUPERSTAR!!

Then just for fun, our bike names came up...

(Florence miraculously appeared in spirit!)

Then ta da... The coolest bike gang in the world...

Oh the exhilaration, the overwhelming 15 seconds of glory. How can we ever top this? Oh thats how... by hitting the pool as soon as we got home. Good work Milky Joe!

P.S. I have to include a photo of this guy who we spotted on the way home. This is not the first time I've seen him but it is the first time I was quick enough with my camera to capture him. He rides around Darling harbour with the mask on, the mirrors and the flags creating a stir by tooting randomly at people. Nuisance or bike advocate? Hmmm...

Pish Tosh xx

Everyone loves bubbles!

Okay so the big moment has arrived... it arrived in the form of a parcel from Ebay (as do all great things). With an air of anticipation, batteries were inserted, okky strap attached, mixture poured in.
Add one bike and then...

It is time for the launch of the ultimate summer bike accessory:

A BUBBLE MACHINE ON THE BACK OF MY BIKE!!!

As we took it a spin around the park, every single person we passed smiled as soon as they saw the bubbles. Proving my theory EVERYONE LOVES BUBBLES!

Here is J-Bot and the S-Boy looking cool riding into the bubble stream...

Looking pretty damn chuffed with my "Ultimate Bike Accessory" (or "U.B.A").

Warning* - one may be overcome with an overdose of bubble happiness as seen here happening with J-bot and Milky Joe..

There will be more photos soon... and a possible cult following!

Pish tosh xx

Bike Valet Team is GO!

Oh, Sydney Festival, how I love how it transforms the city every summer. Parks become gig venues, streets host art installations, bands and artists from all over the world descend on the city so that every night something is happening. There is a really laid-back sense of pride that our city can be so beautiful and livable.

In the spirit of promoting a sustainable and livable etc. city, K-star and I decided to give a little back to the Syd Fest and volunteered for the fabulous free Bike Valet service that Bike Sydney arranges. (At the very least we thought we'd be able to get a bit of shameless self promotion done...) The bike valet corral is located behind the main stage at the Domain and central to most of the events and venues, you can roll along and drop your bike off and not have to worry about finding a pole/tree/bike park ring.

Yogi was our fearless leader and provided us with lollies, crackers, and ensured we had the skills to park bikes without hurting anyone/thing.

K-star and I soon got down to the serious job of parking bikes, with clipboards and surveys and all. We made sure to practice being efficient and professional.

Then we actually parked some bikes...

Meeting bike people is always fun and there was such a broad cross-section of the cycling community out and about on Saturday evening. If we parked your bike let us know! Did we do a sufficient job? Were we professional, efficient, and friendly? Were you a little freaked out about leaving your bike with some (strange) girls who had flowers and feathers stuck in their hair?

Were you slightly more relieved to see some more responsible looking people valet parking with us, like our previously mentioned supervisor extraordinaire Yogi, and our other valet volunteer Martin?

Martin (bemusedly) looking on as J-bot practices her clipboard/inter-personal skills

Once the lights went down and the music started up, we found we had plenty of time to entertain ourselves and others with some disco light action. Martin's superb photographic skills came into play when we decided we needed a photoshoot.

Our valet parking shift was over before we knew it. If you're thinking about volunteering I highly recommend it. Hang out for a few hours, make some friends, and if you're at all like-minded, dress up a bit! A great night out!

j.xoxo

Yes Please

Bike + Cider. Favourite things of summer...

j.xoxo