Frequently Asked Questions about Unicycling
General Information
How old should a
person be to ride a unicycle?
Unicyclists can be any age from about 3 on up! It’s a fun sport
for young and old alike.
It’s usually more fun if someone else is learning at the same
time you are. Get a friend, spouse, parent to learn with you.
What are the advantages of learning to ride?
Unicycling is an extremely versatile sport. Riders can focus
on distance riding, tricks, pairs riding, entertaining, racing, offroad riding,
basketball, hockey, trials, groups, or even juggling while riding. Few other sports are as interesting or as
broad.
It’s good exercise.
It’s challenging, and therefore rewarding.
It’s relatively safe, since it doesn’t involve high speeds
and the rider is usually in an upright position.
It appeals to both males and females, and to all ages.
It’s a lot of fun.
How long does it take to learn to ride?
It takes the average person between 10 and 15 hours of
concentrated practice to learn to ride.
Some people learn faster, and some require much longer. It takes an additional few hours to learn to
turn.
Learning to freemount often takes several additional hours.
What’s the secret
of learning how to ride?
The secret of learning how to unicycle can be divulged in
just three words: Practice. Practice.
Practice.
Also, riders suggest that you relax, sink into the unicycle seat,
placing as much of your weight there as possible, and look ahead rather than
down. Then practice, practice, practice and don’t give up.
Unicycles
When should I buy
my own unicycle?
If you can, it’s always better to try it out first, to see if
unicycling is for you. Don’t expect to
ride right away. It normally takes several hours to learn to ride.
Once you make the decision, get a unicycle that’s just for
you. Learning is easier on your own unicycle, and people rarely regret spending
money on a unicycle.
Good unicycles are durable and will last a lifetime. They are
easy to transport and very handy to have on hand. Also, unicycles usually hold
their value and are easily re-sold if necessary.
Where can I buy a
unicycle? How much does one cost?
To order a unicycle online, go to www.unicycle.com for more information.
A few bike shops carry unicycles. Sometimes stores that carry
juggling equipment also carry unicycles. Check around.
Should I get a
second-hand unicycle?
Sometimes that works out, but not very often. Once
people learn to unicycle, they hardly ever sell their unicycles, so second-hand
unicycles may be hard to find. Also, you don’t want a poor quality unicycle,
which makes learning to ride even more difficult.
What wheel size
should I buy?
For a small child, a 16-inch wheel is recommended, although
children soon outgrow 16-inch wheels and go to the 20-inch wheel. For a larger
child, a teenager, or an adult, go with a 20-inch wheel, which is suited for
indoor practices and for skill development. For distance riding and outdoor
exercise, a 24-inch or 28-inch wheel is better.
The wheel size currently used for racing is 24-inch.
How much does a
unicycle cost?
A basic beginning-level model, such as a Torker, is
less than $100. These can be fine to learn on.
A good quality Miyata is about $250. A Miyata will
probably last for many, many years.
What brand,
style, size should I buy?
There are many answers to these questions.
Some general guidelines are:
Buy a 20-inch wheel for indoor trick riding -- for
learning skills such as idling, backwards, and one-footing.
Buy a 24-inch wheel for racing.
Buy a 24-inch wheel or a larger wheel for distance
riding. It is slightly more difficult
to learn to mount the larger size unicycles. They go faster, so you may want to
use more protective equipment.
Buy a MUni, or mountain unicycle, for offroad
riding.
Buy a Coker, with a 36-inch wheel, for more serious
long-distance riding.
Buy a trials unicycle for jumping on and off
obstacles. Trials unicycles usually have 20-inch wheels.
Some good brands of unicycles include the Miyata,
SEM, and others.
Two important features are the saddle and the shape
of the fork on the frame.
The Miyata saddles have a good handle and are more
comfortable than many other brands.
The frame should have a square fork. This is
important for tricks, such as one-foot riding. Frames with a rounded fork are
fine for riding, but are very frustrating for learning more advanced
skills. Even lower-level riders find
that the squared forks come in handy.
Some unicycles are less expensive. You may want to spend less
on a unicycle, although most people find that they soon want to upgrade when
they purchase an inexpensive unicycle. Good unicycles are very durable.
This list is just a starting point. There are other
brands and many other factors, such as cost, availability, and the kind of
riding you want to do that will affect your decision.
What is a
giraffe?
Strictly speaking, a “giraffe” unicycle is the term used for
Schwinn 6-feet tall unicycles. The name is commonly used to describe all tall
unicycles, 4- to 20-feet tall.
What is an ultimate wheel or U wheel?
An ultimate wheel is a wheel with pedals attached. There’s no
frame or seat.
What is a BC wheel?
A BC wheel is a basic coasting wheel. There’s no frame or seat. There are platforms or pegs for the rider’s
feet. The rider coasts rather than
pedals a BC wheel.
What is MUni?
MUni is mountain unicycling or offroad riding. A MUni is a
more rugged unicycle with a wide, knobby tire.
What is Trials?
Trials is a form of riding that involves obstacles. Riders use platforms, rails, A-frames, and
other structures for Trials. They focus on riding across narrow surfaces, or
hopping, jumping, and gapping. Trials unicycles have wider tires for more
bounce.
What is a Coker?
A Coker, named for the tire, is a unicycle with a large,
36-inch wheel. Cokers are normally used for riding long distances.
What does UPD mean?
UPD means an unplanned dismount, or somehow coming off the
unicycle unintentionally. It may mean a
fall, or just stepping off.
Should I wear
safety equipment?
For
normal indoor riding, many people do not wear any safety equipment since the
incidence of injuries is low. However,
some riders use wrist guards or leg protection at all times. Riders are
required to use helmets, kneepads, and gloves at some unicycling events, such
as racing at the national convention. For outdoor riding, safety equipment is
wise, including helmets, shin guards, hand, wrist, elbow, and knee protection.
What kind of injuries occur?
Fortunately,
unicycling is relatively safe. However,
riders and helpers can expect occasional bruises on their legs, which occur
when the pedal hits them. Some riders use shin guards. Also, while riders most
often come off the unicycle and land on their feet, it is possible to fall on
your hands. Some riders wear wrist guards.
Riding
a unicycle is different from riding a bike. Unicycle riders are upright, rather
than bent forward. While bike helmets are important for some kinds of
unicycling, normal riding usually does not represent a serious threat of head
injuries, as is true of biking.
Riders
often experience soreness in their knees.
Often, this is a result of having their unicycle seat too low, so the
legs aren’t extended while pedaling, which causes more stress on the knees. The
soreness usually goes away after adjusting the seat and becoming more
accustomed to riding.
What can I do to avoid falling?
Most
often, riders land on their feet when they come off the unicycle. That makes learning to ride relatively safe.
However, one simple rule to follow that will help riders prevent falls is to
avoid long, loose shoelaces. Laces have been the cause of many serious falls.
The shoelace gets caught in the unicycle, twists around, and pulls the rider
off. Always tuck in, double-tie, or do
whatever is necessary to avoid having your shoelace cause you an injury.
Are there any
rankings of unicyclists?
Yes. There
is a 1 to 10 ranking system. Level One requires riders to freemount, ride, and
dismount. The Unicycling Society of
America (USA) web site at www.unicycling.org/usa has more information about the levels. The
USA, Inc. is also working on a new system that will include many new challenges
for riders of all kinds.
How can I test to
pass a skill level?
Find out if there is a club in your area and ask if they have
someone willing to test you. Testing is also available at the national
convention each summer. Otherwise, see the USA web site for more information.
What do I get if I pass a test?
Most clubs award the level patches and a card that verifies
that you passed a skill level, with the date and tester’s name.
Has anyone ever
passed all ten levels?
Yes, but it is difficult, and the rules vary
somewhat between countries.
What is the North
American Unicycling Championships and Convention (NAUCC)?
The NAUCC is a nationwide gathering of unicyclists. It
features a wide variety of events for all ages and skill levels. There are
races, artistic competitions, workshops, and a public show. The NAUCC usually
runs for about four days in late July. The 2004 event is scheduled for Salt
Lake City, Utah. The 2005 event is scheduled to be held in Pennsylvania.
Where have the national events been held in the past?
1971 New York, NY
1973 Pontiac, MI
1974 Marion, OH
1975 Pontiac, MI
1976 Marion, OH
1977 Marion, OH
1978 St. Anthony, MN
1979 Findlay, OH
1980 Kokomo, IN
1981 Ann Arbor, MI
1982 St. Paul, MN
1983 Syracuse, NY
1984 Findlay, OH
1985 Ypsilanti, MI
1986 Bowling Green, OH
1987 Arden Hills, MN
1988 Ypsilanti, MI
1989 Mobile, AL
1990 Findlay, OH
1991 Chariton, IA
1992 Arden Hills, MN
1993 Adrian, MI
1994 Wahpeton, ND
1995 Bowling Green, OH
1996 Chariton, IA
1997 Minneapolis, MN
1998 Monrovia, CA
1999 Snoqualmie Valley, WA
2000 Adrian, MI
2001 Toronto, Canada
2002 Snoqualmie Valley, WA
2003 St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN
2004 Salt Lake City, UT
What is Unicon?
Unicon is the International Unicycle Convention, held every
two years. Unicon is usually an eight-day event. It has been held in many
different countries. Japan plans to
host the 2004 Unicon event.
Should a beginner go to these events?
Yes. Absolutely.
Beginners usually have a terrific time and can participate in many ways.
What is RSU?
RSU is rec.sport.unicycling.
This is a great newsgroup to monitor to learn lots more about
unicycling, including the latest in equipment and events. Riders from all over
the globe share their knowledge about unicycling through this newsgroup. Many of the world’s best riders participate
on a regular basis.
If you subscribe to RSU, be sure to search the existing
threads for answers to all your initial questions as you get started in the
sport. The regular participants use
some acronyms, such as UPD, which stands for Un-Planned Dismount, or another
way to describe stepping or falling off the unicycle. LBS stands for local bike
shop. You can learn a lot and get on board by first reading past posts.
For more information, go to
http://www.unicycling.org/mailman/listinfo/rsu
If you have other questions about unicycling, please send me
an e-mail at unicyclecentral@hotmail.com.