Frequently Asked Questions about Unicycling |
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Unicycle Central of Minnesota |
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, or 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 and good cross-training for other sports.
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 and very inexpensive.
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 (get on without help) 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, 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 even a short distance.
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? Ask a director of Unicycle Central for help finding the right unicycle for you. 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. If you get a unicycle from Ebay, be sure to consider the shipping costs.
Should I get a second-hand unicycle? Second-hand unicycles are 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" wheel is recommended, although children soon outgrow 16" wheels and go to the 20" wheel. For a larger child, a teenager, or an adult, go with a 20" wheel, which is best for indoor practices and for skill development. For distance riding and outdoor exercise, a 24" or 28" wheel is better. The wheel size currently used for racing is 24".
How much does a unicycle cost? A basic beginning-level model, such as a Torker, is about $100. These are fine to learn on.
What brand, style, size should I buy? There are many answers to these questions. Some general guidelines are: Buy a 20" wheel for indoor trick riding -- for learning skills such as idling, backwards, and one-footing. 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 square forks come in handy.
Buy a 24" wheel for racing and a 24" wheel or larger for distance riding. It is slightly more difficult to learn to freemount the larger-size unicycles. And 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" wheel, for more serious long-distance riding.
Buy a trials unicycle for jumping on and off obstacles. Trials unicycles usually have 20" wheels.
Good brands of unicycles include the Miyata, SEM, and others. The Velo saddles available on some unicycles have a good handle and are more comfortable than many other brands.
Some unicycles are less expensive. But if you spend less on a unicycle, you may find that you want to upgrade it soon afterwards. Good unicycles are durable and last a lifetime.
This list is just a starting point. There are other brands and many other factors, such as availability and the kind of riding you want to do, that will affect your decision.
Terms
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 a U-wheel? A U-wheel is a wheel with pedals attached. There’s no frame or seat. It’s hard to ride.
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" 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.
Safety
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 helmets, 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 not like 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.
Unicycling Challenges
Are there any rankings of unicyclists? Yes. There is a comprehensive new ranking system that's described on this site. It allows riders of many kinds the chance to get an official skill rank by taking skill tests. Certified testers for the program are also listed on this site. All riders are welcome to use the new skill ranking system. Just find a certified skill tester, or become one.
The new system includes Artistic, Technical, Tall, Juggling, U-Wheel, and Pairs to allow riders to rank their skills in several areas of the sport.
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, contact unicyclecentral@hotmail.com for more information.
What do I get if I pass a test? Besides international fame, you'll receive a certificate, skill pin, and the opportunity to be listed in the skill rank database on this site.
Unicycling Competitions and Events
What is the North American Unicycling Championships and Convention (NAUCC)? 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.
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 2005 Bowling Green, OH 2006 Memphis, TN 2007 Michigan 2008 South Dakota
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.
Should a beginner go to these events? Yes. Absolutely. Beginners usually have a terrific time and can participate in many ways.
Unicycling Newsgroups
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. 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 an e-mail to Carol McLean at unicyclecentral@hotmail.com.
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