Unicycles

[The Nur]

Evening chaps. Anybody know anything about unicycles? I would like to have a go as it looks like it could be relatively entertaining/challenging but I know absolutely nothing about them.

Ideally, once I have got to grips with it I would use it for flat/cycle path type stuff. Is this unrealistic? Are they just a circus side act?

[knotweed]

I don't know much about them but every so often I see a guy in Edinburgh riding one to work along some of its busiest roads. So they can be used practically.

[ClaphamGT3]

I've got one. Direct drive makes it much easier to learn to ride but bloody tiring - I once commuted from Clapham North to Victoria on it and it nearly killed me!

Find an office with banks of filing cabinets either side of a walkway - the ideal width and height to help you as you learn

[The Nur]

knotweed said:

I don't know much about them but every so often I see a guy in Edinburgh riding one to work along some of its busiest roads. So they can be used practically.

Brilliant! You shall have to forgive my possibly daft question but having never been to Glasgow I am none the wiser. Is Glasgow a hilly city?

[The Nur]

ClaphamGT3 said:

I've got one. Direct drive makes it much easier to learn to ride but bloody tiring - I once commuted from Clapham North to Victoria on it and it nearly killed me!

Find an office with banks of filing cabinets either side of a walkway - the ideal width and height to help you as you learn

Awesome. Did you find it particularly difficult to get used to? Did it take long?

I don't have access to an office at the moment so that's out unfortunately.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

There's a guy who knocks around my home town on one, fair play to him he looks fairly normal (not a crusty type that you'd expect) but he gets a fair bit of attention, not as much as the bird who walks her ferret on a lead but not far off.

That's Carlisle for you mind....

[The Nur]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

There's a guy who knocks around my home town on one, fair play to him he looks fairly normal (not a crusty type that you'd expect) but he gets a fair bit of attention, not as much as the bird who walks her ferret on a lead but not far off.

That's Carlisle for you mind....

I had not thought about the possibility of being perceived as a weirdo for riding one


Also, if you are posting and do have one, could you please post which one you have and where you got it, etc, if possible

I have been looking at this one:-

http://www.oddballs.co.uk/standard-indy-trainer-24...

[ClaphamGT3]

The Nur said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

I've got one. Direct drive makes it much easier to learn to ride but bloody tiring - I once commuted from Clapham North to Victoria on it and it nearly killed me!

Find an office with banks of filing cabinets either side of a walkway - the ideal width and height to help you as you learn

Awesome. Did you find it particularly difficult to get used to? Did it take long?

I don't have access to an office at the moment so that's out unfortunately.

Not really, I got given it for Christmas about 15 years ago and had learnt to ride it by the time I went back to work in early Jan by going into the office to practice.

The children love seeing me use it!

[Gizmoish]

I know a chap who used to commute on one in London. But he is mental.

Generally they serve the same purpose as penny farthings: nice to have, bit different, but there's a reason why 99.99999% of bikes are descended from the 'safety bicycle'.

[j4ckos mate]

I see some kids on their way into secondary school riding sometimes in the morning

Looks cool

[The Nur]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Not really, I got given it for Christmas about 15 years ago and had learnt to ride it by the time I went back to work in early Jan by going into the office to practice.

The children love seeing me use it!

I see, sounds encouraging! Sounds like my vehicular wheel quota might be growing to an odd number

[MrGman]

I've got one and mess about on it from time to time, with a little practise i can ride non stop, round corners, up and down hills. I've probably spent about 3-4hours in total, but i don't ride it enough to ever get good on it.

If you keep an eye on ebay, friday ad, gumtree etc you'll probably pick one up for £20 with hardly no use.

[ClaphamGT3]

The Nur said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

Not really, I got given it for Christmas about 15 years ago and had learnt to ride it by the time I went back to work in early Jan by going into the office to practice.

The children love seeing me use it!

I see, sounds encouraging! Sounds like my vehicular wheel quota might be growing to an odd number

It is also the most intense core work-out you'll ever have!

[gazchap]

My brother got one for a birthday present from his wife a few years ago and started learning in earnest. He's done all sorts of stuff with it, including riding down the Wrekin (in Shropshire) on it to raise money for the MS Society.

www.unibob.net is his web site about it - he goes to BikeFest in Shrewsbury every year (usually around June time) and teaches people how to ride them.

[Disco You]

I have one. They're fun toys, nothing more. Actually going somewhere on one just screams "look at me! I'm an individual!"

[The Nur]

gazchap said:

My brother got one for a birthday present from his wife a few years ago and started learning in earnest. He's done all sorts of stuff with it, including riding down the Wrekin (in Shropshire) on it to raise money for the MS Society.

www.unibob.net is his web site about it - he goes to BikeFest in Shrewsbury every year (usually around June time) and teaches people how to ride them.

Good stuff

Disco You said:

I have one. They're fun toys, nothing more. Actually going somewhere on one just screams "look at me! I'm an individual!"

Yeah, there is that. It isn't like I would be riding it to the shops or anything, if I can ride it up and down the cycle track a couple of junctions I'll be happy, to hell with the half a dozen people "who may see me"

[knotweed]

The Nur said:

knotweed said:

I don't know much about them but every so often I see a guy in Edinburgh riding one to work along some of its busiest roads. So they can be used practically.

Brilliant! You shall have to forgive my possibly daft question but having never been to Glasgow I am none the wiser. Is Glasgow a hilly city?

Err ... not as hilly as Edinburgh

[Mr Will]

Gizmoish said:

I know a chap who used to commute on one in London. But he is mental.

Generally they serve the same purpose as penny farthings: nice to have, bit different, but there's a reason why 99.99999% of bikes are descended from the 'safety bicycle'.

The only possible advantage to them that I can see is that you can legally ride one on the pavement.

[donfisher]

I see this guy quite often on the way in:



Seems like a lot of hard work especially at the lights.

[The Nur]

If I get one I don't intend on using it as a commuter weapon

I just fancy a bit of a challenge really.