Unicycles

[DaveB]

Very handy though to keep one in the car boot if it's as easy as riding a normal bicycle once one gets the knack of it.

I imagine freewheeling down steep hills would always be a problem though, unless it's just a case of leaning backwards a bit.

Seriously, can anyone here ride a unicycle? Is it relaxing and "second nature" once you mastered it, or a constant challenge like walking a high wire?

I've tried it and it's really not easy, respect to those who can. People who can say it does become second nature eventually.

There are no brakes. To slow down you apply resistance to the pedals with your legs. No coasting, it's like a fixed gear bike. The cranks are on a fixed axle. If the wheels turn the cranks turn, the faster you go the faster they turn. Going down hill is an exercise in control, you can't just freewheel down (and you'd have no brakes if you did).

[mudskipper]

I saw one in the local bike shop for about £80. I was very tempted, but fear it would have been a five minute wonder.

[oracleslave]

Seriously, can anyone here ride a unicycle?

In one of my permie jobs years ago my boss at the time who was about 50 tried to teach himself how to ride a unicycle. He'd recently completed some family tree research and discovered his family were all performers in circus shows so figured he would take something up as a hobby.

He turned up to work full of bruises for months (for some reason coming off a unicycle seemed to result in more injuries than a standard bike) but through perseverance he managed to become sufficiently competent that he could actually juggle whilst riding the unicycle. All self taught but with the battle scars to prove it.

[mudskipper]

Impressive, but it wouldn't have worked as a paradoy thread.

[MarillionFan]

Bollocks. Extreme pogo is where it's at!

[NickFitz]

When I was working in Bristol c. 2006-7 I'd occasionally see a chap riding a unicycle in suit & tie, carrying an attaché case. It was always around the same time in the morning, and he clearly used it as a way of getting to the office when the weather was OK.

I suspect he'd parked nearby (as had I) and just used the unicycle for the last bit of his journey, but it used to cheer me up no end when I'd pause and look around before crossing Passage Street, and he came out of Queen Street behind me, turning right across the queuing traffic and sailing majestically on over the bridge towards Counterslip

[OwlHoot]

frivolous
off topic
silly
dumb

What does FOSD stand for? It must mean something.

I wonder if anyone has developed a unicycle with a small spring loaded rear wheel, like a miniature penny farthing. I'd buy one.

Also, how do the brakes work on a unicycle? Someone should invent an electronic sphinctre compression sensor in the seat, so the rider could simply work it with that.

[EternalOptimist]

Whats this got to do with the ongoing intellectual battle of our age ? I for one can not see what the flying fck this has to do with anything.
frivolous
off topic
silly
dumb

If Moyes decides to go to manu, we can do without him and his unicycle

[OwlHoot]

Very handy though to keep one in the car boot if it's as easy as riding a normal bicycle once one gets the knack of it.

I imagine freewheeling down steep hills would always be a problem though, unless it's just a case of leaning backwards a bit.

Seriously, can anyone here ride a unicycle? Is it relaxing and "second nature" once you mastered it, or a constant challenge like walking a high wire?

[KentPhilip]

I would like a tandem unicycle

[Paddy]

I would like a tandem unicycle

[mudskipper]

Nutters!