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Unicycle
A unicycle is a one-wheeled human
powered vehicle. Unicycles are similar to, but less complex than, bicycles.
Pedalin'
Pete on unicycle
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History
Unicycles are thought to descend from the penny-farthing
bicycles of the late 19th century. These bicycles had a large wheel in front,
to which the pedals were attached, and a much smaller wheel behind for
balance. When these bicycles hit a bump, the rear wheel would come off the
ground, forcing the rider to balance on one wheel. Early unicycle
photographs, which show unicycles with very large wheels, support this
explanation.
Construction
Unicycles comprise a few key parts: the wheel
and axle, the
frame, the seat, and cranks
and pedals.
The wheel is the main part of the unicycle; it is essentially a bicycle wheel
with a special hub so that the frame and cranks can attach to the side.
Unicycles use direct
drive, with the crank's rotation directly connected to that of the wheel.
The frame sits above the wheel, and the seat is located on top of the frame.
Riding
Unicycles are more difficult to ride than bicycles. They require the rider
to maintain balance in two dimensions rather than one, and with their slower
speeds their motion has less gyroscopic
assistance for maintaining stability.
Recent developments
Unicycles have traditionally had circus
connotations, but in recent years unicycles have gained a following as a
means of everyday transportation.
Unicycling has also gained popularity as a sport.
The bi-annual world championship UNICON
holds Unicycle races. Riding a unicycle in off-road
conditions is known as mountain
unicycling, which is similar to mountain
biking. In unicycle
trials the unicyclist aims to negotiate a series of obstacles without any
part of the rider touching the ground. Freestyle
Unicycling contains a style of tricks seen in skateboarding,
aggressive in-line skating, BMX,
and freestyle biking including jumps, spins, and grinds.
Unicycle hockey
In the UK, Unicycle Hockey has become a small, niche sport, with 5-a-side
rule (5 members on each team). Games are played at Uni meets, club meets and
the British Unicycle Convention.
Variations
- Giraffe unicycles are tall, usually chain-driven
unicycles. The exceptions are some very tall unicycles which require
"fixed" cranks instead of chains, since a certain amount of
slack is unavoidable once the chain exceeds a certain length. This slack
can cause slippage and loss of control which can be serious on a very tall
unicycle.
You can create a giraffe unicyle from a normal bicycle
by taking the front wheel and handlebars off and sitting on the bit of the
frame that the handlebar stem usually fits into. This should only really
work with a fixed wheel bicycle.
- The mountain unicycle (also called a muni)
is a unicycle that has either been constructed or modified for mountain
unicycling.
Mountain unicycling, also known as MUni,
is a sport that involves riding unicycles off-road. Mountain unicycling
usually takes place on mountain unicycles, which are equipped with fat
tires and rugged frames for off-road cycling. Regular unicycles are also
commonly used in mountain unicycling, since mountain unicycles are
relatively rare.
Mountain unicycles typically use a 26" or 24" mountain bike
wheel, and may also have brakes and suspension to improve their off-road
capabilities.
Unlike their two-wheeled counterparts, mountain unicycles have only a
single gear (that is, fixed wheel); riders vary their speed by changing
their pedalling cadence. To go up steep inclines, riders often hop
sideways up the hill. On descents, some riders freewheel their unicycle by
using their feet as brakes on the tire, a technique known as gliding.
Mountain unicycles can be ridden on the same terrain as a mountain
bike. Mountain unicycling is a slower-paced sport than mountain bicycling,
since unicycles are more difficult to ride than bicycles,
and cannot coast.
Today there are hundreds of mountain unicyclists riding all kinds of
terrain across the world.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the
Wikipedia article
"Unicycle"
and from http://www.treadly.com
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