Unicycle Thread

[PotomacCyclist]

I found this old thread on a unicyclist forum: http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67428

DC Uni – unicycle blog for Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland

The thread was started in 2008. There have only been a few posts over the years. I can’t see anything on the person’s DC unicycling blog. Seems like it’s no longer a registered site.

[PotomacCyclist]

WTOP did a story about a DC unicyclist on June 1st of this year:

http://wtop.com/living/2015/06/looking-for-a-fast-way-to-get-in-shape-ride-a-unicycle/

“Dupree spends six to seven hours a week riding anywhere from 20 to 40 miles at a time on a unicycle that towers over other bikes.”

He has also designed a unicycle, which is supposed to be launched this summer.

[hozn]

Yeah, I think I have seen that guy on the W&OD. Seeing him was what first tipped me off to the possibility of commuting. Initially my goal is just to do it as a one-off — it will be slow; I can’t pull the bike trailer with a unicycle, so it would have to be special (no-kid-pickup) circumstances anyway.

[GovernorSilver]

@Brünø Moore 122119 wrote:

You might want to have a chat with Ben at Proteus (and yes, they stock unicycles). Brevets, CX, MoCo Epic, Kinetic Sculpture—yeah, he’s done all that and more on a unicycle.

Does anyone know if unicycles are allowed on the Metro during rush hour? I sent them a question but may have to wait several more days for a reply, assuming they don’t assume that I’m joking. I know folding bikes are allowed. I’m thinking a unicycle with a studded tire might be fun to ride to work from the Metro when there’s ice on the sidewalks. The NOMA area has improved its winter sidewalk treatments this past winter, but there were still stretches of sidewalk with ice that I’ve had to walk on.

I think I’ll visit Proteus in the near future.

[Steve O]

@GovernorSilver 122163 wrote:

Does anyone know if unicycles are allowed on the Metro during rush hour? I sent them a question but may have to wait several more days for a reply…

That was your mistake: better to beg forgiveness than ask permission. Certainly one with a 20″ wheel is no more obtrusive than a folding bike (which has twice as many wheels).

[hozn]

I was wondering the answer to that too — please let us know!

I finally made it all the way around the block today, starting from a free mount. The hardest part is the curb cutouts on the hill — and the uphill/downhill in general made it tricky. This was a milestone, though.

[GovernorSilver]

@Steve O 122164 wrote:

That was your mistake: better to beg forgiveness than ask permission. Certainly one with a 20″ wheel is no more obtrusive than a folding bike (which has twice as many wheels).

Lol, I might end up doing that. The best info I could find so far are these two anecdotes:

http://unicycle.info/forums/showpost.php?p=735789&postcount=6

I had no problems bringing my coker onto the metro during rush hour

http://unicycle.info/forums/showpost.php?p=735873&postcount=7

I’ve never had problems bringing my uni on the metro, though once as Wogri and I were leaving the Vienna metro station on our way home, the guard said bikes were only allowed between rush hours (I think it was 10 to 4) and that we shouldn’t have been allowed to bring them on. But obviously the guard that let us on didn’t care, so…I don’t know.

[Steve O]

@hozn 122166 wrote:

I finally made it all the way around the block today, starting from a free mount. The hardest part is the curb cutouts on the hill — and the uphill/downhill in general made it tricky. This was a milestone, though.

Way to go, man! I took mine out on the W&OD for the first time Saturday. Made it from consular’s entrance to the soccer field (just past the Custis cutoff) and was coming back on the Dominion Hills trail when I was knocked off by a large root heave. I also rode it all the way down my hill to start rather than walking it down. Getting back up Madison is going to be a milestone for sure, though.

[hozn]

@Steve O 122181 wrote:

Way to go, man! I took mine out on the W&OD for the first time Saturday. Made it from consular’s entrance to the soccer field (just past the Custis cutoff) and was coming back on the Dominion Hills trail when I was knocked off by a large root heave. I also rode it all the way down my hill to start rather than walking it down. Getting back up Madison is going to be a milestone for sure, though.

Impressive! Yeah, I have not yet worked up to actually “going anywhere” yet. Hoping in the next couple weeks to try a longer (say 1 or 2 mile) ride. Feeling more confident with the free mounts helps a lot, since I know I can just get back on the unicycle when I am forced to dismount.

It’s amazing to me how long it has taken to get this far. Perhaps the actual number of hours ridden is not that great, but feels like it is very slow learning. I spent a straight half hour this weekend just working on free mounts (and then another hour working on riding up/down hills); once I get warmed up now, I feel like I’m at around 50%. I keep trying different techniques and starting with different feet too, e.g. trying out static mounts lately, but what seems to work the best for me is to start with my right foot at about 8o’clock (viewed from right) and then back pedal a bit as I step up to get the unicycle under me. Then usually back pedal for half a pedal and then forward. My other issue is that with these fancy super-grippy pedals, it is very hard to move my foot on the pedal platform once I’m up. So getting the foot in exactly the right position on the pedal becomes pretty important; I think that is the area that constantly gets better with practice.

I also found that ducking down (to go under lower branches) on a unicycle is quite tricky. Going down hills is almost harder than going up. It’s funny all the things one takes for granted about riding something with pedals that have to be unlearned here.

And given how badly various muscles on my legs were hurting after a few laps of the block, I’m thinking that 1) I’m going to have to work up to a commute-length ride 2) I think I could use some stiffer-soled shoes (but struggle to justify getting shoes just for unicycling) and 3) this is probably good cross training.

[mstone]

@GovernorSilver 122163 wrote:

Does anyone know if unicycles are allowed on the Metro during rush hour? I sent them a question but may have to wait several more days for a reply, assuming they don’t assume that I’m joking. I know folding bikes are allowed. I’m thinking a unicycle with a studded tire might be fun to ride to work from the Metro when there’s ice on the sidewalks. The NOMA area has improved its winter sidewalk treatments this past winter, but there were still stretches of sidewalk with ice that I’ve had to walk on.

If it isn’t specifically banned, it’s permitted.

I haven’t seen anything saying that luggage is ok, but people bring luggage all the time.

If anyone says anything about bicycles, explain that “bicycle” is from the greek bi-kuklos — “two wheel” — and that such regulations are obviously inapplicable to something with only one wheel.

[dkel]

@hozn 122186 wrote:

Going down hills is almost harder than going up.

I think I could use some stiffer-soled shoes and…this is probably good cross training.

This is exactly how I felt getting started on a fixed gear bike!

If you do get around to getting different shoes, try skateboarding shoes: my kids’ shoes are almost as stiff as cycling shoes. They look cooler than cycling shoes, though.

[dkel]

@mstone 122189 wrote:

If it isn’t specifically banned, it’s permitted.

I haven’t seen anything saying that luggage is ok, but people bring luggage all the time.

If anyone says anything about bicycles, explain that “bicycle” is from the greek bi-kuklos — “two wheel” — and that such regulations are obviously inapplicable to something with only one wheel.

I also recall that one of the complaints about bikes on metro was dirty drivetrains. I hear they even used to require folding bikes be put in a case of some sort. None of those things is a problem with a uni!

[Steve O]

@hozn 122186 wrote:

I spent a straight half hour this weekend just working on free mounts (and then another hour working on riding up/down hills); once I get warmed up now, I feel like I’m at around 50%. I keep trying different techniques and starting with different feet too, e.g. trying out static mounts lately, but what seems to work the best for me is to start with my right foot at about 8o’clock (viewed from right) and then back pedal a bit as I step up to get the unicycle under me. Then usually back pedal for half a pedal and then forward..

I have not even tried doing it left footed. It’s a little tricky, but I find I have more success when I put less weight on the (right) foot that is on the pedal–essentially hopping up with the other (left) foot with very little pressure on the right pedal until I’m up. I saw this in a YouTube video.

@hozn 122186 wrote:

And given how badly various muscles on my legs were hurting after a few laps of the block, I’m thinking that 1) I’m going to have to work up to a commute-length ride 2) I think I could use some stiffer-soled shoes (but struggle to justify getting shoes just for unicycling) and 3) this is probably good cross training.

Agreed! Definitely different muscles; my quads feel sore the next day.
I’ve just been using tennis shoes, but I have the same problem: if my foot isn’t well placed on the mount, it’s really hard to move it.

We should meet one day, since we live so close. I usually practice in that cul-de-sac off consular’s exit.

[hozn]

Totally, yeah! I will PM you to coordinate a time (though am traveling for next weekend).

[Sunyata]

So, on my commute this morning, I came upon a gentleman riding a unicycle (looked like he was commuting?) going south on N Irving Street in Arlington.

Was this by any chance one of you?

If it was, the sight made my morning! The rider looked like he was having a blast.

[Author]

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