Anyone here ride unicycle?

[ToyotaEscaper]

Been a sort of deferred interest of mine for a long time but finally ended up getting one on Craigslist this month. A nice old Schwinn from the 80s, probably about the same age as the RV. It was partially spurred because I didn’t want to have a bike mounted on the outside or have to keep moving it between storing in the walkway inside and outside. Has a 24 inch wheel I can fit it in the taller cabinet between the dining bench and the door that I also use to store my cameras and quadcopter and few other hobby things.

It’s very stupid and not at all practical but so much fun. Still learning but looking forward to the day I can semi competently take it half a mile or so. So I can stay at more isolated stealth camp parking spots and just ride to the store to get things or go hangout at the library. Should probably get a helmet now before the inevitable faceplant happens.

 

[tx2sturgis]

There are OLD unicycle riders.

And there are BOLD unicycle riders.

But there are no OLD BOLD unicycle riders.

(paraphrased from the aviation folks)

 

[Sky King]

I'd pass on eggs the first couple trips to the store Good luck& break a leg as the actors say. ‍

 

[bullfrog !]

Where are you going to store the crutches? Lol!!!

 

[rruff]

Should probably get a helmet now before the inevitable faceplant happens.

One thing I've noticed as I get older is that my balance seems to be deteriorating...

However... my ability to pull insane acrobatic moves when I crash appears to still be intact! If I tried to learn unicycling, I'm sure that skill would get lots of practice...

 

[maki2]

Good for smooth streets, not so good for dirt or gravel roads. But if you stay in RV parks or state parks with pavement you will have fun providing entertainment for your neighbors. Of course if you get really good and learn some tricks you could even use it to raise a few bucks while you travel at flea markets and fairs or just regular street performer busking.

 

[ToyotaEscaper]

I'd pass on eggs the first couple trips to the store Good luck& break a leg as the actors say. ‍

Thank you, I'll start with marshmallows for practice

 

[ToyotaEscaper]

There are OLD unicycle riders.

And there are BOLD unicycle riders.

But there are no OLD BOLD unicycle riders.

(paraphrased from the aviation folks)

no worries there, I strive for mediocrity

 

[ToyotaEscaper]

Good for smooth streets, not so good for dirt or gravel roads. But if you stay in RV parks or state parks with pavement you will have fun providing entertainment for your neighbors. Of course if you get really good and learn some tricks you could even use it to raise a few bucks while you travel at flea markets and fairs or just regular street performer busking.

it's useable on decently packed dirt trails without big rocks or roots so smooth dirt roads should be no problem from what I've seen.

 

[maki2]

it's useable on decently packed dirt trails without big rocks or roots so smooth dirt roads should be no problem from what I've seen.

The OHV, ATV and dirt bike riders tear up the dirt roads and hiking trails into rutted messes during wet events which makes the roads a real mess of ruts and exposed rocks. It does not sound like you have been out doing much in the way of dispersed camping. But maybe you are in some area of the country where there are such places. Not much of that in the Western USA. But there are places with paved bike/walk paths. There is a very long one of those in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. The Seattle area has a many, many miles long paved bike trail system over what was the old railroad line. As does the Olympic Peninsula area in Washington State. Do a keyword search using “rails to trails”.

 

[bullfrog !]

The OHV, ATV and dirt bike riders tear up the dirt roads and hiking trails into rutted messes during wet events which makes the roads a real mess of ruts and exposed rocks. It does not sound like you have been out doing much in the way of dispersed camping. But maybe you are in some area of the country where there are such places. Not much of that in the Western USA. But there are places with paved bike/walk paths. There is a very long one of those in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. The Seattle area has a many, many miles long paved bike trail system over what was the old railroad line. As does the Olympic Peninsula area in Washington State. Do a keyword search using “rails to trails”.

Tucson has the Loop and several hundred miles of paved bike paths! Moab Utah has paved bike paths as well as Grand Junction Colorado. There are plenty of designated bike paths that are paved out west. Several mountain bike dirt paths out west as well but they seek out ruts! Lol!! Dirt roads when wet are impassable to almost any vehicle even hikers have problems!

 

[Morgana]

Dirt roads when wet are impassable to almost any vehicle even hikers have problems!

Back before the dawn of time (1990s I think) I went on a hike with an organization which shall remain nameless (I can't remember which one anyway) out of Albuquerque. The hike was on Indian land and we were supposed to get a permit but the hike leader blithely admitted that he hadn't bothered. So we had a very nice hike and as we were coming back to the cars the rain started POURING down. The cars were as stuck as they could get. At which point all the women except for me and one 70-year-old retired nurse sat down and watched the men dig the cars out. I amused myself thinking the local gods were getting revenge. Heck, maybe they were!

Jeez, the last time I told this story I thought 70 was old.

 

[rruff]

Good for smooth streets, not so good for dirt or gravel roads.

Well....



Looks like too much work though, and not enough speed. THIS is the one you want...

 

[rruff]

The OHV, ATV and dirt bike riders tear up the dirt roads and hiking trails into rutted messes

Oh man, do they ever!

The last place I camped required about 1hr each way on on trails that were primarily used by SxSs. Rutted, steep, narrow, mix of powdered dirt with embedded large rocks, and those things I call "stutter bumps" which are like overgrown washboard spaced a couple feet apart and about 6 inches tall. Driving and MTBing on that was not exactly "fun".

But at least it was far enough in that even the SxSs were rare, and zero people camping (there 6 weeks, rode all around, saw no one camping)... and it was peaceful and beautiful.

Tucson has the Loop and several hundred miles of paved bike paths! Moab Utah has paved bike paths as well as Grand Junction Colorado. There are plenty of designated bike paths that are paved out west.

When I get really old, maybe I'll hang out with the townies...

 

[bullfrog !]

Oh man, do they ever!

The last place I camped required about 1hr each way on on trails that were primarily used by SxSs. Rutted, steep, narrow, mix of powdered dirt with embedded large rocks, and those things I call "stutter bumps" which are like overgrown washboard spaced a couple feet apart and about 6 inches tall. Driving and MTBing on that was not exactly "fun".

But at least it was far enough in that even the SxSs were rare, and zero people camping (there 6 weeks, rode all around, saw no one camping)... and it was peaceful and beautiful.


When I get really old, maybe I'll hang out with the townies...

You can live just outside of town or make day trips! Lol!!! There are people that live in town year round, in fact they are good at it. Staying within a few miles and spend almost nothing on fuel by playing gigs at local bars and nightclubs. Isn’t for me but they seem to enjoy it.

 

[rruff]

You can live just outside of town or make day trips! Lol!!!

Yep... not for me, though

 

[eDJ_]

I haven't seen anyone in my area riding them or much less trying to learn how to for years now. I see so many European and Mid Eastern students riding those electric unicycles (EUC's) near the large University in the town where I grew up. And they ride them with the greatest of ease. I've seen them ride from the down town area to the campus (about a mile) in only a few moments. Of course they are on paved surfaces, but it is interesting to see them dressed well and carrying a brief case as they travel around campus to their classes.

These use gyro stabilizers like the Segway's so they are easier to operate. Some have single wheels and others have side by side "duals".

I guess that when they are in class they plug them into an electrical receptacle to charge up. These may get 15 to nearly 100 miles per charge and travel at 20 mph to over 60 mph. The operator steers them by bodily posture. Most of these students are late teens to early 20's and probably have been riding them for some time.

 

[Sky King]

The bottom pic looks like it has 2 wheels sise by side so not a unicycle.

 

[eDJ_]

I'm guessing it's a trainer. A unicycle with a training wheel perhaps ?

 

[Sky King]

It's made that way because they're even & make it much easier to balance so it's not really a unicycle. Cheap enough to get started. Amazon 24' for $79.95 shipped Rehouptu brand