Charles T. Koontz Intermediate

Space is limited to 20 participants.

Coach McCurry

Holly.mccurry@bcsemail.org

Why Ride a Unicycle?

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Unicycles are one-wheeled vehicles that evolved from the original bicycle, the Penny Farthing,

which consisted of a large front wheel and a much smaller back wheel. When this bike hit bumps

or suddenly slowed down, the back wheel came off of the ground, so many riders learned to

balance on just the front wheel. Manufacturers soon began making vehicles with just one wheel.

Health Benefits

Some of the benefits of riding a unicycle include burning calories, and increasing your levels of

coordination, concentration and balance. Because unicycles don't have any handlebars, riders

must balance using only their abdominal muscles and leg muscles. This helps you build a

healthier core. Long cycling sessions also increase your heart rate, which can lead to a healthier

cardiovascular system. Riding a unicycle is an effective way to get in a low-impact workout for

those with damaged knees and legs.

Emotional and Mental Health

Unicycling is a fun activity regardless of your ability level. The website Just One Wheel states

that riding a unicycle is self-motivating and psychologically stimulating because you will notice

improvements each time you ride. Some people find that it gives them feelings of control when

they can achieve balancing and riding on just one wheel.

Unicycling is a somewhat uncommon activity. Because of this, a sense of unity tends to grow

among unicycle riders. Many riders travel significant distances just to go on rides and spend time

with other unicyclists. Unicycling is often a family activity, and riding together can bring family

members closer.

Economic Benefits

Some riders use their unicycles as their primary mode of transportation for commuting and

running errands. Because unicycles don't require any type of fuel, you can save money at pump.

Unicycles also have only a few moving parts that might break. This means that you typically

don't have to spend much money on repairs. You also won't need to spend money on special

gadgets for storing or transporting your unicycle.

You'll never run out of challenges on a unicycle. Once you master riding forward, you can focus

on riding backward or with one foot. And once you excel at riding, you can always learn how to

play unicycle hockey. You can also learn different unicycling styles, such as mountain

unicycling or freestyling. In addition, a variety of unicycle styles exist, such as the ultimate

wheel unicycle, which doesn't have a seat, or the giraffe, which has a seat at least 5 feet in the air.

Invest in various safety equipment to protect your body when you fall. Essential safety gear

includes a biking helmet, padded biking gloves, knee pads and wrist pads. *Optional

Having training aids may make it easier to become comfortable with riding a unicycle. One

method for training is using a spotter to make riding easier. One other easy way to learn is to find

a narrow hallway that can be used to help alleviate left and right balancing while allowing a

beginner to focus on forward and backward balance. If a hallway cannot be found, a fence or

clothes line is suitable. Equally, riding back and forth between two chairs, faced back to back,

whilst holding on to the chair backs allows the user to gauge how to appropriately position

oneself before setting off. Using props such as sticks or ski poles is generally discouraged as they

hinder balance and create dependence. A fall onto props could also cause serious injury.

What size should I buy?

Unicycles are described by the diameter of their wheel. So a "20 inch unicycle" has a 20 inch

The right size to buy depends on how long your legs are. When seated comfortably on the

saddle, the leg should be just slightly bent at the knee. Most unicycles have an adjustable seat

post which allows for a range of seat heights.

 Choose a 12" unicycle for children under 6

 Choose a 16" unicycle for the average 6-9 year old

 Choose a 20" unicycle for age 10 and up, younger kids who are tall for their age, and

most adults.

 Choose a 24" unicycle if you are over 180cm (6') tall.

http://www.wikihow.com/Ride-and-Mount-a-Unicycle