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A unicycle is a one-wheeled Human Powered Vehicle . Unicycles are similar to, but less complex than, Bicycle s. CONSTRUCTION Unicycles are composed of a few key parts: the wheel (which includes the tire, tube, rim, spokes, hub and axle), the Cranks , Pedals , Fork -style frame, Seatpost , and Saddle (the seat of the unicycle). The wheel is usually similar to a Bicycle Wheel with a special hub designed so the axle is a fixed part of the hub. This means the rotation of the cranks directly controls the rotation of the wheel (called Direct Drive ). The frame sits on top of the axle bearings, while the cranks attach to the ends of the axle. The seatpost links the frame to the saddle. There are many different types of unicycles, which can include (but are not limited to): freestyle unicycles, trial unicycles, MUnis, giraffes, and long distance unicycles, which all have special components unique to that type of unicycle. HISTORY The unicycle's history began with the invention of the Bicycle . Comte De Sivrac first developed bicycles during the late eighteenth century. His device, called a celerifere, was a wooden horse that had two wheels joined by a wooden beam. Germany’s Baron von Drais improved the design by adding a steering mechanism and introduce his Draisienne or Hobby Horse in 1818. Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, added cranks and pedals to the front wheel in 1839, and called it the Velocipede. The first mass-produced riding machine, the Michaux Velocipede, was designed in 1863. In 1866, James Stanley invented a unique bicycle called the Penny Farthing with a very large front wheel and a small rear wheel. It is this vehicle that is thought to be the inspiration for the unicycle. One theory of the advent of the unicycle is based on the popularity of the Penny Farthing during the late nineteenth century. Since its pedal cranks were connected directly to the front axle, the rear wheel would go up in the air and the rider would be moved slightly forward. This likely prompted riders to see how long they could ride with the back wheel in the air and the unicycle was born. Evidence for this theory of development can be found in pictures from the late eighteenth century that show unicycles with large wheels.http://www.unicycleshop.co.nz/history.html Over the years, unicycle enthusiasts have inspired manufacturers to create new designs, such as seatless (the ultimate wheel) and tall (giraffe unicycle) unicycles. During the late 1980s some extreme sportsmen took an interest in the unicycle and off-road unicycling (MUni) was born. MAIN TYPES OF UNICYCLES ; Freestyle unicycle : Generally used for flatland skills and routines. Usually has a relatively high seatpost, a narrow saddle, a squared fork (used for one-footed tricks), and cotterless cranks, as they do not need to withstand too much pressure. These unicycles are used similarly to flatland bicycles. Some examples of a freestyle unicycle include: Miyata, Nimbus, Schwinn, and Semcycle brands. Prices can range from less than $100 USD to over $300 USD. Wheel size is usually 20 inches, but smaller riders may use 16-inch unicycles. Some people prefer 24-inch wheels. A freestyle unicycle is stronger than most other types of unicycles. ; Trials unicycle : Designed for Unicycle Trials , trials unicycles are stronger than standard unicycles in order to withstand the stresses caused by jumping, dropping, and supporting the weight of the unicycle and rider on components such as the pedals and cranks. A recent development in trials unicycles is Spline d cranks, a feature that is very useful and somewhat expensive. Many trials unicycles also have wide, 19- or 20-inch, knobby tires to absorb some of the impact on drops. For more info, see the trials unicycle page. ; MUnis or Offroad Unicycles : MUni is the shortened phrase for Mountain Unicycling . Munis have many of the same components as trials unicycles, but have a few key differences. Usually, the tire diameters on mountain unicycles are either 24 or 26 in., allowing the rider to more easily roll over obstacles such as roots and rocks. The seat is also thicker and more comfortable on MUnis to compensate for the rough terrain. Brakes are sometimes used for steep descents. KH unicycles and Schlumpf Innovations are currently working together to make the world's first geared MUni. ; Touring unicycles : Used for long distances, these unicycles are specially made to cover distances. They have a large wheel diameter, between 26 and 36 in., so more distance is covered in less pedal rotation. A 36" unicycle made by the Coker company started the big wheel trend. Some variations on the traditional touring unicycle include the 'Schlumpf GUni' (geared unicycle), which uses a unique two-speed internal fixed-geared hub. Larger direct-drive wheels tend to have shorter cranks to allow for easier cadence and more speed. Geared wheels, with an effective diameter larger than the wheel itself, tend to use longer cranks for control, as the speed comes from the gear ratio not the wheel itself. Modern unicyclists routinely cover distances unheard of just a few decades ago. Variations
THEORY A unicycle is a form of Inverted Pendulum . It is also a Nonholonomic System because its outcome is path-dependent. Balancing a Robotic Unicycle or a Eunicycle forms an interesting problem in Control Theory . SPEED The pedals of a typical unicycle (not a giraffe) are connected directly to the wheel. This means that there are no gears to shift like on a bicycle. It also means that wheel size is a major factor in unicycle speeds:http://www.gilby.com/unicycling/log/100mi.html RIDING (March, 2006).]] Traditionally, unicycling has been connected with parades or the circus. This is because the unicycle requires a great degree of skill to ride, and many people who could ride them became entertainers. Recent developments in the strength and durability of bicycle (and consequently unicycle) parts have given rise to many riding styles such as Trials Unicycling and Mountain Unicycling . Unicycling has therefore developed from primarily an entertainment activity, to a competitive sport and recreational vehicle. Riding Styles ; Neighborhood: For basic unicycling, this is the place to be. Not too long ago, all mass-produced unicycles were in this category. Basic, cheap unicycles such as the Torker CX are used. ; bicycling, it is also the name for a competition event in unicycling. ; Trials Unicycling : Trials unicycling is specifically aimed at hopping and riding over obstacles. Because of the constant pounding a trials unicycle endures, it must have a very strong axle and crankset. ; Street Unicycling : Street unicycling (or simply "street" as it's known within the sport) is a style of unicycling where riders use combinations of objects found in urbanized settings, such as curbs, ledges, handrails, stairs as well as flat areas to perform a wide variety of tricks. ; Off-Road - Mountain Unicycling (MUni): Rough Terrain unicycling is attracting a lot of attention and has been the swiftest growing form of unicycling in recent years. Any place a mountain bike can go, a mountain unicycle can go as well (and sometimes better) ; Touring or Commuting: This style is meant for distance riding. With a 29-inch or 36-inch wheel cruising speeds of 10 to 15 mph can easily be reached. However, the smallest wheel diameter to fit within the Touring category is 26 inches. ; Racing: 100 meter, 400 meter, 1600 meter races and more. ; Novelty: This category includes any unusual cycles not covered by our other categories. Examples include tall giraffe unicycles, multi-wheelers (wheels stacked), kangaroo and others. Extreme Unicycling Recently, unicycling has gained popularity as a Sport , and as a general means of Transport . In the last 10 years, unicyclists have taken unicycles out of the traditional parade, gym, or circus setting and have created new areas of unicycling. These areas can be described as: ; Unicycle Trials : Trials involves riding over obstacles of any sort, either in natural terrain or in an urban environment. The challenge relates to technical difficulty over short distances, and the objective is to use any riding techniques necessary to ride up, over, or down an obstacle without falling. ; Mountain Unicycling (Muni): Combines cross-country and trials challenges, where the objective is to ride technically difficult terrain over some distance. Extreme sport videos and films typically show Muni as primarily descents of difficult terrain, but the term also includes difficult uphill riding. The other purpose of this venture is to practice leaps using the wheel pressure to propel oneself up to a rock, or up a slope. ; Flatland: The purpose of flatland (also known as freestyle) is to ride a unicycle in different ways, collectively referred to as “freestyle tricks”. There are thousands of different ways to ride a unicycle, but the most popular tricks have been categorized in a skill measurement system called the “IUF Achievement Skill Levels”. Flatland is typically done indoors in a gymnasium or outside on pavement where the terrain is smooth and predictable. ; Street Unicycling : Combines Trials and Freestyle techniques, and is typically done in urban areas. The objective is to perform freestyle tricks on obstacles. The overall difficulty relates not only to the difficulty of the obstacles but also to the difficulty of the tricks. This is different from pure trials because just riding over obstacles is not the ultimate objective; rather, the obstacles are used as props to set up the tricks. EQUIPMENT / SAFETY ;Wrist guards: The most common impact points when falling from a unicycle are the hands and wrists. Of all the safety gear, wrist guards receive the most wear and tear. ;Knee and elbow pads: The second most common impact point are the knees followed by the elbows. ;Helmet: A helmet is especially important with specialty riding like MUni . ;Shin guards: Shin guards become a necessary piece of equipment when using metal or pinned pedals. These types of pedals grip the shoes better, but can cause injury to the legs. ;Cycling shorts: Padded cycling shorts are designed with a seamless, padded crotch, and long enough legs to extend down past the saddle, making them much more comfortable than "normal" shorts. FAMOUS & NOTABLE UNICYCLISTS
International Championships-UNICON International Championships (UNICON)consists of unicycle track & field- high jump, long jump, racing, (1 foot, wheelwalk, coasting, juggling etc.) slowboard and the obstacle course.http://www.unicycling.org/iuf/ Freestyle Events Include: Pairs, Individual, Club, Group, and Standard Skills (Where the rider must have straight arms and perform skills) UNICON is held every two years. The most current UNICON was in 2006 in Langenthal, Switzerland. SEE ALSO
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