Quote of the day (from non-riders)

[Klaas Bil]

Originally Posted by Piece Maker

Aren't all (non-recumbent) bikes standy-uppy?

Originally Posted by johnfoss

Her comment was probably based on what she saw as the rider's position/posture.

My guess is that it was based on the "bike" itself. A bicycle seems to be horizontal with it's two wheels on the ground, whereas a unicycle seems upright/vertical.

[Piece Maker]

Originally Posted by johnfoss

A great response for her, not that I have learned it, is to jump up into stand-up gliding and say "THIS is standy-uppy!"

Ah yes, the joy of being skilled enough to do that sort of trick on a whim while riding on a very rough canal path!

[Quax1974]

One week ago I participated in a (my first) MTB ride, being the only unicyclist among 600+ participants.
The ride was very tough because the night before there was a lot of rain, resulting in some very muddy sections.

Needless to say I got a lot of comments; glad to report there were no negative comments.
Off course there were some joking remarks but never in a negative tone.
A selection:
“You lost half your bike”
“Lost / where is the other wheel”
“Without hands”
“You’re doing this on one wheel???” reply: “well I’m trying…”
“did you have to pay half of the admission fee?”
“one less tire to get a puncture”
Way behind me I heard a grown man yelling to his group “Look, a unicycle!”
“I suppose it is good core excersize?”
“Is it hard?” reply: “yes!”
I also got a lot “RESPECT!”

Best one: “And I thought I had seen everything…”

And, similar to some other forum members recently, I once got the concerned “are you okay?” from a cyclist who just came over a bump and suddenly saw this guy holding a half a bike.
Only then to realize I was holding a unicycle.

[Garp]

Loosely translated, from an 82-year-old coming the other way on a bicycle (I know the guy):
"Phaaq! You broke the frame?!" with a thick local (rural) accent.

(Undubbed, for the frenchies: "Putaing! T'as pété leuh cadreuh?!")

[nickgauntlett]

Some local kids saw me riding it and said ‘that’s cool, can you do any tricks?’ I rolled my eyes and paused for a second, then the other kid said, I think riding that is a trick in itself!!

[Setonix]

Originally Posted by nickgauntlett

Some local kids saw me riding it and said ‘that’s cool, can you do any tricks?’ I rolled my eyes and paused for a second, then the other kid said, I think riding that is a trick in itself!!

You're so lucky. Otherwise you would have to do some hops and backwards riding to show them fancy tricks.

[Klaas Bil]

- Have you lost your wheel?
- I don't need a training wheel anymore!

So far quite standard. But, realising that I had a 'witty' comeback to his first comment, he volunteered:
- You can put your hand in your pocket.

That was new to me, and I had no better response than
- There's an idea!
(Although it really isn't a good idea.)

[Canoeheadted]

If you ride with one hand on your saddle maybe he thought you should hold your junk in the privacy of your pocket?

Today's ride at -8 celscius was a good reason to ride with one or two hands in my pockets.

[Setonix]

Originally Posted by Canoeheadted

Today's ride at -8 celscius was a good reason to ride with one or two hands in my pockets.

You can also wear gloves :P

[Canoeheadted]

Setonix, I did have gloves but I just started out cold and couldn't recover.

But I was thinking that the bar ends on my handlebars would be wonderful if they could be heated like a re-chargable hand warmer.

Unicycle.com, are you listening?
If not, next time I'll bring out the mitts too.

[adamcanderson]

3 kids drove by in a golf cart hauling 3 skateboards to the local school:

One of them: Can you ride that?

Me: I'm working on it.

One of them: How long have you been trying?

Me: About 3 weeks.

[I haul myself up on a street sign and pedal 10 meters or so before falling off]

One of them: I'm not going to lie, that's pretty lit.

[Setonix]

I did something silly last Saturday. I was riding in a forest going uphill on a sandy path, so I was extremely focused and refused to dismount and walk up, which I sometimes do when I'm lazy.
Anyways I was riding in the middle of the path and I know there are often mountain-bikers riding there too. This time as they came close to me they made a joke saying I should ride a bit faster. Not caring about what exactly it was they said, I moved to the side to let them pass, but because of a big bump I UPD'd. Nothing bad as I was not going very fast, so it was just stepping off and the guy with his comment was like "sorry sorry I didn't mean it" and as I turned around, I could see he had been filming me with his phone all the time.

It wasn't his fault I was being clumsy. I've had it before that people start filming me with their mobiles. Some ask me and others just do and when I come close they pretend to be filming something else. I do wonder where those videos end up.

[JohnIb]

Originally Posted by Setonix

I do wonder where those videos end up.

Probably in their private collection

[m00ms]

for me i have been riding for years but very on/off hiding away in car parks and only this year have i really been focused and recently i have ventured out into the publics eyes a few times now.

i have got the usual comments like : wheres the rest of your bike,show us a wheelie etc. but the other day i had a quick ride around at a very popular large park that is used by walkers and cyclists.

i found that most walkers would say hi or give some impressive comment but cyclists seam to be very serious and either completley blanked me or look at you like "what the hell or you doing that for"

i come from a downhill mountain biking background and have always found that road or cross country cyclists take there riding so seriously and think they are so above everyone else!!

its not going to put me off or stop me going again soon so sod them,haha!!

[johnfoss]

Originally Posted by Setonix

...and as I turned around, I could see he had been filming me with his phone all the time.

Be proud! He was impressed enough with what he was seeing that he wanted to show it to other people! It's more polite to ask, of course. Sometimes when I've noticed someone filming me in attempted "stealth mode" I will do things they don't expect. Like a hard stop with the brake and my feet in the air...

Originally Posted by m00ms

i come from a downhill mountain biking background and have always found that road or cross country cyclists take there riding so seriously and think they are so above everyone else!!

I often get the same impression. I think dirt riders have more fun.