I was under the impression that a BC wheel had the pedals (or pegs, or standing thingies) below the axle, and the impossible wheel had the pegs attached directly to the axle. This would make an already difficult feat nearly impossible.
-David Kaplan
Re: BC vs. Impossible was Couple of questions
“UniDak” <UniDak.b757b@timelimit.unicyclist.com> wrote in message
news:UniDak.b757b@timelimit.unicyclist.com…
>
> I was under the impression that a BC wheel had the pedals (or pegs, or
> standing thingies) below the axle, and the impossible wheel had the pegs
> attached directly to the axle. This would make an already difficult feat
> nearly impossible.
Directly on the axle is harder, but as far as the names go, they are
interchangeably used.
Most people don’t see or understand these design differences, so to name
them differently is probably not worth the effort.
For those who know of the comic strip, the term BC wheel is good in that
there is a mental image of how the cycle operates.
For those who don’t, well…this name is pretty useless.
Though I tend to use the name Impossible wheel, it obviously doesn’t help
describe it well either.
However it does sound a lot cooler than “front wheel off a bicycle” or
“unicycle without frame, seat, or cranks”.
Regards,
David Winston
Re: BC vs. Impossible was Couple of questions
On Wed, 25 Sep 2002 04:59:49 GMT, “David Winston” <winstond11@cox.net>
wrote:
>[Impossible wheel] does sound a lot cooler than “front wheel off a bicycle” or
>“unicycle without frame, seat, or cranks”.
Hmm, but aren’t those descriptions inaccurate? Neither one hints at
pegs/pedals/standing thingies, yet those are required for an IW/BC
wheel.
Or you would have to wheel-walk the Impossible Wheel, now THAT would
give a new slant to “impossible”.
Klaas Bil
If you had this signature, I have forged it.
Re: BC vs. Impossible was Couple of questions
“David Winston” <winstond11@cox.net> wrote:
>For those who know of the comic strip, the term BC wheel is good in that
>there is a mental image of how the cycle operates.
BC wheel is the most common name for this cycle.
>Though I tend to use the name Impossible wheel, it obviously doesn’t help
>describe it well either.
I would never choose to use the name “impossible wheel”, since it
doesn’t describe the unicycle other than imply that it is impossible to
ride and that is clearly false. It is hard to ride, but hardly
impossible.
The names “coasting wheel” and “ultimate freewheel” optionally followed
by unicycle would be meaningful alternative names for BC wheel.
Sincerely,
Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com>
Re: BC vs. Impossible was Couple of questions
“Klaas Bil” <klaasbil_remove_the_spamkiller_@xs4all.nl> wrote in message
news:3d921f79.3331379@newszilla.xs4all.nl…
> On Wed, 25 Sep 2002 04:59:49 GMT, “David Winston” <winstond11@cox.net>
> wrote:
>
> >[Impossible wheel] does sound a lot cooler than “front wheel off a
bicycle” or
> >“unicycle without frame, seat, or cranks”.
>
> Hmm, but aren’t those descriptions inaccurate? Neither one hints at
> pegs/pedals/standing thingies, yet those are required for an IW/BC
> wheel.
I wasn’t trying to give a textbook definition - just a humorous explanation
of what I deal with when people off the street come up and ask me “what are
you riding?”.
> Or you would have to wheel-walk the Impossible Wheel, now THAT would
> give a new slant to “impossible”.
Give me a wide enough tire and it’s possible 
Later,
David
Re: BC vs. Impossible was Couple of questions
“Ken Fuchs” <kfuchs@winternet.com> wrote in message
news:mailman.1033003761.9059.rsu@unicycling.org…
> BC wheel is the most common name for this cycle.
>
> I would never choose to use the name “impossible wheel”, since it
> doesn’t describe the unicycle other than imply that it is impossible to
> ride and that is clearly false. It is hard to ride, but hardly
> impossible.
Hi Ken-
I agree it’s a vague name. Kind of like “Ultimate Wheel”
> The names “coasting wheel” and “ultimate freewheel” optionally followed
> by unicycle would be meaningful alternative names for BC wheel.
For knowledgeable unicyclists or those who grew up reading BC comics - I
agree that BC wheel is a good name for it.
But for the average person off the street asking me “what are you riding” -
it’s useless. More often than not I end up having to explain what BC comics
are. And then I still have to explain what the cycle is!
I think the name “Impossible Wheel” came because there already was an
“Ultimate Wheel” and somebody wanted to distinguish between these.
I recall both these names go back at least 20 years - who was responsible
for naming this stuff (okay historians, help us out here)?
David Winston
Re: BC vs. Impossible was Couple of questions
> > Or you would have to wheel-walk the Impossible Wheel, now THAT would
> > give a new slant to “impossible”.
>
> Give me a wide enough tire and it’s possible
Heck, given a wide enough ‘tire’ - like a barrel - I can do it now. 
Re: Re: BC vs. Impossible was Couple of questions
Those are good. I was also thinking of something more descriptive and came up with “peg cycle” or “peg unicycle.” These are both also a little off, in that the pegs are not of the common BMX type. But my original B.C. wheel used standard moped footpegs.
If you think of Ultimate Wheel as a good name, even though it’s not descriptive, it makes Impossible Wheel a little better, but I don’t like the implication of impossibility. Though it’s one of the hardest unicycle types, to a beginner it’s no more impossible than a regular unicycle. I’m sure it could use a better name.
Where does the name come from? I don’t know. The first one I saw was at my first unicycle convention, 1980 USA Nationals in Kokomo, Indiana. Sem Abrahams had one. He didn’t roll it and jump on, but did the slower (and safer) method where you stand on the pedals and push the wheel up to speed with your hands.
Who used these types of wheels before this? Surely Vaudeville performers from the days of old, but does anyone know where the name came from?
Stay on top,
John Foss
I just found this amazing video of “Jan” (I did not see any additional reference to give him appropriate credit) riding the BC wheel in a circle:
The main site
is about penny farthings. If you want to get to the uni stuff, follow the link “Einrad” (German for unicycle). Coker fans will probably appreciate the big wheel pictures:
http://www.wuk.at/hochrad/einrad/hartmut.php
Have fun
Fred