Hi all,
As much as I wanted to be at the British Muni Weekend, I and a bunch of other
unicyclists had a great time yesterday at the Cyclebration Classic in downtown
Davis. We watched antique and reproduction high wheeler bikes compete in classic
old-style races, and we had a few of our own: 100 yards Around the block (maybe
500 yards?) Informal slow race Cool obstacle course
The obstacle course was made up of a number of cones, a curb, and some wooden
obstacles made by host Tim Bustos. Riders started by riding up a ramp onto the
sidewalk, behind some spectators, and then popping down the curb back into the
street. They had to ride up a little ramp onto a palette (used for shipping
freight and fork lifting in case that word doesn’t translate). Then there was a
series of 9 cones, spaced a little less than 2 meters apart. Then riders went
over a 6" wide teeter totter board, followed by a “ladder” made of 2" x 4"s
laying on the ground. This was followed by some more cones, and then all the way
around the last cone and across the finish like the IUF/USA course. Riders had a
lot of fun with it.
Then there were custom cycles built by Davis resident Peter Wagner (the only
person to enter all races for both types of vehicle). He builds “Whimcycles” out
of old bike parts and had off-center wheeled bikes and scooters, tiny wheelbase
miniature penny-farthings, hand cranked tricycles, a rowing machine tricycle,
and more. These were free to be ridden around the closed downtown block of 2nd
Street. Then people started showing up with other interesting bikes, a
purpose-manufactured rowing exercise bike, a tiny little fold-up bike with
suspension, recumbent tandems, and more.
There were two Coker big wheels present (unfortunately Bruce Bundy and Lloyd
Tabb were unable to attend and also bring theirs). I had my big wheel also. Next
year we will probably add a big wheel (or Coker-only) race.
There were about a dozen unicyclists who raced, and others who didn’t even
enter. Several new faces I had never seen before. In the afternoon we watched a
show by the Diamondback Perfection on Wheels stunt team, doing flatland and ramp
freestyle stuff. They kindly allowed me to borrow their superior sound system to
talk and play music during my show as well. I did a unicycles-only show, in
which I described the many unicycle types from MUni to 12" to handlebar, B.C.,
ultimate, track, freestyle, giraffe, big wheel, and even artistic bike (hey, I
rode it on one wheel!). I had a great time performing for an enthusiastic crowd.
The event gets bigger every year, and I hope more people will be able to make it
to the next one, probably in May of 2000.
Stay on top, John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
jfoss@unicycling.com http://www.unicycling.com
Stay on top, John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone