In a message dated 95-11-23 20:39:58 EST, you write:
>Suddenly, the stage comes alive with a naked girl spinning four burning >hoola-hoops, a guy in a bra on a small Penny Farthing with both wheels on fire >and a guy standing on four stacked burning chairs which collapse in a burning >heap as a guy swings from the roof with his shirt and arms on fire. Fully >spectacular!
Sounds like an incredible spectacle to watch, but not from the first few rows.
>Anyway, has anyone tried unicycling with the wheel on fire? It looked quite >excellent…
Not on purpose . . . . .
Actually, in 1983 in Syracuse (USA Nationals) I saw Jeff Napier ride a unicycle
that had two juggling torch wicks in the spokes. When lit, it made lots of light
and of course the fire would go around in circles. Stopping and rocking would,
of course, not be recommended. The unicycle should also be painted black, so it
doesn’t show all the inevitable scorching and soot!
I saw a show last night which was put on by a local circus/theater group which
combined acrobatics/trick cycling/theater/exposed flesh…
One part of the performance that remained quite vivid throughout the show was
the following scene: The entire place is in darkness except for a guy on stage
with a blow torch, a loaf of bread and a pair of goggles with inbuilt
headlights, singing a somewhat maniacal repetition of the work Daisy… (there
is also an amazingly loud and complimentary soundtrack in the background).
Suddenly, the stage comes alive with a naked girl spinning four burning
hoola-hoops, a guy in a bra on a small Penny Farthing with both wheels on fire
and a guy standing on four stacked burning chairs which collapse in a burning
heap as a guy swings from the roof with his shirt and arms on fire. Fully
spectacular!
Anyway, has anyone tried unicycling with the wheel on fire? It looked quite
excellent…
A few years ago I used a coat hanger threaded through the spokes of my beater
unicycle to hold the cotton doused in Naptha. When I lit the cotton and rode the
flaming unicycle around it was really beautiful.The flame completely covered the
wheel. I juggled torches at the same time and filmed the event. I’ll see if I
can find the tape. After a few passes with the uni,I didn’t catch fire but the
rubber did and burned a hole through both tire and tube. I’ve thought about
using a fire-retardant covering over the wheel, or not uing a pneumatic wheel at
all, but that is as far as I’ve pursued it. Just to say it was done was enough.
I heard about a guy whose name I don’t recall, but who built a giraffe with
wicks on either side of the axle. This perhaps would not look as cool as what
some of you describe with fire in the spokes so that the flame is actually going
around in a circle, but apparently the flames burned at just the right height to
be sort of licking his feet at the low end of the pedal turn. He apparently
juggled torches on the flaming giraffe for his finale. I think he used to
perform in Harvard Square. I haven’t seen him, just heard about the act from a
friend – anybody seen the act or know who I’m talking about?
His name is Ken Zemack (sp?) and now he is out in San Diego. He juggled torches
on his six-footer with wicks soaked in Coleman going from the axle along the
A-frame up just below his feet. He used to perform in the Square while he was
getting his degree and then working at MIT. He was around for about 8 years and
then left around October or something for a job offer.
PS. When I was learning just barely to sit on a unicycle at the MIT club
years ago, Ken and his then fiance were passing and idling on giraffes
and they really inspired me a lot (along with making me feel
reeeeeeaaally small).
JIP (Juggle In Peace)
On Tue, 28 Nov 1995, Neil ‘‘Fred’’ Picciotto wrote: > > I heard about a guy whose name I don’t recall, but who built a giraffe with > wicks on either side of the axle. This perhaps would not look as
[snip] > end of the pedal turn. He apparently juggled torches on the flaming giraffe > for his finale. I think he used to perform in Harvard Square. I haven’t seen > him, just heard about the act from a friend – anybody seen the act or know > who I’m talking about? > > …derF\lieN > <--------
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