Yesterday I visited Guy Hansen. Some of you may know him as the first unicyclist to use the 36" Coker wheel on a unicycle. Others may recognize Guy as the “guy” who routinely hand-pedals his muni (normally ending with bleeding hands).
Anyway, I had some 661 leg armor that one of his kids had loaned me. I was returning it to Guy. I also had a mini-giraffe that he built that I was also returning.
He invited me into his “garage” and started showing me some of his unicycling projects.
It was truly UNIque.
I wish I had taken a camera with me because it was unbelievable what he had there.
Here are some of the highlights.
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A two-wheeler that goes forward when you pedal forward. There’s one big loop of something that resembles wheelchair rubber that goes around both wheels so, unlike a traditional two-wheeler, you don’t need to pedal backwards to go forwards.
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An eight-foot unicycle. Not unusual? Well, except that this unicycle has a regular frame with one wheel that is made of eight rubber feet (apparently originally molded from his kids feet).
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A ninety-degree drive-train. This will be part of a novelty unicycle where pedaling forward drives the wheel to the left and backward moves the wheel to the right.
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A five-wheeled unicycle (some of you have surely seen this - he had it at NAUCC/UNICON in Washington).
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Multiple ultimate and impossible wheels.
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Many traditional unicycles: racing, muni, freestyle, giraffe, etc.
Much of what he showed me I had seen before but I was astonished when he reached into one of the cabinets and pulled out a bunch of hubs. One of them was a KH/Shclumpf - never used.
Who just has this lying around in their garage!!?? Well, apparently Guy Hansen.
His garage is like some sort of unicycle museum/machine shop that chronicles the evolution of unicycles.
I think he has more unicycles than even John Foss.
If you’re ever in the area you should look him up and ask for the tour. Just don’t tell him I sent you.
So, if you’ve read this far you’re probably wondering why I would post this. Fair question. I’m wondering what weird, crazy, expensive, rare or otherwise interesting stuff you have lying around in your (or your parents) garage/basement/closet/refrigerator.
-mg
