In 1981, an artistic cycling club was founded in the village, which I joined. I thought football was stupid (I still think so now), unicycling was exactly my thing. We rode 6-person unicycle dances in a competitive style. I didn’t like that at all, I thought it was boring. My trainer told me about unicycle races that he himself had invented in Switzerland (we raced 26" unicycles). From 1982 I raced unicycles, got faster and faster and then won practically all the road races in Switzerland from 1988-1997 until an accident slowed me down. Because I was always faster than the others, they noticed that I had mounted other components such as pedals and tires. So the other riders asked me if they could buy such parts from me. That was maybe from 1994 and the foundation for my later unicycle shop. I still enjoy riding unicycles and now build my own unicycles because I turned this hobby into a profession 15 years ago - the only unicycle shop in Switzerland.
I used to run a lot, but I started getting hurt, so I stopped. The 2012 Boston Marathon was my last race (ran it with an aching achilles, plus it was 90-plus degrees, its hottest ever; what an awful day. Fun fact: It was so hot, they were offering deferments into the infamous 2013 Boston Marathon, which I thought about and obviously didn’t take, but thousands of people did).
I was looking for a new physical activity, and one of my kids, jokingly, suggested unicycling. Challenged accepted. Bought a cheapie unicycle off Amazon. Big mistake. The hub broke within days. Did some research and bought a proper uni, a 20-inch long-neck (I’m tall) Torker.
The rest is history …
… or, more apt, the rest is a lot more unicycles.
Because I was riding unicycles, I decided to go full clown, and I learned to juggle. Now I’m pretty good at both. And pain-free. I do not miss running at all.
Hehe, the moment I read Rivella in that seemingly old picture, I knew this must have been taken in Switzerland. Was that a unicycle related accident, if I may ask?
No, it was not a unicycle accident, but it is beyond the scope of this article to explain it in more detail.
Fair enough. Glad that you‘re still able to enjoy unicycling, albeit at a slower pace.
I was about 15 years old, walking down a dark alley and this dude with curly hair and big shoes sidled up to me and went: “pssst, kid. Wanna know how to become a hit with the ladies and the envy of all your friends?”
The rest is history.
@MrBoogeyjuice That sounds so wrong.
I was heavily into juggling and persuaded my wife to buy me a uni for my 30th birthday (many moons ago). I couldn’t get on with it at all, and left it for a few years until I went to Bible college. I met a German lad there who gave me some pointers, and I took it from there.
I used to enjoy winding up my tutor by telling her I was learning to ride the uni so I had something to show for my time there. 
I was trying to buy a bike in the beginning of COVID and there wasn’t ANY at a reasonable price, so I got a unicycle and started learning.