The article ended up as a two-page sunday paper article on the day after one of the big national mountain cycling events (the Birkebeiner ride). All in all a very down-to-earth and fact-based article that did not make fun of us as a group at all. The focus was on unicycling as a form of exercise and recreational activity 
If you who recognize the t-shirt you may have spent too much time on the net.
For those of you who are not yet fluent in norwegian I have made a rough translation of the article. Read below. PM me if you want the Norwegian version as a PDF.
Free your mind on one wheel
Unicycling is not just for clowns. It is also an efficient workout that requires complete mental focus.
minkuni holds the big wheel in front, puts his foot on the rearmost pedal og pivots on top. The wheel vibrates for a moment while his arms are used for balance before he gets started. The distance to work is just shy of 9 kilometers. He straightens his helmet and pedals on.
The idea of unicycling as a hobby came about three years ago when minkuni was studying at NTNU. He wanted a form of exercise that was challenging, entertaining and with appreciable results. Gyms and endless miles of jogging were too dull. The most important consideration was that the activity should be fun.
One of the enthusiasts in the unicycling world, Unijuul, says this on his homepage: “The feeling of flowing ahead on a big wheel unicycle cannot be described, but a mix of surfing and slalom skiing is not a bad approximation.”
minkuni started his unicycling career by trawling the net for information. He bought his first 20" unicycle an hour later from unicycle.se before heading off for a week at the cabin.
A balancing act
- The learning curve is very steep. In the beginning it seemed completely impossible to maintain balance on the lone wheel. After a week of practice the basics were in place.
minkuni emphasizes the importance of not trying for hours at a time while learning to ride. The difficulty level increases quickly with fatigue which in turn makes it hard to keep the spirit up. The engineer recommends a maximum of an hour per day as a reasonable start. A stubborn will to learn helps.
Muscle growth
At least three days a week minkuni rides his unicycle to work. Firm quads, posterior and a sixpack-tummy are the results*. Only the arms have been left pretty much alone.
The speed increases on the flat stretches to work. If the saddle is leaned too far towards the rear he´ll fall off the back and end up on his butt. Too far forward and he´ll have to jump off to avoid a faceplant. Correct fall technique is very useful. Knowing how to land on your feet and getting back on the ride is an essential part of most unicycle rides.
minkuni´s unicycle is built for long distance rides with a 36 inch wheel and a moderately coarse tread pattern.
One of the later parts of the sport is MUni, or mountain unicycling. minkuni also does this, but then on a 26 inch unicycle with a very coarse tread pattern.
A van rushes into the intersection just as minkuni is on his way across. He jumps off his unicycle, grabs the saddle and walks around the back of the van. The sweat is flowing beneath the helmet. It is a good thing the speed was not higher**. Riding a unicycle is after all not the fastest way to get to work. A racing bicycle is usually the right choice for that.
minkuni suggests that unicycling is twice as tiring as riding a bicycle, half the speed and four times the fun.
- A perfect way to combining endurance, balance and coordination.
- What about the mental aspect?
- You need to be focused on riding the entire time. If your mind wanders you usually fall off pretty quickly. This focus enables your mind to relax from the day-to-day stresses of work and such.
Abs are important
- Do you need good balancing skills before considering unicycling?
- Nothing out of the ordinary I think. I still suck at slacklining.
- What are the most important principles in unicycling?
- On a unicycle you are using the body from the midriff and down very actively while riding. Abdominal muscles are important for control. The saddle also plays a key role and finding the right saddle for yourself is very important. The leg muscles are taxed more than on a bicycle since you are also using them for braking and control. The lack of brakes on most unicycles mean that steep downhills require significant effort to keep the speed under control. The average speed on minkuni´s ride to work is about 20 km/h.
minkuni mounts up. The view from atop the unicycle is excellent and comments from non-riders he meets on the cycling paths are usually positive.
The unicycle weighs about 10 kg, including extras. Even in the small world of unicycling there is a market for the gearheads. minkunis unicycle has two small handles in front of the saddle, a hydraulic rim brake for downhills and two gears that are selected by using his heels on a button in the center of the hub.
minkuni steps off the unicycle outside the office building. Inside awaits a long-needed shower and the 20" learner uni. Perfect for races to the photocopier.
Fact box
Unicycle categories
- Beginner: Smaller wheels, usually cheap and often found in sporting goods stores.
- Freestyle: Tricks on flat surfaces. Usually 20" wheels with short cranks and narrow tyres.
- Trial: Tackling an obstacle course. Usually 20" wheels, but with rougher tyres than in freestyle.
- Muni: Offroad unicycling. Very coarse tread patterns and longer cranks for more power.
- Road: The need for speed. Usually 29 or 36 inch wheels.
First time on one wheel
- Hold onto something such as a wall
- Mount the unicycle
- Keep your back straight
- Sit down in the saddle and get a feel for the balance
- Focus your eyes on a point some way in front, NOT down on the wheel
- Let go of the wall and pedal away
- ?
- Profit!
Footnotes
- Journalists addition, not my words. Honestly!
** Actually, I was going way too fast and had to do an evasive maneuver combined with a controlled UPD (if there is such a thing)
