Is there such a thing as a ... Socially Phobic Unicyclist?

General
1

( Ihave posted to this group maybe twice but I’ve been here for ages… being a
“social freak,” it’s hard to build up the courage to click send and then
when I do, I worry about it being read “wrong.” STUPID, HUH? )

I was just wondering how many unicyclists are (not just shy, but) really
social-phobes, and still do casual unicycle rides, in public?

I prefer to ride at night and/or with others. (Five of us ride quite a lot)

No, I don’t appear to be a freak, as you may think, because I’m really good
at covering up my phobia, and I ride as if I’ve been riding for 21 years
(because I have.)

So, tell me, if you would, please? Am I the only one or just a figment of my own
imagination?

Amy O amyoftenbirder@home.com Des Moines , IA

2

Re: Is there such a thing as a … Socially Phobic Unicyclist?

I ride around the streets a bit. PLP that say a bad remartk or give u a funny
look, I just ignore them.

3

Re: Is there such a thing as a … Socially Phobic Unicyclist?

I have noticed this “social phobia” tendency with a few people in our club, and
have been unsure of what to do to make these riders feel more at ease on our
club outings.

I am a self-professed extrovert, and many other riders in our club are the same
or even more so. Unicycling attracts more than our share of clowns, jugglers,
balloonists and other people who scream “Look at me”. We make it on to tv,
newspapers and other media. As we ride on ledges and water fountains, do drops,
stairs and other “interesting” stuff in well-known public locales, we do turn
heads. And we extroverts feed on each other on our rides. I often see our
introverts cringe in terror, even when we are only planning our rides.

Is it possible for both extroverts and introverts to feel comfortable on our
group rides? What can extroverts do to make introverts feel more confortable,
while still being their extrovert selves?

Don_Tai@yahoo.co.uk, Toronto, Canada http://torontounicyclists.tripod.com

“oftenbirder” <Üamyoftenbirder@home.com> wrote in article
<djbq6.21606$hf.8254897@news1.elmhst1.il.home.com> :
> ( Ihave posted to this group maybe twice but I’ve been here for ages… being
> a “social freak,” it’s hard to build up the courage to click send and then
> when I do, I worry about it being read “wrong.” STUPID, HUH? )
>
>I was just wondering how many unicyclists are (not just shy, but) really
>social-phobes, and still do casual unicycle rides, in public?
>
>I prefer to ride at night and/or with others. (Five of us ride quite a lot)
>
>No, I don’t appear to be a freak, as you may think, because I’m really good
>at covering up my phobia, and I ride as if I’ve been riding for 21 years
>(because I have.)
>
>So, tell me, if you would, please? Am I the only one or just a figment of my
>own imagination?
>
>
>Amy O amyoftenbirder@home.com Des Moines , IA
>
>
>

Submitted via WebNewsReader of http://www.interbulletin.com

4

Re: Is there such a thing as a … Socially Phobic Unicyclist?

If u get a bad remark just think to your self, They cant do it!Or even say that
to themand they come puzzled :slight_smile:

5

Re: Is there such a thing as a … Socially Phobic Unicyclist?

oftenbirder wrote:

> I was just wondering how many unicyclists are (not just shy, but) really
> social-phobes, and still do casual unicycle rides, in public?
>
> I prefer to ride at night and/or with others. (Five of us ride quite a lot)

It makes me nervous when I know someone is watching me, and I tend to ride more
poorly. I ride for the personal challenge and fun of it, not as a performer, so
I tend to select places to ride where I won’t draw a lot of attention, although
if I’m given the choice of not riding or riding where people will see me, I’ll
ride anyway.

But given the choice of riding where people are and where people aren’t, I’d
usually choose to ride where I won’t attract a lot of attention.

I’ve found that riding with others tends to ease my concern about gawkers.

Greg

6

Re: Is there such a thing as a … Socially Phobic Unicyclist?

Hello!

I would personally not define myself as an extrovert… definitely not. In the
first days of my learning to ride a unicycle, I must admit I was a little shy
to, basically, show my clumsiness and my falls to everybody. But then, as soon
as I was able to mount and ride a little bit, I didn’t have any problem at all
to practice in the street. People stare at me and stop? well, I just smile and
offer them to try the unicycle! It actually went very well with some of them
(and never bad!). I enjoy riding in the street because if people are trying to
make fun out of me, I just ignore them, but then, it is particularly rewarding
when a little girl comes to me, with a smile and big eyes, and just ask me : are
you an acrobat? (free translation, that was dutch, and I am not yet fluent in
dutch…) I guess it is difficult for me to ‘socialize’ with strangers when I do
not have any reason, but then unicycling actually gives some strangers the
pretext to take a step toward me… :slight_smile:

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Re: Is there such a thing as a … Socially Phobic Unicyclist?

Amy I don’t think of my self as socially phobic, but I often feel uncomfortable
in social settings. For me riding the unicycle has been a means of taking the
tension off going out in public. Once, when it was my turn to present the object
lesson for our Sunday School in front of 120 kids I brought along my uni, even
though it had nothing to do with the lesson, I was able to be in front of this
large group and not even think about throwing up. The kids loved it. After that
any time I did the opening I would do it on my uni. Another thing is Iowans do
not react the same as people in other places (I know because I lived in Fort
Dodge for 9 years). Most people are genuinely excited to see a unicyclist and
almost always made room for me to get past. Cars tend to slow down and make
room, more so than they would for bike riders. Enjoy riding and just try to
ignore any negative comments. Al Lieffring
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/alsunicyclingclub Stop by and visit.

8

Re(2): starngers/Socially Phobic

bbret@phys.uva.nl writes: <some text cut>
>
>I guess it is difficult for me to ‘socialize’ with strangers when I do not have
>any reason, but then unicycling actually gives some strangers the pretext to
>take a step toward me… :slight_smile:
Agreed!
>

One of the great things to come out of unicycling these past 21 years is that
you have an instant connection to anyone else who has ever unicycled, and this
is especially wonderful to have in a city with such a diverse population (New
York). It’s a nice way to bring people together, and I really think it helps
break barriers of race and class. I make a point of giving a ride to anyone who
asks (“Can I get a ride?” is what I usually hear), and when I am lucky, I meet
someone who used to ride with the King Charles Troupe from Harlem. I never met
the late Charles King, but I must have met over a dozen people who were in the
troupe at one time in their lives. That troupe was one of the major insprations
for me when I was thinking about getting a unicycle as a teenager.

Two days ago, I had my uni in a store and one of the workers and I started
talking. He has been riding a uni for about 30 years and gets around these days
on his Giraffe! When I told him about the club I have just co-founded, he was
excited and said he’'d bring a few friends along. If it weren’t for our uni
connection, we’d probably not have even talked, and now …

David Stone

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Re: Is there such a thing as a … Socially Phobic Unicyclist?

(I suppose a general reply is the most efficient way to go, so --) Whoa, that’s
a few more replies than I thought there’d be… and amazingly enough, I can
relate, somehow, to all of them.

I guess my own definition of my social phobia, is this: I’m not shy … I just
PANIC in awkward social situations. Anytime I say something stupid (1/4 the time
I speak,) make a stupid decision that makes me look totally idiotic in front of
even a few people, or if I get put on the spot, I get freaked. (this brings on
sweat, rapid heart rate, and a trapped feeling … Aaagghhh! Everyones staring
at me!!!) I get embarrassed about little stuff, like my hair being messed up.
(And I’m not a frilly-chick, either – I’m a Jeep-chick)

Unicycling IS really good for my self-worth. When I ride, I KNOW that some
people are envious. I get all kinds of looks from people - from the AWE and
Wonder look, to the blind act of those people that PRETEND that they never saw
you because THEY don’t want to be caught looking! The comments I get are either
really, really stupid or just awesome, and I’m not bothered by either. As I
mentioned before, I prefer riding at night, but that is changing. Overall, I
feel less phobic riding . especially when I think about how a good crash at
break-neck speed is honorable (to some of us, anyway.)

When one of my kids find a good “gravity surge” and crashes, if I know they
aren’t hurt too bad, I say “Oh, yeah! THAT was awesome!” and they usually get up
and shake it off with a smile!

Uh … I don’t know what else to say. (The crowd cheers!)

Anyway, thanks for the replies!

Have a great ride! Amy Offenburger amyoftenbirder@home.com Des Moines, Iowa

10

RE: Is there such a thing as a … Socially Phobic Unicyclist?

> I was just wondering how many unicyclists are (not just shy, but) really
> social-phobes, and still do casual unicycle rides, in public?

Lots, but they’re afraid to post to the newsgroup too… :slight_smile:

> So, tell me, if you would, please? Am I the only one or just a figment of my
> own imagination?

Here on the unicycling newsgroup I would have to think that we do not see an
“average” cross-section of unicyclists. Here we see the ones that have access to
computers, have found the newsgroup or found out how to subscribe to
unicycling@winternet.com, and who are fascinated enough with unicycling to write
about it and share with others.

I think this group has more computer people, and perhaps a higher percentage of
people who don’t socialize well. But then again, many of the people I first met
by corresponding here, I have since met in real life.

The answers you are looking for most probably will come in the form of private
messages if any. But I was wondering if you were looking for a correlation
between social phobias and unicycling?

Stay on top, John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone http://www.unicycling.com

“I see the light at the end of the tunnel and it isn’t a train.” – California
Governor Gray Davis on the CA energy crisis

11

Re: Is there such a thing as a … Socially Phobic Unicyclist?

I can’t answer your question, but I am wondering if unicycling helps you with
your social phobia. I get comments ranging from jackass and circus jokes to
brilliant, and marvelous. I enjoy the positive ones and have learned to ignore
the negatives or just laugh. (I get a lot of comments - I live in New York
City!) In some way this has improved my ability to deal with people).

12

Re: Is there such a thing as a … Socially Phobic Unicyclist?

I LOVE riding in public! Yeah, sometimes I wish I could “pick” whom I might
encounter, but most of the time I just accept the wide range of reactions I get
and just relax and have fun. I’ve had some near misses by cars & dogs & even
objects thrown at me. Other times I get such a boost out of just a smile or a
wave or a loud yell! Definitely the positive always outweighs the negative if we
just let it. -Mark

Free e-Mail and Webspace - http://Unicyclist.com

13

Re: social phobias and unicycling

I dislike riding in public. Most people assume that unicyclists are attention
seekers and want to be noticed. This may be true for some people but the
majority of riders I know would prefer not to be stared at.

I have become more immune to stares and comments after riding in public for
several years. When I first started riding down the street I felt every eye was
on me. No doubt people still stare it me but I’m pretty used to it by now. I’m
not going to stop riding just because people find it wierd.

It is much better riding in a group. People aren’t quite so keen to heckle a
group as they are an individual. Also off road riding is wonderful for privacy.
The kind of people out enjoying trails tend not to hassle you either. If they
do stop to talk they are usually genuinely interested in what you do too and
will ask sensible questions. (MTB gear heads are quite fun to talk to about
technical details).

I would say there are a large number of closet unicyclists out there, people who
enjoy riding but don’t really want to be in the public eye. I figure if enough
of us ride around in public though it will become “normal” and people won’t be
that interested. Then we could get on with enjoying what we do.

o o Peter Bier o O o Juggler, unicyclist and mathematician.
o/|\o peter_bier@usa.net

Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.netaddress.com/?N=1

14

Re(2): social phobias and unicycling

peter_bier@usa.net writes:
>I dislike riding in public. Most people assume that unicyclists are attention
>seekers and want to be noticed. This may be true for some people but the
>majority of riders I know would prefer not to be stared at.
>
>I have become more immune to stares and comments after riding in public for
>several years. When I first started riding down the street I felt every eye was
>on me. No doubt people still stare it me but I’m pretty used to it by now. I’m
>not going to stop riding just because people find it wierd.
I started at 13, when sometimes it’s fun to get noticed, but the real motivation
stemmed from an innate love of balancing. There are still times when I like the
att’n, esp. from children and often their parents, and there are many times when
the att’n is annoying (as Joe mentioned, riding in NYC has its hazards, tho one
of the funny things is that non-parents often act cool, as tho they see
unicyclists all the time).
>
>It is much better riding in a group. People aren’t quite so keen to heckle a
>group as they are an individual. Also off road riding is wonderful for privacy.
>The kind of people out enjoying trails tend not to hassle you either. If they
>do stop to talk they are usually genuinely interested in what you do too and
>will ask sensible questions. (MTB gear heads are quite fun to talk to about
>technical details).
>
>I would say there are a large number of closet unicyclists out there, people
>who enjoy riding but don’t really want to be in the public eye. I figure if
>enough of us ride around in public though it will become “normal” and people
>won’t be that interested. Then we could get on with enjoying what we do.
Here I disagree – there simply aren’t enough unicyclists around, period. Our
NYC club, now in its 3rd month, has about 40 potential members and there are
many other unicyclists around the city, but most of them don’t ride around on a
normal basis – usually just for exercise in the Park. In 20 years I have not
encountered 20 people who were just riding around the street (or sidewalk) to
get from A to B. I think the rarity is due primarily to the difficulty in
learning; in add’n, even decent riders get bored or move onto other forms of
transport. So those of us who DO ride around all the time will ALWAYS be seen as
eccentric at best. And I like that.
>
>
David Stone

15

Re: social phobias and unicycling

As I’ve posted before, I take Aikido. In fact, I ride my unicycle to and from my
Aikido classes. Part of my gear that I have to take with me are two staves and a
wooden katana. While not necessarily advisable, I’ve never had any problems with
hecklers. Actually, some of them have come up with fairly funny remarks. The
other night I saw a guy who joked “There’s the next Power Ranger!” (which I
personally thought was funny but could have been taken as an insult).

I do get really embarrassed sometimes when riding and lots of people start
pointing (you’d think after riding for a year and a half around campus most
people would’ve seen me) even if I know that they ARE impressed and not just
mocking me. The few times when I have been heckled were actually while riding my
normal uni and not my giraffe. People walk by and make some snide comment about
me just trying to get attention. Only in recent months have I discovered the
great community behind unicycling and I now really enjoy getting to tell people
about my uni and riding it in general when people ask, for now I know I’m
(probably) not the only one who rides his (or her, for you ladies out there) uni
between 5 and 10 miles daily to go to my classes and shopping for groceries.

Yeah, I’ve always been a little nervous about riding in public for fear of
people getting crazy ideas (I mean, who hasn’t been asked “What would happen if
I stuck a stick in your spokes?”) but usually people are really interested and
excited. A few days ago I had a member of an ultimate frisbee team throw a
frisbee up to me when I was out on my giraffe who cheered with the rest of his
team when I not only managed to catch it but throw it back (I’m not taking any
bets on being able to do it again - he threw it after I had just passed him and
I had to twist to catch and throw it back). Maybe I’ve just been lucky, after
all, I never had any cars try and chase me off the road when I used to ride my
bike places (I don’t think I remember how to ride anymore… :wink: )

Mike Peterson

16

Re: social phobias and unicycling

I don’t ride as regularly as i used, now that I am outside of the city. that
said I often ride a heavily traveled rail trail, and find people are are
generally positive or oblivious. I do it ot exercise, and because I think kids
should get to see unicyclists. When I rode in the city, I did it so often that I
would forget that I was on a unicycle, and wonder for a minute why people would
point at me (I note in this state of mind fewer people noticed becuase my body
language said everything is normal (of course ridng in and around Harvard Square
I was hardly the weirdest thing most people had seen that day)).

Mike Peterson <mpeters1@gladstone.uoregon.edu> wrote in message
news:a05010400b6d232755196@[128.223.209.213]…
> As I’ve posted before, I take Aikido. In fact, I ride my unicycle to and from
> my Aikido classes. Part of my gear that I have to take with me are two staves
> and a wooden katana. While not necessarily advisable, I’ve never had any
> problems with hecklers. Actually, some of them have come up with fairly funny
> remarks. The other night I saw a guy who joked "There’s the next Power
> Ranger!" (which I personally thought was funny but could have been taken as
> an insult).
>
> I do get really embarrassed sometimes when riding and lots of people start
> pointing (you’d think after riding for a year and a half around campus most
> people would’ve seen me) even if I know that they ARE impressed and not just
> mocking me. The few times when I have been heckled were actually while riding
> my normal uni and not my giraffe. People walk by and make some snide comment
> about me just trying to get attention. Only in recent months have I discovered
> the great community behind unicycling and I now really enjoy getting to tell
> people about my uni and riding it in general when people ask, for now I know
> I’m (probably) not the only one who rides his (or her, for you ladies out
> there) uni between 5 and 10 miles daily to go to my classes and shopping for
> groceries.
>
> Yeah, I’ve always been a little nervous about riding in public for fear of
> people getting crazy ideas (I mean, who hasn’t been asked "What would happen
> if I stuck a stick in your spokes?") but usually people are really interested
> and excited. A few days ago I had a member of an ultimate frisbee team throw a
> frisbee up to me when I was out on my giraffe who cheered with the rest of his
> team when I not only managed to catch it but throw it back (I’m not taking any
> bets on being able to do it again - he threw it after I had just passed him
> and I had to twist to catch and throw it back). Maybe I’ve just been lucky,
> after all, I never had any cars try and chase me off the road when I used to
> ride my bike places (I don’t think I remember how to ride anymore… )
>
> Mike Peterson

17

Re: Is there such a thing as a … Socially Phobic Unicyclist?

Hey Amy, You’re not the only one. I am not all that thrilled about all the
attention. I do distance rides on my Coker and always wear my cd player and that
way I tune out everyone and everything. I also like riding in groups but it’s
usually with other bicyclists. There’s a group of other Cokerheads in Austin but
it’s hard to get all of us together. Later.

Aj