Most of the times when I’ve seen the worst in unicyclists, it has been at the big conventions. Not the small ones, but the USA nationals and UNICONs. Sometimes it’s the parents, who aren’t necessarily riders, so maybe this doesn’t count. Think little league, or stage-mom.
Sometimes it’s in the riders, with their zeal to win overriding common courtesy, or the sensibilities of sport. I’ve seen bad winners, bad losers, and competitors trying to cheat. The dark side of competition.
I’ve also been bombarded by people “asking for favors” when I’ve been a track or artistic official. My wife Jacquie, who timed each and every Obstacle Course competitor in at the conventions in Washington last year, had some interesting observations. She noted many, many people who tried to talk her into ignoring what she’d just timed as an official run, etc. Some from obscure riders, and others from people who should know better.
I don’t know if any of that counts as mean, but it’s what came to my mind. As for mean unicyclists you meet on the street, I can’t seem to come up with any examples.
Except maybe Sem Abrahams, who wouldn’t let me ride the walking unicycle he was letting everyone else try at UNICON. He said the builder, Aaron Anderson, told him that anyone could ride it but John Foss. I have not heard this from Aaron, and don’t believe it.
Aaron may have been miffed because he wanted to try my B.C. wheel after the public show. I was in the process of removing all my stuff to the car, between the show and the screening of Into the Thunder Dragon, and assured him he could try it later on. But I didn’t see him at the school after that. That was a nice walking machine, Aaron. You know where you got the detailed photos you used to build it. No hard feelings, I hope.