Hello everyone,
I would like you to meet George, my unicycling Monkey. He has only been riding for a few weeks, but he is much better then I am. Note his unwavering concentration as he rides along a slack line, badminton net, wall, and still stands on a lantern handle. Also note his perfect posture. His balance is astounding; however, his one footing skills and hopping need a bit of work.
joe asked:
> Does anyone know where these are available in the UK?
> I think Unicycle.Com (.Uk.Com) should stock them. Please roger!!!
There used to be one of these seemingly on permanent display in the toy
shop on the Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells. I used to lust after it, but
as I was perpetually skint (paying off my student loan and overdraft)
and it was fairly expensive (at least for someone trying to pay off a
student loan and overdraft) I never bought one.
The wire was fixed to the wall at one end. The other end was attached
to a pin on one edge of a motorised wheel. As the wheel turned, the
gradient on the rope changed enabling the monkey to keep on riding
backwards and forwards under the influence of gravity.
>
> As the wheel turned, the
> gradient on the rope changed enabling the monkey to keep on riding
> backwards and forwards under the influence of gravity.
I have often ridden under the influence of something else…
Though the monkey kind is less common, these unicyclist-on-a-string toys are perpetually being sold on eBay. Most are of the older variety, dating from the 1950s and later.
