I’m thinking about participating in a local charity biking event with my
Coker. I have yet to find out the details (exact route, number of
participants expected, ect.), but was wondering what comments people who
have done this sort of thing might have.
Do you tend to expain to the organizers that you will be unicycling, or do
you just show up with one less wheel than most? (I don’t like the idea of
drawing an audience… then again, if it’s to raise money, maybe I should
try.) I know I’ll have little hope of keeping up with the very in-shape
bicyclists, so how hard a time should I expect having to keep up with the
more casual tail-end of the group?
Wbat seem to be reasonable distances to cover in one day? (I’d probably
check out the unicycle across MN website, but I can’t seem to find it.)
Jeff, Don’t ask,just show up and do it! If you ask, it puts too much
pressure on who you ask. If you can average 10mph, you can almost always
find someone tokeep up with. Use the unicycle as an extra gimmick to raise
money.If you don’t want to talk to everyone as they pass you, start at the
back. Forget about “blending in”. Whatever distances you can train up to
before the ride is your comfort zone. You can exceed that comfort zone on
your ride, but don’t expect miracles like 3 times your longest distance in
training. Have fun -Mark
> Do you tend to expain to the organizers that you will be unicycling, or > do you just show up with one less wheel than most?
I would just show up. If you ask or announce yourself, it makes the
organizers question whether or not to allow a unicycle. If you just show
up and they see you can ride, they should have no worries. My first
unicycling newspaper picture was of me participating in my first charity
ride, the March of Dimes Superride (Detroit) in 1980. I was the entire
cover of the Suburban News, a local paper.
Usually you will find encouragement when you show up on an unusual or
difficult vehicle. Everybody is there to raise money for the charity, so
if you’re doing it the hard way people will respect you.
When I used to ride in the New York 5 Boro Bike Tour (non-charity), the
organizers had a special area set up in front of the regular bicyclists
where people on unusual vehicles could line up. This put us unicyclists in
with a ten-person bike, penny farthings, and a wild assortment of wacky
bikes. Also it put us where the press could see us. From this ride I got a
great picture in the New York Post.
> bicyclists, so how hard a time should I expect having to keep up with > the more casual tail-end of the group?
If you can’t beat some of them you’re really out of shape. The rest
depends on how in-shape you are. In the charity rides I’ve gone on, there
are riders at every speed, though mostly the slow kind.
> Wbat seem to be reasonable distances to cover in one day?
This I can’t answer. Unicycle Across Minnesota didn’t do “reasonable”
amounts of miles on any day, to my tastes…
I agree - just show up. But the one time I did one of these rides on
Coker, I talked to the organizer and explained that two of us would be on
36" unicycles. They were very positive and wanted to talk and have us
interviewed etc. There were 5 distance options - we picked the 44 mile
course with about 1200’ of climbing. I would recommend training first as
this was about 4x the distance either of us had ridden before and we were
a little sore afterwards.
—Nathan
“Jeff Lutkus” <lutkus@unicyclist.com> wrote in message news:20010703045024.F292D36F9@sitemail.everyone.net… > I’m thinking about participating in a local charity biking event with my
Coker. I have yet to find out the details (exact route, number of
participants expected, ect.), but was wondering what comments people who
have done this sort of thing might have. > > Do you tend to expain to the organizers that you will be > unicycling, or do
you just show up with one less wheel than most? (I don’t like the idea of
drawing an audience… then again, if it’s to raise money, maybe I should
try.) I know I’ll have little hope of keeping up with the very in-shape
bicyclists, so how hard a time should I expect having to keep up with the
more casual tail-end of the group? > > Wbat seem to be reasonable distances to cover in one day? (I’d probably
check out the unicycle across MN website, but I can’t seem to find it.) > > good day, Jeff Lutkus
> I’m thinking about participating in a local charity biking event with my > Coker. I have yet to find out the details (exact route, number of > participants expected, ect.), but was wondering what comments people who > have done this sort of thing might have. > > Do you tend to expain to the organizers that you will be unicycling, or > do you just show up with one less wheel than most? (I don’t like the > idea of drawing an audience… then again, if it’s to raise money, maybe > I should try.) I know I’ll have little hope of keeping up with the very > in-shape bicyclists, so how hard a time should I expect having to keep > up with the more casual tail-end of the group? > > Wbat seem to be reasonable distances to cover in one day? (I’d probably > check out the unicycle across MN website, but I can’t seem to find it.)
Well, what’s reasonable for one may not be for another. Mark Stephens has
done over 100 miles in a day. I think he said he did 75 on the last
“offical” ride he did. I also think that’s longer then most of us could
go. I’d guess that 15 miles would probably be pushing it for me, but I’m
just a casual rider, no distance training.
