I think the “fall off and die” comment could have been meant sarcastically, as in, “you are doing something that makes me look completely incapable, ‘I hope you fall off and die’.” Or it could be that you just encountered a genuine asshole. I’ve noticed that there seem to be a few middle-aged men who have some genuine hostility towards people who do strange things regardless of how harmless they may be.
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I can imagine he was probably a fat idiot as well who gets out of breath just putting his shoes on in the morning!
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That’s been proven to be true, well almost..
Sex, aggression, and humour: responses to unicycling
(posted before)
Oh, sigh. I am pretty much at the end of middle age and that is when I started to learn how to unicycle. (I am 58 now, like unigeezer, but without the skill).
And I think it all depends on where you are riding and what gender you are too. I feel I tend to never get bad comments.
That’s an interesting read and one I can identify with.
My favourite response is the one where someone simply greets me (“Good morning”) and then carries on as if there was nothing unusual going on.
My least favourite is the false affirmation (“Well done” etc), as if somehow I live thrive and survive on their affirmation.
But then again, I am a grumpy old git.
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I’ve had a little of this lately - people congratulating me on how well I’m doing, when simply commuting into town, something which I’ve not struggled with for over a decade.
We’ve only recently moved house though so the locals aren’t used to it yet. From previous experience these comments will slowly diminish on my regular routes.
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Ditto!
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Thank you for sharing this report, it was very interesting and relatable.
Today,
“What are you doing on that stupid bike!?”
Plot twist, it was me who shouted this at my friend Erlend, who by chance unicycled past my office (no meeting was planned). Further twist, I was on a penny farthing at the time. 
P.S. Yes… yes a unicycle is not a “bike” but I was so excited about getting the chance to be the obnoxious asshole for a change that I messed up my line slightly. I probably should have gone for the classic, “Did you lose your other wheel?” 
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To be honest I quite often use the word “bike” myself to avoid questions from people. 
ruari
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Yeah, Ed Pratt always does as well. 
In Norwegian a bike is normally called a “sykkel” (cycle) and does not typically state the number of wheels, so in this sense it is easier to use it for both. Though in the above case I said it to Erlend as written (in English).
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Me too. When I’m discussing with people and I’m not with my unicycle, and I have to speak about my hobbies or something, I almost always mention that I often ride “my bike”.
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Out on Saturday i had a guy stop by for a chat on an E bike , he said to me that my unicycle looks like hard work so i said to him that his looks like hes ceating! With that he chuckled and headed off.
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Ditto, I always just say «I cycle.»
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It is indeed odd seeing unexpected unicyclists in the wild (velocipederider is my alt nick)
https://twitter.com/VelocipedeRider/status/1508375798054637571
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“Nice hat” while completely ignoring the beautiful KH27.5 underneath me.
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I always think that I can wear whatever I like when unicycling as everyone just pays attention to the unicycle. Maybe that’s not quite the case.
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Im conscious of what I wear as to avoid “the clown-look”. Im sure it’s different for some of your other guys, but I get enough attention without as it is, I don’t want dress too colourful on top of that.
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The clown association really bothers me. When I was a kid I liked the attention riding a unicycle brought, as an adult that loves to ride I hate it. Being looked at like a clown and hearing comments constantly keeps me from riding in certain situations. Nobody comments on skaters, bikers scooter riders only us.
I don’t mind encouraging comments
or thumbs up but enough already with the stupid jokes. When I’m riding I’m zoned in and serious and look like a cyclist or hiker it’s not like I’m wearing a rainbow wig and juggling bowling pins. Oh well something will never change.
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