It is fascinating that the “Uniman” thread has been revived. The comic, or graphic novel, is designed to tell a story in a quick and accessible fashion, combining words and pictures to convey the maximum amount of information - and here we have a whole lot of unicyclists describing imaginary pictures in words. Who would have thought that unicyclists would choose to do it the hard way?
Why not instead go back to an earlier form, more suited to the steady and thoughtful pace of unicycling, as compared to other forms of transport? I suggest we unit to write a unicycling novel of manners in the style of Jane Austen.
RIDE AND PECIPICE
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a man of good balance, atop a single wheel, is in need of another wheel. News of the arrival of Mr. Gilby at the quarter pipes early in the summer of 18__ rapidly reached the ears of Mrs Bennett whose son, Gordon, had the custom of taking a turn around the BMX track each afternoon.
“Mama,” said Mr. Gordon Bennett upon his return to Sweetsod Hall only a few minutes late for afternoon tea, “A new gentleman has arrived in town, from the Americas. I hear his name is Mr. Gilby, and his bicycle has only one wheel - as indeed I was quick to point out to him, much to the amusement of my companions. No doubt a footpad or cutpurse has stolen the other wheel, along with the cross bar.”
“Gordon,” smiled his mother indulgently, “A gentleman should be reluctant to make a quip, however novel, at the expense of another gentleman until they have been formally introduced. But tell me, this Mr. Gilby, is he very handsome?”
“Mama, that is not something on which I am well placed to comment, being myself a gentleman. However, I grant that I was not unimpressed to see him land a drop of no less than five feet.”
“Oh, landed gentry, indeed!” sniffed Mrs. Bennett. Having only a small estate herself, she was not kindly disposed to those who had more, considering it vulgar in the extreme."
(Over to you)