I’d like to know who has built and/or ridden a tandem unicycle.
I’m interested in tandems where one rider is in front of the other or
tandems where the riders are side by side (SBS). In both cases, the
riders must cooperate to balance on the wheel. I’m NOT interested in
the tandem where one rider is above the other, since the top rider can
simply balance for both.
Tom Miller and I built a front/back (FB) tandem in 1991. In subsequent
months it was ridden many times at club practices. The longest ride was
perhaps 70 feet (20+ meters).
If you have either built a FB (front/back) or SBS (side by side) tandem
or ridden such tandem unicycles, please respond with your experiences.
>I’d like to know who has built and/or ridden a tandem unicycle.
This is not a direct answer, but Arne Tilgen (jongleur@cityweb.de) who is the
unicycling editor of the German circus arts magazine Kaskade (www.kaskade.de)
ran a photo and description of a tandem unicycle in issue no 60 of said
magazine (end of 2000). Try contacting him directly for some information.
>I’d like to know who has built and/or ridden a tandem unicycle.
This is about a variation. Last year we had two guests at our club,
who together rode one unicicyle. He would be in the normal riding
position. She would stand on his feet, face to face, hands holding.
> I’m NOT interested in
>the tandem where one rider is above the other, since the top rider can
>simply balance for both.
I think in a “normal” tandem unicycle, any one rider can balance for
both. And if the other is very bad at riding, he can spoil it for both
too.
Klaas Bil
“To trigger/fool/saturate/overload Echelon, the following has been picked automagically from a database:”
“big brother, Oval Office, AGT. AMME”
>I’d like to know who has built and/or ridden a tandem unicycle.
This is about a variation. Last year we had two guests at our club,
who together rode one unicicyle. He would be in the normal riding
position. She would stand on his feet, face to face, hands holding.
> I’m NOT interested in
>the tandem where one rider is above the other, since the top rider can
>simply balance for both.
I think in a “normal” tandem unicycle, any one rider can balance for
both. And if the other is very bad at riding, he can spoil it for both
too.
Klaas Bil
“To trigger/fool/saturate/overload Echelon, the following has been picked automagically from a database:”
“big brother, Oval Office, AGT. AMME”
>I’d like to know who has built and/or ridden a tandem unicycle.
This is about a variation. Last year we had two guests at our club,
who together rode one unicicyle. He would be in the normal riding
position. She would stand on his feet, face to face, hands holding.
> I’m NOT interested in
>the tandem where one rider is above the other, since the top rider can
>simply balance for both.
I think in a “normal” tandem unicycle, any one rider can balance for
both. And if the other is very bad at riding, he can spoil it for both
too.
Klaas Bil
“To trigger/fool/saturate/overload Echelon, the following has been picked automagically from a database:”
“big brother, Oval Office, AGT. AMME”
>I’d like to know who has built and/or ridden a tandem unicycle.
This is about a variation. Last year we had two guests at our club,
who together rode one unicicyle. He would be in the normal riding
position. She would stand on his feet, face to face, hands holding.
> I’m NOT interested in
>the tandem where one rider is above the other, since the top rider can
>simply balance for both.
I think in a “normal” tandem unicycle, any one rider can balance for
both. And if the other is very bad at riding, he can spoil it for both
too.
Klaas Bil
“To trigger/fool/saturate/overload Echelon, the following has been picked automagically from a database:”
“big brother, Oval Office, AGT. AMME”
Wow! I’ve seen a few posts about riding a tandem before, but I haven’t seen anything like that – you guys nailed it! Love the free mount, too! (Would you mind if I cross-post this over to the facebook chat page?)
Great work!
Whoa, that thing is amazingly awesome! How steep would you say the learning curve is? How long would it take for two proficient unicyclists to be able to ride and steer on that thing?
You will need at least a month with daily training.
If you really want to try it, I think we have now some ideas of how to ride that thing. Maybe I can give you some hints…
Yep, very ridable. As a young man my friend and I would tool around our small town. Alas I no longer have anyone to ride it with. Check my gallery it is pictured there, no video, it predates that.
Hi Mark,
If I ever come to California I would love to try the tandem with you. Have you been at the front or back? In my experience it’s very hard to exchange positions (we can’t). I’m always the front person.
Greetings, yes I have ridden both front and back but seem to ride on back more comfortably, so come on by, I only have the tandem and a still photo, my partner lives in Illinois and has ceased riding uni’s. Your video has proven to be most impressive as proof it can be ridden and well. Great job !
That is fabulous! I’ve seen a handful of tandem unicycles over the years, but I’ve never seen any being ridden anywhere close to that amount of control. My old unicycle club (Redford, Michigan) had one, but I don’t think I ever saw it anywhere other than hanging on the garage wall. Ken Fuchs brought his to the USA convention in 1991-2 and I remember him riding it with Sem Abrahams with some success, but I only saw them do it in the gym, and only in a straight line. My friend Corbin Dunn built one a few years ago out in Santa Cruz, CA but the front and back riders were pretty far apart, which I assume makes it harder to manage, and also causes the pedals/sprockets to hit the ground more easily.
Seeing the two of you manage a complete 180 degree turn, plus following road curves, was awesome. Also you can see the progression, as it gets more easy and the two of you are more relaxed. What are the rider’s names?
Also I was going to ask if you had switched positions, which you answered. It might be very enlightening to learn the opposite seat–this might give even more insight to how the thing works and how to explain it to others.
I’ve seen a few posts about riding a tandem before, but I haven’t seen anything like that – you guys nailed it! Love the free mount, too! (Would you mind if I cross-post this over to the facebook chat page?)
