Re: Unicycle height
Richard Johnson <johnson@edieng.enet.dec.com> writes:
>I have just been told, by a friend of mine, that he and some other friends have
>been attempting to ride a 13 foot unicycle! They have a tall barn with a smooth
>floor. They rigged up some kind of rope/pulley and harness to the roof of the
>barn to which they attached the rider and the unicycle, in the inebitable event
>of losing balance. The unicycle was made by one of them at their father’s place
>of work, so it’s a home made design. I have not seen it yet myself.
>Has anyone attempted anything this tall?
Many unicyclists have ridden unicycles from 6-12 ft. high, but only a few have
exceeded the 12 ft. “barrier”. The two primary reasons are the probability of
serious injury approaches 100% very quickly some where just above this height
and safety cables or ropes are not usually set up for unicycles of this height.
(Safety cables with reliable supports should be used with cycles this tall or
when the rider is unsure about or not experienced at riding such tall cycles!)
Sem Abrahams rode a 73 ft. unicycle in Japan with safety cables. He also
regularly rides his 14 ft. unicycle (without safety cables) in some of
his shows.
Steve McPeak will forever hold the Guinness record without safety equipment of
31 ft. (Steve also attempted to ride a 101 ft. unicycle, with safety equipment,
but few in the unicycling community will say he succeeded.)
Tom Miller has regularly ridden both his 16 ft. and 24 ft. unicycle on numerous
occasions without safety equipment.
Chuck Marquette rode his 22 ft. unicycle without safety equipment about as
regularly as anyone has ridden such tall unicycles.
There are also a number of unicycling clubs with cycles as tall as perhaps 14-15
ft. which are ridden in parades without safety equipment.
There are many other individuals who have ridden unicycles taller than 12 ft.
whom, I haven’t mentioned and probably don’t know about. Please feel free to
report such omissions.
Concerning injuries on a unicycle:
There have been a few serious injuries as a result of unicycling, but I haven’t
heard of any fatalities. Just compare this to bicycling, particularly racing
where the injuries are very serious and even life threatening. Also, provided
one doesn’t wrecklessly ride a unicycle on busy streets and highways, riding a
unicycling will be many times safer than riding a motorcycle or driving a car.
On the other hand, minor bruises are relatively common while riding a unicycle
at the limit of one’s ability. Such minor bruises are usually forgotten the next
minute and rarely bother one for more than a few days. It’s the price the
unicyclists pay for becoming more skilled.
It’s when we EXCEED the limit of our ability to ride, become OVERCONFIDENT or
allow our concentration to LAPSE, that serious injury becomes a real
possibility! So avoid these risk factors, for years of pleasant, injury free
unicycling!
Stay on Top!
Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com