I think you may be misinterpreting that one. It really depends on the speaker, but I’ve often heard it used as a form of praise. I don’t know the standards for Lameville, though.
Someone else mentioned never going to the circus so not being exposed to clowns riding unicycles. Believe me. Go to a bunch of circuses and you still won’t. There aren’t that many clowns out there riding unicycles. I don’t know of others have different experiences, but I don’t see very many unicycles in the circus.
There is a circus coming to my town (Rancho Cordova, where I work) this weekend. It’s a small one, but their posters, which are in the store windows, have a cartoonish image of a clown riding a unicycle on a slackrope while blowing a horn and spinning a plate on a stick. It says something about “Super Clown!” I’m curious…
Well, it’s Austin the Uber-cyclist/paintballer/CANADIAN!!!/Albertan
also known as Aust. on the forums…
You can ask him where he got it but I think that iff you’re lucky you might find it or something similar at a local HARDCORE bike shop. (as in the good ones)
Ok alot of people are sayin there stories of what steriortypes people get which is interesting but my question was what would you really like people to say and think of a unicyclist if you went to school or work with a uni T on or were riding around what would you want them to think of all unicyclists as, punks? intelligent super human beings?
But some unicyclists are punks, and others are intelligent super-humans. Certainly all of us do not deserve to have the same thing thought of us, any more than we all deserve to be thought of as clowns (some of us are clowns).
When people see me riding to work on my Coker with Wyganowski handlebar, I’d like people to think something like “Wow, that’s pretty fast for a unicycle.” But I’m fine with “Hey, look at the size of that wheel!”
I’d like people to think that I’m just a person on a unicycle. If I’m doing something interesting (in addition to that), to find it interesting. I do not feel I deserve praise for riding one, because I know anyone can learn, if they apply themselves. I’d like people to be nice. If they make comments, I’d like them to be positive and/or friendly ones.
I’d like them to think of unicyclists as normal human beings who just happen to ride unicycles.
As opposed to clown wannabes or people trying to attract attention to themselves.
In addition, it would be nice if perhaps a few of them reflect on the ease, control and practicality of the unicycle as a means of getting around, and question a few of their preconceptions.
OK, I would like someone to think, “Wow, that is a very minimalist type of person, who believes that if a person can get around on one wheel, why would anyone possibly want two?” Because that very much my identity in all things: minimalism rules.
just the other day some one said “look at the gay unibike” I pointed out that it it was a unicycle, as uni means 1 and bi means 2, and calling it a unibike was very contradictory. he fingered me and told me to go f*ck a dead rabbit. it almost makes me sad how rude people are these days.
Sometimes the notoriety is fun. But lately, I just want to ride without having to explain to every person I meet. The mountain b*kers have gotten accustomed to us out on the trails, so now a nod or wink is plenty.
I guess I’ve explained unicycling 1500 times since picking it back up a couple of years ago. The local club, the different unicycles available now and what they’re for… I consider it more or less my duty to the sport and to increase awareness for the Memphis Unicycle Club. Its nice to have lots of uni-riders to play with.
But sometimes its just nice to MUni in the woods with your buds without having to put on the show.
One thing that gets me a lot more questions than actually riding is the Mountain Uni shirt that I’m sure you guys have seen . I’m wearing it right now in fact, and just today I had someone ask me what it means. Its one of my favourite shirts, but it bothers me a little having to explain it all the time. Its funny because when I say it means mountain unicycling everyone allways nods their head and says ooooh like they know all about mountain unicycling. Good stuff good stuff.
John, I’ve seen Circus Chimera before, and would recommend it as a good, reasonably priced show. No animals…a point they drum home…and some decent acts trying to work their way up into bigger Soleil-esque types of shows.
Don’t remember a uni on a tight rope, but their juggler was quite good. Like you, I haven’t seen a lot of clowns on unicycles…it’s mostly a misconception that it’s a circus thing. Wish people would just get over it on both sides of the debate.
