Re: World’s Smallest Unicycle
In a message dated 95-10-25 19:27:17 EDT, you write:
>According to the 1996 Guinness Book of World Records, which I browsed briefly
>in a bookshop, in 1994 some Swede (forgotten the name) rode the world’s
>smallest unicycle. I think it said it was 8 inches high - what stuck in my mind
>was the wheel diameter - 1 inch.
>
>Does anyone have any more information about this? I don’t mean the name or the
>date - I can look that up again. I mean HOW do you ride a unicycle that
>small? Was it a standard or a “giraffe”? Did it have a seat, or just a handle?
His name is Peter Rosendahl, and he was the first men’s World Champion of
Individual Freestyle at the first UNICON, in Syracuse, NY in 1984. He performs
around the world, but mostly in Sweden, at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, and
perhaps at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida.
He also holds the current 100 meter record at a blistering 12.4? seconds from
a standing start. His previous record (12.74) was set on a 24" Miyata Deluxe
with 5" crank arms. I don’t know if this newer record was done with the same
cycle or not.
Peter now has a connection with the Guinness people, so they pay attention
to him, and it’s a good publicity tool for him. It would be nice if he could
use his influence with the Guinness people to get more unicycle events added
to the book!
His tiny unicycle is a “standard” unicycle, which he pedaled, which is what
makes it hard. Sem and Teresa Abrahams have one with about a 1.5" wheel, which I
tried once, but couldn’t get my shoes to work the pedals without scraping the
floor. At the time (1990), they were just learning it too. I don’t think hopping
would count as “riding” such a unicycle.
The 1985 and 1986 Guinness Books listed the smallest unicycle as one with a
wheel diameter of 11/16" ridden by JeanPaul Jenack. Why did they take this
record out?? Guinness works in mysterious ways. I have ridden this unicycle,
which is also hard, but not as. The “tire” is a thin belt which acts as a chain,
making this unicycle one of the world’s smallest giraffe unicycles, with crank
arms about 1.5" long!
Peter Rosendahl can also be seen on the cover of the Miyata book, ANYONE CAN
RIDE A UNICYCLE by Jack Halpern, which used to come with Miyata unicycles sold
in the U.S. He’s the one with the girl on his shoulders.
Any other questions?
John Foss the Uni-Cyclone unicycle@aol.com