Unicycle articles (but wait there's more...)

[Pagee]

One of our local papers gave great exposure for our club.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/loca...ne-track-minds

Plus a video and great shot while at skate park

[JJuggle]

Nice article. Here's the text for posterity:

Club with one track minds
JOE DAWSON
07/12/2011

You could call them a bike gang but there's nothing intimidating about them.

The Manukau Unicycle Club is more shorts and t-shirts than leathers and hogs but what they lack in menace they make up for with a unique grace and athleticism.

We caught up with the some of the one-wheelers at the skatepark in Barry Curtis Park in Flat Bush to learn a bit more about the sport and what is a pretty exclusive little club.

Numbering around 20 members, the club's unicyclists range in ability from novice to highly experienced, with an age range from six to 60.

Among them is veteran unicyclist Tony Melton who has been riding since 1990.

He says it's a sport that just seems to capture the imagination of some people.

"A school friend would ride to school and it looked like a tricky challenge and something I wanted to learn," Tony says.

"I learnt on his and eventually got my own and I've kept going. I've even made a job out of my passion."

He says the unicycle presents endless challenges.

"There are always new things to learn.

"You can do street riding, freestyle or off-roading."

Tony takes his unicycle to terrain usually favoured by riders on machines sporting not only two wheels but also suspension shocks and state-of-the-art gear systems.

"The steeper the better," he says.

"I've had lots of minor falls but nothing serious. You can't freewheel so you can only go as fast as you can pedal.

"It's not a massively high-speed sport so it's relatively safe."

Vincent Smith, 17, of Papatoetoe, has been unicycling for three years and says it was something about the distinctive nature of the sport that attracted him.

"I saw a group of people doing a demonstration and thought I'd buy a unicycle," he says.

"At first it was just something different that not many people do.

"But it's not just riding, there are all sorts of tricks and skills you can develop."

Some of his favourites include the freespin (a kind of pirouette), wheelwalking (propelling the cycle forwards by walking along the wheel) and the koosh-koosh (backwards wheelwalking).

He says while it might look tricky, anyone can pick it up. "A lot of people think you need good balance but I don't think so. It might take some people longer than others but it's possible for anyone."

The Manukau Unicycle Club meets 5pm to 7pm every Tuesday at the Arena Building, 9 Lambie Drive, Manukau. Contact Bryan Page on 0274-967-318 or visit www.unicycle.co.nz.

[nordicnoel]

From the South Bend Tribune:
Bethel student is a one-wheeled wonder: Unicyclist masters tricks in an urban playground.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/comm...,7028177.story

[harper]

Originally Posted by nordicnoel

From the South Bend Tribune:
Bethel student is a one-wheeled wonder: Unicyclist masters tricks in an urban playground.

Here's the article:

*

By DANIEL JONES

6:30 a.m. EST, December 18, 2011
MISHAWAKA -- Glancing down from the top of a flight of five stairs, Zach VanHuisen quickly sizes up the gap, holds onto his unicycle in a style reminiscent of a pogo stick, and takes the leap.

He clears all five stairs with ease, rolling off of the curb and into the street. Jumping five stairs is a new personal record.

It isn’t every day that you see an extreme unicyclist.

That is, unless you know VanHuisen, a freshman at Bethel College from Fort Wayne.

Two and a half years ago, he was attempting to learn how to ride. He’d hold onto a fence, roll a few feet, and fall. He repeated the process. After only four hours of riding, he was riding across the blacktop comfortably.

He has moved well beyond that, learning to ride backward, hop off ledges and perform what he calls a “one-eighty uni-spin.”

The last trick is a maneuver that consists of VanHuisen grabbing the seat, leaping into the air while his unicycle spins 180 degrees underneath him, and landing back on the seat in time to peddle away.

VanHuisen, 18, can be seen regularly peddling down the streets of Mishawaka and South Bend, pulling off tricks. Most of these tricks use obstacles found on the streets, creating a sort of urban playground for anyone brave enough to try the sport of unicycling.

“I typically go for ledges, and I do flatland a lot,” said VanHuisen, a visual arts major at Bethel. “The stairs around here are pretty sweet, specifically by the riverwalk.”

VanHuisen has met one other unicyclist in the area, but street unicycling in this town might be unique to him.

“People think that they can’t do it because they don’t have natural balance, but that’s totally false,” VanHuisen said. “Anyone can do it, you just need perseverance.”

And if you’re attempting to learn the tricks VanHuisen showcases, it may take a lot of perseverance.

Currently, VanHuisen is learning to ride backward, or “fakie” stance, as he calls it. He’s also attempting to land a “360 uni-spin,” which is like the one-eighty uni-spin, but with an extra rotation.

“It’s difficult to learn a new trick if I’m worried about injuring myself,” VanHuisen said. “Really keeping an open mind is the best idea when learning something new.”

VanHuisen described the most enjoyable parts of unicycle riding as “the new ideas I get daily, and entertaining those around me with the skill I have.”

He did have one last piece of advice for aspiring unicyclists:

“Until you can balance, don’t try anything fancy,” he said with a broad grin.

Daniel Jones is an extreme sports enthusiast as well as a friend of Zach VanHuisen. Both attend Bethel College.

[MuniAddict]

I found this recent uni article, out of Marianna FL. About halfway down I was surprised to see a little mention.

http://www2.jcfloridan.com/news/2012...na-ar-3209905/

By: Lauren Delgado | Jackson County Floridan
Published: February 12, 2012


Bill Conrad hadn’t seen a unicycle since he was in elementary school, so when his son Elijah asked for one a few Christmases ago, he was a bit mystified. He decided to buy one this Christmas, and between accidental extra purchases and the unforeseen interest from three of his other children, Heidi, Joseph and Rachael, the family started riding.

“I said we’d go to the emergency room the first day,” Bill said.
But the family didn’t go to the emergency room. Through practice and by watching YouTube videos, the children learned how to ride.
“I gave them one half a bicycle and they just tried to ride it,” Bill said.
The Conrad family wants to keep up and introduce this hobby to other locals by starting a club. The first meeting is scheduled for Feb. 19 around 1-1:30 p.m. at Citizens Lodge Park.

“The goal is to keep their interest going,” Bill said. “It gets them out of the house. It gets them exercising and it’s a challenge.”
The idea behind the club is to get those interested involved in the community, using their skills for parades or nursing home visits. Of course, the unicyclers will also help each other learn to ride and improve their skills.

YouTube videos like those starring “UniGeezer,” a 56-year-old unicyclist, gave the Conrads ideas for tricks they could perform. After about a month and half with the bikes, they can get on the bike without help, unicycle backward, and even make the bike jump about two feet off the ground.

The next trick Joseph wants to attempt is called a flatland. For this trick, he pushes the wheel with his feet.
“It’s just unreal what they can do with the unicycle,” Bill said.
The Conrads also got their friends, the Young family, into the sport as well. After about two weeks with the unicycles, Mason, Taylor and Michael whizz around on their bikes.

Bill said unicycle riding takes more exercise then people may think. By holding onto homes, parked cars and the like, the children learned to clamber onto the bike. A sense of balance has to be acquired.

“It doesn’t feel right at first,” Joseph explained.
The Conrads found that flat surfaces like pavement worked well for them, although grass would probably be better for anyone who falls a lot. The families have had only a few spills.

“That’s what surprises me, they just keep riding,” said Steve Young, the father of Mason, Taylor and Michael

[Klaas Bil]

Always nice to see unicycling appear in the media. This articles sports quite a few inaccuracies though.

[Dr D]

http://www.therecord.com/news/local/...865--snow-ride

A short article. Nice snow conditions this morning.

[harper]

Originally Posted by Dr D

http://www.therecord.com/news/local/...865--snow-ride

A short article. Nice snow conditions this morning.

Here's the article:

KITCHENER – Drew Ripley finally got the snow he’s been waiting for on Saturday morning.

The local unicycle enthusiast has been wanting to try out his customized unicycle – complete with a special snow tire – on snow and got that chance with a ride down Krug Street.

Ripley is the founding member of the Kitchener Unicyclists club, which is building support and interest via Facebook.

[steveyo]

Got a semi-press release in the Poughkeepsie Journal recently, about a race I'm doing this coming weekend 29-APR-2012, the Singlespeed-a-Palooza. The reporter interviewed me by phone, and pretty much got her facts straight.

Here's the text:

Without Limits: Annual Singlespeed event draws diverse biking crowd


There was a time not all that long ago when a one-speed bike was pretty much viewed like a rotary phone — an inefficient relic.

No longer. An idea Dark Horse Cycles founder George Zubalsky explains as a stupid post-ride joke that sounded better and better with each beer has blossomed into one of the area’s premier bike races.

On April 29, 250 cyclists will compete at Stewart Forest in Dark Horse’s fourth annual Singlespeed-A-Palooza. There’s one common-sense element to riding one-speed mountain bikes through woods: No derailleur to be easily ripped off.

The five-category field, which includes pros, will ride 12 miles of trail twice. The race, with sponsorship by Niner Bikes, includes monetary and other prizes, including painted horseshoe trophies with useable/detachable chainring and cog.

But Singlespeed-A-Palooza is possibly more about fun than finishes.

“It’s a hoot ... it’s a big party. It’s like Sturgis,” Zubalsky said, referring to the South Dakota motorcycle rally. Zubalsky characterizes one-speeders as the free spirits of mountain bike riding.
[******]
And perhaps the freest at A-Palooza is Steve Relles, the race’s only unicyclist. The 49-year-old Delmar man, who started unicycling in 2004, is competing in the Singlespeed-A-Palooza for a third time.

Last year, he finished last in 4 hours, 33 minutes, 28 seconds, which he blames on both his lack of conditioning and course conditions. About 3 inches of rain fell the night before, creating, Relles noted, “really sick mud, like peanut butter” and puddles — some 2-feet deep and 50 yards long. People pretty much walked those areas.

Relles, who said unicycling combines athleticism and exhibitionism, guesses he put a foot down 20 times per lap to keep upright. But his knee pads and wrist guards came in handy, since he fell about five times per lap. The unicycle Relles rides doesn’t have a brake, so while going downhill he must press his legs against his spinning pedals to slow.

While he beat about a third of the two-wheeled cyclists in an eight-mile, uphill road race at Whiteface and has biked 75 straight miles on pavement, Singlespeed-A-Palooza’s 24 miles are about his trail-riding limit.

The former computer programmer, who’s now the Delmar Dog Butler (he poop-scoops for 60 clients), had hoped to get four other one-wheelers to Stewart to create a unicycling category this year, but the race sold out too quickly. So he remains the only unicyclist — a fact not lost on the rest of the field.

“Bikers give me a look of praise. ... They think what I do is not even possible,” he said. Most, if not all, will no doubt be enjoying pretzels, beer and hot dogs (last year Zubalsky served up 525) by the time Relles finishes.

The post-race party is one reason the race went from a totally unexpected 158 riders the first year to its large-but-manageable 250 cap by the second.

One of Matt Davies’ goals is simply not finishing No. 250.

“I’m hyped up for it,” said the 57-year-old Poughkeepsie resident and Bikeway rider, who’s more of a long-distance (100-mile) racer but likes this race’s setting and friendly atmosphere.

The key in singlespeed is to not brake to keep your momentum going, Davies said. And you “burn a few less matches,” as Davies puts it, walking steep hills, rather than trying to pedal up.

Besides using less energy, it’s basically just as fast. It’s not uncommon, he said, to see cyclists walking in what amounts to a conga line.

“There are only three speeds in singlespeed — sitting, standing and walking,” Davies quipped.

“You’re either going really fast or you’re walking,” explained Pawling’s Brian Kelley.

Many started riding a one-speed simply for training, including Kelley’s Pawling Cycle teammate, Jim Brockway.

The 36-year-old Hopewell resident liked it so much he now only rides one-speed. This is by far the biggest field of one-speeders in which he competes.

But Kelley, who’ll likely ride singlespeed in about a dozen of the 15 or so mountain bike races he’ll do this year, has been in 1,000-rider, singlespeed races out West.

A-Palooza sometimes draws Western riders and always draws from the lower mid-Atlantic states up through New England.

“The best of the best is there,” said Kelley, who competes in Pro/Expert. “It’s a showdown.”

And that’s fine with the 41-year-old, who, like the singlespeed itself, has a lot of racing life left.

Kelley, who has finished top-10 in each A-Palooza, including last year’s ninth-place-overall 2:09:02, said, “I’m racing against 20-year-olds. ... That’s almost the best thing about it. It’s beating kids half your age. I live for that.”

[Lanaboos]

Columbia Basin Herald, Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Attendance up at Ephrata's Beezley Burn
By Lynne Lynch,
Herald managing editor | Posted: Tuesday, May 1, 2012 9:00 am
EPHRATA - Attendance increased by at least 75 riders, if not more, during the weekend's Beezley Burn mountain bike race in Ephrata.
Jake Maedke, an event spokesperson, said 125 people took part in last year's event.
Saturday morning, there were 180 riders and counting, he estimated.
He credits the increase to the event joining the seven race Fat Tire Revolution series. The Echo Valley Rally, near Echo Valley Chelan ski area, is the next race in the series on May 12.
Bikers came to Ephrata from throughout the state, including Seattle, the east side and Wenatchee, to ride the eight mile lap course, he said.
Maedke described the course as "pretty rugged and challenging."
"There's lots of challenge out there and lots of climbing," he commented.
The Beezley Burn is in its eighth year of existence and has drawn more riders throughout the years. He recalls the first year, when there were just 46 participants. Saturday, racers departed from Lion's Park, climbing a steep hill to get started.
Once through most of the course, finishers rode down a hill into the grassy area of the park to the sound of bells ringing.
Garren Hawn, of the Wenatchee-based Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, attended, explaining the alliance helps with other races in the Fat Tire Revolution series.
It was his first time at the Beezley Burn and the first time the alliance had a group racing there.
He commented there were many good racing groups on hand, including Mafia Racing and Vicious Cycling.
Joe Myers, of Bellingham, finished on a unicycle. He thought he was the only unicyclist there.
"It was great, it was warm," Myers said.
Saturday was his first time finishing the Beezley Burn, but he completed comparable races in more extreme conditions, he explained.
In March, he unicycled the Red 2 Red mountain bike race in Echo, Ore., in 30 to 40 mph winds.
Nearby Kristen Crupi, of Seattle, and her son, Leroi Smith, 2, were watching the event.
Crupi's husband was taking part.
The race marked the first overnight trip the couple experienced after Leroi was born, she recalled.
First through third place results by age group:
0-99
First, Courtenay McFadden, 27, Voler/Bicycle Centers, 2:09, second, Natasha Hernday, 41, Mafia, 2:10, third, Erika Krumpelman, 45, Team REP, 2:15.
0-99
First, Logan Wetzel, 25, Noble Bikes, 1:45:23, second, Garett Heitman, 36, Clif Bar, 1:45:47, third, Kevin Bradford-Parish, 30, SETcoach, 1:48.
Female 19-44
First, Whitney Anderson, 25, Voler/Bicycle Center, 2:40, second, Rebecca Jensen, 27, Peterson Racing, 2:52.
Female 35 and over
First, Jenni Gaertner, 37, Team REP, 2:24, second, Molly Martin, 44, Mafia Racing Northwest, 2:50.
Male 19-34
First, Tyson Lashbrook, 33, MAFIA Racing, 1:57, second, Justin Berndt, 31, Mafia Racing NW, 2:04, third, Chris Ellis, 27, Voler Bicycle Center, 2:09.
Male 35 to 44
First, Cameron York, 39, 2 Wheeler, 2:00, second, Parker Lund, 42, Mafia Northwest, 2:01:19, third, Andy Rigel, 37, Mafia Racing NW, 2:01:33.
Male 45 and over
First, Jeff Cummings, 50, Jack's Bicycle Center, 1:57. second, Bob Ludeman, 46, Audi, 2:04, third, Rocky Crocker, 49, Team W.A.R., 2:05.
Male 0-99
First, Solomon Woras, 30, Methow Cycle and Sport, 2:02:13, second, Rainer Leuschke, 41, Blue Rooster/SMC, 2:02:33, third, Doug Graver, 47, Mafia Racing NW, 2:03.
Female 19-34
First, Jessica Culnane, 29, CLIF Bar, 1:46, second, Dana Wolf, 34, no team listed, 1:49, third, Wendy Stredwick, 34, Rep, 1:50.
Female 35 and over
First, Natalie Koncz, 36, Zuster Cycling, 1:37, second, Alison Haug, 42, no team listed, 1:40, third, Sarah Charlesworth-Attie, 35, Peterson, 1:45.
Male 19-34
First, Jeff Koncz, 34, cyclocrossracing.com, 1:23, second, Scott Reed, 27, no team listed, 27, 1:24, third, Nigel Davies, 31, EMDE, 1:26.
Male 35-44
First, JD Lopez, 37, The Bike Hub, 1:22, second, Nicholas Brown, 39, Recycled Cycles racing, 1:24, third, Jeb Sorum, 43, Momentum Brewing Co.
Male 45 and over
First, Ken Harmon, 50, Fischer Plumbing, 1:27, second, Chris Wood, 48, Fischer Plumbing, 1:28, third, Jon Magnuson, 51, Chinook Cycling Club.
Male 0-99
First, Troy Hopwood, 42, Epic Racing, 1:42, Derk Thomson, 51, no team listed, 1:43, Matthew Sullivan, 42, Vicious Cycle, 1:45.
Male 55 and over
First, David Bennett, 55, Voler/Bicycles Centres, 1:33, second, Chet Manning, 61, Wenatchee Area Racers, 1:38, third, Steve Tauscheck, 55, Double Check, 1:38.
Male 0-99
First, Peter Emsky, 50, Cocina Fresca, 1:29, second, Eric Armstrong, 43, no team listed, 1:50, third, Casey Cramer, 38, Old Town Bicycle, 1:53.
Male 18 and under
First, Benjamin King, 12, Revel Con/Rad Racing, 1:52.
Female 11 to 14
First, Brooklynn Maedke, 14, Team W.A.R., 1:11.
Female 19 and over
First, Carrie Atwood, 38, Cycling Northwest, 50:26, second, Ellie Coen, 35, no team listed, 55:12, third, Elisa Weinman, 51, no team listed, 1:06.
Male 10 and under
First, Parker King, 8, Revel Con/Rad Racing, 1:31
Male 11 to 14
First, Jack Hale, 12, Daryl Evans Racing, 1:03.
Male 15 to 18
First, Ryan Trimble, 16, no team listed, 49:39.
Male 19 to 34
First, Brandon Inberg, 33, 43:41, second, Hunter Harrop, 19, 52:53, Carson Keeler, 33, 58:33. No teams listed for the riders in this age group.
Male 35 to 44
First, Matt Yawney, 36, no team listed, 47:36, second, Rich Wilson, 44, CenterCycle.com, 49:12, third, Brian Jacobsen, 37, Vicious Cycle, 49:23.
Male 45 and over
First, Paul Luther, 45, Tongue Racing, 48:43, second, Joe Myers, 56, Team Unicycle, 1:49.

[scott ttocs]

Another unicyclist in the news:

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Na...as-3548198.php

Is anyone going to 'fess up?

(I have not posted the text for posterity.)

Scott

[JJuggle]

Originally Posted by scott ttocs

Another unicyclist in the news:

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Na...as-3548198.php

Is anyone going to 'fess up?

(I have not posted the text for posterity.)

Scott

The Smoking Gun has video. Though one may or may not wish to watch it: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/...rrested-657309

[Steeley]

ABC Radio in Sydney ran the "Forgotten Sports Report" on Unicycle Hockey today. I did not hear who they were interviewing but they covered Uni Hockey and Uni Basketball, Muni and competition. I have emailed them to see if I can get a transcript.

[moffatuniguy]

[JJuggle]

A Beach Haven Times article on the 14th Annual LBI Unithon in the past day or so. The thanks at the end should include Allan Hollowell who produces and donates the t-shirts every year. James Sui (left) and Griffin Randolph are pictured.