Mountain Unicycling

Article by: © Michael J. Rosen 2012

"There's Just Something Satisfying About Taking an Inherently Unstable Vehicle Like a Unicycle, and Riding it Places Nobody Thought it Could Go."

- from www.unicyling.com

Imagine all the most hazardous and rugged terrains Ford might use to film its new 4 x 4 truck commercial. You there? Now go and grab your unicycle out of the truck bed, hop on, and start pedaling. This is mountain unicycling, commonly called MUni (as in Mountain Unicycle) by those uncommonly fearless folks with an unmatched sense of equilibrium and an unequaled lack of common sense.

MUni riders take their one-wheeled wonders through forests, across rocky topography, into creeks, along ledges, on ice, and over six-foot drops by taking on the "awesome challenge of mastering the skills to maneuver, balance, and react...over difficult terrain." At the International Unicycling Federation's Unicycling Convention and Championships (New Zealand hosts the 15th edition of the biannual UNICON in 2009), riders compete in an uphill race, a 1 1/2-mile downhill race, and a cross-country race through at least 3 miles of off-road course.

Riders train themselves to navigate bumps and curbs, ride backwards, and hop, either to regain balance, hurdle obstacles, or pull off 360° air spins. No worries, though, "safety"-according to unicycling Web host John Foss-is the first rule of MUni.

The second rule ought to be: "Go home right now and get a second wheel."

Feeling MUni-ficent? Try www.unicycling.com.

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