# Who's ridden a unicycle? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 21, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262 "2014-06-21T02:33:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/1 "2014-06-21T02:33:57Z")
I’ve just been out shopping and someone rode past me on the footpath on a unicycle. You don’t see people riding them very often. I’ve always thought it would be terribly difficult to keep one’s balance on one of them. Has anyone ridden one? Is it hard to balance? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/2 "2014-06-21T02:37:59Z")
I took juggling lessons many years ago. I wasn’t very good. I can just about manage three balls. I tried riding a unicycle. I fell over a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Obeseus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbce88/32.png) [@Obeseus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obeseus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/3 "2014-06-21T02:52:08Z")
It’s difficult at first. It takes about 20 hours of trial & error to get the hang of it. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/4 "2014-06-21T02:52:09Z")
I remember finding one in a storeroom when I was in high school. Some friends and I were digging around in the theatre of the school, looking for some stage props that had been stored there. We found a unicycle. I remember riding it around the school and the streets outside the school. It wasn’t so hard. As long as I kept moving, it balanced OK. When I would get into trouble was when I hesitated, or looked down. But if I looked where I wanted to go, rather than down at the ground, and kept on pedaling, all was well. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/5 "2014-06-21T03:18:24Z")
If repeatedly falling over before moving more than five feet counts, I have once. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/6 "2014-06-21T03:57:39Z")
Been riding one since I was a kid. Not often, but pull it out now and then to make sure I have not lost the knack. I never did get the hang of idling, but no problems going forward, and also learned to make 180degree turns using less than a wheel diameter. Balancing is not too tricky once you learn, but learning takes a lot of frustrating trial and error, as mentioned above. My first unicycle was a Xmas gift and I practiced, sort of, in a hallway until the snow cleared. Took a couple hours of failing before I was able to ride it at all, then maybe another hour before I got going the second time, but then it came pretty quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/7 "2014-06-21T04:47:00Z")
I saw one in my neighbors garage when I was a kid and asked if I could borrow it. He said keep it as long as I wanted so I taught myself to ride that summer. Pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I don’t know how much harder the tall ones are that use a chain. That was 20 years ago and I still have the urge to buy one. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/8 "2014-06-21T04:53:47Z")
When I was a kid, the front wheel of my BMX bike flew off over a jump. Does this count? I rode it for a few seconds. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/9 "2014-06-21T05:20:41Z")
Were you absolutely sure it was a traditional unicycle? They have powered unicycles now: > **[Electric unicycle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-balancing_unicycle)** > > An electric unicycle (often initialized as EUC or acronymized yuke or Uni) is a self-balancing personal transporter with a single wheel. The rider controls speed by leaning forwards or backwards, and steers by twisting or tilting the unit side to side. The self-balancing mechanism uses accelerometers, gyroscopes, and a magnetometer. In 2020, suspension models were introduced by three major manufacturers Begode, Kingsong and Inmotion. > Commercial units are self-balancing in a forward and backward ... > **[The Self Balancing Unicycle | Self-Balancing Unicycle | Focus Designs, Inc.](http://focusdesigns.com/sbuv3/)** > > It's the revolutionary SBU V3 with Motion Learning Technology it will earn your respect and crave your attention! ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/10 "2014-06-21T07:35:28Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Were you absolutely sure it was a traditional unicycle? It looked pretty basic to me: just the wheel, pedals and a seat. No sign of any motor. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/11 "2014-06-21T11:12:43Z")
Had one when I was a teenanger. I’m 55 now, and yep, a year ago, I got me another one, but it’s a el cheapo you get on e-bay for less than $50.00. Looking for a nicer one. Unlike the saying of always knowing how to ride a bicycle, after about 30 years of not being on a unicycle, it didn’t come quite as naturally as I thought it would again, but still, after a dozen or so tries I was doing okay, just took more time to get back into the groove of things. As usual, I go to youtube, it has great clips on how to ride one. Always try to be leaning slightly forward, not backwards. The latter is kind of dangerous. Squeeze the seat slightly with your legs. Keep those arms out. That’s about all I could tell you, the rest is just doing it. They are a lot of fun, but not good for going anywhere, since there is always constant peddling. The best reaction I got is when my niece brought her 4 year old daughter over. She was looking at it, and I was complaining to her, that they only sent me half of a bike. I was pretending to be very disappointed, and was on it, saying, how will I ever learn to ride it like this. I was playing like I was going to fall, and coming at her. She was laughing the whole time. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/12 "2014-06-21T11:38:17Z")
I have one with [training wheels](https://www.google.com/search?q=cyco+cycle&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb). It’s fun (& easy) ---
**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/13 "2014-06-21T16:52:38Z")
not me, seems like a great way to break your wrist ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/14 "2014-06-21T17:36:37Z")
We learned how to ride unicycles in elementary school gym. On concrete. A whole bunch of uncoordinated 8 year olds, holding on to the school walls. If you got the hang of it, great. I could toodle along, but stopping meant ride into the grass and fall. ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/15 "2014-06-21T22:01:00Z")
I bought one when I was 39 with the intention of being able to ride it by the time I turned 40. I am 41 now and that poor unicycle just sits in a corner. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/16 "2014-06-23T12:05:34Z")
When I was 17 (nearly 30 years ago), I had a couple of friends who were enthusiasts - members of a statewide club, they rode in parades, and along with their “ordinary” unicycles, they owned a couple of other novelty unicycles (one six-footer, and one normal-height unit with a really tiny chain-driven wheel - it looked like you were just riding around on a stick :D). I hung out with them and learned to ride well enough so I could join them in a parade, but dropped the hobby after a couple of years. Tried again about four years ago when I visited those same friends. They were still at it - hell, they could fucking _juggle_ while riding - but I hadn’t retained much ability at all, and could barely ride 50 feet without falling off. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/17 "2014-06-23T12:12:53Z")
I bought one, spent a few days falling off it, then gave up and sold it. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/18 "2014-06-23T12:22:48Z")
I bought a unicycle for my son as a Christmas present when he was 12yrs. He thought it was awesome and practised until he could ride it anywhere. He was also a gymnast (still is at 19) so I think that helped. The sad thing is he biked to school on it and was sneered at as being a show-off and from that day laid it down and seldom used it since. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/19 "2014-06-23T13:11:17Z")
Somebody mentioned practicing in the hall. That was key for me. If you have a long hallway in your house, or a narrow alley close by, that’s your starting point. Anyplace where you can reach your hands out sideways to steady yourself. And for the love of Pete wear a helmet! Going over backwards is just a momentary pain if you have one. Without a helmet it can mean lifetime disability. Lean forward, and don’t go near the cycle without a helmet. ---
**Author:** ![irae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f0a364/32.png) [@irae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irae)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262/20 "2014-06-23T18:48:09Z")
Received one for Xmas at 8 years of age. Took a couple of summers of frustration and rage, but worked it out to the point where I’d ride 4 miles to school, go up and down stairs, jump off of 3’ ledges. Never did learn to rock or go backwards, though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-ridden-a-unicycle/691262.md?page=2)