unicycle

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Unicycle 24 inches
Giraffe unicycle in the circus

The unicycle is a vehicle that - idealized - only touches the ground with one point (the wheel). It is usually understood to mean a pedal vehicle powered by muscle power , which is primarily used as sports equipment, but also by artists in the circus or variety show . It can be seen as a special form of a bicycle , especially a penny farthing .

Construction and function

Unicycle hub

The most important components of a unicycle are: the wheel (including the rim, tube, tire, spokes, hub and axle), the cranks, the pedals, the fork, the seat post, the seat clamp and the banana-shaped saddle. The structure of the wheel is similar to that of a bicycle, but a unicycle has a special hub in which the axle is integrated. The cranks are firmly connected to the wheel hub via the bottom bracket shaft. This transfers the rotation of the pedals directly to the wheel. In contrast to a bicycle, there is no free-wheeling function - muscle force acts on the pedal to brake against the direction of rotation of the crank. The fork is attached to the axle bearings, while the cranks are attached to the end of the axle. The seat post connects the fork to the saddle.

Unicyclist

Physics of unicycling

The unicycle is a kind of inverse pendulum . The center of gravity of the overall system of unicycle and rider is above the pivot point. So that the system of unicyclist and unicycle does not fall over under the influence of gravity, the rider has to keep the system constantly active by balancing in an unstable mechanical equilibrium . The driver sits hands-free vertically above the wheel hub on the banana saddle and steps on the pedals for movement and balance - similar to a bicycle .

Experienced unicyclists can balance on the bike without moving - while standing still. The driver must keep the center of gravity perpendicular to the surface of the wheel. During the movement, an unstable equilibrium must be created by guiding the so-called dummy plumb bob - the resultant of gravity and centrifugal force - through the support surface. With the so-called pendulum movement , in which the unicyclist moves the bike back and forth half a turn, the unicycle can also be kept in place. The balancing of a robot unicycle, Segways or Eunicycles situated in the control theory is an interesting problem.

Since the loads on a unicycle are  higher in some places - for example on the spokes - due to the force distribution on only one wheel , normal bicycle parts are not easily suitable for assembling a unicycle from them. In addition, unicycle components such as a saddle or fork are shaped differently than on a bicycle.

Unicycles come in different sizes, from miniature unicycles with a wheel size of 12 inches to large unicycles with a wheel diameter of 50 inches. The most common sizes are wheels with a diameter of 20 and 24 inches. In the many different types of unicycles, such as freestyle unicycle, trial unicycle, MUni, giraffe and long-distance unicycle, the various components are tailored to the respective purpose of the unicycle. Smaller unicycles are more agile and are therefore better suited for unicycle tricks, while larger unicycles run more smoothly and enable higher speeds. The situation is similar with the crank length: Shorter cranks allow faster pedaling, which is advantageous, for example, for driving pirouettes, long cranks offer more control, which is good for off-road driving. Unicycles with a square fork make it possible to put your feet on them for various tricks.

Different unicycles

Freestyle unicycle

The freestyle unicycle is generally used for freestyle and flatland skills. It usually has a relatively tall seat post, a narrow saddle, and an angular fork that is used for one-legged tricks. A freestyle bike usually has a wheel diameter of 20 inches, smaller riders also use 16 or 18 inch freestyle bikes and there are also riders who use 24 inch wheels for freestyle.

Racing unicycle

Racing unicycles, mostly as race witch or Race Witch referred, specifically tailored to the needs of the unicycle race and thereby applicable regulations of the IUF. 24-inch wheels are used; the outer diameter of the tire is as close as possible to the maximum permitted diameter. There are Road used tires, which are very narrow and be driven with high pressure. The crank length is at the permitted minimum of 125 mm. In contrast to the usual 100 mm bearing spacing, shorter hubs with 84 mm bearing spacing are usually used, and the fork is also narrower towards the top. Due to the shorter axis, the pedals move closer together, that is, the Q-factor becomes smaller, which enables a smoother run. Racing unicycles are trimmed to minimal weight using lightweight construction .

Trial unicycle

Trial unicycles are designed to be particularly stable in order to meet the requirements of unicycle trials and to withstand the forces that arise when jumping and sitting down. The cranks and pedals are also built more robustly to withstand the loads. Multi-tooth hubs and the associated cranks have proven themselves here, although they are more expensive than standard square hubs. Many trial unicycles are fitted with thick 20-inch tires to absorb some of the shock when jumping. Due to the thick tire, 19-inch rims are often used to achieve an outer diameter similar to that of standard 20-inch tires.

Off-road unicycle ("MUni")

24 inch MUni with disc brake (EDB standard)

"MUni" is the abbreviation for Mountain Unicycle, in German mountain unicycle, and describes the mountain bike variant of the unicycle. The MUni is specially designed for off-road driving. It consists in part of the same components as a trial unicycle, but there are a few differences. Usually a MUni has a wheel diameter of 24 or 26 inches and a wide, knobby tire with a coarse profile. This enables the driver to more easily drive over various obstacles such as roots or stones. In addition, there is the very stable hub and pedals that offer a very good grip. The saddle is also usually thicker and more comfortable to make driving off-road a little more pleasant. Likewise, it is often inclined steeper in order to shift the seat load more backwards. This means that you can ride wherever you cannot get any further with a conventional unicycle, i.e. off-road, on rocks, on grass, in sand, on snow or ice. Brakes are also installed on many MUnis, which are mainly used on steep descents and relieve the driver's muscles. In addition to hydraulically operated rim brakes , disc brakes are also increasingly being used. The brake disc sits either on the hub (inside the fork) or on the crank (outside the fork, EDB (External Disk Brake) standard). The brake caliper is attached to either the fork or the lower bearing shell. The brake lever sits either under the saddle or on a handle in front of the saddle.

Touring unicycle

The touring unicycle is designed for long distances. A touring unicycle has a large wheel diameter between 26 and 36 inches. This means that a greater distance is covered with one pedal rotation. The trend towards unicycle with a large wheel diameter was triggered by a 36-inch unicycle from Coker Tire. Unicycles are ridden over long distances and with the weight of a rucksack - at the front with a narrow handlebar (T-bar) with the bar ends facing forward in order to relieve the seating area. Supporting the arms allows a second upper body posture. A spoon-shaped one-finger brake lever can then also end between these bar ends.

Florian Schlumpf (great-grandson of Johann Georg Schlumpf ) and Kris Holm developed a "GUni" (geared unicycle) around 2005. In addition to the direct gear, the KH / Schlumpf gear hub has a 1: 1.5 overdrive, can be driven and installed in both directions, is jump-proof and is switched by a pin, which, depending on the switching status, protrudes a button on the right or left of the pedal axle leaves. Experts switch gear with a kick in the heel while driving.

Special unicycles

Eifelrad.jpg
Giraffe / bar wheel
MalteKnapp.jpg
Trice


Giraffe : (also high unicycle ; also, albeit ambiguously: high wheel , bar wheel or Eifel wheel ): Giraffes are unicycles in which the pedal axis is not identical to the wheel axis. An extended frame (fork and seat tube) and chain drive shift the pedal axis vertically upwards and lie above the wheel. The driver sits higher without the distance between the saddle and the pedal changing. The lowest giraffes have the bottom bracket a little above the top edge of the wheel and are often referred to as penguin unicycles. With increasing height, giraffes are increasingly difficult and dangerous to drive. Most frequently giraffes with a saddle height of 1.50 m to 2.50 m are to be found, experienced drivers can still step on them freely. The tallest giraffe ever driven was 35 m high and was driven by Sem Abrahams in 2004. For giraffes, pedal cranks , inner bearings and hubs from the bicycle sector are mostly used, the drive pinion usually has around 20 teeth, the output pinion usually one more or less tooth. The wheel axle sits in a vertical dropout and is fitted with chain tensioners . Large giraffes can often be broken down into individual segments for transport. Since the mechanical load on the frame increases with increasing height, tubular space frames are used for giraffes from a height of about 5 meters. In order to prevent the frame from bending due to the pulling force of the chain and to increase the drive rigidity, large giraffes are often provided with two parallel chains and smaller pinions.

Twice : is a unicycle in which two wheels are mounted on top of each other so that only one wheel touches the ground. Like a normal unicycle, the upper wheel is driven by a rigid axle to which the cranks are attached. It touches the top of the lower wheel at the bottom and drives it through tire friction. In order to drive forward, you have to step backwards.

Trice : is the three-wheeled version of the Twice: the upper wheel drives the middle one, which drives the lower wheel. This means that you can step forward as usual in order to drive forward.

Geared Unicycle ( GUni ): a unicycle with transmission , the wheel of which rotates faster than the cadence. A special hub with two gears in a ratio of 1: 1 and 1: 1.5 (overdrive) has been on the market since 2008. This means that the experienced cyclist can change the gear ratio while driving. It is used for racing and long distance.

Kangaroo unicycle : In this case, the cranks are mounted so that they both point in the same direction, and the axle is a bit eccentric in the wheel. On this construction, both legs step down and the saddle and body rise - then vice versa. While driving, this up and down is reminiscent of the jumping of a kangaroo.

Ultimate Wheel : A unicycle without a fork or saddle, which only consists of a wheel and pedals, which are mounted directly rotatable in the rim, which is usually designed as a solid disc.

Impossible Wheel ( BC Wheel ): a unicycle without a fork, saddle, cranks and pedals. The driver stands and “rolls” on dowels or metal sheets that extend the hub on both sides of the axle. With such a puristic unicycle you can coast and jump.

Monocycle (or monowheel ): a large wheel inside which the driver sits like a hamster wheel. The wheel can either be driven by a motor or by means of pedals. Due to the higher angular momentum and the lower mass, the monocycle is easier to balance than a normal unicycle, but at the same time it is more difficult to maneuver. This type was invented in 1869.

Freewheeling unicycle : A unicycle in which the hub is mounted free-wheeling , which means that the rider can ride forwards (coast) as on a bicycle even when he is not pedaling. Such a unicycle usually has brakes because it cannot be stopped by applying force to the pedals like a normal unicycle. Reversing is not possible with such a unicycle.

There are also tandem unicycles (two people in a row, chain drives on the balance bike), hydraulic giraffes, recumbent unicycles, unibikes and motorized unicycles. By lifting the non-driven wheel, artificial bikes , pentagons and other two-wheelers (by wheelie ) are occasionally ridden on a single wheel . It is great artistry to dismantle the lifted wheel and possibly other wheel parts.

Manufacturer

Well-known manufacturers of unicycles are for example: Kris Holm Unicycles (CA), Miyata (JP), Unicycle.com (Nimbus, UDC, Club, Hoppley) (US), Qu-Ax (Qu-Ax, QX, Only One) ( DE), Torker / TRS (US), Coker (US), Siegmono (DE), Triton (RU / DE), Schlumpf Innovations [d] (CH), Koxx-One / K-124 [a] (FR), M41 / Mad4one (Mad4one, URC) (IT), Impact (FR) [e] , Onza (GB), Semcycle (US), Bedford (CA), Pichlerrad (DE), Surly [b] (US), Schwinn [ b] (US), DM [c] (GB), Ajata (DE), Hunter (CA), Yuni (US), LiveWire [c] .

[a] Business activity stopped after bankruptcy 2013
[b] Unicycle production stopped, only bicycle production
[c] Business activity stopped
[d] Manufacturer of the shiftable gear hub , meanwhile also production of entire unicycles
[e] Business activity taken over by Unicycle.com (UK)

Unicycling

In contrast to earlier times, when unicycling was mainly done by clowns and artists in the circus, today unicycling has developed into a steadily growing sport and the unicycle is also becoming increasingly popular as a means of transport. The unicycle can therefore no longer only be seen in the gym, at carnival parades or in the circus tent. Since around the beginning of the 21st century, the image of the unicycle has been increasingly changing from a clown prop to a trendy sports device. Experienced unicyclists move as safely on the unicycle as pedestrians and can easily cover longer distances. In particular, the further development of the material towards more stability and a higher load capacity of the unicycle parts has contributed to the fact that various new variants and riding styles could emerge.

Equipment and security

When riding a unicycle, the rider relatively often gets off the bike unintentionally ("UPD": unplanned dismount). However, a fall only occurs in the rarest of cases. Since the position of the rider is not inside the vehicle as is the case with a bicycle, the unicycle is not in the way when going down. In the vast majority of cases, the driver hits his feet; there is no fall. The risk of injury is therefore lower with a unicycle than with a bicycle. Appropriate protective equipment should be used, especially during the learning phase or when performing dangerous disciplines (Muni, Trial, etc.).

In a case, you usually catch yourself with your hands. Therefore, hands and wrists are particularly at risk. Gloves with a gel insert protect the ball of the hand from injuries if you fall. They are mandatory for some unicycling events such as races and can also be fingerless. Skating hand guards were placed on the wrist joint and, thanks to the plastic plate, allow sliding when supporting, but interfere with holding the unicycle saddle or saddle handle and are therefore only suitable to a limited extent. Gloves with an integrated wrist support / bandage are most commonly worn. Falls to the knees or elbows are just as common. For protection, knee and elbow protectors from the areas of volleyball (hockey, racing), skating or off-road cycling (muni, trial) are worn. At some unicycling events, knee pads are mandatory. Especially with the grippy, sharp-edged pedals in the Trial and Muni disciplines, there is an increased risk of injury to the shins, which is why either additional shin guards or combined knee-shin guards are worn here. A helmet is an indispensable part of the safety equipment, especially when driving off-road (Muni). Especially on longer tours, the strain on the perineum and the inner thighs is relatively high, which is why most riders wear padded cycling shorts .

Driving styles and disciplines

Freestyle unicycling

Freestyle rider in stand-up

Freestyle is probably the oldest form of advanced unicycling, it can best be compared to figure skating. In freestyle, various skills or tricks are performed that are derived from the various options for riding a unicycle and are combined in a consistent line as possible to form a consistent whole in an aesthetically pleasing form. Freestyle is not only a standing term in BMX, but also the name for a competition in unicycling.

Off-Road or Mountain Unicycling (MUni)

24 ″ university
Mountain unicycling

Off-road or mountain unicycling in rough terrain emerged in the late 1980s and is the unicycle discipline that has probably grown the most in recent years. It is unclear who exactly was the inventor of mountain unicycling. Without a doubt, the Canadian Kris Holm is the MUni pioneer who contributed most to the development of the sport. MUni can take very different forms, most of which are based on the variants of mountain biking. The MUni also has disciplines such as cross country , where long distances are covered off-road, or downhill . Also Shore riding is very popular: The unicycle version of mountain bike riding style of North Shore in Canada's British Columbia , will be executed when the stick travels over and wooden ladders through a natural environment. In general, with a MUni all the routes that can be mastered with a mountain bike can also be managed, sometimes even easier because the unicycle is much more agile. A traditional MUni is equipped with a 2.5 to 3 inch wide tire with a 24 or 26 inch diameter and an aggressive profile.

Trial unicycling

Trial rider on a stack of pallets
Trial unicycling

Trial unicycling is similar to bicycle trials and has its roots in this discipline. The aim of the trial is to jump or drive over obstacles without putting your foot or hand down ("dabbing"). Trial can be driven in an urban as well as in a natural environment, both variants offering their own charms, challenges and opportunities. A trial unicycle is traditionally a 20 "bike with a 19" rim on which a 2.5 "tire is mounted. Because the unicycle is exposed to great stress from jumping, it must have a particularly stable axle, hub and cranks.

Street unicycling

Street driver at " rail grinding "

Street unicycling (or often simply called "street" by unicyclists) is a riding style that combines elements of freestyle and trials and lets the rider use the objects they find in an urban environment, such as curbs, Lands, stairs, or railings, used to perform various tricks. Typical street elements are crank flips, unispins and twists. These tricks can be combined in different ways and the movements can also be performed when overcoming obstacles such as stairs ("stair sets") or railings ("rail grinding"). Examples of variants are the hick flip, a 180 degree unispin combined with a crank flip or a 180 flip, which is a 180 twist and a crank flip at the same time. In general, Street is ridden on a 20 ″ trial unicycle with some modifications. The American unicyclist Dan Heaton is considered the founder of street unicycling . Mike Clark as the inventor of the crank flip, Brian Lundgren as the inventor of the back flip and Shaun Johanneson made important contributions.

Flatland

Flatland is a relatively new form of unicycling that developed from a combination of street and freestyle. By definition, it follows the same rules as freestyle: the rider tries different tricks and movements on level ground. With Flatland, however, there is a certain urban flair. Often an attempt is made to do different moves in a combination or line. Flatland's origins go back to Dan Heaton, who created a new style of riding after breaking both ankles in a unicycle accident. Lately riders like Adrien Delecroix (Kris Holm) and Krisztian Kovacs (Impact) have been contributing to the development of Flatland. A modified 20 ″ trial unicycle is also normally used for flatland.

Unicycle race or race

Unicycling

Unicycling is like athletics. The competitions are usually held on a tartan track . There are races over various distances from 50 m to 800 m or 10 km. In addition to normal driving, races with only one leg, running on the tire, juggling or without a saddle (drag seat) are held. In addition, there is a cone course (IUF Slalom / Obstacle) as well as competitions in slow driving on a narrow wooden beam. Usually 24-inch unicycles with narrow tires are used. The maximum wheel diameter and the minimum crank length are prescribed.

Touring or commuting

Start of the 100 km long distance race in Brixen

This discipline is about driving long distances. With a wheel diameter of 29 to 36 inches, speeds of up to 30 km / h can easily be achieved. To be considered a touring unicycle, a unicycle must have a wheel diameter of at least 26 inches. The usual distances for races are 10 km and marathons (42.195 km), but other routes can also occur, for example a 100 km race was held at the Unicon 16th in Brixen, in which individual starters and groups could compete.

Team sports on the unicycle

Unicycle basketball

Unicycle basketball is played with a normal basketball on a regular basketball court according to conventional rules, for example the ball has to be dribbled while driving. There are also some additional rules: For example, the player must have at least one foot on the pedal when he throws the ball. Unicycle basketball is usually played with 24 ″ unicycles, or smaller wheels and plastic pedals, to protect the players' seats and shins. The best unicycle basketball team in the world is currently from Puerto Rico. It has consistently won the last world championships.

Unicycle hockey

Game scene in unicycle hockey, German championship 2009

Unicycle hockey is by and large played according to ice hockey or inline hockey rules. Ice hockey sticks and a tennis ball or street hockey ball are used for this. In contrast to ice hockey, the goalkeeper has the same rights as the field players in unicycle hockey, i.e. he is not allowed to catch the ball with his hand. Body contact is prohibited. The sport is becoming increasingly popular; There are active unicycle hockey leagues in Germany, Switzerland and Great Britain.

Freestyle freestyle

In the freestyle freestyle, similar to figure skating, tricks are shown to music in a rehearsed sequence that is graded by a jury. In addition to pair and group competitions, this discipline is also available as an individual competition. In addition to the difficulty of the tricks shown, the assessment also includes the safety with which they are driven and aspects of the presentation such as costume, music and audience contact. Above all, unicyclists from Japan have developed and shaped this competition in recent years through an elegant, dance style with fluid tricks and many pirouettes.

Team unicycling (dance)

Team unicycling, also known as rounding, belongs to the department of artificial cycling and represents the counterpart to four and six-person artificial cycling. This discipline is about synchronicity and aesthetics. A team of four or six people must show various figures on the unicycle 23 (20 for students) within 5 minutes on an area of ​​11 by 14 meters. These figures are rated with points depending on their level of difficulty. Points are deducted in the event of errors. The winner is whoever gets the most points.

Competitions and championships

The Unicon World Championship in unicycling takes place every two years and is organized by the International Unicycling Federation (IUF). In the intervening years, the Unioec (Unicycle open european championship) is held.

The Open German Unicycling Championship takes place every year. All unicyclists can start here in the disciplines of unicycle races (tartan track and street), unicycle freestyle (standard skill, unicycle freestyle , flat and street), unicycle downhill and unicycle trial.

The German MUni and Trial Weekend (GMTW) takes place annually on the Easter weekend. Unicyclists from many countries meet to ride unicycling together and compete in various off-road and trial disciplines such as high and long jump, trial course or downhill.

There is also the EUC (Extreme Unicycling Championship) for the disciplines Trial, Street, Flat and Downhill, which is held as a winter, summer or downhill edition.

Also under various juggling conventions and meetings of unicycle riders often find competitions in disciplines such as unicycle races and unicycle Küren instead.

Marathon was driven for several years as part of the supporting program of the Düsseldorf Marathon , at which the German Unicycle Marathon Championship was held. It was the only marathon event in Europe in which unicyclists were allowed to participate and were officially rated. After 2014, unicyclists (and handbike riders) were no longer allowed to participate, officially for safety reasons. Since 2014, however, the small Erfurt marathon , which was held for the first time, has offered official participation. This marathon leads partly over cross-country- like terrain, and the route is not cordoned off in the city center, so that the event and the times achieved there can only be compared to the Düsseldorf marathon to a limited extent . The European marathon in Görlitz and the Lausitzer Seenland 100 in Großräschen have also included the unicycle marathon in their program since 2017 .

In the meantime, some mountain bike events also offer unicycle evaluations. For example the Salzkammergut Trophy , in which a cross country marathon and the Austrian state championships in Muni-Downhill are held, or the Erzgebirgs-Bike-Marathon . Both are part of Taste of Mud's European Muni racing series .

The world's first multi-stage unicycle race took place in June 2008 in Nova Scotia , Canada. 35 teams from 14 countries took part in the race, which was called "Ride the Lobster" after the region's wealth of lobsters. Each team consisted of three drivers and an accompanying person. In total, a distance of 800 kilometers was covered in the course of five days.

Unicycling

High jump competition with the unicycle

Unicycle races are held in different disciplines that are recognized worldwide:

  • 100 m, 400 m, 800 m, 10 km, marathon, relay
  • One-legged 50 m: ride one-legged unicycle.
  • Radlauf / Wheelwalk 30 m: When cycling, the bike is not driven with the pedals as usual, but "walked" directly with the feet on the bike.
  • IUF-Slalom ( Obstacle ): Obstacle course, similar to slalom, 10 pylons on a 15 m × 12 m area
  • Coasting / Gliding: When coasting, you roll without pedaling, both feet are on the fork, the tire must not be touched. The gliding is done in the same way, only one foot has to drag on the bike.
  • High jump / long jump
  • Slowly forwards / backwards 10 m: On a narrow track, drive as slowly as possible without swinging, stopping, leaving the track or turning the bike more than 45 °.

World records

discipline Time / distance gender driver Origin of the driver Event, place, year
100 m 0: 12.54 min m Seisuke Kobayashi Japan Unicon 13, Switzerland, 2006
0: 13.257 min w Asahi Takada Japan Unicon 17, Canada, 2014
400 m 0: 54.539 min m Seisuke Kobayashi Japan Unicon 16, Italy, 2012
0: 57.625 min w Asahi Takada Japan Unicon 16, Italy, 2012
800 m 1: 57.327 min m Noah Liver Germany Nottwil, Switzerland, 2017
2: 02.165 min w Alina Czimek Germany Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
1ft 50 m (single leg) 0: 07.582 min m Niklas Wojtek Germany Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
0: 07.74 min w Lisa Maria Hanny Germany Eggenfelden, Germany, 2015
ww 30 m (wheel walking) 0: 07.071 min m Yunsung Park Korean Republic Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
0: 06.707 min w Ayane Bansai Japan Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
IUF slalom (obstacle) 0: 17.60 min m Gert-Jan De Vleeschouwer Belgium EC Unicycling, Netherlands, 2017
0: 17.90 min w Mirjam Lips Switzerland Zuffenhäuser Championship, Germany, 2017
Relay 4 × 100 m 0: 50.71 min Niklas Wojtek, Noah Leber, Simon Rodler, Andreas Richter Germany EC Unicycling, Netherlands, 2017
Slowly forward 10 m 3: 06.33 min m Baptiste Albert France Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
2: 56.02 min w Ana Schrödinger Germany EC Unicycling, Netherlands, 2017
Slowly backwards 10 m 1: 03.08 min m York Beese Germany EC Unicycling, Netherlands, 2017
3: 09.79 min w Ana Schrödinger Germany Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
Standstill 25: 16.5 min m Márk Fábián Hungary Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
1: 49: 08.37 h w Ana Schrödinger Germany EC Unicycling, Netherlands, 2017
Gliding 119.65 m m Daiki Izumeda Japan Tokyo, Japan, 2004
111.35 m w Alina Czimek Germany German Championship Crailsheim, Germany, 2011
Coasting 177.6 m m Knut Steffens Germany Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
173.98 m w Lisa Maria Hanny Germany Illertissen, Germany, 2017
10 km standard 24 "
(without translation)
27: 54.859 min m Christoph Hartmann Germany Unicon 17, Canada, 2014
28: 44.926 min w Alina Czimek Germany Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
10 km unlimited 18: 51.896 min m Scott Wilton United States Unicon 17, Canada, 2014
20: 06.96 min w Jana Tenambergen Germany Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
High jump (over bar) 1.42 m m Mike Taylor Great Britain Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
0.91 m w Maria Wegscheider Austria 2nd Int. Salamander Cup, Germany, 2014
Long jump 4.30 m m Oskar Rytter Denmark Unicon 17, Canada, 2014
3.27 m w Lisa-Maria Hanny Germany EC Unicycling, Netherlands, 2017
Juggling 50 m (no IUF world record) 0: 07.78 min m Seisuke Kobayashi Japan Unicon 13, Switzerland, 2006
42.195 km standard 28 in

(without translation)

1: 40: 39.148 h m Rolf Leonhardt Germany Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
1: 47: 18.240 w Asahi Takada Japan Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
42.195 km unlimited 1: 19: 07.51 h m Scott Wilton United States Unicon 17, Canada, 2014
1: 29: 36.727 h w Jana Tenambergen Germany Unicon 18, Spain, 2016
24 hours, unlimited 453.8 km m Sam Wakeling Great Britain Aberystwyth, UK, 2007
312 km w Mirjam Lips Switzerland Pocking, Germany, 2016
24 hours, 24 inches (no IUF world record) 226 km w Franziska groom Germany Pocking, Germany, 2013
1 hour 32.23 km m Christoph Hartmann Germany Unicon 17, Canada, 2014
33.293 km w Jana Tenambergen Germany Rodgau, Germany, 2020

Source: IUF World Record List

Unicycle tricks

  • Stepping on hands-free : For newbies, stepping on without holding on or assistance is relatively difficult. The unicyclist holds the saddle with one hand, which is clamped between his legs. The wheel is presented a little. A pedal is slightly above the lowest point. When the driver steps on the pedal, the bike moves in the direction of the driver and the saddle rises. Now all you have to do is keep your balance. At the beginning it is a good idea to practice the whole thing by holding onto a fence.
  • Reversing : When reversing, the driver steps on the pedals in the opposite direction. Because there is no idling on a unicycle and the pedals are directly connected to the bike, the unicycle moves backwards.
  • Pendulum or stand-seesaw : the unicyclist holds the unicycle in place by moving back and forth only half a pedal turn.
  • Commuting on one leg : The unicyclist only performs the pendulum movement with the foot that is on the lower pedal. The free foot is placed on the fork or stretched out in front of the bike.
  • Riding on one leg : The unicycle is only driven by pedaling with one foot on a pedal. As with one-legged pendulum, the free foot can be placed on the fork or stretched away from the bike.
  • Flieger (stomach-on-seat) : With this trick, the upper body is placed on the saddle and driven like that.
  • Seat out : Without sitting on the saddle, the driver holds the saddle in front of or behind the body.
  • Seat drag : A special variant of the seat out, in which the unicyclist lets the saddle fall forwards or backwards on the ground while driving and then drives on.
  • Wheel walking : The rider does not drive his unicycle by pedaling, but by walking directly on the tire with both feet while sitting in the saddle using small "tipping movements" and moving it.
  • One-legged Wheel Walk : The wheel is driven with only one foot, the other stands on the fork.
  • Koosh koosh : It's another type of wheel walking. The wheel is driven backwards with only one leg behind the fork.
  • Jumping : The saddle is wedged between the thighs or held with the hands. By pressing both pedals, the unicyclist can jump up with his bike and hop on the spot. In championships, competitions are held in high jump and long jump. Jumping is also an important technique in unicycle trials and the MUni.
  • Unispin : The unicyclist jumps up, grabs the unicycle by the saddle and turns it 180, 360, 540 or more degrees during the flight phase. After the turn, the driver lands on the pedals again.
  • Standup : up the prior unicycle rider stands with one foot on the fork and drives to the other tires on. This goes either forwards (standing with only one foot, see gliding) or backwards (standing, see Koosh koosh).
  • Gliding : One foot stands on the fork, the other foot touches both fork and tire. The bike is set in motion beforehand by riding. Another variant is downhill gliding.
  • Coasting: When coasting, the foot must not touch the tires or pedals. There are several variants of coasting, for example downhill coasting or power coasting.
  • ET : With ET (or full rev), you step on when jumping in the air.
  • Crankflip : With a crankflip, the feet are stretched out in the jump while the wheel makes one turn. Increases of this are double, triple and quad flip.
  • Side mount : Side mount where the leg is swung over the saddle.
  • Spins : Very tight circles that look like a pirouette and can also stop as a pirouette.
  • Tip Spins : Very tight circles where the foot is taken off the pedal in the middle and touches the ground.
  • Pirouette : The rider and the unicycle rotates around the vertical axis in one direction.
  • Side tricks : Side tricks are understood to mean different variations, for example Side Jump, 180 Side, 360 Side, 540 Side, 720 Side, etc., also with flips as well as Trey side or Fithside.
  • Rolls : for example warp roll, back roll, varial roll, etc.

Many of these tricks can be made even more difficult by driving them backwards, sideways or on one leg, in a figure eight or in a circle, etc.

IUF skill levels

In 1998 the International Unicyclist Association IUF introduced the Skill Levels, a class system for classifying the ability of a unicyclist. The skill levels range from 0 (complete beginner) to 10 (professional) and are roughly comparable to the Kyū in Japanese martial arts.

Unicyclists who take part in skill level tests receive a pass in which the skill level they have reached is entered by an official skill examiner. In order to reach a skill level, a skill level exam must be taken before an official examiner. These tests are comparable to the belt tests in martial arts: All the tricks required to reach a level must be performed one after the other and must be performed correctly on the first attempt, a maximum of three tricks may only succeed on the second attempt.

Overview of the tricks required for the skill level

  • Level 1 : hands-free ascent, 50 m free ride, elegant descent with unicycle to the front
  • Level 2 : one free ascent each with right foot and left foot, drive 10 m between two parallel lines with a distance of 30 cm, drive an eight with a circle diameter of less than 3 m, drive down a 15 cm step, each a 90 ° right and left curve within a 1 m square
  • Level 3 : three different ascents, driving an eight with a circle diameter of less than 1.5 m, stopping, commuting half a wheel revolution backwards and driving forward, driving 10 m lying on your stomach (airplane), making a 180 ° right and left turn within one 1 m square, jump 5 times, drive or jump over a 10 by 10 cm obstacle
  • Level 4 : four different ascents, ride 10 m backwards, ride 10 m one-legged, swing 25 times each with the right and left foot, ride 10 m each with the saddle removed forwards and backwards, a 360 ° right and left curve within a 1 m square
  • Level 5 : five different ascents, riding backwards in a circle, riding a figure eight with one leg, swinging 25 times with the right and left foot on one leg, riding one circle each with the saddle removed forwards and backwards and the saddle next to the hip, jumping with one 90 ° turn to the left and to the right, 10 m tire running
  • Level 6 : six different ascents, riding an eight backwards, riding an eight each with the saddle removed forwards and backwards, with the saddle removed to the left, backwards 10 m, one circle each with the saddle next to the hip to the right and left, Drive 10 m on one leg each with the right and left foot, back turn (drive forwards, 180 ° turn in a tight circle, continue backwards in the same direction), front turn (drive backwards, 180 ° turn in a tight circle, forwards continue in the same direction), spin (very tight turn)
  • Level 7 : seven different ascents, riding backwards in a circle with the saddle removed forwards, riding one circle each with one leg with the right and left foot, one circle tire walking, 10 m one leg tire walking, jumping with a 180 ° turn to the left and to the right , Ride 10 m backwards with the saddle removed, spin right and left
  • Level 8 : eight different ascents, one eight one-legged each with the right and left foot, one eight tire walking, one-legged in a circle tire walking, 10 m one-legged backwards, 10 m gliding, 10 m tire walking with the hand, pirouette, backward spin
  • Level 9 : nine different ascents, one-legged in an eight tire running, one-legged backwards in a circle, reverse an eight with the saddle removed to the front, backward in a circle with the saddle removed to the rear, each 10 m one-legged tire running with the right and left foot , 10 m backwards tire walking, 10 m drag seat with saddle forwards and backwards, 10 m one-legged backwards with the right and left foot, 10 m one-legged with the saddle removed forwards, pirouette backwards
  • Level 10 : ten different ascents, riding an eight backwards with the saddle removed, riding an eight one-legged backwards, one-legged one-legged one-legged one-legged tire running with the right and left foot, backward one-legged in the circular tire running, 180 ° unispin, 10 m sideways tire running 10 m coasting, 10 m sideways, 10 m one-legged backwards tire running

Wheel sizes

Unicycle comparison 24/20 inches

Unicycles are usually available with a wheel diameter of 12 "to 36". The wheel diameter used depends primarily on the area of ​​application. The standard size for most drivers, especially beginners, is 20 inches. In general, the following dependencies apply:

  • The smaller the bike, the more agile it is.
    This is why 20-inch wheels are primarily used for standard skill, freestyle, street and flatland, and 19-inch wheels in the flatland area. Younger drivers also use 16 or 18 inches.
  • The bigger the bike, the faster you can ride it and the slower you have to pedal for the same speed.
    For this reason, wheel sizes of 24 inches upwards are primarily used in unicycle races, while 29 and 36 inches have prevailed in marathons. However, there are wheel size restrictions for most races.
  • The bigger the wheel, the easier it is to drive over bumps.
    Therefore, when riding Muni, wheel sizes of 24 inches and up are used.
  • The larger the wheel, the greater the rotating mass and the moment of inertia.
    This means that you need more power to accelerate, brake and steer on large bikes. However, the bike tends to roll less at high cadence.

Correct saddle height

It is important that the distance between the pedal and the saddle is adapted to the height of the rider. A saddle that is too deep and an incorrect foot position can lead to knee pain. The saddle is at its optimum height when the rider sits on the unicycle and - to reach the pedal at the lowest point - the knee is only slightly bent, i.e. the leg is almost fully extended. The pedal should be pressed with the ball of the foot and not with the metatarsus.

history

Penny farthing

The wheel is considered to be one of the most important inventions of mankind and probably originally came from Mesopotamia , where it was invented in the fifth millennium BC.

Around the year 1817 Karl Drais invented a two-wheeler in Mannheim, which soon became known as the Draisine and in which the driver had to push his feet on the ground in order to move forward. According to legend, the first two-wheeler that could not be driven by running movements but with the help of cranks was invented by Pierre Michaux in Paris in 1861 . A similar design was patented by Pierre Lallement in the United States in 1866 . In these developments, known as the Velocipede, the pedal cranks were permanently mounted on the front axle. On these bicycles with front-wheel drive, one rotation of the pedals - due to the design, as with unicycle - corresponded to the covered circumference of the front wheel. In order to be able to drive higher speeds with this drive, the front wheel had to be enlarged. At the same time, around 1870, the diameter of the rear wheel was reduced - the penny farthing was invented.

The penthouse represents the ancestor of today's unicycle. According to one theory, the unicycle emerged at the end of the 19th century from the then popular penthouse. As the rear wheel got smaller and smaller, it soon only played a role as a support wheel. Eventually, the high cyclists realized that you could lift the smaller rear wheel and ultimately do without it in order to only ride on the front wheel. The unicycle was born.

Motor and electric unicycle

Keith Dufrane on his 2011 Monowheel at the Doo Dah Parade in Columbus, Ohio.

There are also very few motorized unicycles as art objects or prototypes, such as the RIOT wheel that Jake Lyall built for the Burning Man Festival. Only monowheel unicycles , where the rider sits in the bike, have been built repeatedly since 1904.

Various unicycles with electric drive are currently being developed:

  • Ryno has a wide motorcycle tire, saddle and handlebar and takes control when the handlebars tend to leave safe driving conditions. The motorcycle with one wheel should be available in late 2015.
  • Honda has been developing the ten kilogram U3-X vehicle since 2009 with a small wheel that rolls forwards and backwards. This wheel is made up of small, transverse circular disks (torus segments) which, with their own drive, bring about movement and balance in a lateral direction. The seated passenger rests with his heels on footrests and causes lateral braking and thus cornering with a little one-sided toe contact with the smooth floor.
  • eniCycle (2009: two prototypes) has thick tires, springs and is also suitable for sitting.
  • The Embrio design concept from BRP (Bombardier-Rotax) provides for a small support wheel in front of a wide motorcycle tire only for low speeds of less than 20 km / h, but also effective stabilization against tipping by means of gyroscopes (gyroscopes) and steering by shifting weight. Won a magazine design award in 2003.
  • Solowheel (available since 2011) and AirWheel encapsulate the wheel with a diameter of around 40 centimeters and the battery in a housing that is clamped between the lower legs, fold out two small standing boards close to the floor, are controlled by shifting your weight and weigh twelve kilograms on the handle portable. Some models have two wheels next to each other.
  • Gyrover is a gyro-stabilized single- wheel robot with no transport capacity . Version I has a diameter of 29 cm and a mass of 1.6 kg, version II 34 cm or 2.0 kg and a top in a vacuum. (Co-) developed around 1996 by Yangsheng Xu , Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburg, PA (later Hong Kong).

Fake unicycles:

  • Unomoto is an automatic, electrically balancing vehicle from Ben Gulak, Canada from 2008 with two motorcycle-like wheels that are just next to each other, which stand up very close to each other on the ground thanks to a camber and compress individually when tilted sideways. These have an outer diameter of approx. 65 cm and a tire width of 7 cm. Two supports are used to set it down and control is carried out by shifting your weight.
  • FlyRad with handlebar and unicycle saddle was developed by Thomas Rank around 2004, but does not balance, but supports people with inline skates on their legs with propulsion and braking. You sit on the unicycle saddle like on a witch's broom, which supports the drive wheel on the ground far back and presses it on your thighs close to your knees with padded shells. Is available in 2011 in variants from 24 kg and 1250 €. Alternatively, it can be used to pull or possibly push a standing or crouching skater.

Legal classification

Germany

The unicycle is considered to be sports and play equipment within the meaning of Section 24 Paragraph 1 of the StVO (comparable to inline skaters). After that it is only allowed to drive on sidewalks , in pedestrian zones and in play streets . Consideration must be given to pedestrians. If it is equipped with lights, reflectors, bell and brakes according to §§ 63–67 StVZO, it is also allowed to drive on the street.

Austria

According to the legal situation in Austria, unicycles are basically not bicycles, whereby it would also be forbidden to ride a bicycle hands-free according to § 68 Para. 3 lit a StVO 1960 . Rather, it is a vehicle-like means of movement, the use of which constitutes “playing” within the meaning of § 88 StVO 1960. Their use is therefore prohibited on the carriageway and also forbidden on sidewalks or sidewalks if this endangers or hinders traffic on the carriageway or pedestrians. Since unicycles have no steering and braking devices, such a hazard is generally assumed, even if - provided that they are well controlled - a unicycle is easier to maneuver than a bicycle. This is justified by the fact that users of unicycles could unexpectedly and uncontrolled get onto the road. The use of a unicycle is permitted in residential streets.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, unicycles are considered to be vehicle-like devices. According to Art. 50 of the Traffic Regulations, they may be used on sidewalks, cycle paths, on roads with a speed limit of 30 zones, as well as on secondary roads (if cycle paths and sidewalks are missing and if there is little traffic). Basically the same traffic rules apply as for pedestrians.

Well-known unicyclists

Due to the many unicycling disciplines and often still classified according to age groups, there are a lot of title and even world championship holders among unicyclists. As a niche sport, unicycling has so far found it difficult to produce riders who have also become known outside the scene for their achievements, apart from brief notice through television appearances. One of the most famous unicyclists in the scene, on the other hand, is Kris Holm (* 1973), a professional Canadian trial and MUni rider (Trial World Champion 1999, Downhill World Champion 2002), who was also supported by the quality brand of the same name for unicycles and Accessories have become or have remained well-known. The most famous German unicyclist is the six-time world record holder Lutz Eichholz , who can be seen in numerous television shows and is also a star in Asia. The Austrian David Weichenberger can also be seen again and again in magazines and television. As the first person to circumnavigate the world on a unicycle, the Briton Ed Pratt gained notoriety outside the scene.

There is also a large circle of well-known personalities who also ride or have ridden a unicycle. These include athletes (some of whom also use it as balance training), such as the skiers Franz Klammer , Franz Weber , Ingemar Stenmark and Bode Miller , and the Formula 1 drivers Mika Häkkinen , Dave Kennedy , Lewis Hamilton , Nico Rosberg and Jean- Éric Vergne , US basketball player Miles Plumlee , American football professional Steve Young and professional skateboarder Rodney Mullen . Other well-known unicyclists are z. For example, former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and mathematician Claude Shannon , actors Johnny Depp , Ulrich Mühe , Leslie Mann , Patrick Dempsey , Gigi Edgley and Harry Potter's "Ron" Rupert Grint , Take-That members Mark Owen , Jason Orange , Howard Donald , who also rode a unicycle on stage for their “Clown Medley”, US comedians Demetri Martin and Eddie Izzard , reggae musician Peter Tosh and his son Andrew Tosh , ex- Monkee guitarist Michael Nesmith and Coldplay singer Chris Martin and bassist Victor Wooten .

literature

  • Unicycle DVD: Union . Extreme Unicycling Movie, ISBN 90-78532-02-5 .
  • Sebastian Höher: Unicycling . Rowohlt Hamburg 1994, ISBN 3-499-18654-3 .
  • Björn Dinklage, Bettina Bardell: The art of unicycling . Edition Aragon, ISBN 3-89535-405-8 .
  • Andreas Anders-Wilkens, Robert Mager: DRIVING A UNICYCLE - Basics and first tricks . Meyer & Meyer Sport 2006, ISBN 3-89899-175-X .
  • Unicycle DVD: Unicycling 1 - Learn while playing . Klaus Stillger
  • Unicycle DVD: Unicycling 2 - Tricks, high unicycling . Klaus Stillger
  • Unicycle DVD: UNICON XIII world championship in unicycling, Langenthal
  • Unicycle DVD: Juggling 4 beginners. Mr-Marcus, Media Halbig Productions

Web links

Commons : Unicycle  album with pictures, videos and audio files
Commons : unicycles  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Unicycle  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. External Disc Brake (EDB) standard. Krisholm.com, accessed January 22, 2014 .
  2. Schlumpf unicycle at 1rad.ch
  3. Kris Holm: KH / Schlumpf unicycle gear hub, technical details ( Memento of the original dated August 6, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.krisholm.com
  4. Guinness World Records: Tallest ridable unicycle (supported). Retrieved March 20, 2018 .
  5. douglas-self.com
  6. The unicycle portal. Retrieved August 24, 2014 .
  7. Taste of Mud. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on July 20, 2013 ; Retrieved July 2, 2013 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.taste-of-mud.org
  8. ridethelobster.com ( Memento of the original from July 26, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ridethelobster.com
  9. Results ODM 2014 Gliding. (PDF) (No longer available online.) Formerly in the original ; accessed on October 7, 2014 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.einrad-svtiefenbach.de  
  10. ^ World Records. IUF, accessed August 23, 2017 .
  11. Video on YouTube
  12. ^ Homepage of Jake Lyall
  13. douglas-self.com
  14. RYNO website , accessed on February 26, 2015.
  15. Ryno - One wheeled scooter . Gizmag November 3, 2011, accessed January 3, 2012.
  16. Honda U3-X experimental vehicle, Gizmag October 3, 2009, accessed January 3, 2012.
  17. The eniCycle is an electric unicycle did balances fun and utility . Gizmag August 26, 2011, accessed January 3, 2012.
  18. Embrio One-Wheel Concept , Gizmag 4 June 2004 accessed 3 January 2012.
  19. Solowheel - Technical data ( Memento of the original from September 28, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed October 14, 2012.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / solowheel.com
  20. Solowheel: self-balancing last mile transport for the upstanding commuter , Gizmag February 16, 2011, accessed January 3, 2012.
  21. AirWheel Products. Retrieved September 9, 2015 .
  22. http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/project/space/www/gyrover/gyrover.html A Single-Wheel, Gyroscopically stabilized Robot (GYROVER), undated, accessed November 18, 2015 .
  23. http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/usr/xu/www/home.html Homepage Yangsheng Xu, Pittsburgh, edited August 30, 1996, accessed November 18, 2015.
  24. UnoMoto: the electric transport balancing act , Gizmag May 26, 2008, accessed January 3, 2012.
  25. Get your skates on with the FlyRad motorized unicycle , Gizmag November 7, 2010 - accessed January 3, 2012.
  26. Flyrad 2011 - manufacturer website
  27. StVO § 24
  28. StVZO §§ 63-67
  29. unicycling.de
  30. admin.ch
  31. admin.ch
  32. a b Lou Bendrick (May-June 2000). Rolling Education. Ski p. 20 (accessed on Google Books on November 16, 2014) = Rolling Education on skinet.com
  33. Lou Bendrick (May-June 2000). Rolling Education. Ski p. 20 (accessed on Google Books on November 16, 2014) = Rolling Education on skinet.com
    Stenmark also according to own information and with photo: Ingemar Stenmark (spring 1982). Stenmark: Summertime is Fun Time. Skiing p. 91 (accessed on Google Books on November 16, 2014)
  34. a b c d e f g Kathryn Bertine (2014). The Road Less Taken. Lessons from a Life Spent Cycling.
  35. Brad Spurgeon (September 20, 2013). A Balancing Act, on One Wheel or 4th New York Times (accessed November 16, 2014)
  36. 'Miles Plumlee Rides a Unicycle at Duke basketball game' on a YouTube video (accessed November 17, 2014)
  37. ^ Bob Stoffels ( undated ): Claude Shannon (April 30, 1916 - February 24, 2001). Electrical Engineer and Mathematician. ( Memento of the original from October 22, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. ospmag.com (accessed November 17, 2014)  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ospmag.com
  38. July 22, 2007 - anniversary of the death of the actor Ulrich Mühe: The silent hero. WDR (accessed November 16, 2014)
  39. ^ Stephanie Palumbo (September 2012). How Leslie Mann Lives Her Best Life. The star of the new animated film ParaNorman talks about her love of unicycles, her kids, and all things supernatural. O, The Oprah Magazine ( en ) (accessed 17 November 2014)
  40. short unicycle insert on May 1, 2008 in The Ellen DeGeneres Show (accessed November 16, 2014)
  41. including picture on a unicycle: without author (May 19, 2012). Gigi Edgley's favorite things. Herald Sun Australia (accessed November 16, 2014)
  42. without author (July 15, 2009): 9 Fun Facts about Rupert Grint! on Extra TV (accessed November 16, 2015)
  43. Video of a concert recording - "Clown Medley *" At Wembley / The Circus Live and 2009 interview with Jonathan Ross for Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (accessed November 16, 2014)
  44. ^ Eric Spitznagel (April 7, 2011). Demetri Martin on Twitter Battles, Kurt Vonnegut Asterisks, and Unicycle Regret. on Vanity Fair online (accessed November 16, 2014)
  45. ^ Don Snowden (April 7, 1988). Andrew Tosh Shoulders Reggae Legacy. Los Angeles Times (accessed November 16, 2014)
  46. ^ Paul Cambra (February 7, 2013). Jess Riegel makes documentary about Unicycle World Championships. 'Unicon 16 Brixen' available at three Auburn bike shops. Auburn Journal (accessed November 16, 2014)
  47. James Montgomery (October 19, 2011). Coldplay's 'Paradise' Video: Chris Martin Rides Unicycles. Martin takes a unicycle trek through South Africa - dressed as an elephant - in giddy new clip. mtv news (accessed November 16, 2014)
  48. Picture of Wooten with bass on a giraffe (accessed November 16, 2014)