First Annual New York City Unicycle Festival

On the 3rd September to 5th September, New York City hosted its first ever annual New York City Unicycle Festival. or the NYC Uni Festival.

Activities were spread over three days; on the first day, a ride was organized to start from the Brooklyn Bridge and to end in Coney Island. Some 55 unicyclists took part and about 48 riders completed the ride.

The bulk of the festival was held at Governor’s Island, where about 300 or so unicyclists and non-unicyclists alike took part. Free workshops, unicycle-hockey and unicycle-basketball matches were held, and some flatland and unicycle-basketball demonstrations took place. There was even a trials course in the corner for those who felt that unicycling is nothing without causing your insurance premiums to suddenly triple.

Finally, on the third day, unicyclists gathered at Grant’s Tomb, the usual meeting and practice place of the New York Unicyclists (NYUC) where all sorts of weird unicycles were available for tryouts. Double wheel, triple wheel, unicycles that cycled sideways when one pedaled forward, free-wheeling unicycles and giraffes and more were free for all who had the guts to try them out.

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The One With All the Sun – Pengerang Post-Ride

If this post was a book, it would be one of those picture flip books that kids have because you know, typing lots of words hurts my brain. Anyway, here’s the story of our trip to Pengerang which I had initially thought of as a trip from Pengerang to Desaru but ended up being a 12-15km ride inland from the coast at Pengerang and then back again (for some of us).

(Picture not indicative of actual numbers)

Some ten of us headed off to nearby Pengerang for what seemed like a really long ride. Like with every other ride involving yours truly, this one involves long stretches of endless roads, grass and sun. And it features as well a current favorite of some of the Singapore Unicyclists these days, the sea.

The roads were pretty clearcut and flat which trees and grass on both sides. Some of us were older and feared for our breaking backs. The younger among us rode like there was no tomorrow.

There was a nice resort at the corner which we ate at but didn’t stay in because food was all we could afford and even then, barely.

Because some of the Singapore Unicyclists are also experts in interior decoration, we’ve also laid out a display of our wheels while an excited crowd gathers to stare or take photos.

Or both.

The next trip we do WILL involve Pengerang to Desaru. Train up those thighs, people!

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Runway Cycling Pics

The Paya Lebar Runway Cycling event took place over the weekend. I kind of remember some of these people wearing the same outfit previous years…

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Runway Cycling This Sunday

We’re meeting 740am at Eunos MRT and are doing the 15km route. Most of us will be riding 20 – 24″ unis so don’t worry about being slow.

See you then!

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Muni in The New Paper

A bunch of us are featured in an article in The New Paper. It focuses on Muni and how Sheikh has the coolest mirrored helmet in all of Kent Ridge. Oh, that was our last Monthly Muni ride so if you haven’t already joined us, what are you waiting for???

Article here

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We’re on Razor.TV

The Razor TV crew dropped by to say hi. We said hi back.

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Size Matters (Not?)

Recently, I’ve taken to wondering aloud why there’s a very obvious preference by recent new riders to go for a larger wheel size. I’ve been doing my rounds on my 29″ the last few years and the other few frequent riders are riding on their larger wheels too but it’s only because we’ve been clocking distance rather than technique.

I’m quite surprised by the number of people who’ve been talking about owning a 29″ uni and it seems that 24″ ones are more popular than the 20″ ones these days. A lot of the newer riders are taken by the thrill of going offroad or the fun in using a unicycle to commute but it really does beget the question of if the trend is due to influence.

My favorite uni is still my 20″ trials. It’s versatile enough to do tricks with, I like hopping with it and it’s light enough to lug around. It rolls down stairs and steps effortlessly and it’s not tall like the bigger unis so I don’t feel intimidated when learning stuff. Perhaps I’m wrong but I think a lot of people have the misconception that a smaller uni is not as fun since you can’t travel to places with them. It’s really quite misguided though.

Personally, I’ve

  • Traveled with my uni in a hand-carry luggage
  • Rode Pasir Ris to Boon Lay
  • Played Hockey
  • Learnt 80% of whatever tricks I know
  • Performed with it
  • Muni-ed with it

I’d probably spend more time on my larger wheel but regardless, I’d still want my small wheel around for the versatility it offers.

Do you ride a small wheel too and why?

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Sighted in New York

What’s this now? A wheel-walking only lane? Seen near Tompkins Park, NYC.

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Unicycling in SPIN Magazine this Month

This comes about 3 months late but there’s a two page spread on the last UNICON (International Unicycling Convention) which was held in Wellington, New Zealand in the current issue of SPIN magazine.

The best part about this though is that because it marks the first time in local history that a unicycle-related article is written without mention of the C-words. I’d like to henceforth extend a hearty congratulations to myself for making history. Yay.

To read the full articles, here’s

Page 1

Page 2

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For the record

Just in case we contract Alzheimer’s and have the urge to remember the rides we did in the past, here’s an extensive list of most of the rides so far:

  • 25 May 2008 – Runway Cycling and Skating 2008
  • 17 May 2008 – Hentam Ketam 2008 Mountain Bike/Run race in Hentam Ketam, Pulau Ubin
  • Feb 2008 – Qualifying ride for Ride the Lobster
  • 9 February 2008 – New Year city ride at Track 15/food binge at Hui Fang & R
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