![Einrad mit Scheibenbremse](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Einrad_mit_Scheibenbremse.jpg)
Mountain unicycling is an adventure sport that consists of traversing rough terrain on a
unicycle
A unicycle is a vehicle that touches the ground with only one wheel. The most common variation has a bicycle frame, frame with a bicycle saddle, saddle, and has a human-powered vehicle, pedal-driven direct-drive mechanism, direct-drive. A two spee ...
. Mountain
unicycling (muni) is undertaken on similar terrain to
mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, usually using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and pe ...
. However, muni requires much more attention to the microfeatures of the short distance in front of the wheel.
[The Essential Guide to Mountain and Trials Unicycling, Kris Holm, p128, ] Unicycles' lack of a
freewheel
Freewheel mechanism
In mechanical or automotive engineering, a freewheel or overrunning clutch is a device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft. An ov ...
means that descents must be controlled all the way, and the typical lack of a gear system (though two-gear hubs are available) prevents the rider from reaching high speeds. Muni usually takes place on specially designed unicycles, which are equipped with strong hubs, large, knobbly tires, high-grip pedals and rugged frames. Some are also equipped with rim or
disc brake
A disc brake is a type of brake that uses the calipers to squeeze pairs of pads against a disc or a "rotor" to create friction. This action slows the rotation of a shaft, such as a vehicle axle, either to reduce its rotational speed or to hol ...
s, having the lever mounted under the nose of the saddle. The brake primarily helps to compensate the downhill-slope force, while more expert riders also use it to decelerate or stop.
Muni riders also need a few additional skills than required for either mountain biking or regular unicycling, with core strength, endurance and balance being key.
Skills
The ability to jump over gaps or to stop pedaling to keep the crank clear of the ground features is helpful.
Highspeed gliding is a technique to rush down a smooth path with the feet off the pedals and braking with one shoe on the top of the tire.
Equipment
The unicycle typically has broad tires with grippy profile, filled with medium air pressure. The grippy pedals may have a tilt front contour (viewed from the side). The cranks should not be too long – relative to the rim size – to maintain clearance from bigger stones on the ground. Rims are rather broad to be sturdy and may have bores between the spoke holes to save weight, as a typical
trial bike wheel. The banana saddle is fixed (not spring suspended) on the fork and carries a front and back bumper made of stiff plastics. The front bumper is used by three fingers from underneath as a handle, when the rider jumps or dismounts – or falls.
The rider wears shoes with grip, uses a helmet and protectors at shins, knees and at least gloves on the hands.
A helmet camera needs a wide angle lens and picture stabilization, because the rider makes sudden and quick head movements to watch the trail.
Events
* Muni events recognized by the
International Unicycling Federation
The International Unicycling Federation (IUF), is the international governing body for the sport of unicycling. It was founded in 1982 in the United States but is composed of representatives of unicycling nations from around the world. Funding co ...
at
Unicon
Unicon, previously known as UNICON, is the World Unicycling Convention and Championships sanctioned by the International Unicycling Federation (IUF).
The IUF sanctions a biennial world unicycling convention and competition, the major event on t ...
s are: cross-country, uphill and downhill with the possibility of North Shore downhill.
* In the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, the California Mountain Unicycle Weekend and the Moab, Utah Muni Fest (ended as of 2009).
* In the
UK, the British Muni Weekend (BMW).
* The first
Colorado
Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...
Munifest took place in October 2007, organized by Colorado Muni.
* The first
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
Mountain Unicycle Weekend was held in February 2009, organized by the Arizona Unicycle Club.
* In
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, Cross County and Downhill are included in UniNats, held by the Australian Unicycle Society every 12–18 months.
* In
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein (), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: link=no, Fürstentum Liechtenstein), is a German-speaking microstate located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy ...
and
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
, the Elsbet (abbreviation for , English: Unique Mountain Unicycling Meeting of Liechtenstein and Switzerland)
Gallery
File:Mountain_unicycling_1503646673_6a286528c2_o.jpg, Relaxed mountain unicycling
File:Mountain_unicycles_1448609405_be860b9a3d.jpg, Mountain unicycles ( Surly)
Riders
Canada
*
Kris Holm
Kris Holm (born July 15, 1973) is a Canadian best known for riding a unicycle in off-road conditions. He has ridden since 1985 and is considered one of the pioneers of off-road unicycling, and is the world's best-known unicyclist. He is the founde ...
– Mountain unicycling pioneer and founder of Kris Holm Unicycles
* Ryan Kremsater
Austria
* Gerald Rosenkranz – First finisher of Red Bull
Dolomitenmann
The Dolomitenmann is an extreme sports relay race held in September in the East Tyrolean, or so-called Dolomite Mountains of Austria, near the city of Lienz. The founder and organiser is Werner Grissmann, a former World Cup skier.
The Dolomi ...
on a unicycle (2015)
* Markus Pröglhöf
Getting to know: Markus Pröglhöf
Red Bull, 6 June 2016, retrieved 5 May 2018. (German)
Germany
*Lutz Eichholz
See also
* Unicycle
A unicycle is a vehicle that touches the ground with only one wheel. The most common variation has a bicycle frame, frame with a bicycle saddle, saddle, and has a human-powered vehicle, pedal-driven direct-drive mechanism, direct-drive. A two spee ...
* Unicycle trials
Unicycle trials is a form of unicycling which involves participants attempting to ride a unicycle over obstacles without any part of the rider touching the ground.
The obstacles traversed can be set up specifically for the purpose of unicycle tri ...
* Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, usually using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and pe ...
References
External links
International Unicycling Federation
*{{curlie, Sports/Cycling/Unicycling/Mountain_Unicycling
Unicycling
Cycle types
Articles containing video clips