Unicycle

Background

A unicycle is a single-wheeled vehicle traditionally used during circus performances. It consists of a spoke wheel, pedals, and a tube shaped body attached to a seat. Unicycles are made like bicycles; individual parts are produced separately then pieced together by the manufacturer.

History

The unicycle's history began with the invention of the bicycle. Comte De Sivrac first developed bicycles during the late eighteenth century. His device, called a celerifere, was a wooden horse that had two wheels joined by a wooden beam. In 1816, wooden, riding horses like these had become improved by the addition of a steering mechanism. In 1840, Kirkpatrick Macmillan introduced a mechanism for powering the hobbyhorse with his feet. During the 1860s significant progress was made with the introduction of rubber tires, metal spoke wheels, and ball bearing hubs. During 1866, James Stanley invented a unique bicycle called the Penny Farthing. It is this vehicle that is thought to be the inspiration for the unicycle. During the late nineteenth century the Penny Farthing was a popular bicycle. It had a large front wheel and a small rear wheel. Since its pedal cranks were connected directly to the front axle, the rear wheel would go up in the air and the rider would be moved slightly forward. This likely prompted riders to see how long they could ride with the back wheel in the air and the unicycle was born. Evidence for this theory of development can be found in pictures from the late eighteenth century that show unicycles with large wheels. Since the unicycle requires a greater degree of skill to ride than a bicycle, many people that could ride them became entertainers. Over the years, unicycle enthusiasts have inspired manufacturers to create new designs such as seatless and tall, giraffe unicycles. During the late 1980s some extreme sportsmen took an interest in the unicycle and outdoor unicycling on rugged terrain was born. Today, the unicycle remains a relatively obscure vehicle however there are more people riding unicycles now then ever before. Design A unicycle is a single-wheel vehicle. Typically, it consists of a seat attached to a frame that is attached to the wheel hub. Seats are available in a variety of sizes and shapes. Unlike a bicycle seat, they are often curved slightly downward and symmetrical. They are padded and may have "bumpers" on each end to protect them during one of the rider's inevitable falls. Some seats are designed with handles on the front to enable the rider to do various tricks. The seat is attached to the frame via the seat post. The various types of posts that are available can differentiated by the way they allow for height adjustment. The most basic seat post is a metal tube with holes drilled at regular intervals. There is also a hole in the main body through which a bolt is placed to hold the seat post. To adjust the seat higher or lower, the bolt is removed, the seat is adjusted to the next hole and the bolt is replaced. A more sophisticated seat post has no holes but is attached to the frame through a clamp. The clamp is loosened or tightened with a blot or Allen wrench screw to adjust the height of the seat post. This design al-lows for a finer adjustment of the seat height. In addition to these differences some seat posts allow for angle adjustments. The unicycle frame is a metal structure with two forks that attach to the wheel and a hollow tube that connects to the seat post. Different designs are available. The simplest has flat forks bolted together above the wheel and attached to the seat post. More sophisticated versions of this design have curved forks for better rigidity. A better design is the tubular one-piece body with a squared or rounded fork crown. These structures have less points of weakness and are more durable. The frame is attached to the center of the wheel along with the bearings, pedal cranks and the spoke hub. The bearings are sealed balls of steel that reduce friction. The pedal cranks are attached to the bearings, and at the end of the cranks are the pedals. The spoke hub is the area where each of the wheel spokes are attached. The hub can have straight or angled flanges that attach to the spokes and have a cottered or cotterless shaft. The spokes are thin metal tubes measuring in thickness from 0.08 to 0.125 in (0.2-0.32 cm). The number of spokes on a unicycle varies depending on the design and can be from 28 to 48. In general, more spokes are better. The spokes can be arranged in different patterns on the wheel. For example they can have a three or four cross pattern. Additionally, they can have an interleaved pattern that adds to strength and stability. The spokes are attached to the tire rim through a series of holes. These holes can be straight or angled to match the angle of the spoke. The final component of a unicycle is the tire. A standard unicycle tire has a round cross-section and a flat or smooth tread. This design is ideal for riding on flat surfaces. Some outdoor unicycle tires have thicker treads that are better for rugged terrain. The size of a standard unicycle tire is 26 in (66 cm). In addition to the standard unicycle just described, other designs are available. The Giraffe unicycle is a taller vehicle that is chain-driven like a bicycle. While standard unicycles have a height of about 3 ft (0.91 m), Giraffe unicycles can be 15-20 ft (4.6-6.1 m) tall. The record height for a Giraffe unicycle is about 100 ft (30.5 m). Another type of unicycle is called the Ultimate Wheel. This version has no seat or body consisting of only a wheel and pedals. The spokes are typically replaced by a plywood disk to reduce injury to the rider's ankles. The Impossible Wheel consists of a wheel and side posts that the rider stands on. The challenge to this unicycle is figuring out how to propel oneself. Finally, a rare type of unicycle is the monocycle. This design consists of a large wheel with the seat on the inside.