Self-balancing Unicycle

While learning to ride a unicycle it is hard to balance. The electric unicycle was created for those that want to ride a unicycle but don't have the balance to ride one. The pedals are fixed in the down position. It has a motor that spins the wheel.  There are two types of SBU's or Electric Uni's. The Single-axis only balances forward and backwards, so the rider has to control the side to side balancing. The Two-axis SBU balances in all directions.
A rider just has to lean forward on the SBU to go forward. Although these are really cool and would be easy to ride they cannot move backwards and are slightly harder to steer.

Learning the Skill of Unicycling

While learning more about unicycles, I have wanted to learn how to ride a unicycle. First up was how to mount it. I found out its a lot harder then you'd think.

1. To mount you first put the unicycle where you want to be when you are on it. 
2. Put the pedals at a 90 degree angle to the floor. 
3. Roll it forward until you are where you want to be.
4. Put your foot on the pedal closest to you.
5. Step up and pull the unicycle under you.

Alright, Now we know how to get on it. What about riding? 

Its almost the same as a bike, except you can't take the weight off the pedals or you'll fall over. You lean forward slightly and start pedaling. Its easiest if you go one "step" at a time. Then progress to riding it like you would a bike.

Now you can almost ride, in a straight line. Next up is turning. There is two ways to turn.

1. Leaning slightly to the direction you want to go, for a gradual turn.
2. Shifting your legs and hips to turn the wheel.

Next up is perfecting it and you have got it down.

Taking the unicycle where bicycles have gone.

Unicycle riding has been taken to a new level, mountain uni-cycling. The mountain unicycle has a thicker wheel and has more support. Riders will do what is done for mountain biking, except for one thing, they are on a unicycle. Mountain unicycles are also called M-Uni's. Riders can jump over rocks and get around the mountain easier because of the size and agility of the unicycle. M-Uni's have a brake added for quick stops and slowing down. Many M-Uni's will also have a handle added on to the front of the seat for lifting the uni for jumps, and balance.

What Unicycles are used for now

Typically when you think about a unicycle you think of a clown riding one at the circus or fair. True, unicycles are used for many forms of entertainment. Unicycle riders have merged unicycle riding with sports. Unicycle sports are played the same as other sports except one thing, the players are on unicycles. The players have to keep both feet on the pedals. The unicycles used for the sports cannot have a wheel diameter larger then 24 inches.

Some of the sports played on unicycles are; hockey, mountain biking, and many others.

History of unicycling

One of the most favored theories to how the unicycle came into use is from the old fashioned big wheeled penny-farthing, this bicycle has a very large front wheel and a small wheel behind, and the pedals were connected to the crank of the big wheel without any chain or similar simple machines. The handlebars came up out of the frame holding the big wheel. While the rider was moving the back wheel wound lift off the ground slightly to allow the rider to lean forward slightly to ride.

Some riders found that they could take the frame off and ride on just the front wheel and handlebars. Taking off the frame removed the seat and back wheel. Making a one wheeled cycle or a unicycle. The unicycle was mainly used by performers and acrobats, until the late 1980’s people began to use unicycles more and the design changed to what we would think about with a unicycle.

There are many types of unicycles used today. The unicycles that are more commonly used for performing are called giraffes because they have a tall frame with a connection to the pedals and the wheel. Another unicycle that is also commonly used is the ultimate wheel. It is a seat-less unicycle that has no seat, just a wheel and pedals. The most common unicycle has a 20-24 inch wheel, the frame is the height as the riders inseam length, the distance between the center seam in the pants to the ground wearing shoes.

Unicycle riding has become more and more popular. There is now groups of unicycle enthusiasts that have taken unicycle riding to a new level. People have created off-road unicycles that have thicker tires, and have created groups that go for rides and take the unicycles anywhere you would take a mountain bike.

Genius Project for 2014-2015

I have been interested in unicycles and some of the sports that have been made using unicycles. One of the first things that I want to learn is who created a one wheeled bicycle or unicycle. I also want to learn when the unicycle was used for other things besides circuses and entertainment. I saw that there were different types of unicycles that are for different purposes, and I wanted to know what the different unicycles are for. I wanted to learn more about unicycles and what people do on and with the unicycles such as tricks, communion, performing, and entertainment. So, overall I wanted to learn about the history and uses of unicycles.

Goals for 2014-2015 school year

Goals are important to have. The goals that I have set for me are some of the things that I have seen myself doing in the future; such as, graduating high school and attending college, or getting a scholarship. For my ninth grade year I have set goals to get good grades at all times. I want to get good grades so I am going to do my work and pay attention in class.

One of my goals that I have for my future life is to have a good job with something I love to do. Doing my school work and finding my interests are smaller short term goals that I have to achieve. Going to College will be a big part in achieving this goal.