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.
