Cycling on two wheels is second nature to most of us who would have picked up the skill as children. Very few would have tried unicycling though. It is a tad different from bicycling but, if unicyclists are to be believed, it is much more versatile, with “unlimited” avenues for fun. From track races, riding mountain trails, off-roading, dancing (freestyle), juggling, skipping and sports like basketball and hockey, there are many things you could do riding a unicycle.
Unicycling, in itself, provides a lot of health benefits, much like cycling. But when you combine it with other sports or activities, the positives magnify exponentially, along with the cool quotient. It is just about picking up the skill, which can prove a bit tricky, to begin with, but once mastered, it is a breeze.
“I’ve been riding a unicycle for about six years now,” says 17-year-old Punith Gundappa, a class 11 student from Bengaluru. “It took around two to three weeks to learn the basics of unicycling. I continue to improve my skills and explore new skills to master.”
Gundappa practises unicycling at least three to four hours a week and can juggle, dribble and hop up and down staircases on a unicycle. He can even ride a giraffe – a unicycle that measures five to seven feet – that is considered the most challenging one to master.
Difference between unicycling and bicycling
The noticeable difference between a unicycle and a bicycle is the number of wheels. But there is a lot more. The whole dynamic of the ride is different.
“The basic unicycles don’t have handlebars, brakes or gears and the balance is different too,” says David Foy, a unicycling coach at Shishu Mandir Education Centre, Bengaluru.
Just because you know how to ride a bicycle does not mean you could pick up unicycling just like that.
“On a unicycle, you are sitting upright, over the axle and the pedals,” explains Foy. “All your weight is going straight down through the seat, through the axle and onto the single wheel. Whereas on a bicycle, you’re leaning forward, and a lot of your weight is distributed between the seat and the handlebars.”
The riding posture of unicycling naturally engages more muscle groups than cycling.
“In unicycling, in addition to keeping your balance side-to-side you also need to keep your balance forward and backwards,” says Ian Dylewski, a professional unicycling coach and rider from Hilden, Germany. “Also, the balancing side-to-side works differently on a unicycle compared to a bicycle. Unicycling uses the legs for steering instead of the front wheel [in bicycle] and thus leads to different muscle groups getting involved in riding.”
How to ride a unicycle
Unicycling requires work on the balancing part. Most people find it difficult to sit straight on a unicycle initially.
“Core muscles are needed to keep enough stability on the unicycle and to be able to keep the balance,” says Dylewski. “Balancing a unicycle works not by keeping your body above the unicycle, but by keeping the unicycle underneath your body. Imagine balancing a long stick on your hand. You move your hand at the bottom to keep the stick in place. So, the muscles in your legs need to be strong to not only keep pedalling, like on a bicycle but also respond to balance shifts by slowing down or speeding up quickly and often.”
While learning to ride a unicycle, most people tend to use their arm muscles for balance, but experienced riders don’t need the arms.
“Balance is something you must teach your nervous system,” says Foy. “You can do other balance exercises to improve that. Once you can ride a unicycle without holding on to anything, then weaving in and out between cones, riding up and over small obstacles and standing still as long as possible, where you don’t pedal on the unicycle is also good. All this works on improving the balance.”
Benefits of unicycling
Riding a unicycle requires coordination between various muscles in the body.
“Unicycling benefits your whole body,” says Dylewski. “It almost uses every muscle group in your body to either keep your balance (lower body) or stay stiff (upper body). Coordination within your whole body – legs, upper body and arms – is important to keep the balance and steer the unicycle.”
The more challenging the ride/activity is, the more it works the muscles.
“It can work as a cardiovascular and aerobic exercise,” says Foy. “It also works your core and leg muscles – from your toes to all the way up – because you must drive the power down through the pedals for which your hamstrings, quadriceps and calves are used. The more difficult the ride is, the more your core gets a workout. So, if you ride off-road or over obstacles, it works your core muscles more.”
Sports like basketball and hockey are played on unicycles. The challenge here is to not just ride with balance but to work and play as a team while not bumping into each other and falling.
Gundappa vouches for his unicycle, his one-stop gym equipment and an avenue for a fun commute.
“Riding a unicycle is a unique and exciting experience,” adds Gundappa. “It requires a lot of dedication, balance, focus and coordination, but once you get the hang of it, it feels amazing. It’s a great way to challenge myself, improve my skills and get outside and explore the world around me. I have also used a unicycle for commuting short distances to school sometimes. It definitely helps me stay physically fit and healthy by improving my balance, core strength and stamina. It has also increased my confidence and self-esteem and gives me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction after mastering new tricks and techniques. Plus, it’s just plain fun.”
Takeaways
- The difference between a unicycle and a bicycle is not just limited to the number of wheels. The whole dynamic of the ride is different.
- Getting the balance right is crucial in unicycling, and that involves establishing the right coordination between the core and the leg muscles.
- Riding a unicycle mostly benefits the core and calf muscles, conditioning and strengthening them. It is also a great cardio exertion. Many activities (juggling, hopping etc) and sports (basketball, hockey) can be played while unicycling.
