Unicycle

Generally used for flatland skills and freestyle routines, freestyle unicycles typically have a relatively high seatpost, a narrow saddle, and a squared fork (used for one-footed tricks). These unicycles are used similarly to flatland bicycles. Wheel size is usually 20 inches (510 mm), but smaller riders may use 16-or-12-inch (410 or 300 mm) unicycles. Some people prefer 24-inch (610 mm) wheels.

Designed for unicycle trials, these unicycles are stronger than standard unicycles in order to withstand the stresses caused by jumping, dropping, and supporting the weight of the unicycle and rider on components such as the pedals and cranks. Many trials unicycles also have wide, 19-or-20-inch (480-or-510-millimetre) knobby tires to absorb some of the impact on drops.

Muni with disc brake

Mountain unicycling (abbreviated to muni or mUni) consists of riding specialized unicycles on mountain bike trails or otherwise off-roading. Mountain unicycles have thicker, wider tires for better traction. Riders may occasionally lower air pressure for increased shock absorption. Many riders choose to use long cranks to increase power when riding up hills and over rough terrain. A disc brake is sometimes used for descents; the brake handle is attached to the underside of the handle on the front of the saddle.

36″ unicycle with Schlumpf gear

Used for long distances, these unicycles are specially made to cover distances. They have a large wheel diameter, between 26 and 36 in (660 and 910 mm), so more distance is covered in less pedal rotation. A 36″ unicycle made by the Coker Tire company started the big wheel trend.[4] Some variations on the traditional touring unicycle include the Schlumpf "GUni" (geared unicycle), which uses a two-speed internal fixed-geared hub. Larger direct-drive wheels tend to have shorter cranks to allow for easier cadence and more speed. Geared wheels, with an effective diameter larger than the wheel itself, tend to use longer cranks to increase torque as they are not required to achieve such high cadences as direct-drive wheels, but demand greater force per pedal stroke.

Giraffe unicycle

Multi-wheeled unicycle

• Giraffe, a chain-driven unicycle. Use of a chain or multiple wheels in a gear-like configuration can make the unicycle much taller than standard unicycles (note that multi-wheel unicycles can be described as giraffes).[5] Standard unicycles don't have a chain, which limits the seat height based on how long the rider's legs are, because there the crank is attached directly to the wheel axle. Giraffe unicycles can range in heights from 3 feet (0.91 meters) to over 10 feet (3.0 meters) high.
• Geared unicycle , or GUni, a unicycle whose wheel rotates faster than the pedal cadence. They are used for distance riding and racing.[6]
• Multi-wheeled unicycle, a unicycle with more than one wheel, stacked on top of each other so that only one wheel touches the ground (nicknamed stacks). The wheels are linked together by chains or direct contact with each other.[7] These unicycles can also be called giraffes.
• Kangaroo unicycle, a unicycle that has both the cranks facing in the same direction. They are so named due to the hopping motion of the rider's legs, supposedly resembling the jumping of a kangaroo.
• Eccentric unicycle, a unicycle that has the hub off-center in the wheel. Putting an eccentric wheel on a kangaroo unicycle can make riding easier, and the rider's motion appear more kangaroo-like.
• Ultimate wheel, a unicycle with no frame or seat, just a wheel and pedals.
• Impossible wheel, or BC wheel, a wheel with pegs or metal plates connected to the axle for the rider to stand on. These wheels are for coasting and jumping. A purist form of unicycle, without cranks.
• Monocycle, or monowheel, a large wheel inside which the rider sits (as in a hamster wheel), either motorized or pedal-powered. The greater gyroscopic properties and lower center of mass make it easier to balance than a normal unicycle but less maneuverable.
• Self-balancing unicycle or electric unicycle, a computer-controlled, motor-driven, self-balancing unicycle.[8]
• Freewheeling unicycle, a unicycle in which the hub has a freewheel mechanism, allowing the rider, to coast or move forward without pedaling, as a common bicycle does. These unicycles almost always have brakes because they cannot stop the way traditional unicycles do. The brake lever is generally mounted in the bottom of the saddle. These unicycles also cannot go backwards.
• Tandem[9]
• Recumbent[10]
• Hydraulic giraffe that can change in height while being ridden[9]

Unicycle basketball uses a regulation basketball on a regular basketball court with the same rules, e.g., one must dribble the ball while riding. There are a number of rules that are particular to unicycle basketball as well, e.g., a player must be mounted on the unicycle when in-bounding the ball. Unicycle basketball is usually played using 24 inches (610 mm) or smaller unicycles, and using plastic pedals, both to preserve the court and the players' shins. In North America, regular unicycle basketball games are organized in Berkeley, San Luis Obispo, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, and Toronto. Switzerland, France, Germany and Puerto Rico are all field teams. The Puerto Rico All Star Unicycling Basketball Team has been one of the dominant teams and has won several world championships.

Unicycle Hockey

Unicycle hockey follows rules basically similar to rink hockey, using a tennis ball and ice-hockey sticks. Play is mostly non-contact. The sport has active leagues in Germany, Switzerland, Australia and the UK and international tournaments held at least bi-annually. Tournaments in the UK are held by various teams across the country usually in sports halls, but occasionally outside. Each tournament lasts a day and around 8 teams normally compete in a round-robin league with the winner being whoever has the most points. If two teams have the same number of points the winner can be decided by goal difference or a penalty shoot-out.

• Kris Holm and George Peck, pioneers in mountain unicycling
• Rudy Horn, a German juggler
• Ernest Montego, a German juggler
• Jiang Yan Jing, Chinese acrobat
• Ted Jorgensen, circus unicyclist, president of the Albuquerque Unicycle Club
• Michael Goudeau, an American juggler
• Skeeter Reece, an American clown
• Amy Shields, an American freestyle unicyclist
• Dustin Kelm, worldwide variety unicycle performer
• "Wobbling" Wally Watts, round the world unicyclist, April 1976 to October 1978[12][13]
• Ed Pratt, round the world unicyclist, March 2015 to July 2018
• Mike Taylor, World Champion in Unicycle High Jump in 2014, 2016 & 2018[14][15]

Skeeter Reece, former member of the King Charles Troupe, performs in 1983

• Albuquerque Unicycle Club world's first unicycle hockey club
• The King Charles Troupe, the first African American circus troupe, and one of the longest running acts in Ringling Bros history[16][17][18][19]

• Adam Carolla, American comedian and actor[20]
• Rupert Grint, actor who played Ronald Weasley in the Harry Potter films[21]
• Mark Ruffalo, actor [22]
• Mika Häkkinen, Formula One racing driver[23]
• Lewis Hamilton, Formula One racing driver[24]
• Eddie Izzard, comedian and actor[25]
• Leslie Mann, American actress who performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show[26]
• Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay[27]
• Demetri Martin, American comedian and actor[28]
• Ulrich Mühe, late German actor, best known for his role in The Lives of Others[29]
• Michael Nesmith, former guitarist of The Monkees[30]
• Miles Plumlee, American professional basketball player[31]
• Nico Rosberg, Formula One racing driver[24]
• Donald Rumsfeld, former United States Secretary of Defense[32]
• Claude Shannon, founder of information theory[33]
• Take That members Mark Owen, Jason Orange, and Howard Donald unicycled for the circus-based video for their song "Said It All"[34]
• Andrew Tosh, son of Peter and also a Jamaican reggae musician[35]
• Peter Tosh: Jamaican reggae musician from The Wailers[35][36]
• Steve Young, former National Football League quarterback[37]
• Ilya Zhitomirskiy: Russian-American software developer and entrepreneur[38]