Photo by Induni


I used to think the height of hardcore commuting lay in the world of the fixed speed. Often without brakes, the ability to change gears to suit the terrain and pedals that keep your feet going, even when you’re going down hills, I imagined these bikes were about as challenging as you could make a commute.

All that changed when I saw this guy the other day powering his way down St. Kilda road:


With no handle bars, gears, brakes or the luxury of dismounting at traffic lights I followed him in awe as he mixed it up with Melbourne’s morning motor traffic.

I have no idea how hard it is to balance on a unicycle when you come to complete stop but this guy made it look really easy, it was sort of like track standing on a fixed speed but without making you look like a douchebag in the process.

I didn’t get a chance to have a chat to him but I was certainly curious as to whether unicycle commuting was widespread or not in the cycling world. Turns out they’ve come a long way from the ‘clown unicycle’ or guy-juggling-on-a-unicycle types I remember seeing as a kid.

Looks like Surly could have just as easily named the Conundrum the 'Groin Crusher'.

Wikipedia goes a bit into the different types of unicycles available. To my amazement people actually take unicycles offroad and even tour places like India on them, holy crap talk about dedication!

Daniel Whitlow even takes unicycle commuting one step further and does it without a helmet. I mean cmon, unicycle commuting without a helmet – you’ve either got balls of steel or a head full of steel.

Even my beloved Surly (of Long Haul Trucker fame) have a mountain bike unicycle on offer, the Conundrum.

Here in Australia, the Australian Unicycle Society seem to hold regular events related to unicycling and are probably your best bet if you’ve got an interest in them. I’m sure the guy I saw down St. Kilda road is on that site somewhere.

Whilst I’m extremely confident on two wheels even in the heaviest of traffic, taking it to one wheel seems to be pretty extreme and you probably won’t see me on a unicycle any time soon.

Still, it does kinda look fun – maybe one day in a deserted car park or something I’ll try one out. As for commuting, well I think I’m gunna leave that to the pros. My crotch just isn’t ready for that much punishment!

1. 7 reasons why bicycle commuting doesn’t work in Taiwan
2. Bicycle Commuting: Fat or Skinny Bike Tires?
3. Fitzroy Street St Kilda Dual Copenhagen Lanes
4. 5 essential items for winter bicycle commuting
5. Bicycle commuting: is auto vehicle air pollution harmful?