UNIQUE UNICYCLE RACE DRAWS MORE THAN 100 LOVERS OF THE ONE-WHEELED SPORT
TO N.S.
BY MELANIE PATTEN
18 June 2008
The Canadian Press
(c) 2008 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
HUBBARDS, N.S. _ Feel free to stare, wave or cheer as Frank Brown zips
past, perched high atop his unicycle _ just don't hum that darn circus
song.
As the 25-year-old from Virginia scooted around a parking lot in
Hubbards, N.S., on Wednesday _ preparing for the next leg of an
international unicycle race _ he lamented the unicycle's enduring
association with seedy carnivals and clowns.
``You get a lot of comments from kids, like, they'll start singing the
circus theme song, that duhn duhn dunnadunna duhn duhn dunna,'' said
Brown, humming the familiar big-top tune known as Entrance of the
Gladiators.
``You get that a lot ... Other bicyclists, it's hard to convince them
that we're really serious about this.''
Brown, who's been unicycling for about eight years, is one of more than
100 extreme athletes from around the world who have come to Nova Scotia
to take part in a unique, week-long race called Ride the Lobster _ the
brainchild of Nova Scotian Edward Wedler.
The bookstore owner in Greenwood, N.S., who is originally from
Australia, came up with the name after he concluded that the shape of
the province looked like a lobster.
The 800-kilometre race began Monday in Yarmouth, along the province's
southwestern shore, and will wheel its way through 135 communities
before ending Friday in Cape Breton at Baddeck.
On Wednesday, riders took part in a time trial, with one unicyclist
departing the starting line every 30 seconds and cycling 21
kilometres.
The racers _ men and women who came from as far away as Singapore and
Denmark _ are accompanied by mechanics in 35 vans as they cycle across
the province.
Jamey Mossengren, who took up unicycling at the age of 10, said most
people are surprised when they learn how serious some unicyclists are
about their sport.
``Most people, when they think of unicycles, they think of circuses,
clowns and we're trying to get away from that,'' said Mossengren, 28,
who's from Huntington Beach, Ca.
``But once people see the tricks we can do, hear how long we can ride,
they understand it is more of a serious thing than just fun and
games.''
A basic unicycle is anywhere between 91 and 121 centimetres tall and
costs between $500 and $600 dollars, said Mossengren. But unicycles
with two gears can sell for about $2,000.
Typically, unicycles have no brakes and no gears, making it a challenge
for a rider's stomach muscles and thighs, whether wheeling downhill or
up.
``It's just a great feeling being up there, knowing you're balanced,
it's kind of like a Zen state in a way,'' said Mossengren, who has a
degree in mechanical engineering, but abandoned the profession in
favour of opening his own unicycle shop.
Race participant Steve Plumridge of Sydney, N.S., said he decided to
try his hand _ or feet _ at unicycling only 10 months ago.
``(Our team is) having lots of fun. We're not here to win, we're not
here to really place,'' said Plumridge. ``We're here to meet all the
people, enjoy the race, enjoy the experience.''
Ken Looi, a doctor from New Zealand, made the long trek to Nova Scotia
for the race, which is considered the Tour de France of the one-wheeled
variety.
The racers are competing for $10,000 in prizes and cash donated by
various unicycle builders and enthusiasts.
Looi, 30, said the Ride the Lobster race was a long time coming.
``I think it's awesome, there's nothing that's ever been held like it
before,'' said Looi, noting there is an international competition every
two years where participants compete in a variety of events, including
playing hockey and basketball.
``(Ride the Lobster) is one of kind,'' he said. ``Hopefully the first
of many.''
--
JJuggle
Raphael Lasar - Matawan, NJ
Pictures from the '10th Annual LBI Unithon' (http://tinyurl.com/5ye394)
held Saturday, June 7, 2008!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
JJuggle's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/24
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/22148
Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com
