First Wheel Walker?

I don't know for sure, but I read in a post way back in the archives
that some unicyclists were doing _sideways_ wheel walk back in the
1940's, at which time it was called "barrel roll." In all probability,
the first wheel walker was some performer from the vaudeville era, and
thus possibly as early as the 1920's.

--
jsm - Dark and stormy stand-up wheel walk

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jsm said:

*I don't know for sure, but I read in a post way back in the archives
that some unicyclists were doing _sideways_ wheel walk back in the
1940's*

That was Ken Woods, who was pictured on the cover of the USA Newsletter,
around Fall 1977 or so.

Quoted message said:

*the first wheel walker was some performer from the vaudeville era,
and thus possibly as early as the 1920's. *

I'm sure it was old hat by then. My *minimum* guess on when wheel
walking was first done is 105 years ago. Of course these were
performers, not people out riding with friends and exchanging tricks.

It sure would be a fun hobby project for someone (else) to research old
variety entertainers and see which are the earliest unicyclists they can
find, and any descriptions of their performances that can be dug up...

For us in "organized" unicycling, I can remember when the wheel walk
race was 10 yards (3'😉 in distance. In early races there were ony a few
finishers. My friends and I fixed this in the early 80s, with times of
3.5 seconds or so. Then it was extended to the current 30m, which I
still think works as a good, challenging sprint distance.

--
johnfoss - The wilder Wilder

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
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johnfoss said:

race was 10 yards (3'😉 in distance.

Just to avoid confusion: 1 yard is 3 ft, so 10 yards is 30 ft. I'm
sure John knew and meant this.

Klaas Bil - Newsgroup Addict
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people who unicycle are shyly exhibitionistic - GILD