Fellow single wheelers,
Within the family of ways to fall off a unicycle, we have a new term –
the term falls into the same family as a seat-bounce, though differs
significantly in execution. As the subject states, it’s the act of
being ‘plucked.’
The act of being plucked is much more likely to be experienced while
following one wheeled rather than two wheeled riding disciplines. This
is not because of the number of wheels touching the ground. Being
plucked can happen to anyone who isn’t bound to their steed using more
than groin muscles to hang on. It’s the unique side effect of our
strange little sport that doesn’t require the use of handlebars for
personal stability and steering that can lead to one being plucked is
easier on one rather than two wheels
I took my Coker up into Portland’s Forest Park yesterday to see how
friendly Leif Erickson Road would be to a 36” wheel. Since I started
my ride at the Convention Center, I only went 2.5 miles into the park
because the point at which I turned around only accounted for the first
50% of my day and getting home was definitely on the agenda. For those
not familiar with Portland, OR area, the one way point to point
distance is around 7 or 8 miles but who ever went straight on a
unicycle? The total elevation gain was approx. 600 feet. I was
heading out on the final downhill section a little prior to the Mile 1
marker. The trail had a manageable number of Sunday strollers and
runners and I was really enjoying speed over the gravel road. I was
riding a little behind a fairly fit runner and due to the extra
traffic, was having trouble passing him with the aplomb necessary to
avoid getting in his way once I got around in front of him. Finally, I
saw my chance and stepped my speed up close to squirrelly-max as we
rounded a corner. He stayed on the inside of the corner so following
one-wheeled NASCAR doctrine; I drifted outside and poured as much speed
into my cranks as I could muster across the gravel road. Hand gripping
my seat and standing on the pedals to increase power, I rounded the
corner leaning hard so as to not loose any speed. I estimate I was
just shy of 20 mph.
My speed, the safely distant walkers and the running obstacle were all
factors to be concerned with so I was more focused on immediate road
conditions and missing the moving human pylons than watching for other
distractions. My track took me under a gum tree hanging innocently
over the trail when the new term became reality. Against all odds, a
single branch met perfectly with the top left rear ventilation port of
my helmet like a fishhook and summarily plucked me off my ride. My
body stopped, dangling midway between horizontal and vertical by my
helmet straps while my unicycle full of its own momentum kept its same
pace. Time returned to normal as the tree bent enough to release me
and deposit me lightly on the road with a minimum of fuss; when my
helmet disengaged I was left more standing than not in the middle of
the road. My unicycle, having suddenly been freed of my speed
retarding efforts, discovered said freedom and took off down the trail
towards a woman with a double-wide jog stroller filled with babies.
The absence of my body caused the seat to be dragged across the gravel
until the whole contraption succumbed to gravity and thankfully tumbled
to a stop against the steep side of the road.
The runner didn’t even slow down. All I heard as he came past was,
“Maybe now we have a good reason to log all the trees out of this
place.” And he was gone. I’m quite certain he was spawn of Satan sent
on a singular mission to tangle my day. I was back in the saddle with
enough time to have and take one more chance to pass Beelzebub Jr.
before I got to the gate.
My neck is a little sore today though I do have great head mobility.
As I told a friend, “You know that spot on your back you’ve never been
able to lick before?” I include a picture of the only evidence of what
may be the world’s first plucking. It’s my helmet looking from the
front towards the rear at the vent hole from which I momentarily
dangled.
RossB
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