It's a skate bike. That is the name of that cycle type. They have been
marketed by various companies, under many different names.
I first saw them at the 1983 National Unicycle Meet in Syracuse, NY. Sem
Abrahams' family brought some, but these were much cooler than the more
recent models. These were called Rodeocycles, and were from Motobecane.
They had a big plastic shell over the frame, making them look much
cooler. The seat was more like a unicycle seat, with a handle on the
front. And the drivetrain was fixed; you could ride them backward and
forward. Non-unicyclists were zipping all over the gym on them all
weekend. I even have a picture of my dad on one.
Later came the LeRun, which was promoted on MTV during the late 80s or
early 90s. They were much more similar to the one pictured. I will
assume that if it has a brake, with lever under the seat, that it's a
freewheel model. I think I've seen others that had coaster brakes
instead of the caliper types.
Wheel-wise, it is clearly a tricycle. Tricycle is probably not a fair
name for it, since two of the wheels are so tiny. But it's clearly not a
unicycle as it has 3 wheels on the ground. With a steering system. And
no fixed wheel.
If you search eBay for "unicycle" or better yet "unicycl*" (which
coveres unicycles, unicycling, unicyclist), you have seen many
non-unicycles that have been called unicycles. The most annoying are all
the penny-farthing bikes (usually pictues and toys, not real ones).
Can't they count wheels?
--
johnfoss - Walkin' on the edge
John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com
"Read the rules!" -- 'IUF Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/iuf/rulebook/) -- 'USA Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/usa/competition/)
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