Best Unicycle Ride Ever.
Whew... shit man. Just got back in from a ride up to the Natural Foods Store for some herbs. Though not that far away as the crow flies, this ride was extraordinary for a few reasons. First, I went full speed all the way there... and I wound through campus doing a little sight-seeing so it wasn't just a straight shot. On the way, I of course bumped into a couple people who asked me if I could do tricks. So I said, "you mean like this?" and jumped up a couple stairs and then gapped off. Of course they liked that. Some skaters saw me and told me that it was sweet. Since I got to Cincinnati I've been told my unicycling is pimp, the shit, fucking awesome, that I'm the man, that I've got skillz, that its hot and everything else you can imagine.
Which brings me to my first point about unicycling. Its extremely versitile. For starters, its an awesome icebreaker. Everyone asks me questions or gives me stranges looks, or scoots aside as if I'll come crashing into them, which is an invitation for me to say something like "oh don't worry, I have pretty good aim." A lot of people still pretend like they didn't see me, and some people chuckle to themselves, in which case I smile back at them and laugh too. Anyways, I got my herbs (nettle and peppermint for tea), a tea ball and some carob powder. Then came my ride back. I was cruising along and decided to stop in the student center building for some water (the pizza place always gives me a cup of water for free) and these two sixth graders came up and asked me how I rode it. So... I hopped up and gave it a little spin around the dinning area. You have to understand that this was happening at lunch hour, so the place was packed with students. Everyone was looking at the strange guy in green on a unicycle. Anyways, the boy (Rodney) was interested in what else I could do, so I said I would go outside and give a demonstration. I was planning on riding down these huge stairs that I've done before but unfortunately the first time I tried with my big coat on and fell flat on my face. I didn't want to give the wrong impression so I got up and did it again and I think that he and his friend enjoyed the demo. I did sort of sprain my wrist on the fall though, so I'm going to have to atleast stop doing tricks for a day or two and let it heal. Oh well, the story gets better.
As I cruised on through campus doing a few more little tricks like riding ledges, I spotted someone rolling down the street on one wheel. I sort of rubbed my eyes in disbelief and then shouted "no way, no way... stop...." and rode up to this girl named Angela who was riding a 24" unicycle. I told her I thought I was the only unicyclist in ohio. She didn't laugh but I'm not sure if its because she was struggling not to fall or if it was really not that funny. Anyways, just seeing another unicyclist made my day. I hope to see her again so that I can find out if she does any tricks, or if she wants to learn any tricks. So after that encounter, I was on the last leg of the trip home and I passed this enormous sign for the University of Cincinnati which is right outside DAAP. It starts at one end about 2 ft. high and as it curves around it gets higher and at the other end its maybe 10 feet high. Since I first saw this, I knew it would be sweet to unicycle... so I decided why the hell not. I got up and rode about 3/4 of the way before getting scared and jumping off. Someday when its really nice and there are a lot of people outside, I'm going to ride the whole thing. I rode the rest of the way home thinking about how awesome unicycle is. Not only did I get to the store about three or four times as fast as walking (and I ride the smallest unicycle there is) but when I got home, my body was dripping in sweat. It is the only form of exercise that makes me sweat everywhere. Transportation, workout and communication icebreaker (most people just walk around minding their own business, but you can't avoid a goofy looking green guy on one wheel grinning from ear to ear now can you). Anyways, I am now officially ordained a reverend of the unicycle cult. Take from that what you will.
Which brings me to my first point about unicycling. Its extremely versitile. For starters, its an awesome icebreaker. Everyone asks me questions or gives me stranges looks, or scoots aside as if I'll come crashing into them, which is an invitation for me to say something like "oh don't worry, I have pretty good aim." A lot of people still pretend like they didn't see me, and some people chuckle to themselves, in which case I smile back at them and laugh too. Anyways, I got my herbs (nettle and peppermint for tea), a tea ball and some carob powder. Then came my ride back. I was cruising along and decided to stop in the student center building for some water (the pizza place always gives me a cup of water for free) and these two sixth graders came up and asked me how I rode it. So... I hopped up and gave it a little spin around the dinning area. You have to understand that this was happening at lunch hour, so the place was packed with students. Everyone was looking at the strange guy in green on a unicycle. Anyways, the boy (Rodney) was interested in what else I could do, so I said I would go outside and give a demonstration. I was planning on riding down these huge stairs that I've done before but unfortunately the first time I tried with my big coat on and fell flat on my face. I didn't want to give the wrong impression so I got up and did it again and I think that he and his friend enjoyed the demo. I did sort of sprain my wrist on the fall though, so I'm going to have to atleast stop doing tricks for a day or two and let it heal. Oh well, the story gets better.
As I cruised on through campus doing a few more little tricks like riding ledges, I spotted someone rolling down the street on one wheel. I sort of rubbed my eyes in disbelief and then shouted "no way, no way... stop...." and rode up to this girl named Angela who was riding a 24" unicycle. I told her I thought I was the only unicyclist in ohio. She didn't laugh but I'm not sure if its because she was struggling not to fall or if it was really not that funny. Anyways, just seeing another unicyclist made my day. I hope to see her again so that I can find out if she does any tricks, or if she wants to learn any tricks. So after that encounter, I was on the last leg of the trip home and I passed this enormous sign for the University of Cincinnati which is right outside DAAP. It starts at one end about 2 ft. high and as it curves around it gets higher and at the other end its maybe 10 feet high. Since I first saw this, I knew it would be sweet to unicycle... so I decided why the hell not. I got up and rode about 3/4 of the way before getting scared and jumping off. Someday when its really nice and there are a lot of people outside, I'm going to ride the whole thing. I rode the rest of the way home thinking about how awesome unicycle is. Not only did I get to the store about three or four times as fast as walking (and I ride the smallest unicycle there is) but when I got home, my body was dripping in sweat. It is the only form of exercise that makes me sweat everywhere. Transportation, workout and communication icebreaker (most people just walk around minding their own business, but you can't avoid a goofy looking green guy on one wheel grinning from ear to ear now can you). Anyways, I am now officially ordained a reverend of the unicycle cult. Take from that what you will.