I bought a unicycle thinking it was part of an installment purchase plan for a bicycle. I entered for Ride the Lobster for the free crustaceans. I think I got scammed on both occasions. Street/freestyle riding appeals to me most because it's inspiring how something so seemingly impossible can be mastered with sheer patience. However, having bought my first big unicycle, I fully intent to go on more distance rides in the future so I get my money's worth (it's a very Singaporean trait).
Jiahui Cai
Jiahui Cai, East Coast, Singapore, 2008, Distracting fishermen so we can steal their fish, Photo by Shaun Sim
Jiahui Cai, Void deck of my apartment, Singapore, 2007, Leap of faith, Photo by Jiahui Cai
Xuyuan Kee
I'm 25. I started riding cause I saw this documentary with Kris Holm in it and he was riding around in his university. Being the lazy bastard that I was, I took it up so I wouldn't need to walk around, PLUS, it allowed me to do something that lots of people can't and gave me a lot of self belief. And thus I descended into the depths of the world of unicycling. I'm taking part in Ride the Lobster to see the great outdoors and basically do something that I WILL remember for the rest of my life.
Xuyuan Kee
Xuyuan Kee, East Coast, Singapore, 2008, Moment before a foot slipped, Photo by Shaun Sim
Xuyuan Kee, East Coast, Singapore, 2008, Looking and waving at the groyne, Photo by Shaun Sim
Wen Jun Shuan Sim
I've always wanted to ride a crustacean, ever since I've learned to unicycle, which is like since 2003, so Ride the Lobster is the ride of my dreams. 19-going-on-20, not fat, Singaporean; that means we're having difficulties finding sponsors and as a male, am forced to serve the army as National Service for about 2 years. Born 24th June 1988. Bilingual in Mandarin and English. What am I supposed to write anyway? Er.
Wen Jun Shuan Sim
Wen Jun Shuan Sim, East Coast, Singapore, 2008, Wheelwalking into the sea
Wen Jun Shuan Sim, East Coast, Singapore, 2008, Tango on a groyne
Michaël Montplaisir
My love for the circus started a couple years back on vacation at a buskers festival in Halifax. I started to learn how to juggle and then broadened to whatever was different and unique. Naturally, this included the unicycle, but I have unfortunately not yet mastered it. I have too many hobbies now, yet it keeps on growing. One thing I really enjoy is photography and it fuels my energy to go out there and find the unbeaten path. (Which would be even more useful if could unicycle it afterward.) When I was asked to support a trio of masticating bunnies (from hell), how could I say no? I look forward to June!
Michaël Montplaisir, Baden-Baden, Germany, Sept 2007, On top of a castle, Photo by P. Gagnon
Michaël Montplaisir, Vienna, Austria, Oct 2007, Caught behind the lens, Photo by P. Gagnon