I originally learned to ride on a Troxel, tricycle-technology unicycle in 1976. It fell apart from the use. I finished learning to ride on a Schwinn Giraffe in 1979. I don't recommend this method. In 1980 I joined my local unicycle club (Redford), learned about the world of unicycling, attended my first conventions and was inexorably hooked. Something happened to my brain and I haven't been able to get the unicycles out since. I became a racing and Freestyle expert, with many national and world titles. I helped get the International Unicycling Federation going in the 80s and did newsletters for both the IUF and the Unicycling Society of America. In 1987 I broke the Guinness 100m speed record. In the 90s I moved to California, discovered "real" mountain unicycling and invented the MUni Weekend. I'm happy to have seen the idea spread around the world. Today my favorite forms of unicycling are road and off-road.
John Foss, Las Vegas, 2006, with sushi, my favorite!
John Foss, Colfax, California, October 2006, In the American River at the end of the Stevens Trail, Photo by Robert Allen
John Foss, my garage, October 2003, I have a lot of unicycles, which normally reside on the ceiling!
David Stone
I bought my first unicycle, a Schwinn 20, with the last of my bar mitzvah gelt. After 3 three-hour days, I'd mastered the basics, and a few years later I was able to get my first job thanks to my unicycle: handing out fliers while riding around my neighborhood. Fast forward to 2000: I met Joe Merrill, and a few months later, we co-founded the current New York Unicycle Club (John Foss had one back in the late 1980s). Our club currently has about 40 members per gathering, and my kids all ride (ok, the 4-year-old is still learning, actually). When my brother John and I were teens, we rode 25 miles on our 24 Schwinns for a fund-raiser. That was painful! More recently I've completed a 102-mile ride on a Coker (with 110mm cranks) and an 89-mile ride on a 1st-generation Schlumpf 29 that occasionally shifted gear on me unexpectedly. I've also ridden in some shorter 5-borough rides around NYC.
David Stone at NAUCC, July 2006 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA
David Stone at NAUCC, July 2006 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, Riding the Obstacle Course
David Stone, riding with his son Emmett
Dave White
In 1966 I was attending the 5th grade at Saint Helen in Newbury Ohio, a junior high school of about a hundred students. A few kids learned to ride a unicycle owned by the school. The school purchased more unicycles and the fad grew. I learned to ride at the age ten. The school formed a unicycle drill team consisting of half the students in the school and we performed in parades across the Eastern United States. We rode in the Chicago Saint Patrick's Day parade, The New York Macy's parade and at a number of college bowl games. I continued to ride with the group in high school. I rode to all my classes while attending Ohio University. At that time the unicycle team had a 23 foot unicycle built that I occasionally rode in performances. Now I mostly ride on the roads and trails around home. I also like to compete in the USA national conventions. My best efforts have been a 4th place in a 10 kilometer road race at the 2002 international competition, and a 1st place in a 10 kilometer road race in 2006 at the USA national competition. I also ride in various charity events and completed a 250 kilometer ride in two days for Multiple Sclerosis.
When I am not riding my unicycle I am sailing on the great Lake Erie or paddling my kayak down some whitewater river. I am looking forward to meeting unicyclists from all over the world as we take Nova Scotia by storm.
Dave White, Chardon, Ohio, USA, April 2008, Photo by Suzi Ramos
Dave White, NAUCC 2006 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, leading the unlimited 10k race on his Schlumpf, July 2006, Photo by John Foss
Dave White, in his decked canoe on Lower Keeney Rapid on The New River in West Virginia, USA, July 2002, Photo by Leisure Sports Photography
Jacquie Foss
When I met my husband John I never realized how sexy the world of unicycling was. And as John told me on our first date, unicycling is a chick magnet as I'm sure you will all agree. In my quest to meet as many unicyclists as possible to compare to John, I've attended four Unicons and nine USA conventions, and even had unicycles riding around at my wedding. And I have yet to be disappointed! For a living, I run an agency that supports people with developmental disabilities (www.stepagency.com). Many say that my ability to support others is one of my greatest strengths. This will be put to the ultimate test as I support three middle-aged men to ease their aching bones (butts?) and to soothe their sagging joints. But I know I am up to the challenge as I have practiced diligently with two aging bulldogs and a hyperactive puppy. These three should be a piece of cake by comparison. I'm currently working on my support kit, which so far includes glocosamine, Ben Gay, laxatives and Bag Balm.
Jacquie Foss, April 2006
Jacquie Foss and her ride, a Rans recumbent, October 2003, Folsom, CA
Jacquie Foss Loves the critters! Getting a kiss from a dolphin in Cozumel, Mexico, 2006