My name is Alan Chambers, I'm 41, and married to Vicky who, despite my best efforts to interest her in The One True Wheel, has decided that bicycling is the way to go. We live in the East of England, where I'm a software developer working in Cambridge. I started unicycling seriously about ten or eleven years ago. Prior to that, I'd briefly learned to ride at university, but didn't keep it up. I lived for years with a gently nagging desire to have another go on this most fascinating of vehicles. Finally, I went with a work colleague to a local circus skills club, and I've been riding ever since. I've never really mastered many tricks, nor the gravity-defying stunts of some other riders, but I regularly ride reasonably long distances, and have done some 200+ miles tours in the past. I also enjoy a little mountain unicycling and unicycle hockey. I've made a lot of friends through the sport, and enjoy the social side of unicycling as much as the riding itself. People seem to think I'm obsessed with stopping to have a chat over a beer or three, probably because it's true. :-)
Alan Chambers, Beeston, UK, November 2004, Coker Weekend - playing Busy Buzzy Bumble
Alan Chambers, Pub near Blackpool, UK, July 2005, Manchester to Blackpool Ride, Photo by Chris Dobbie
Alan Chambers, December 2005, With Vix (now the missus) at my works Christmas fancy dress party
Keith Griffiths
I bought my first 20" unicycle shortly after the birth of our first child, a year later I bought a Pashley Muni and started to ride in the local woods. However it was not until 2000 before I met another rider (Joe Marshall, Team #1) and went for a Muni ride. Shortly after this I started attending UK Conventions and Muni weekends. My first long distance ride was with my RTL team mates on the Solent Challenge in 2005, a 66 mile charity ride across the Isle of Wight. Both our kids have been riding for a few years and we play hockey for LUnis (London Unicyclists). The whole family attended Unicon 13 in Switzerland and we will also be going to Denmark this summer for Unicon 14.
Keith Griffiths, Yately, UK, Feb 2008, Relaxing at home, Photo by Toni Griffiths
Keith Griffiths, Isle of Wight, UK, June 2005, Solent Challenge 66 mile charity ride, Photo by Alan Chambers
Keith Griffiths, Family Scout Camp, Farnham, UK, September 2006, Checking the quality of my knots, Photo by Toni Griffiths
Mark Wiggins
I learned to unicycle because it's difficult and different. I enjoy a challenge. At the time, I didn't know any unicyclists and never dreamt of the adventures that you can get up to on one wheel. I've ridden coast to coast across England, competed in 24-hour mountain bike races, completed more charity bike rides than I can remember and, last year, rode from London to Paris unsupported (apart from the company of another couple of Ride The Lobster competitors). No wonder I'm always exhausted. I have an understanding wife and two unicycling children. Life is good.
Mark Wiggins, Sheldon County Park, Birmingham, UK, February 2008, On my way to work, Photo by Mark Wiggins
Mark Wiggins, Eastnor Castle, UK, Staying dry for a change during the T-Mobile Giant Mountain Mayhem, Photo by Alison Wiggins
Mark Wiggins, Paris, France, October 2007, London to Paris Ride finish, Photo by Steve Colligan
Chris Dobbie
I was born and dragged-up in the UK, married a non-unicylist and have 4 unicyclist children. I learnt to ride a unicycle at my local juggling club some 15 years ago but was really inspired to greater unicycling endeavours when I attended Unicon in North Bend, WA, in 2002. My favoured unicycling activities are long-distance, muni, cross-country & endurance, unicycle-hockey and just riding aimlessly around for the joy of it. Other hobbies and interests include hill-walking and skydiving and I have recently taken up snowboarding and paragliding. I am also currently studying for a MSc. in Forest Industries.
Chris Dobbie, Newton, Warwickshire, UK, March 2008, Self Portrait
Chris Dobbie, Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire, UK, June 2007, Mountain Mayhem 24hr Endurance Race, Photo by Mark Wiggins
Chris Dobbie, Banff, Alberta, Canada, March 2003, Photo by Janet Dobbie