Setting The Record
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On December 9, 2011, Kim (Kip) Anthony Johnson of the renowned King Charles Troupe set a world record by jumping double dutch while on a unicycle. He completed 164 jumps in a single try. He broke his own original record of 122 jumps. Check out the video of new double dutch unicycle record. Congratulations to Kip!
- Ken Springle @ January 7, 2012
Just One Wheel On The Rise
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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="530" caption="Image courtesy of JustOneWheel.com"]
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Adam and Renie Cohen of Justonewheel.com have recently been thrust into the spotlight in a article/video interview by Amanda Puglies entitled: 'Just One Wheel of Fun' posted on the Plainview Patch website. The video also features Ziggy Cohen, Adam and Renie's four year old son riding his unicycle. Ziggy was recently featured in a performance of the King Charles Troupe on the Wendy Williams show.
During the video interview, Adam tells his personal story of unicycling and the opening of their brand new Just One Wheel facility "dedicated to the sport of balance". Located in the hamlet of Plainview Long Island, the 5,200 square foot facility is a one of kind facility dedicated to unicycling and a variety of other balance activities.
The Just One Wheel facility is available for training parties, unicycle parties and other group events. Check the contact area at the bottom of the JustOneWheel.com website homepage for further details and contact information.
- Ken Springle @ December 16, 2011
News Woman Learns to Unicycle
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- Photo courtesy of CBS News
- Ken Springle @ December 7, 2011
KCT on the Wendy Willams Show
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In case you missed it the King Charles Troupe made an appearance on the Wendy Williams Show on November 11, 2011. At the end of the performance there was a special extra added bonus of Ziggy Cohen the youngest unicycle rider in the northeast putting on the show of riding across the stage and sinking a basket. Ziggy is the son of Adam and Renie Cohen of JustOneWheel. - Ken Springle @ November 11, 2011
History of the King Charles Troupe
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For more than 40 years the King Charles Troupe has been successfully performing on unicycles for audiences throughout the globe. There is a video currently being put together documenting their 44 year history. The video will illustrate the King Charles Troupe's journey from their humble beginnings in the borough of the Bronx, New York City to their travels throughout the United States as well as 14 countries throughout the world. They have truly been global ambassadors for unicycling that have inspired several generations to learn to ride the unicycle. Check out the documentary trailer.
- Ken Springle @ November 4, 2011
Unicycling Is Not A Crime
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A new up coming video soon to be release on DVD called Unicycling is not a crime features 36 different unicycle riders of 12 nationalities. Parts of this video was recorded in 1o different countries. Two NYUC members can be spotted at the beginning of this video trailer.
- Ken Springle @ November 1, 2011
Uptown Unicyclist Into The Spotlight
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New York Unicycle Club member, Calvin Wright (right) and his his unicycle were highlighted in an article entitled Harlem's Unicycle Man Keeps Peddling written by Paul Smith. The article appeared in this weeks copy of the Uptowner, a local Manhattan newspaper that focuses on the neighborhoods of northern portion of the borough o Manhattan, New York. This article gives a snap shot into Calvin's life as a unicyclist in New York. The photo at the beginning of the article was taken at the African American Day Parade that took place in Harlem, on Sunday, September 11. At the parade Calvin was joined by seven other unicyclists. Five of the unicyclist were fellow members of the NYUC in addition to the two unicyclist from King Charles Troupe that were mentioned in the article. The eight unicyclist had a good time entertaining the crowd riding behind one of the floats. Check out some of the other photos that were taken on the day of the parade in this slide show on our Flickr page.
- Ken Springle @ October 20, 2011
The 2011 Unicycle Festival Report
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About 40 or so riders continued on riding through Brooklyn briefly stopping at Grand Army Plaza and the south end of Prospect Park finally ending up in Coney Island where we met up with participants that decided to get there via other forms of transportation. We had two adventurous 11 year old riders that traveled the entire 13 mile distance from the Manhattan side of the bridge to Coney Island on their unicycles. These two young men actually out paced many of the more experienced unicyclist throughout the ride. Many of the out paced rides were riding on wheels larger than the 20" and 24" size wheels on their respective unicycles of the young riders.
[caption id="attachment_1551" align="aligncenter" width="346" caption="Photo courtesy of Norman Blake"]
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At Coney Island after hanging out at Nathan's Famous, riders were rewarded with a ride on Deno's Wonder Wheel followed by participation in a unicycle skills demonstration being accompanied by music on the boardwalk. The first day of the unicycle festival was capped off with an incredible fireworks display out over the water.
Day two of the festival that took place on Governors Island, was chock full of activities. With unicycle tutorials, unicycle hockey, unicycle races and, skill demonstrations there was constant activity throughout the festival area of the island the entire day. Many tried out the outstanding Hell on Wheel unicycle trials course. The demonstrations featured four year old unicycle rider Ziggy Cohen as well as Kyle Petersen (Brooklyn Juggler) and Davd Cox performing comedic juggling acts.
Through out the day there were more than 300 participants with more than 160 unicycles. There were vendors on hand including Unicycle.com and Dubé Juggling Equipment and others. Adam and Renie Cohen of Just One Wheel were directing the tutorial efforts for those that wanted to learn or hone their skills on the unicycle. DJ Sky kept the crowd entertained with music selections throughout the day.
The highlight of the day was the unicycle basketball game between Puerto Rico All Star unicycle basketball team and the King Charles Troupe. It was a competitive, hard fought basketball game. King Charles Troupe trailed early. However, as they adjusted to the international rules of unicycle basketball, they climbed back in the game only to be edged out in the end by the Puerto Rico All Stars by a single point 37-36.
The King Charles Troupe put on excellent performance of unicycle team based skills such as basketball handling and jumping double dutch.
All available unicyclist lined up and mounted their unicycles in an effort to break a world record of unicyclist mounted and continuously linked. Unfortunately there were not enough participants present to break the world record of 251 unicyclist. Though, this effort was not wasted by the 155 participating unicyclist who set a new New York State record of linked unicyclist.
For the third and final day of this year's festival unicycle activities moved up to Harlem, USA. This is the regular meeting venue of the New York Unicycle club. About 65 unicyclist gathered for a full afternoon of just hanging out trying different and unique unicycles, doing skill demonstrations, practicing skills and unicycle networking.
Throughout the three days I snapped a nice collection of photographs that can be found on the NYUC Flickr site. Photographs of days one and two can be viewed in this photo album slideshow titled: 2011 Uni Fest, Day 1&2. Photographs from the third and final day of the festival can be found in this photo album slideshow titled 2011 UniFest Sunday.
This years festival was such a blast. There is a lot of confidence that this event will continue to grow in the future. There were many who were unable make it to this year's event including many that had attended the first NYC unicycle festival.
- Ken Springle @ September 19, 2011
Publicity for the 2011Unicycle Festival
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The 2011 New York City Unicycle Festival received some positive press both before and during the event. The photo above comes from an August 26th article in The Brooklyn Paper written by Meridith Deliso entitled Get rollin'! Unicycle Fest returns on Sept.2 The article briefly describes the 2011 festival as it was about to happen. The same article without the photo appeared in the Courier Life's Brooklyn Daily.
This second image comes from the The Wall Street Journal in an September 3rd article entitled For One, and for All written by V. L. Hendrickson. This is a more comprehensive article about the 3 day event with quotes from Keith Nelson of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, David Stone founder of the New York Unicycle Club and, Kyle Peterson alias The Brooklyn Juggler who is best known for fighting against the City of New York for being ticketed for legally riding his unicycle.
This image is of a young lady, Emily Season, who has tricked her unicycle out to look like a seahorse, comes from an extensive article published on September 6 on ESPN Page 2 entitled: Unicycles make mark in New York City. This article written by Ken Derry, gives extensive coverage to the activities that took place on Governors Island. He has enhanced his article with several personal interest stories from some of the participant unicyclists.
This last image appeared in the Columbia Spectator in an article entitled Unicyclers wheel quirky MoHi fest race written by Steven Lau. Steven interviewed several unicyclist at Grant's Tomb gathering information in order to put together this article.
Many more websites that promote events around the New York city have given mention to this years unicycle festival. We would like to thank them for helping to promote unicycling in New York and this year's unicycle festival. We hope that even more sites and sponsors will give us recognition for next year's annual event.
- Ken Springle @ September 5, 2011
The 2011 NYC Unicycle Festival = Hot Event
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This year's three day 2011 New York City Unicycle Festival will take place from Friday, September 2nd through Sunday, September 4th. Otherwise known as Labor day weekend. This promises to be the hottest unicycle event happening in the northeast with attendees coming from all over the United States and beyond. Visit the official NYC Unicycle Festival website for the latest detailed information regarding the festival as it becomes available. Also feel free to add your support to this event a providing a donation. We will continue to provide some updated information within each day's description within this post as we get closer to the the event. If you have some specific questions about the event we will pass on that information to the event organizers. Visit our Contact Page for information.
Day One
This year's format will be very similar to last year. The festivities kick off Friday afternoon by commemorating the second annual "Brooklyn Unicycle Day" with a ride over the world famous Brooklyn Bridge. Riders will assemble at the rear of New York City Hall in Manhattan near the Brooklyn bridge station subway exit beginning around 2pm. The ride will begin at 3pm. Last year there were approximately 40 unicyclist that traversed the bridge. On the Brooklyn side of the bridge, the Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz, proclaimed it to be "Brooklyn Unicycle Day". Like last year the ride will continue across Brooklyn traveling through Prospect park and continuing on to at Coney Island. 13 unicyclist completed the 14 mile ride last year. We would like to see double that amount for this year's ride. All unicycle wheel sizes are welcome for the trek across the bridge and through Prospect park. However, a 26 inch or larger wheel is highly recommended for the tour through Brooklyn from Prospect park to Coney Island. The schedule for day one with estimated travel time is as follows: 2 pm Meet Up on Manhattan side of Brooklyn Bridge 3 pm Cross Brooklyn Bridge 4 pm Pass through Grand Army Plaza into Prospect Park. 5 pm Enter the Ocean Parkway Bicycle Path 6 pm Arrive at Coney Island Boardwalk 7 pm Dinner break. Buy your own food and meet by Nathan's Famous (Stillwell & Surf) 8 pm Coney Island Boardwalk Uni Jam at Deno's Wonder Wheel 9:30 Fireworks ShowDay Two
On Saturday, September 3rd, beginning at noon, the place to be for all unicyclists will be Governor's Island for a host of unicycle activities. There will be unicycle basketball , unicycle hockey, a trials course (helmet required), races, unicycle workshops and a whole lot more. The world famous King Charles Troupe will be in attendance. This year they will be challenged to a basketball game by the Puerto Rican All-Stars Basketball Team. Vendors including Unicycle.com, will be available with unicycle parts and accessories.
Day Three
New York Unicycle Club meeting at Grant's Tomb. This will be a fun informal meeting where we will meet up ride, practice, juggle, learn new skills and generally just socialize amongst other riders. While you are there take the time to explore the historic monument that is Grant's Tomb including the newly renovated Overlook Pavillion and Welcome Center that opened earlier this year.
Back In 2010
Last year there were approximately 300 unicyclist that attended Saturday's event and about 100 unicyclist on attending on Sunday. I hope that you all have the opportunity to come out and have a good time participating in as many of the activities as possible. If you would like read about how last years festival was check out Mitch Butler's Interview with Keith Nelson. Keith of Bindlestiff Family Cirkus is the organizer of the unicycle festival. If you have not done so already then check out the slide show on our Flickr site of the photographs taken during the 2010 Unicycle Festival weekend. - Ken Springle @ July 14, 2011