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 Show

Day 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.

The schedule for day two at Governors Island is as follows:

12:00 noon     Welcome to the 2nd Annual NYC Unicycle festival

12:30               Unicycle games and relays

1:15                 Unicycle Hockey

2:00                 Basketball game, King Charles Troupe vs Puerto Rican All-Stars

3:00                 World Record Attemps

3:45                 Unicycle Basketball

4:15                 One  Wheel Public Show

5:00                 Time to exit the Island and prepare for day three at Grant’s Tomb

The “Hell on Wheel” Trials Course will be available all day. (helmet required, pads recommended)

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.

The 13th Annual Long Beach Island Unithon is scheduled for June 4, 2011. Come and be prepared for a 10:00am start.

The LBI Unithon is an annual 19 or so mile unicycle ride from Holgate at the southern tip of Long Beach Island to Barnegat Lighthouse at the northern end of the island.

Entry fees and sponsorship money for this event goes to benefit the Alliance for a Living Ocean an oganization that is devoted to promoting and maintaining clean water and a healthy coastal environment through education and action.

For event details, directions and entry form registration, consult the LBI Unithon website.

For up to date information join and consult the LBI Unithon facebook group page.

This special meeting has been prompted by the feud between Brooklyn’s own unicyclist and juggler, Kyle Peterson and the NYPD. The feud began over Kyle being ticketed on November 10th, 2010 at 2:00am for riding his unicycle on the sidewalk. Kyle subsequently filed a three million dollar law suit against NYC and the NYPD. The people at the Colbert Report got wind of this feud and requested to come out to one of our unicycle meetings and  record interviews of some unicyclists. Our regular meetings did not fit into their schedule so we will holding a special meeting to accommodate them and just have an excuse to get together and ride.

Read Kyle’s blog: Unicyle vs NYPD for the story in his own words.

WPIX , Channel 11 in New York interviewed Kyle regarding his encounters with the NYPD while unicycling.

Below is the Youtube version of the story.

NYC is fighting the law suit and has filed a motion to dismiss the law suit.  You can read the latest details of this saga in this New York Daily News article.

So on March 26, 2011 come out be filmed and or interviewed for a future Colbert Report episode.

This year’s North American Convention and Championships (NAUCC) will be hosted by the Madison Unicyclist a unicycle club that is based in Madison, Wisconsin. NAUCC is scheduled to take place from July 23-30, 2011. Consult the NAUCC website for detailed information including  maps, competitions, registration, accommodations and other activities.

As always,  unicyclist of any skill level from beginner to expert are both welcome  and encouraged to attend. There will be  workshops, skill competitions,  hockey, basketball, trials, muni and a whole lot more. Many unicycle vendors including Bedford Unicycles and Unicycle.com attend NAUCC, bringing with them the latest unicycle equipment and  accessories.

Check out the Facebook Event Page and  Madison Unicyclist Website for the latest news, travel tips and, updates.

NYUC is calling for all members and regular visitors to join the Unicycling Society of America (USA). For insurance purposes having to do with our new permit for meeting at Grant’s Tomb each month, we require for all of our regular members attending club meetings to join up with an annual membership to USA. Member benefits includes, a subscription to One Wheel Magazine, the ability to participate at the North American Unicycling Championships and Convention (NAUCC). You will receive a membership card and will have voting privileges.

An annual membership costs $20 per individual and $35 for an entire family. At meetings, those attending that do not have a current USA membership card  beginning in 2011 will be asked to sign a waiver in order to unicycle in front of Grant’s Tomb.

You will have to mail in your form with payment since there is no provision for paying online. You can fill in and print out this membership form. Or you can just print out this paper form that you can fill in later.  Forms will be available at all club meetings.

The 2010 New York Unicycle Festival is to be the first annual NYC unicycle event of  it’s kind. It is to take place in places around New York City September 3rd – 5th, 2010.  This three day event is being produced by Bindlestiff Family Variety Arts, Inc.  It will feature a distance ride on September 3 from Manhattan to Coney Island; a grand gathering on Governors Island on September 4; finishing up on Sunday September 5  with a gathering of unicyclist at the New York Unicycle Club’s meeting at Grant’s Tomb.

Friday, September 3, 2010  Coney Island Ride 2:00pm until after the 9:30 pm fireworks:

This day has been proclaimed by the Brooklyn borough President, Marty Markwitz as Brooklyn Unicycle Day. If you are experienced in riding in traffic and have a 26 inch or larger wheel and a recommended helmet. Meet on the east side of City Hall in Manhattan at 2:00 by the Brooklyn Bridge #4, 5 & 6 train station entrance. The 13 mile route begins at 3:00 pm traveling over the Brooklyn bridge, and then continuing through Brooklyn to Coney Island. You can join the ride from the beginning or along the route to Coney Island.  You can also just meet the group at Coney Island where we will gather after the ride. Hopefully many of you will stay for the Friday night fireworks at 9:30pm.  Coney Island also features the beach & boardwalk, Luna Park amusement rides and the New York Aquarium that closes at 6pm.

Brooklyn Unicycle Day schedule:  This ride is sponsored by Dino’s Wonder Wheel. The first 40 participants get to ride the Wonder Wheel at Coney Island for free.

• 2 pm  Meet Up on Manhattan side of Brooklyn Bridge.  Meet the group on the East side of City Hall Park (on Park Row) in front of the subway entrance for the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Station 4,5,6, (across the street from the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian entrance).
• 3 pm Cross Brooklyn Bridge (all wheel sizes are encouraged to join in on the Brooklyn Bridge crossing)
• 4 pm  Pass through Grand Army Plaza into Prospect Park.  We need to be through the park no later than 5 pm because the roadways open to automobile traffic at 5 pm.
• 5 pm  Enter the Ocean Parkway Bicycle Path
• 6 pm  Arrive at Coney Island Boardwalk in the vicinity of the stadium
• 7 pm  Coney Island Activities TBA
• 9:30 pm  Fireworks

Saturday, September 4, 2010 Main Event on Governors Island, Noon – 5:00pm:

• Organized games such as unicycle basketball and unicycle hockey. Rules will be based on the International Unicycling Federation’s guidelines.
• Workshops, ranging from learn-to-ride sessions to advanced skills instruction.
• Races and competitions. Rules will be based mostly on the International Unicycling Federation.
• A unicycle trials course. As in skateboarding and BMX, there is a community of unicyclists who will attempt to run obstacle courses on one wheel.
• A unicycle-vending area that invites dealers and vendors from across the country.
• Demonstration by the world renowned King Charles Troupe.
• International unicycle film series.

Governors Island Event Schedule:

• Noon Welcome to UniFest
• 12:10 pm Mass ride around Governors Island
• 12:30 pm Free Style Demonstrations
• 1:00 pm Unicycle Hockey
• 1:30 pm Trials Demonstrations
• 2:00 pm Unicycle Basketball: King Charles Troop Demonstration / pick up uni basket ball game
• 3:30 pm Unicycle Games and Relays
• 5:00 pm Group Photo

Sunday, September 5, 2010 New York Unicycle Club meeting at Grant’s Tomb, 1:00pm – 5:00pm:

Unicyclist will gather to ride, talk, learn and demonstrate unicycle skills.

Additional considerations:

For all of these events it is advisable to bring your own food and refreshments or funds to buy food locally. There are food vendors and vending machines throughout Govenors Island and bicycle rentals for those who have not mastered single wheel riding.  The ferry rides to and from the island load fairly quickly and are very brief.  In the area around Grant’s tomb there are a couple of local delicatessens and also a couple of fast food restaurants that are within close proximity.

Helpful event links:

Additional detailed information can be found at the following websites.

NYC 2010 Unicycle Festival  website for event details and Coney Island ride route map. You can follow some of the latest event developments on the Festival’s Facebook page. You are encouraged to invite your facebook friends via the 2010 Facebook event page.

The Trust for Governors Island website for island information including ferry service schedules from Manhattan and Brooklyn.

National Park Service Governors Island web page for additional information about island events and directions.

Governors Island Map. There will be venues throughout the island.

This posting will continue to be updated with relevant information and additional links as they become available.

NYUC encourages every unicyclist to attend, participate and, show your support for this event.

Received this from Brendan Fay, contact him if you’re interested:
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Friends, A chairde

Thanks to the individuals that called & signed up for the parade… This is a plea to those who are just thinking about it… Please come.
So we are sending our notice again- Well people barely had gotten through the New Year and heres an email about a St PatsForAll Parade!

This year we have a number of youth groups hoping to carry some of the fantastic figures from the Brooklyn puppeteer co- operative who have brought so much color & imagination & delight to this annual gathering

” We are seeking puppeteers, jugglers, unicyclists, clowns, musicians and stilt-walkers to join our inclusive St Patricks Parade this coming March 7th 2010 in Sunnyside/ Woodside New York.

Thanks to all you who venture to Queens each year and bring your puppetry, fun, energy and vitality to the St Patsforall Parade. Again we come seeking your energy, enthusiasm, and fire.

Call us. E-mail. We will help to get you to the parade. Now if you can’t make it yourself please please pass on the word to a friend or kindred soul like yourself. Forward to friends or other kindred puppeteering souls!

The crowds were stunned in previous years parade by the puppetts and the amazing fire juggler on the back of the Harley! Yep -years after people still talk about flambeauxfire!! These past years kids ( of all ages!) have enjoyed the puppets from the Brooklyn puppeteers co-operative.

Unique among the St. Patricks parades our is open and welcoming to ALL who wish to share in the hospitable and festive spirit of the day.

Come inspire us, challange us, delight us! Bring your wild & wonderful energy & color to the streets. Help us liven and lighten up… We need you!! Give us color – Help our parade sparkle.

WHEN: Sunday March 7th 2010 1-3pm
WHERE: Sunnyside/Woodside Queens
begins Skillman Ave & 43rd Street
ends Woodside Ave & 61st Street

REGISTER : stpatsforall.com

CONTACT

Brendan Fay (718) 721-2780 e- mail: Brendan@stpatsforall.com

Kathleen Walsh D’Arcy (718) 898-8140 kwalshd@yahoo.com
With cheers & thanks

Brendan
For more information about NYC’s inclusive St. Patrick’s parade log on to our web site: www.stpatsforall.com

This from Robert Hickman:
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Our next ride is January 27th. We’ll be doing a 10+ mile roundtrip ride to cross the Roosevelt Island bridge. We’d appreciate any plugs or posts. If you’re free please join us!
http://unicyclenycbridgetour.blogspot.com
Rob
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Robert Hickman is putting together a ride this Tuesday. This from his email:

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Hi! We’re looking for some folks to unicycle across a few NYC bridges with us. We’re planning to do them all. This Tuesday we’re doing the Lower Harlem Five. Any mention on your site would be appreciated. Our blog address is: unicyclenycbridgetour.blogspot.com
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Interested parties can contact Rob here.