By Kyle Petersen
NYC Uni Fest!
There are many great reasons to ride a unicycle. It’s great aerobic exercise (have you ever seen a fat unicyclist?) It’s a lot less expensive and has fewer unnecessary parts than a bicycle (what the heck is a derailleur, anyway?) And it’s a great way to attract potential love interests (ok, I made that one up).
Unicycles have been featured on talk shows (Leno, Letterman), cartoons (SpongeBob SquarePants), and have been ridden by peace makers (Peter Tosh) and war makers (Donald Rumsfeld).
The best reason, however, to ride a unicycle these days is the upcoming New York City Unicycle Festival!
That’s right, the first-ever New York City Unicycle Festival is taking the Big Apple by storm this Labor Day weekend. The event lasts from Friday the 3rd through Sunday the 5th, and has three distinct locations.
The Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz has declared September 3rd Unicycle Day in Brooklyn, and the mono-wheelers plan on making their presence felt in the Borough of Kings. The Brooklyn segment of the festival will feature a long-distance ride from Brooklyn Bridge to Coney Island. Organizers recommend at participants wear helmets and use 26 inch wheels or larger. Participants will arrive in Coney Island by 6 pm where there will be free riding, fireworks, and activities to be announced. Best yet, the first 40 registered participants will get a free ride on the famous Deno’s Wonder Wheel on the Coney Island Boardwalk.
Governors Island is one of New York City’s unique treasures. A former military instillation with many historic buildings, the island is now open as a public park every weekend in the summer. The festival begins at noon on Governors Island and runs until 5pm. Planned activities include a massive ride around the island, unicycle basketball, hockey, races, prizes, a group photo, and an outstanding demonstration from the legendary King Charles Troupe.
The burial place of Civil War General and Former President Ulysses S. Grant is also the home of the New York Unicycle Club. Participants will meet at 1pm at Grant’s Tomb for a four-hour free riding session. Street parking is available.
Additional information can be found at the New York City Unicycle Festival website. Look forward to seeing you there!
