Karl Frankowski wrote:
The rulebook definition that I gave is for a standard unicycle intended
for standard [Standard Skill] competition. For those of you who have not
been fortunate
enough
to attend a num, In standard [Standard Skill] competition the rider doesn't
have music or a
costume, but simply demonstrates skills on one wheel. Standard competition
means standard unicycles, ie, they don't allow giraffes, only ONE standard
uni.
No two wheelers, no 0 wheelers, no nothing other that the standard uni.
About the wheel walking, sure, it's allowed, but you just can't use a
unicycle
intended solely for wheel walking. (without cranks or pedals or any other
unusual modification.) Your unicycle needs to have cranks and pedals, but if
you wanted to you could do an entire routine without ever touching them. You
can do anything you want as long as it's in the list of tricks (the IUF has a
rather elaborate list of tricks from which your skills must be chosen for
standard skill routine.)
There is a time and a place for giraffes and more innovative unicycles;
The artistic freestyle competition. There are virtually no rules or
limitations
on the number or types of unicycles that you use in freestyle. This is the
area where you would see a unicycle like the floor killing 0 wheeler :) or
any
other demented creation that you could possibly imagine.
Sorry for the confusion...Karl
A very good explanation from Karl. Now, let us read from the rulebooks:
Both the IUF and USA competition rulebooks have a definition for 'standard
unicycle:'
"Has only one wheel, is driven by crank arms directly attached to the axle,
and has no additional devices to support it. For racing, standard unicycles
have limitations on maximum wheel size and minimum crank arm length. For
Standard Skill, there are no size limitations."
This is a very specific, technical definition, intended to delineate what may
and may not be used in competition. Basically, when we say 'standard,' we
are referring to a 'regular' unicycle with no chain or drive system, and
where the rider pedals directly from the wheel axle. Many people outside our
group of definition makers also refer to this as a 'three foot unicycle.'
Probably something else in the metric world.
In the dark ages of unicycle competition (a few years ago), the USA had a
rule that would automatically disqualify you if you used a bicycle in a
freestyle performance, even if you only rode it on one wheel. This was dumb.
But we did need a way to differentiate between skills that were truly
'unicycling,' and those that were something else.
Hence, in the area of Freestyle judging, there is a description of what makes
up 'unicycling skills,' as opposed to 'non-unicycling skills.' The IUF and
USA rulebooks contain the same passages:
5.1.1 UNICYCLING SKILLS: All skills (feats of balance) performed with only
one support point in contact with the riding surface, this not being a part
of the rider. Examples of unicycling skills: Saddle Dragging (only one
support point on the riding surface), Touching Fingertip to Floor (finger
carries no weight).
5.1.2 NON-UNICYCLING SKILLS: Any skills without rider on vehicle, any skill
with more than one support point on the riding surface, such as standing on
the unicycle with it lying on the floor, or hopping while standing on the
frame (seat on floor); two contact points with the riding surface (wheel and
seat), both carrying part of the rider's weight. Also, the riding of any
vehicles with two or more wheels on the ground, and any skills not performed
on a unicycle.
As you can read above, those descriptions are intended to separate skills
performed on one point of
balance from those that are not, without restricting the types of vehicles
used. Can a rider use an artistic bicycle for the entire routine? Yes, but
it would be a lousy routine for a UNICYCLE competition. We leave it up to
the judges to remember this fact.
As for a general dictionary of the English language, my Websters says: "a
vehicle with one wheel, esp. a pedal-driven device kept upright and steered
by body balance." To me, this, or a similar definition is more than clear
enough for the meaning it is intended to convey. Beyond that, it's up to us
to educate the world that the unicycle is not one, but many things.
John Foss, chairman
IUF Skill Levels and Rules Committee
former chairman, USA Rules Committee