Unicycling with Steve McPeak

 I learned how to ride the unicycle back in 1966 when I attended Asbury College in Wilmore KY. Steve McPeak was a student there at the time and we were both on the gymnastics team. Steve taught me and several other people on the team how to ride unicycles. Six of us formed a unicycle drill team that included riding routines and a 3 on 3 basketball demo game. We even played tennis on unicycle. Steve was one of the nutty people I have ever met when it came to doing crazy things. He is also the best unicyclist I have ever met although I must admit I have not met too many. I have seen him ride his wheel down a railroad track....on the rail. I have seen him ride down a flight of thirty steps and he could even do it backwards. Forward and backward with one foot...no problem. One day he rode across the safety rail of a tall bridge with an icy raging river down below. We took short trips together. During gym shows, he carried me on his shoulders on his 12 foot tall unicycle. I helped him develope his tightrope act. He started out just riding across a gymnastic high bar using a unicycle that had no tire on it. He did not use counter balances...only a long balance pole. He could sit motionless on the bar for 8 to 10 minutes without moving at all....then ride back and forth across the short bar. Later he started carrying people on his shoulders while riding his 12 footer on a tightrope. He was truly amazing.

Regarding the controversy around his "tallest unicycle" record, I don't know what the claims are of cheating, but I do know that he always dreamed of holding that record. If anyone could do it, Steve could. Although I have not seen or heard from him in many many years, I have never known him to lie or cheat. I don't doubt the record. The 12 footer that I saw him ride had a brake on it. He would set the break, have me hold the unicycle while he climbed up it like a ladder. He would then release the brake and take off. To get onto his shoulders, I used to climb up on a basketball goal....he would ride over and stop then I would get on....nervously.

home Tom Croley
Last modified: Sat Feb 8 20:13:14 EDT 1997