Remember that scene near the end of "Better off Dead," where John Cusack tackled a treacherous slope on only one ski? The same thing happens in mountain unicycling (MUni), which is sort of like riding a mountain bike that's missing a wheel. Unlike Cusack's character in the film, however, MUni riders do this intentionally.
Devotees of this extreme sport enjoy heading to mountainous and rocky areas all over the world and riding down on just a single wheel. MUni lovers also prefer a unicycle that has a rugged frame and knobbier tires than the more commonly available unicycle models. A hard head, nerves of steel and a really good sense of balance definitely can come in handy if MUni is your kind of thing.
For this activity that steadily has been growing in popularity over the last several years, rough terrain unicyclers gather together in places like Lake Tahoe and San Diego to try their extreme, one-wheel skills. For any MUni outing, good biking shoes such as the Merrell Moab Ventilators are essential. As the name indicates, a pair of Ventilators will help keep your feet cool and dry while you are unicycling down rocky terrain.
Rough Terrain Unicycling on Mount Everest
Most MUni riders have a good story or two to tell, but precious few can top Steve Colligan, the married father of two in Manchester, England. A self-professed adventure unicyclist, Colligan, 47, rode across approximately 1,100 km of Mount Everest, a mountain that's difficult enough to climb, let alone tackle on one wheel.
In addition to achieving a personal best, Colligan also helped improve conditions in one remote area of the Himalayas. His journey across Everest raised funds for the Hilly Region Development Fund, a non-governmental organization in Nepal. Since its formation in 1998, the fund has, among other projects, helped build a new primary school and health clinic in the Dhading District.
Sources:
http://www.mountainunicycling.net/
http://www.unicycling.com/muni/
http://www.unicyclesteve.com/
