Mountain Unicycling

Looks like fun! Looks like a way to get into serious trouble too! Just depends on how you use the technology:

Mountain unicyclists -- they call their sport "MUni" -- are a rare and dedicated breed. Worldwide there are probably no more than 1,000 riders pedaling trails on one wheel and fewer than 40 in Southern California, according to Josh Schoolcraft, a unicyclist from Pasadena. Riding local mountain bike trails, they get the occasional "Awesome, dude" and a thumbs up from conventional mountain bikers.

...Although unicycles strong enough to be ridden off-road have been expensive and hard to come by in recent years (early ones were custom-built), several manufacturers now offer complete unicycles designed for rough trails.

...Unicycle pedals are connected directly to the wheel -- there are no gears -- so going uphill requires extra effort, and going downhill demands fast pedaling. Because many unicycles don't have brakes, leg pressure alone is usually used to slow them. And because the unicycles don't have shock absorbers like mountain bikes (the only cushioning is in the fat tires and seats), riders absorb bumps by standing on the pedals and using their legs as shock absorbers.

...For some, the appeal of riding a unicycle is meeting a big challenge with an uncomplicated device. "You have to solve problems with this simple machinery," Schoolcraft says. MUni riders have to pick a careful line around obstacles too big to roll over, and when riding off ledges they often have to stick a landing in tight spots to avoid a crash.

Schoolcraft began unicycling five years ago as a college student after his bicycle was stolen. "You can bring a unicycle to class with you -- you just throw it over your shoulder," he says. Several months after learning to ride, he saw a video of MUni pioneer Kris Holm and decided to try riding off-road.

...Practicing an hour a day, the average person can learn to ride 50 feet on flat ground in two weeks to a month, Aharoni says. Learning to ride on rough terrain takes much longer. "It might take a few months to become comfortable on trails -- though, depending on your goals, it can be a lifelong learning process," Aharoni says.