My 100 mile day

I rode a unicycle as a kid, starting with a homemade one that I make from a tricycle wheel and some scrap iron about 60 years ago. After I wore the hard rubber tire off the tricycle wheel I did find a well used 24” Columbia unicycle. I rode it for awhile and I stopped riding about the time I got out of high school. Then fast forward 50 years later I saw a 36” one on the internet and thought that looked like good exercise and fun. So about three years ago I found an old Coker 36” unicycle and learned to ride it. Just like they say you never forget how to ride a bike, the same thing is true for a unicycle. I could ride the 36er but it did take some time and effort to get used to the larger wheel, free mount it and build up some strength for longer rides. After a year I was able to complete a 50 mile ride in one day and the next year did a ride my age 70 mile ride.


I don’t know of any septuagenarians that have done a 100 mile ride but I’d bet there are a few that could if they wanted to. After being able to ride as a kid, I starting to ride a 36” unicycle nearly 3 years ago. One of my goals was longer distance road rides. I just completed my fist 100 mile ride.

With the idea that a smoother and flatter route requires considerably less effort on a unicycle, I had originally thought about finding a location that was as flat and smooth as possible for a 100 mile attempt. However with the current restrictions on travel, lodging and such, the logistics just did not work out. I did my 100 mile ride on country roads right at home. During my ride I never got more then a few miles from home and just rode back and forth all day long. The dead end road I live on has very low traffic and as paved roads go, it is quite bumpy. The average road grade is about 1.25% with short sections up to 10%. Over my 100 mile day I figure I gained and lost about 3300 ft of elevation.

I used the entire period of daylight by stating at the beginning of civil twilight and riding till the end of civil twilight. That gave me about 14 ˝ hrs of riding time and I used ever minute of that. I rode my 36” Nimbus with a UDC trainer saddle and cranks set at 109mm. With very soft boxer briefs and lightweight flexible fabric pants (with lots of handy pockets) I had absolutely no problem with the saddle and was quite comfortable the whole day. I rode no more then 15 or 20 minutes between short one or two minute “butt” breaks. The 109mm crank setting was fine most of the day but I did think that a little longer length would be nice when I got to about 90 miles. By that time I was getting slower and slower but did not want to take the time to change the pedals and adjust the saddle height. Because I was close to home I packed no water or tools on the unicycle.

The weather was good with temperatures ranging from 34° to 62° F. I ate a big breakfast (oatmeal mush) before I started and had snacks and a P&J sandwich during the day. Overall I drank about a gallon and half of sports drinks or water with electrolytes during the day. My muscles were tired at the end of the day but I had no muscle cramping or burning.

My moving average speed for the day was 9.1mph and overall average with breaks included was 6.9 mph. I started at with a moving average of over 10 mph and by the end of the day I was down to below 8 mph with longer breaks between riding sessions. I was pretty well spent at the end of the day.

Other then a little muscle soreness I had no adverse effects from the ride and am ready for the next one.

All men are created equal but the best can still ride UNICYCLES in their SEVENTIES.
One day, one wheel, 100 miles at 71 years old.

Jim