International

For those who don't like to pedal, here's a self balancing unicycle that seems to defeat the joy of cycling... check it out: Solowheel.

If you're feeling like doing something a little challenging this year, how about unicycling through South-Western China?

Ken Looi is organising the Yunnan Unicycle Tour (aka Yunnanuni), in the mountains near Tibet. Participants will be riding from the Tibetan town of Shangri-La, through a few mountain passes and finishing at the Tiger Leaping Gorge above the Yangzi River. It's going to be pretty mountainous but with lots of amazing scenery.

If you're interested, check out the Yunnanuni website.

Dates: 8-19 August 2011

Included: support vehicles, local guide, tour leader, most meals, spare bicycles

Group Size: maximum 20

Days Unicycling: 7

Cost: US$1900

Distance: approx 410km

Difficulty: depends if you like hills!

Unicycling Conditions : sealed roads all the way but all at altitudes from 1900m to 4200m - you need to be prepared for mostly uphill or downhill riding and a lack of oxygen.

For those of you who missed Ken Looi's Mongolia Unicycle Tour last year, check out the photos and videos of that tour!

The 2011 Asia Pacific Unicycling Convention will take place in Seoul, South Korea.

Dates: 29th July - 1st August

The draft program looks as follows:

29th July, Friday - welcome event

30th, Saturday - 10 km and marathon

31st, Sunday - Track events (100/400/800m, one-foot, wheelwalking, slow, obstacle etc)

1st Aug, Monday - Unicycle hockey tournament

There is also a proposed optional extra 3-4 day trip to Jeju Island - more details to follow.  This should be a wonderful event in a fascinating country.

Australia has performed well at previous Conventions and we hope to have a great turn out for the team for Seoul. Contact the AUS secretary to be added to the team list. 

Updates will be posted when they come to hand.

Following previous successful unicycling tours of Laos, Vietnam and India, Ken Looi will be leading a unicycling tour of Mongolia in 2010. When: Monday 2 August 2010 (Day 1) to Friday 13 August 2010 (Day 12). Price per person: US$1850 ($1850 + $150 to be donated to OXFAM for registrations after 1 May 2010, pending places still being available). Details are available at: http://monguni.adventureunicyclist.com/

Ok, I am posting this just for fun. Gizmodo reports that a Corbin Dunn has developed a tandem unicycle - two unicycles, one wheel – it does not look easy to ride! You can read the article, see the video and download the construction instructions – if you like doubling your fun ...

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2009/12/unicycle-built-for-two-cool-design-an…

A message from Nic Vevers (AUS President) for all Unicon Participants!

I thought I would make a Australian Team Tshirt for Unicon. Picture is below:

If you want one you will need to pre-order within the next week, and pay by the 19th Dec 2009.

You will need to send your order to:

balance-ent@hotmail.com

I will then get back to you with my details for payment by Bank Account Transfer.

You need to tell me:

• How many you want
• What size(s) you want (s m l xl xxl) or a chest measurement may help

They will be exactly the same size shirts as Uninats so if you have one tell me the size on that shirt.

• It will be around the same price as the Uninats one depending on how many order (around $25-$30).
• The shirts will be available to collect on the first day of Unicon.

ALSO: If you are in the Australia A Hockey Team and Australia A Basketball let me know if you are interested in a team jersey.

Sorry its late, but if you want to be guaranteed a t-shirt you will need to put in an order quickly.

Nic Vevers

If you want to participate in hockey or basketball at UNICON in Wellington, you need to indicate this on your registration and put down the NAME of your TEAM.  The team name you put down needs to be the same as the one other team members are putting on their forms!  You cannot add a team after 14th November, and if you don't put down a team name you will be put in a scratch team.

Please contact Ashley Curtis or the AUS to find out the team names if you want to be included in one of the 'official' AUS hockey or basketball teams.

Huge congratulations to all the Australian team members for their efforts at the Asia Pacific Unicycle Convention and successfully defending Australia's title as Asia Pacific Hockey Champions!

The second Asia Pacific Unicycling Convention took place in Hong Kong this year with an expanded program: a full-day unicycle hockey tournament, featuring seven teams, and a full day of track and field events including 100m, 400m, 1600m, long jump and 50m backwards, as well as informal competitions such as unicycle sumo and longest still-stand.

Four teams competed in the hockey A-league: Australia, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong. The A-league results are as follows:

• Singapore vs Australia 3-7
• South Korea vs Hong Kong 6-0
• Hong Kong vs Singapore 7-0
• Australia vs South Korea 4-4
• Hong Kong vs Australia 2-6
• Singapore vs South Korea 3-6

• Final: Australia vs South Korea 4-3.

The Phillipines won the B league comp against Hong Kong B and South Korea B.

Ruben recieved an award for best young rider of the competition. Ashley Curtis, team captain said,"I am very proud of the team, we were all exhausted but no-one gave up. Everyone did their job and more."

The next Asia Pacific Unicycle Convention will be held  in 2011 in South Korea.

Check out this amazing performance  - unicycling and cyling on a trampoline - the backwards somersault's got to be favourite.  Viva Les Espoirs du Cirque - Vélo Trampoline!

Fifteen year old, Samuel Farmer, from Scotland has just ridden from Lands End to John O’Groats on a unicycle - he is the youngest to do so. He did it in just 12.5 days.  Sam broke a Guinness World Record and raised money for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Southampton Hospital, Hampshire and The Peanut Ward at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead. You can read about the ride at:

End to end

'Teenager completes unicycle End to End challenge in 12 days'

'Unicycling teen on course for Lands End to John O'Groats record'