It’s New Year’s eve and I have been meaning to compile this album all year.
I started this blog 20 years ago, with a vague idea of having some fun and adventures on one wheel. I never imagined it would take me around the world, let alone groups of unicyclists alongside. I never expected to compete in multiple world championships, nor host one in my hometown. Break world records and unicycle the length of New Zealand? Not in my wildest dreams.
In 2004, I met Jason Williams, who was tour leader working for Intrepid Travel, on our 500km Vietnam to Cambodia Oxfam charity challenge. It was a life changing experience. Being the only unicyclist among a group of 30 bicyclists, I was swamped by curious locals whenever I stopped. Kids lined the streets waving as we rode past. It made me take this unicycling thing more seriously.
The next year, I took part in Andy Cotter’s Alps Unicycle Tour through the Swiss Alps, which inspired me to run my own unitour. Jason had set up a cycle tour business, Grasshopper Adventures, so we were ready to organise an Asia tour. In 2006, we took a group of riders to Laos, becoming the first AU unicycle tour. Unfortunately I had to leave half way through after breaking my leg, but it didn’t stop us! We have taken groups of unicyclists through New Zealand (2007), Vietnam (2008), India (2009), Mongolia (2010), Yunnan/China (2011), Uzbekistan (2013), Nepal (2015), New Zealand again (2017), and Cambodia (2019). Our next tour will be to Thailand in 2025.
Here is a selection of photos from around the world. I hope this brings back memories for those who participated, and inspires more unicycle adventures!
I’ll add more photos as I tidy up my collection, but have left out the competition stuff for a separate album.
