Big Monowheel, Little Monowheel

The 2004 record still stands in the category of 'fastest monowheel'

A man shows off the Mini Mono Wheel during a press preview [2004]
at a motor show in Essen, Germany. The machine can reach 86.5 km/hr
[53.7 mph], a world record for that type of vehicle. (Photo: Michael Sohn/AP - link)

Apparently, the monowheel design dates back to pre-industrial times with many variations developed on the theme and designs resembling at various times a bicycle, a hamster wheel, a gyroscope, a horse-drawn carriage and a giant tractor tire.

While the unicycle as we know it today was - like the bicycle - still in its Penny farthing infancy, a strange looking propellered version of the monowheel made the cover of Popular Mechanics back in April 1914 with the name, 'unicycle'  and later, in response to a request for funding, 'a mechanical freak'. Motorized versions continued to develop through the 20s, but advances in monowheels stalled in the mid-30s, presumably left in the dust of the automobile.

Kerry McLean is the guy who's up to making them go fast nowadays and also, more comfortable. Aiming for comfort over record speeds, here's a larger version of a monowheel-  the 'monocycle' :

Comments

[illlich]

the great thing about these is. . . if you leave them unlocked at the quick-E-Mart, who the hells gonna steal it? They'd break their neck trying to drive it off, or break their back trying to lift it onto a flatbed truck, and then of course, what do ya DO with it once you've stolen it? You cant drive it around town because everyone would recognize it.

[Nick the Bard]

I'm surprized no one's tried converting one of these things into a Buzz Boar yet.

Or made a website to brag about it anyway...

[Steve PMX]

When I see this I can't help but think of that South Park episode.... http://carnalreason.org/images/misc/wheel.sp.gif

[Listener Trish]

And another modern take on the design that looks like a cross between a skateboard and a windsurfer, without the sail.

Photos and video: http://suncycle.boat-composite.com

They should rig some kind of sail to it. And add some bicycle brakes.

[sam]

That big blind spot right in the direction your heading has got to be a bitch.

[steve]

McLean's Wheel showed up at the beach I was at last fall.
It appeared as what looked like a silver pole gliding swiftly down the hill towards us. As he made the turn I could see it was a large wheel. He came to a stop gracefully in the parking lot and a large crowd soon gathered to get a closer look at this most unusual vehicle. Much to my surprise it was street legal, and had a moped license plate to prove it. This was a good thing since he had been riding it across the State of Michigan all weekend to raise money for a charity fund raiser. Kerry was very friendly, and let my 2 year old daugher sit on it. Apparently he had first heard of the idea while taking a Black Smith Class. T

Good luck to Kerry, and his "do it yourself" attitude!

[tazzy18]

This is a very unique ride, and it surely rocks. By inventing this kind of vehicle it will certainly help lessening the traffics (is there any?) in your place.