James_Potter said:...I remember johnfoss telling it once. i should just wait till he
comes to tell it properly. consider this a preview.
Some corrections:
I came along in 1980, when we Americans were mostly riding 24"
Schwinns, and using them for everything. Ahh, a simpler time. There are
still people out there who want to keep it where you only need one
unicycle for everything. Fine, but please don't prevent us from growing
the sport and conventions! Oh, sorry, end rant.
Anyway, the first big splash by 20" wheels was perhaps made by the
three guys from Sweden who came in 1981. They were Joaquim Malm, Peter
Holmgren, and Hakan Frurskar (spelling undoubtedly wrong). Joaquim Malm
is credited with the invention of coasting. And the three of them, more
or less as a group, are credited with the introduction of seat drag,
bouncing seat on floor, gliding and a whole general "1980s Swedish
style" of unicycling. Theirs was perhaps a precursor to Street riding,
but done indoors and not yet involving obstacles. But their quick,
sudden movements style of riding very much lent itself to a small,
lightweight wheel. They took advantage of the lightness and hard
bumpers of the Miyata Deluxe unicycles of the day, and others followed.
Oh, and those three had a younger guy who wanted to be like them, but
lived pretty far away. He got better. His name is Peter Rosendahl
(http://www.peter-rosendahl.com).
I stuck with 24" through 1983, but in 1984 got a 20" and started
converting over. I remember a few frustrating months where that smaller
wheel was not behaving as I'd expected it to, but after I got used to
it, I was able to make use of its advantages.
- Coasting, gliding, possibly standup skills made easier by longer gap
between seat and fork crown
- Quick movements easier due to lighter wheel
- Pairs riding easier due to smaller wheel
And this is a major one, though I didn't learn it until a little bit
later
- On a 20" wheel, you can do the same performance in a smaller space
than on a 24", period. This makes a big difference when your performing
space is an elementary school stage or other very limited space!
But the 24" also has advantages, as JSM mentioned. Speed, momentum, and
visual size. Spins are easier for two reasons. Your pedals are much
less likely to hit the ground, and the higher speed per revolution
allows for more spinning options. Extra weight = momentum, as in the
side ride like JSM said. Same can apply to other moves. And if you have
an audience, a 24" wheel is going to look more impressive than a 20",
especially if you're a really tall person.
For wheel walking, once you've got the technique down, wheel size is
not an issue. I find it easier on the 20" because my legs have more
room to move around. This is why it's so hard on a Coker; your knees
have to be much higher and the position is more awkward.
Sem & Teresa are a great example of top professional performers on 24"
wheels. Though they don't do a lot of 20" style tricks, it's not
because they can't, it just isn't their style. When I think of world
champions over the years, at least in the individuals, I think nearly
all of them were on 20" wheels. This includes Teresa, who was the first
women's champion.
Carol Bahorich (now Carol Bricker, who hosted NAUCC 2004 in Salt Lake
City), won at Unicon II on a 24" Miyata. Her sister Wendy (now Gryzch;
hosted MUni events last summer in Bowling Green) used a 24" in 1988 and
I'm pretty sure she was the winner at Unicon IV.
--
johnfoss
John Foss
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com
-----------------------------------------------
"Idiot America—where fact is merely that which enough people believe,
and truth is measured only by how fervently they believe it." --
Charles Pierce, in Esquire Magazine
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