Butler Wobble

Superbowl Saturday- Eat and Ride

2012-02-02T18:50:00.001-05:00

Don't forget about hanging out someplace local after this week's Y session.

We have to talk about the May 11-13th weekend- big news for the Wobble!

Incentive

2012-01-16T21:17:00.001-05:00

Bring your own unicycle to practice at the Y and...

Win a free funky valve cover!

One per uni-that's all you need.

2012-01-16T20:58:00.002-05:00

There's alot going on these days, and I don't really know where to start.

If you want to learn to ride, or already know how, the Y in Butler is the place to be on Saturdays from 4:30-6:30pm. We work on new skills, play games and hold races.

On the first Saturday of every month, the group will be heading out to eat after meeting at the Y. So bring a few extra bucks for your dinner, a change of clothes if you want, and an appetite. This is just a good time to socialize outside of gym time. In January we ventured down the street to Natili's Pizza Shop and had a good time talking about up coming events.

In May we will be hosting a Uni "Beyond Beginners" Workshop. We'll have more information later, right now the schedule may include fun rides on Friday night and Sunday afternoon and workshops on Saturday. The workshops will be held at the Butler Y. The fun ride locations are yet to be determined. There will be a registration fee, and we are asking that attendees also be a USA (Unicycling Society of America) member - so be sure your membership is up to date. If you aren't yet a member, you can join by going to the USA website.

We're talking up Nationals alot - and for a good reason. This year's event will be about 4 1/2 hours away! It's not very often that Nationals are held so close to home. We're hoping that many of you can make a day trip (at least) or maybe even join us for the week. It would be a blast to have the Wobble represented by so many great riders! We'll keep you updated as we know more.

2012- Time to Uni!

2012-01-03T06:56:00.001-05:00

We're back on for Saturdays starting this weekend, January 7, from 4:30-6:30pm.

There's a lot to be excited about in 2012. Hopefully you'll make unicycling a part of the New Year's resolutions that stick.

This uni plans to see a lot of use this year: (guess who it belongs to)

No Y Time Dec 24th or 31st

2011-12-22T16:49:00.001-05:00

Both days the Y is closed.

If you get a uni over the holidays, you can show it off January 7th, 2012.

It's also a good time to kick off those New Year's resolutions. Unicycle yourself into better shape!

Phew, alot of information - all about the different uni disciplines.

2011-12-04T09:25:00.002-05:00

There are many disciplines with in the unicycling community. North American Unicycling Convention and Competition (NAUCC or “Nationals”) are held every year and there are competitions in the various disciplines at each NAUCC event. Nationals are a great way to see how the various disciplines work and meet others who love to ride their unis. It’s also an amazing learning experience, as sometimes the best way to learn a new trick is to watch others and ask them how they learned it.

The Butler Wobble - that’s what we call ourselves - will be attending again in 2012. Nationals in 2012 will be July 10-15 in Saline, MI. Saline’s only 4 ½ hours away! Mark you calendars now! Beginners are welcome in all events. There are age groups for everyone. Because UNICON (World’s) is also in the summer of 2012, this year’s Nationals may be less heavily attended - which will be great for new riders!
There is a registration fee for competiiors. It’s not too expensive, usually around $100. So, since we are able to meet at the Y free, start saving now by setting aside a few dollars each week you attend at the Y as your “fee” and you’ll have saved up much of the Nationals entry fee!

Also, you are required to be a Unicycling Society of America (USA) member to participate in Nationals. We don’t ask that you join USA to participate at the Y. However, when the Wobble participates in parades or MUni events we ask that those participating be USA members because one of the benefits of USA Membership is insurance for the club as a group, and for the individuals who are participating as part of that group. Membership is $20/individual or $35/family (all members at the same address). See http://uniusa.org/membership/ for more information. When you do join USA, please let us know so that we can update The Wobble Roster.

Below is a brief description of each discipline, the uni ridden and any other requirements as well as some video links. Many of the disciplines overlap and therefore there are often multiple events for each competitor to enter. Many disciplines require knee pads and gloves. A helmet is required for MUni and Trials.

Distance/Racing - Uni: Standard is under 24”, ungeared w/ cranks no shorter than 125mm. Unlimited class is anything with a virtual wheel larger than 24”.
Distance racing is racing that is not on the track, and is longer than 1500m. It may include a Criterium (crit), Marathon, and 10K. Not all distance events are held at all Nationals. It depends on the hosting city and their resources. Distance races are most often pack starts and raced as a group - there are gaps in the pack as the races progresses.

A Crit is a short circuit course, often a small city block where the racers complete a set number of laps. There are often standard and unlimited heats as well as age and gender classes. It’s a fast race, because the course is short, and is very spectator friendly. The 10K often has both standard and unlimited class as well. It’s often part road, part park, part bike path. Again, it depends on the host city’s available accommodations. A marathon is 42K (26.2 mi) and often is only offered for the unlimited class. It is often, mostly, a road race.

Flatland - Uni: 20”
Flatland riding is a combination of Street and Freestyle. It’s a combination of tricks and spins performed outdoors like Street, but without the obstacles in Street. The idea is to combine tricks and spins into a smooth set of motions.

Freestyle - Uni: 20”
Freestyle is one of the oldest disciplines and is considered and artistic discipline. It utilizes many skills and tricks that are arranged in a routine that is performed to music, and is often compared to figure skating. There are Individual, Pairs, and Group routines. Presentation and showmanship are a big part of the discipline. The routines are performed in a gym and are judged.

Hockey/Basketball - Uni: Any that’s set up for indoor use (plastic pedals) but most often a 20” for hockey. Basketball is 20 or 24 (to get a bit closer to the hoop.)
Just like it sounds, Uni Hockey and Basketball are played on unis in a gym. The courts are “enclosed” by barriers - often tables or bleachers with padding. There are teams of 5 on the court and the team may have subs, there are no age requirements and teams can be comprised of all ages and both male and female.

MUni - Uni: Varies. Most commonly a 24” or 29” with wider and knobbier tires. The frames are often more sturdy to withstand hops, drops, and rocks.
MUni means Mountain Unicycling. At Nationals, there are uphill technical, downhill technical and distance MUni races. All are also available as Male or Female Beginner, Advanced, and Expert. The uphill and downhill races are (really) short courses designed to test your ability. The distance is a longer course, similar to a mountain bike race.

Skills - Uni: Varies, but most often 20”. It’s suggested that you ride the uni on which you are most comfortable.
Skill Levels are a set of skills that are grouped and ranked so as to allow for levels. A rider must test at a lower level before progressing to a higher level. Testing is done by a certified Skills Tester and there are times set aside at Nationals just for testing for your level. There has been some discussion about altering and updating the skills, but for now, these are the accepted levels.
There are also the Hutch or Trials levels. The Trials levels were developed to incorporated more skills related to Street/ Flatland/ Trials and MUni riders. There is some overlap, but the two systems are not interchangeable and the Hutch Levels are not officially recognized.

Standard Skills
Standard skills combines Freestyle and Skills. The riders completes a routine that demonstrates the skills they are able to complete. They are not judged on music or costuming. They are awarded points for each skill mastered and demonstrated in the routine. A routine may contain up to 18 skills and be no longer than 3 minutes.

Street - Uni: Most often a 20”
Street is often compared to BMX riding and is done in skate park type settings. Street riding involves jumping off steps, huge flips, grinding rails and spinning the uni. For some competitions, depending on the host city and available facilities, the obstacles or “street” part are sometimes built site specific just for the competition.

Track - Uni: Varies, based on age, w/ younger racers allowed smaller wheels, but the standard is 24” with cranks no shorter than 125mm.
Track events are held on a track. They include 100m, 400m and 800m as well as 1-foot, wheel walk, and an obstacle course. Each National Host can add additional races, such as a slow race or backwards. All track races start from a “block” (upright post) and except for the 800m, you are disqualified if you dismount (you get 1 dismount in the 800). Track day is a great day for beginners to participate, if you can ride unassisted.
There are heats based on age and gender with the top riders competing in an Expert Heat. Scoring is timed and point based. The top 5 riders are awarded points. All riders are timed. So even if you don’t earn points, you are giving a time - this is great for shooting for personal bests or comparing yourself to others in different heats.

Trials - Uni: Usually a 20”, some larger men ride 24”
Trials riding is the riding of obstacles made up of pallets, stairs, boards and similiar objects without dismounting or touching anything. Trials are also called Observed Trials. During the competition there are a number of obstacles each rider may attempt to complete. Each obstacle is worth a set number of points based on which “line” you choose. A line is the designated order of completion for that obstacle. Each obstacle can have up to 3 lines for you to choose from, ranked from easiest to hardest. Each rider is given a card that must be signed by the obstacle judge upon completion of that obstacle. Observed Trials is also a good competition for beginner riders, as it is a point based system and you can try and best your points from the previous competition.

Today is the Greatest Day...

2011-11-19T09:10:00.001-05:00

We'll be indoors at the Butler Y today (and almost every other Saturday) from 4:30-6:30! Come enjoy the light, heat, and

11/11/11

2011-11-11T09:06:00.001-05:00

What a perfect day to ride a uni.

Thank a Veteran.

Reminder: No Y time tomorrow. Unfortunately, a regular basketball tournament has the gym. Now, if it were a unicycle basketball tournament, that would be awesome.

Next Saturday we're at the Y again.

Also, thanks to the 9 new learners who showed up last week!

No Wobble @ the Y this Saturday

2011-11-08T11:40:00.002-05:00

This Saturday, November 12th, there will be a basketball tournament at the Y so the gyms will be closed. There will be NO UNICYCLING CLUB!

We're looking forward to seeing everyone again on the 19th from 4:30-6:60pm. Last week we had a great turn out and are looking forward to the possibilities this year! If you're still on the fence about learning - come out and watch! Riding's a ton of fun.

If you're on Facebook - look up the Butler Wobble and request to join the group. It's a great, quick way to stay in touch and find out what we're up to.

Brady's Run! Month of Mud is ONNNN!

2011-09-19T09:23:00.004-04:00

Hey everybody! it's nate!

Dave, Isaac, and I just finished up our first race of the Month of Mud season. I'll admit that I was dreading the task, having been a bit of a slacker, missing many opportunities to ride this year. Dave says the better shape you're in, the more fun cycling is. Fortunately, unicycling is a fun way to get into shape. I don't know anyone that regrets going out for a ride once they get out there.

The thing about Month of Mud is that it is a great atmosphere for anyone who wants to challenge themselves. Mountain bikers are always welcoming to new riders, and are especially impressed by anyone on a uni.

Brady's run itself is a tough course with plenty of extended climbs, which is why Isaac and I have avoided it in the past. We enjoyed most of the race riding neck and neck, passing each other only when one of us would get hung up on on a root. Its been good to see how much Isaac has improved over the last year. He certainly gave me a run for my money. I think if he'd had the same size wheel as me, it would have been a whole different race.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of the season unfolds. Oct 2nd is the Cyclocross race at North Park. It should be the perfect course for beginners and for spectators. Hope to see y'all there!
http://monthofmud.org/

Thursday and Friday Night Rides

2011-09-15T07:53:00.004-04:00

There has been some discussion as to what we've been up to lately. We've been playing outside. You're welcome to join us.

Thursday evenings, around 6:30-7pm, we've been spotted at Ritz Park in Butler. The park has tennis courts and a basketball court that we use for practicing skills. We use the grass, gravel road and small trail for beginner off road practice. It's a good little park to practice uphill and downhill and mixed terrain. Especially for the beginner who wants to try all those things but is intimidated by the traffic on the road or the difficulty of you standard mountain bike trail.

On that note, if you are a beginner and working on any new skill, don't be intimidated by our skills...we love watching and helping others learn new skills. We are always willing to lend a shoulder or arm (It's called "being a post" or just "post") - should free mounting be what's holding you back from practicing other skills. BTW, the tennis courts are a great place to practice free mounting.

On Friday nights we join the Butler Bicycles and Unicycles Friday Night Group Ride. It meets at 6pm in the parking lot on Main St. across from Pizza Joe's & Flynn's Tires. The bicyclists follow the approved bike routes through town. The Unicyclists take a different route, to use a few less traveled roads and practice hills. We also do a few laps at Memorial Park. This is a great way to learn road uni riding, while not being on the main roads. Again, beginners are welcome. If free mounting or fear of road riding are holding you back from joining us, please put those aside and join us! We are always willing to offer a shoulder and be a post to get you started. No matter how many times you UPD (Un-planned dismount). We frequently try the same section of road over and over again, taking turns, just to figure out how to get up the hill, over the pot-hole or past a section of bricks.

If you'd like to join us for either ride, please remember that helmets are strongly recommended - as they are mandatory for our inside rides and outdoor competitions it just makes sense to wear them any time you ride.

August and Everything After...

2011-08-04T10:30:00.004-04:00

July was good for the Butler Wobble. The Parades went well. Unfortunately a software compatibility issue wouldn't let Dave's iPod edit and share the video from the Emlenton parade. It was quite the experience. Next year, you'll have to join us to find out!

If you read the banner above this entry, you'll see we're expanding our regular ride schedule. That's a result of some brainstorming sessions and conversations we had at NAUCC 2011. We want YOU to join us. Unicycling is fun and for everyone.

Speaking of joining us: we're looking to keep things even more up to date. The blog will have most of the info on it, but we've also opened a Butler Wobble Unicyclists group on facebook. It is a closed group, but we can get you in. We hope to be able to get more rides organized this way- and share more pictures.

Can't ride yet? You've got options. We'll be back at the Butler Y on Saturdays from 4:30-6:30pm starting November 5th. If you can't wait that long, we're going to offer free lessons (outdoors) based upon interest and member availability. All you have to do is contact us and we can work it out.

For those who can already ride and may be looking for a first, second, or 17th unicycle: we've got some loaners. Until we work out a good library system you can't keep them, but you're welcome to go on a ride with us and test a different wheel size. We've got some 24s, a 29 (but you may have to fight Lisa for it), and a 36 (THANKS JOHN!) that we can bring (in addition to a pile of 20's). Friday nights might be a good time to check one out. You'll have to contact us ahead of time to make arrangements.

This all fits into our mid range plan: NAUCC 2012. At this point, it's scheduled for the Detroit area. That's pretty close for the National Convention and Championships. You should go. Isaac, Dave, and Lisa went this year. If you want to check out the results, here. That tells you about the competitions, but doesn't even give you half the story. The convention aspect was the most amazing part of the trip.

Shorter term plans include MUni rides throughout the month of August. Why? - We have the Oregon for testing. We're riding tonight at 6, and sometime Saturday with more rides to follow.

The Month of Mud is just around the corner. Keep checking back for more details, but most likely it's time to get your MUni on!

Parade Information- and Media too!

2011-07-02T11:04:00.004-04:00

In order: July 4th Monroeville with Chas and Pro Bikes and Kids! We meet at Pro Bikes Monroeville at 8am. If that's too far to ride your uni, meet at Lisa and Dave's at 7am and we'll carpool. Parade starts at 9am.

July 8th: Downtown Butler Ride. Meet at the usual spot- in the parking lot across from Pizza Joe's (and those crazy cool bike/uni racks.) Rumor has it that the Butler Eagle will be taking pictures and doing a story on downtown rides. 36" unis especially welcome!

July 9th: Emlenton parade. See the blog post below for details.

Check the Fat Tire Challenge homepage for a couple of write ups on the June 18th race in Sigel. Scroll down and click the links. The unicycle article is also on the Post-Gazette site- specifically here. A HUGE thanks to Shannon (PG) and Liz (JCN) for covering the race. Thanks for not making us out to be a bunch of clowns!

The Fast and Slow of it all

2011-06-21T11:31:00.006-04:00

June 11th Autism Benefit at Mazzanti's:

Isaac makes it look easy.

Rick has only been riding since last winter! He's be become quite the climber and uses his uni a lot.

Yes, we were allowed to ride around the car show!

June 18th Fat Tire Challenge in Sigel (earlier I mistakenly said Brookville):

We had 6 in the Uni Class (an off road record for at least Western PA!). In the pic are: Claude, Isaac, Andy, Connor, Dave, and Buzz. 7.78 mi of good racing times. Look for a race writeup (including some uni info) in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this coming Saturday (the 25th). Thanks Shannon in advance for the article!

You might not recognize Claude, Connor, or Buzz. They aren't from around here. Claude made the trip from Germantown, MD; Connor from near Erie, PA; and Buzz from Rochester, NY. Good times.

An especially huge THANK YOU goes out to Michael and Mindy White for being the race organizers who were completely willing to not only accept, but embrace the concept of MUnis at the race. Now they just need to learn to ride a uni...

On the horizon: more goodness.

July 4th we'll be joining Chas from Pro Bikes for the Monroeville 4th of July Parade. Also joining us will be a bunch of kids on bikes. Human Power!

July 9th we'll be in Emlenton for a parade. The parade is at 6pm and Emlenton is a bit far to ride a uni to and make it home before dark so we'll carpool. Meet at Darn Yarn Needles and Thread (371 N Main St. in Butler) at 4:15 if you want in. We need to be there by 5pm. If you're meeting us in Emlenton, we'll be at the Post Office.

July 23-30th some of us will be at the annual North American Unicycling Convention and Championships in Madison, WI (this year). Lisa, Dave, and Isaac are competitors this year.

Next Weekend

2011-06-06T11:56:00.002-04:00

Last Saturday was the Butler-Freeport Trail ride. Andy and Dave rode 36ers. Nate, Issac, and Brent rode bikes. 40+ miles of good times with a pizza stop in the middle and a Slurpee stop at the end.

This next weekend (11th-12th): Muni. Saturday will probably be very local and Sunday we'll look to head out for a drive to the start.

Also, we may be at Mazzanti's Beans and Cream for the car cruise/ Autism benefit on Saturday afternoon. Want to join us?

June Looks Like Uni Month

2011-05-08T21:58:00.003-04:00

First item of business, ride.

You will be able to find us all over the region in June.

June 4th we will be joining with our biking brethren for the inaugural Butler-Freeport rail trail ride. Although this won't be the first time it's been ridden, it will be the first time the trail is DONE! 45 miles of goodness round trip. You don't have to do the whole thing, but if you want to- pack a 36er (or Schlumpf) and we'll start from Butler at 9am. We'll do the downtown ride the night before (6pm) if anyone wants to make a weekend of it.

We were originally going to muni all over that weekend, but the rail trail ride is too important. We can still ride on Sunday this weekend, but it will be a bit less formal than the next bit.

MUni weekend has moved to the 10th-12th. Muni, polo, maybe some trials. More details to follow. You won't want to miss it!

The 18th is the Fat Tire Challenge in Brookville, PA. Check the entry form- there's a UNI CLASS!!!

Lots of riding is coming. You've got the rest of the month of May to get in shape.

What Comes After April Showers?

2011-04-24T18:34:00.005-04:00

Outside riding.

Reminder- next Saturday (the 30th) is the last day we'll be in the Y until October or November.

After we wrap up at 6:30, we'll be heading to Pizza Joe's- so bring some dough and get some dinner!

We have been going to Father Marinaro Skatepark most Thursday nights to ride, but it isn't always a definite. It's best to contact us if you plan on heading out. Honestly, we're itching to play some polo. We do that at other locales around Butler subject to court availability.

One thing we can say: Some of us will be headed to Madison, WI the last week of July for the North American Unicycle Championships and Convention. Saying it's amazing is an understatement. If you go, you will come back a better rider. If you don't, we'll refund your unicycling at the Y fees.

Dates and Times

2011-04-11T16:26:00.003-04:00

Friday, April 15th is not only tax day, but it is also Healthy Kids Day at the Y from 3-6 pm. Several of us will be there. Join if you like.

Saturday the 16th we will be packing it in just a bit early. We'll be done a bit before 6pm instead of the usual 6:30. It's a Steel City Derby Demons roller derby night and some of us are going! Even though they've got a lot more wheels than we do, it's a ton of fun to watch. If you want in, buy your tickets in advance because they'll sell out.

Saturday the 30th will be the last day for riding at the Y until October or November. Keep checking back here for where we'll be riding, but you'll need to bring your own uni. We won't be providing loaners.

Thursdays seem to be the gathering days for Father Marinaro Skatepark. We're there 6:30pm or so until close. Once again, bring your own uni (and protective gear!).

End of Winter Sale

2011-04-02T12:45:00.002-04:00

From now until the end of April, you can learn to unicycle for free Saturday afternoons at the Butler Y. 4:30-6:30pm in gym 1.

At the end of April, we'll be done indoors until October or November. You can still learn to ride, but you're on your own as far as unicycles go. We won't be taking loaners outside.

Trials/Street night at Father Marinaro is still in flux. When we settle, we'll get the info up here. We're probably looking at Thursdays or Wednesdays, but in spite of the calendar the weather hasn't been cooperating too much lately.

All the more reason to join us at the Y!

Do You Ever Leave the Gym?

2011-03-28T19:57:00.004-04:00

Yes.

2 Versions of the 3/26/11 Pre Y Ride:

1. Nate's:

So what if it’s a little cold outside? The sun is shining and that makes perfect weather for mUni riding. You’d be surprised how easily you stay warm when you’re pumping a unicycle through the mud and how quickly you’ll progress with the encouragement of a few other riders. That’s what Dave, Andy, Nate, Tony, and Isaac did this past Saturday. Andy had some interesting challenges for mUni Trials; you should check ‘em out:

(Video courtesy of Dave, Andy, and Isaac- and Dave's iPod)

(Note: change the resolution to 720p for best results)

2. Isaac's:

The First Butler Wobble Group Muni Ride of the Spring Season.

Saturday the 26th of March dawned with a beautiful clear sky and crisp cool air as 5 of the Butler Wobble's more skilled and adventurous riders converged on the Butler Little Theater parking lot to start the first group Muni ride of the spring season. As the first couple of riders arrived we occupied ourselves in small talk and playing at small street and trials skills rendered more difficult with the larger Muni wheels. As the last of our group arrived and we were preparing to ride out to take on the trails, someone noticed that Tony's tire was off bead. This was when the tone of the day was really set, instantly everyone was offering tire levers, and pumps, and friendly ribbing. With the help of Nate's enormous pump the problem was soon rectified and we were off to start the day by climbing Ritz Park on the way to the trails above Memorial Park.

We frequently ride the trails above Memorial Park, however trail conditions were rendered particularly interesting at the beginning of this ride. The cold had frozen the saturated soil and had pushed ice up out of the ground giving it a very unique texture. At one point we had a rather amusing group UPD, two members of our group fell almost simultaneously, resulting in a domino effect causing every member of the group to have fallen off at the same time.

On our second loop through the trails one of the brothers Manfred spotted a couple of logs next to a fire pit and suggested that they would be fun to jump on. We stopped and those of the group with adequate skill and courage took turns jumping on to and across the logs while the others offered encouragement, suggestions, and some friendly ribbing. Once we exhausted the possibilities of the fire pit area we decided to move on to the Memorial Park hills, and Lower Alameda.

The first hill down to Memorial Park is deceptively challenging. It is short, but steep, rutted, and leaf filled. Again with this small challenge a deep sense of camaraderie prevailed as each of us took as many tries at the hill as we felt we needed to accomplish it to our personal satisfaction. The second downhill into the park is much more intimidating, and used to be a source of much trepidation as a beginner Muni rider. This ride it seemed almost anti-climactic. It is very clear, from small aspects of the ride like this one that all of us have improved significantly from last year. As we cut down into the park proper several kids and parents at ball practice called out in surprise and admiration at the site of unicyclists riding over the hill. At this point one of the big advantages of group riding was clearly evident as one of the group members took a great line that no one else saw, jumping off of the road bed, on to a small bank and riding it out. This was a particularly fun line as it was accessible to every member of the group with a few tries and encouragement.

For the next stage of our ride, we moved to the service road at the back of Lower Alameda Park. From the beginning it was clear that this stage of our ride would be a bit of an adventure. Apparently loggers had been in to ply their trade in some regard, perhaps to 'clean up' trees downed by the soggy winter and heavy winds. The dirt roads were torn and rutted and tree tops frequently protruded into the trail. This might seem like a big disappointment, however the ruts and mud made an otherwise uninteresting ride on a dirt road into a much more technical and physical challenge somewhat reminiscent in parts of the Grove City race in the local Month of Mud racing series. One unexpected disappointment resulting from the logging action was that a rather technical cross trail that we enjoy was impassably choked with downed tree tops, forcing us to bushwhack our way back to the main road.

Shortly after regaining the main road Andy spotted a new source of challenge and amusement, a couple of large logs stacked against the bank along the edge of the road. As a group we stopped to work out how to make Andy's suggested challenge of jumping off the bank onto the logs and then jumping down to the road workable. With some group collaboration and Dave and Andy's skilled experimentation with different approaches the challenge was overcome and an additional challenge of riding the logs as a skinny was taken and achieved. This was the last major Muni challenge for the day and the ride back along the paved park road was a nice cool down before heading off to encourage some new riders at uni club to refine their skills so they can join us in future Muni mayhem.

I hope you read all of Isaac's report. YouTube is ok, but the written word is better.

Yeah, you should join us. Unicycling is AWESOME!

Indoors/ Outdoors

2011-03-15T17:34:00.003-04:00

We're still practicing at the Y on Saturdays from 4:30-6:30pm. There's no better time to learn than now. It looks like the weather will be taking a turn for the better and soon we'll be hitting up Father Marinaro skatepark to ride Western PA's only public (and free to boot!) uni trials course. We'll post when that definitely happens, but you'll want to be ready.

If you've been wanting to join us to learn unicycling, the time is now. When attendance drops off at the Y towards the end of April we'll put Saturdays on hold until the Fall.

Don't miss out! -Especially since Polo season is coming.

2011- A Good Year to Unicycle

2011-02-09T18:05:00.005-05:00

We've heard it's been said that 10 hours is the average time it takes to learn to ride a unicycle, but we've found with this crew it's been a lot less.

It seems that having others around who are working towards the same goal has accelerated the learning process. About half the riders in the video are at the 6 hour mark or less.

Join us at the Butler Y on Saturdays through April. 4:30-6:30pm. Sign a waiver and wear a helmet. We have extra loaner unis if you need one for the day!

First Unicycle?

2011-02-01T18:58:00.003-05:00

Another (relatively) quick video on unicycling basics. This time it's about choosing a unicycle. There's a lot more information out there on the topic, and as always, come join us for a ride and we can talk shop!

Yes, we will be riding this Saturday since we haven't been invited to perform at halftime during Sunday's Superbowl.

Unicycle Basics- You CAN ride

2011-01-21T14:02:00.003-05:00

Here's the first in a series of (somewhat) instructional videos. They'll all be free. You'll get a little more than you pay for.

Upon review, there were a lot of details left out. The big idea we went for is that falling off a unicycle won't (most likely) kill you.

Catch up with us Saturdays at the Y.

New You for 2011

2011-01-12T09:55:00.003-05:00

Last Saturday was the first Y unicycle gathering of 2011. We were down a few regulars, but up 6 first time riders! They all practiced hard and made a lot of progress towards being able to ride.

We've been thinking for a while how to ride locally and encourage globally so we're launching an informational series about - you guessed it- unicycles. (Are you actually surprised?) If you're looking for a bunch of extreme riding synced to hip soundtracks you'll probably be disappointed. We're going with a more documentary style approach that will attempt to put all things unicycling in one spot without a lot of extra frills (for now).

Here's a quick preview:

If your interest is piqued, join us Saturdays from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Butler Y.

Open Season

2010-12-07T19:58:00.002-05:00

It's been said before, but it's worth saying again. Unicycling- try it for FREE!

Since the snow is flying, we get to meet in the nice warm gym at the Butler Y. Saturdays 4:30-6:30. We won't be there Christmas Day or New Year's Day.

You don't have to be a member of the Y. You don't have to have a unicycle (we have some extras to loan for the day). You don't even have to own a helmet- although we insist you wear one. (We have extras.)

A signed waiver is required for all. Under 18 needs a parent signature.

Get a start on your New Year's resolutions to be more active!

Black Friday!

2010-11-24T07:29:00.004-05:00

We've been invited to the 46th Annual Spirit of Christmas Parade this Friday here in Butler, PA. We've been invited to join the Butler Freeport Community Trail Group and Butler Bicycles and Unicycles group.

Details: Meet in the Emily Brittain Elementary School parking lot at 8:45am. Wear a helmet. Feel free to sport a Butler Freeport Trail shirt, a Butler Wobble shirt, a YMCA (now Y) shirt, or just a shirt. Due to the weather going shirtless isn't advised.

All forms of human powered transportation are encouraged to attend!

Flatland and Freestyle Season

2010-11-04T08:09:00.003-04:00

It's official: Saturday the 13th is the first Saturday the Butler Wobble meets at the Butler Y. 4:30-6:30pm. Free to all. Sign a waiver, wear a helmet (under 18 needs a parent's signature). We have some extra unis (for learners).

If the weather outside is frightful (or even if it's not), come and join us. It will be at least 68 deg F and well lighted in the gym.

If you're interested in learning- now is the time. We've got at least 3 local events in the works for 2011. Don't miss out!

If you've got some flatland or freestyle moves, show us what you've got. We'd love to learn.

Changing of the Seasons

2010-10-28T22:18:00.000-04:00

Father Marinaro Skatepark closes this Sunday at 9pm for the season. A HUGE thanks to Andy (and Brent) and all the other volunteers for putting in the first public uni trials lines in Western, PA. A special thanks to the United Way and Westinghouse for getting the funds, materials, and labor together to improve the park for ALL users (bikes, skateboards, and unis).

We're awaiting confirmation of our gym time at the Y. Tenatively we'll start November 13th from 4:30-6:30 on Saturdays. Better check back here (or call the Y) before you make the trip though as things aren't confirmed yet.

A bit of a reminder for the Y sessions- if you bring your own uni, please use plastic pedals. Also, you need a helmet to ride (along with a signed waiver- parents must sign for those under 18).

North Park Uni Start

2010-10-16T10:01:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow we meet at 8am at the official Month of Mud registration table.

We'll race around 8:30.

Hope to see you there!

One or Two More Times

2010-10-12T22:14:00.003-04:00

Sunday's the day. www.monthofmud.org North Park Time Trial. Plan to be there. We hopefully will have at least 6 riders. That would break off-road uni attendance records in Western PA.

Trials obstacles are up at Father Marinaro Skatepark. The are lines which haven't been ridden as of yet. Head over and give them a ride!

We need to get pics up of the Park, but honestly have been too tired from working over there or it's been not very good lighting (i.e. after dark) when we're ready to use the camera.

We Finally Have (A) Class

2010-10-03T20:44:00.004-04:00

We came, we saw, we raced.

Today we took the top 5 places at the Month Of Mud (www.monthofmud.org)- in the unicycle class.

Conditions were... interesting. Typical October 'Cross weather- rainy, cold, and muddy. Not the ideal conditions for unicycling, let alone unicycling on 36ers as Andy, Tony, and Dave found out. Isaac tried a 29er for the first time- and decided that the day of the race wasn't the time to switch to an unfamiliar wheel. This year's Nate lapped last year's Nate and finished 3 laps 20 minutes faster than last year's 2 laps.

Things ended with a sprint finish between Andy, Isaac, and Dave. Historically, this was not only the first time Western PA has had enough unis at a cyclocross/mountain bike race to have a class, but also the first sprint finish as well.

In spite of the cold, wet, mud, and rain we all had a great time (at least we'll feel that way tomorrow).

Two more races in the series. We'll be in full force for the North Park Time Trial. Moraine- not so much, but we will be represented.

If you've been looking forward to gym time at the Y, keep checking back. We'll get details up when we're ready to head back inside.

Where's the Wobble?

2010-09-20T20:28:00.003-04:00

You probably won't find us at the skatepark on Wednesdays. Recently we've been racing on the weekends.

www.monthofmud.org

To be more accurate- not all of us have been racing, but those of us who have are having a BLAST!!!

If you want to join in the fun The 10/3 cyclocross race at Grove City will be THE race to give uni racing a go!

No Park Wednesday

2010-09-14T17:41:00.001-04:00

We won't be there. Some of it is a series of unfortunate events. Nothing life threating, but colds are annoying.

We are planning to represent at the Month of Mud on Sunday in Bavington.

Month of Mud!

2010-09-09T21:37:00.003-04:00

We've got some great trails here in Western PA. They're great for mountain biking. Every Autumn some of these trails are featured as part of a fantastic series. www.monthofmud.org gets you the schedule.

Unis are welcome. This year we plan on representing with the Butler Wobble at Bavington (9/19), Grove City (cx 10/3), and North Park (10/17). Dave will be racing the other 2, but unless you're a bit nuts you'll probably want to pass on Moraine.

The start times for the unis aren't ironed out yet. Please contact Dave if you plan on attending. You can email him at dave(dot)bikes(at)yahoo(dot)com. Replace the ().

We have enough with just us for a class of 5, but there's room for more!

Tonight, Tonight (and Tomorrow, Tomorrow)

2010-09-01T07:37:00.003-04:00

We're back at Father Marinaro skatepark tonight (8/31). We'll be there from around 6:30ish until close (8ish). Trials riding and pugil sticks?

Tomorrow night is another bike/uni polo night. Ritts Park around 6:15 or 6:30. It might be an event on facebook too. It depends on if someone got around to posting it.

Park Change for Wednesday Night 8/25

2010-08-23T22:16:00.003-04:00

Ritts instead of Father Marinaro.

Instead of trials-ish stuff we'll be joining the bicycles for a night of polo. Somewhere around 6:30pm is the start time.

We have extra mallets.

Just don't stick the mallet in your spokes...

Again, Again

2010-08-10T12:10:00.002-04:00

Since the overwhelming response has been positive and the injuries have been minimal- we're at it again. Bike/uni polo (we all can get along) at Ritts Park tonight a bit before 7pm.

Also, Father Marinaro Skatepark tomorrow night. We need to meet, discuss and plan the uni corner along with other park improvements. Those with structural building experience are especially welcome.

Join us.

Bikes + Unis = Polo?

2010-08-02T21:41:00.002-04:00

Provided the rain holds off tomorrow evening we plan on putting one and two wheelers on the same court. Which is the superior steed, one or two? Time will tell.

One thing is for sure: we're in this for the fun of it.

Don't forget- Wed. night we'll be at Father Marinaro (weather permitting). Friday night is the 1st Friday downtown ride - meet in the lot across from Pizza Joe's at 6pm.

Uni cyclocross racing is on the horizon.

If you can't ride a uni yet, you need to learn. It's definitely not what the hipsters are doing.

1 Week Later

2010-07-25T12:13:00.002-04:00

Thanks again to all who made it out to the 2010 Butler County Stage Race www.butlercountystagerace.blogspot.com . Hopefully you've been finding the pictures and writeups you've be craving. If not, here's a few: Carl's writeup at Unicyclist.com , Fred Jordan's pics , Ben Stephen's Photos , Deb Rittelman's photos .

A HUGE thanks to Butler Health System for sponsoring the overall event.

Likewise, a huge thanks to Speedgoat.com, Unicycle.com, and ProBikes for donating the unicycle prizes.

We (the Butler Wobble) are looking forward to hosting more events in the near and distant future. Keep checking this site for more details!

BCSR 2010 Sunday and Final Results

2010-07-20T17:34:00.003-04:00

PLEASE be sure to send your thanks out to our sponsors as we're hoping to do this again at the same time next year!

(If you're having a hard time reading the results, click the image).

2010 Butler County Stage Race Results - Saturday

2010-07-20T16:49:00.007-04:00

Here's Saturday:

Sorry about the delay in getting the results up. Getting blogspot and Microsoft to agree is harder than unicycling.

(If you can't read the image get glasses or just click on it to make it bigger.)

Friday's Failsafe

2010-07-15T16:36:00.002-04:00

I've heard several concerns about tomorrow's weather for the prerides. Right now the chance of rain is listed at 20%. If it is pouring and you can't find us head to the Grand Ballroom in Cornerstone Commons (race HQ). Check in at the unicycle table and Lisa will give you a way to get a hold of us.

Also an FYI, we're planning on dinner after registration at Pizza Joe's on Main St. We can get a group rate on pizza or you can order off of the menu. They're able and willing to accomodate us!

See, some businesses like people coming into town.

BCSR Short Version Info

2010-07-09T16:16:00.002-04:00

Unis have 2 options:

A. 3 Race Series- Time Trial, Criterium, and Road Race. $30 total registration fee. Greater than 29in wheel required. Good prizes and swag. 1,2, or 3 lap options for the Road Race. Total elapsed time will determine final standings for the series. Saturday's races are on closed courses, but Sunday's is on an open road course. All rules of the road must be obeyed. Riders should wear a bright colored jersey on Sunday. A rearview mirror is a good idea for the Road Race. A brake isn't required, but it's also a good idea.

(Note- If you have a 36er you can choose to pay the $30 and do events ala carte too).

B. Crit B only option: A "fun" 29in and under criterium for anyone who can ride a uni. Some prizes and a bit of swag, but not as much as the series racers get.

Exceptions to these options must be cleared with Dave in advance.

Registration for the 3 race series is Friday night. You may be able to register Saturday morning for the 3 race series, but it must be done BEFORE 8am. If no prior arrangements have been made to register on Saturday you may not get the nice swag that the series racers get!

Crit B only option racers may register at 11am on Saturday. Crit B will start at approximately 12:55pm.

All participants must be USA members and wear a helmet and gloves. Kneepads are recommended.

BCSR Preride Prelim Info

2010-07-04T13:27:00.004-04:00

After preriding the Rás course today (day 2 of BCSR - the 18th) we decided that it might be a good idea to preview "the hill" before the race for those not familiar with the area. Why? because in the words of Krusty the Clown- "Gravity is a harsh mistress." It's steep, but rideable although some may argue with me on that.

SO- Friday the 16th we're going to meet in Renfrew, PA by the Post Office at 4:30 pm to take a peek. You can go there anytime you want as the roads are public, but it might be nice to get all unis together for a trip up the beast.

Our tenative Friday the 16th schedule looks something like this:

4:30pm -Rás Preview (mainly focusing on the big climb. It was agreed on today's preride that the rest of the course is pretty standard, so after a trip or two up we'll probably pile in a few cars and take a drive around the course.

6pm -Downtown tour. We'll preview the TT and crit course the best we can without actually riding Main St (and doing a 180 in the middle of traffic!) For those who are joining up at that point we will meet in the city lot between East North and East Brady Streets. It's easy to find and it's across from the Burger Hut.

7:15pm ish- En masse uni registration.

Eat somewhere afterwards. Sleep. Rise and race!

Visit www.butlercountystagerace.blogspot.com for more race details. It has info for both bikes and unis. This site is for the uni specific information.

If you plan on arriving Saturday- look at the race times and get to Diamond Park BEFORE 8am to fill out the necessary paperwork and register. It would be VERY helpful if you give us a head's up as we weren't planning on Saturday registrations for the 3 race series.

Yet Another BCSR post!

2010-06-28T14:40:00.002-04:00

To some reading this you may be currently experiencing Deja vu (Sorry-I have no idea how to get the special characters).

This is another reminder that July 17-18 we're hosting a stage race here in Butler, PA. www.butlerstagerace.blogspot.com is the site for most of the details with unicycle specific info showing up at www.butlerwobble.blogspot.com . Unicycle racing isn't that common on this coast. We have a very unique opportunity here to have some fun and show bicyclists and unicyclists aren't just about a circus sideshow- NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT!

Personally, I can't juggle and haven't found the time to learn. It's cool if people are into that, but the range of what unicyclists can do is rapidly expanding. I just watched a 26" street video on unicyclist.com. Amazing. I probably won't ever be able to ride like that, but that doesn't stop me from building some uni trials stuff at the local skatepark (right now about 15 pallets and some 2x4s screwed together) because I'm hoping someone around here is going to get into unicycling and will need support. I'm personally not big into freestyle, but we have gym time throughout the winter that a few of you have made it out to. I'll try both disciplines, but they're not entirely my cup of coffee (I'm not that much of a tea drinker). The point is: all of unicycling needs our support.

Check out the sites. We've been given a TREMENDOUS opportunity here to engage the cycling public and the general public. Unfortunately, I honestly don't think people understand the potential. The response I've had from emails and unicyclist.com posts I've received has been lackluster at best. We essentially get the same elite amateur courses the bicyclists get for next to nothing. It costs THOUSANDS of dollars to put on this event and we're getting in for almost free.

Why would we be invited in the first place? A large uni showing looks good for the event. It is critical that we have a LARGE turnout on the 17th. There are 2 options for the weekend. One is for (essentially) 36ers and Schlumpfs to do all 3 races. The reasons we have to limit are the Time Trial and the Road Race. We are able to use these courses, but they come at a price. We only get enough time to get about 30 unis on the TT with the last rider getting 45min to complete the 6.5 mile mostly flat course. We have to essentially be done before the bikes (which can be going 30mph) have to worry about us being a bit in the way. The road race is a logistical nightmare integrating with the bikes. We get 3 hours at the maximum on the course. I rode 3 laps in 2:00:56 a few weeks ago so it shouldn't be a problem, but we have to plan for everything.

Option 2 is the Crit only. This event is for EVERYONE who can ride a uni. We'll be on a downtown closed course with a pile of non-unicyclists who are out to see the race. This race should be a ton of fun. Honestly, it's as much about the public exposure as it is the ride itself. Anyone who gets this email should at least consider this. We're charging a whopping $5 entry fee (we need to contribute some money towards the event). We'll even have some prizes.

We're just under 3 weeks away and I've only got about a dozen riders who have committed to the race. If you have a 36er (or possibly a 29er) and think you could do a 10k in 45ish minutes we would like to have you here. An option to consider might be to sign up for the 3 race series and then only do the first day's 2 races and skip the second day. In the grand scheme of racing, a $30 entry fee for 2 races is REALLY cheap. Ideally I'd like to have a full field for the 2 days, but I may have to realistically accept the fact that people don't want to race on a difficult open road course. If you do decide on doing both days, there are options for 1,2,or 3 laps. I haven't seen much interest in the 1-lap option yet, but it will be there in case it's needed.

I'm finalizing prizes and swag with some sponsors and I'll get those details once the boxes arrive. In the interest of keeping entry fees low, I didn't put a lot of our entry money towards just the top people winning lots of money. I'm going as deep as I can and sharing the wealth.

If you're not going to U Games, you need to be here on July 17th (and hopefully the 18th). We need a strong showing in the number of unicyclists for the first year of this soon to be annual event or we may not have this opportunity next year.

Please email me if you will be coming or you have further questions that www.butlerwobble.blogspot.com or www.butlercountystagerace.blogspot.com don't answer.

I can't stress enough how generous the promoters have been to include unicycles in this event. We need to return on their investment.

Oh yeah, you'll need to be a USA member to participate. You can join at registration (it's only $20, but it gets us insurance coverage and you get a whole lot more!). Also: Helmets and gloves (or wristguards) are necessary. Kneepads are highly encouraged.

Ride on.

July is Unicycle (and Bicycle) Month in Butler!

2010-06-22T09:38:00.004-04:00

For the past several months we have been meeting the first and third Fridays for a 45-60min road ride on the downtown proposed cycling routes. Each ride we've had at least one Butler Wobble member on a uni. Not bad stats considering how many unicyclists there are in the area when compared to bicyclists.

Anyways, the discussion came up about what to do with July since the first weekend is considered a holiday weekend (although not in Great Britain). There was a proposal to move the Fridays to the 2nd and 4th. There was then the genius idea of riding every Friday and delcaring it "Bicycle Month in Butler" since we've got the stage race coming the 17th and 18th. Well, we here at the Butler Wobble HQ like the idea, but we're going "one" better and adding it is also Unicycle Month in Butler.

The long and short of it: If you pedal, join us for fun no-drop casual rides every Friday at 6pm. We're meeting in the parking lot across from the Burger Hut downtown. Afterwards a group of us usually heads someplace local to eat.

Stage race tie in: Friday the 16th will be a preview of most of the tt and crit courses (with the addition of autos on the 16th). Non-Butlerites take note.

One last note: if you plan on joining us on a uni we'd recommend a 26" or larger wheel or really short cranks on a 24. 125s on a 26 has worked ok for Andy so far, but he's an animal. It's do-able otherwise, but could amount to a long ride for a small wheel!

BCSR and Wed Wobble Meeting info

2010-06-21T18:08:00.003-04:00

BCSR- please be sure to check the official site for start times and course details. Since we're using the same courses as the bikes most of the data is pertinent. Also, prizes are being secured and we're working on getting some swag for all registrants with the nod going towards the 3 race riders.

On that note: there seems to have been a bit of confusion of what people can race.

The simplified version is: unlimited class- over 16yrs old AND greater than a 29" wheel (a 29er may be ok, but you'll have to contact us personally). On the 17th there will be a "B" crit where we want EVERYONE who can ride a uni to ride in it. This is the chance to put on a show for the spectators who are there to watch the bikes and unis.

Registration: $30 for all 3 races. $5 for the "B" crit. EVERYONE MUST BE A Unicycling Society of America MEMBER TO RIDE! (insurance reasons)

Helmets are NOT optional. They are mandatory.

In other news:

Wed Wobble Meeting at the skatepark (6/23) is cancelled this week due to the skatepark being closed for the week.

Details, Details...

2010-06-16T12:47:00.003-04:00

BCSR is just over a month away!

I just noticed it's been a while since things have been updated. That doesn't mean we've forgotten, it's just things have been busy with logistics that aren't that fun to report.

If you're planning on racing, we'd like to know. We've got spots for about 30 riders (36er or Schlumpf) for the 2 day series. We have at least a dozen who are "definitely maybe" or above. We can't go much more than 30 due to time trial logistics.

Things will really take off next week.

Practice on those hills...

Little Bits of Progress

2010-05-27T17:46:00.003-04:00

36 inch unicycles are popping up all over the area! Four (total) of our members will have one by tomorrow afternoon. Could this be a sign of the Apocalypse or just a stage race coming to town?

Uni-fied Wednesdays at the Skatepark have been going fairly well. We seem to be the only users who feel our heads are worth $30. It seems wearing a helmet isn't very fashionable to most of the multi-wheeled skatepark crowd. Apparently chicks and dudes dig scars and memory loss.

Stage Race updates: We've got a small token of appreciation for participants. You'll find out soon enough. We don't have official hotel deals worked out, but they're in the works. Scoring for the race is an interesting logistical exercise- ideas are getting firmer. We've got the prize package for the winners started. Logistics leave the field for all 3 events to be capped at about 30ish riders. We've got around a dozen or so informally registered as there is no formal registration yet.

One quick note (in case things get too hectic over the next week): Next Wednesday there may not be much of a presence at the skatepark as some of us are committed to wrench for some travelling bicyclists.

A flurry of BCSR info is UP!

2010-05-13T12:11:00.004-04:00

Check out the BCSR blog!

We've got logistics settled so that unis go out for the TT one at a time.

Two crits A and B. The A race is for those signed up for all 3 events. Wheel size will be limited to 700c and above. The B race will be for anyone who can ride! The max wheel size is 29in for this event. There will be minimal prizes for the B race (probably just ribbons), but it will be only $5 to enter! We want EVERYONE who can ride a uni in on this for the spectators' sake.

It looks like we can set registration for the 3 race weekend at $30! Since it's the inaugural event we want to keep the price low to encourage people to make the trip. The prize list won't be nearly that of the bikes, but the fun factor will be at least as good.

Once again EVERYONE who rides MUST be a USA member. It's only $20 for the whole year!

A Few BCSR Updates

2010-05-09T10:56:00.005-04:00

The Butler County Stage Race details are coming together one step at a time. Being that this is the first year for the event, there are a lot of logistics to be worked out. Next year will be much easier, but don't wait until then!

A lot of my time so far has been involved in getting the web end of the bicycle race together along with getting the actual time frames for the unis worked out. Our tenative plan is to have the unis go off first both days as we will most likely be the smallest of the categories.

The road race day will have 3 options: 1,2,or 3 laps. I was originally thinking only 1 or 3 to keep things simple, but after holding some discussions we decided there needs to be the 2 lap option. There will most likely be a 2 hour cutoff for 2 laps for those taking the three lap option. After preriding the course last weekend I found a lap to take somewhere in the neighborhood of 45-50 min for me (ungeared 36 with 110 cranks). The main part of the steep hill took me right around 5 min to climb on the 2nd full trip up.

The Time Trial is pretty straight forward. We're still getting logistics worked out, but we may need to send out riders 2 at a time with 30 second intervals between.

We want everyone who can ride a unicycle involved in the Criterium. 2 heats. One will be for the big wheels and/or geared, one for more of the novice crowd and anyone who can ride. I'm still trying to figure out how many laps or what length of time to make the heats to fit the schedule.

We're in the planning stages for a Saturday night dinner/ party for the unicyclists. We've got a fantastic chef committed to helping us pull it off and now we'll work on a venue.

We don't have a motel list yet, but we do have some who are willing to play host families for the weekend. There are local motels, but it's best for us to wait just a bit to get the bicyclists in on the group rates too.

I know some who have done racing before have expressed concerned about geared/ ungeared. The current plan is to have overall rankings and ungeared recognition as well. How deep things will go depends on how many people show up for the weekend.

We don't have any online registration up. We haven't completely finalized costs so we don't have a definite registration fee schedule either. Being that we'll be under Unicycling Society of America insurance will allow us to keep the registration fees under $50 for the weekend. How much lower we can go I don't know yet.

If you are seriously looking to attend, please shoot me an email at dave(dot)bikes(at)yahoo(dot)com. Replace the () with the symbols. The more data I have now, the more answers I can have soon.

Update: There's a link to the BCSR road race course under links. Here's a copy of the map too:

Renfrew Ras race course
Find more Bike Rides in Butler, Pennsylvania

ride on,
dave krack

Not the Same Time or the Same Place

2010-04-29T21:33:00.005-04:00

Indoor Saturdays at the YMCA are done for the season. We'll be back in October or November.

If you want to find us, you can find us at Father Marinaro Skatepark on Wednesdays- www.fmskatepark.com. We'll arrive 6 or 6:30 or so and ride until the park closes sometime after 8pm. We probably won't have much in the way of loaners, so bring your own. We will be sharing the space with other park users, so beginners aren't our priority (this time of year).

That's not the only place to find us, but that will be our consistent meeting place and time. The trails around are another place to look for us on Munis, and soon we'll be dominating the roadways on 36ers. We've been accused of being a posse by innocent bystanders.

If you're new to the fold, asking Andy about unicycle tattoos is a good way to start. Right after that, have him show you how to hop onto a bench. To top it all off, ask him how long he's been riding. By the way, his brother Tony is just as amazing.

Last Chance for a While

2010-04-24T10:59:00.003-04:00

Item #1: A small name change. The header now reads "Butler Wobble" instead of "The Wobble". No biggie, we just think it's a bit more clear overall. Also, that's what the new logo will read (Thanks again Nate!)

Item #2: Today is the last indoor day at the YMCA. We'll still be riding; we just won't be accomodating those who need to borrow unicycles as much. If you still haven't tried and your interest is piqued, we'll be back for gym time again in October or November.

If you have your own unicycle and you'd like to ride with us, give us a shout. Well, an email or phone call would actually be a bit more effective.

April 24th

2010-04-05T15:45:00.003-04:00

Saturday the 24th will be the last indoor session at the YMCA. We'll be outside after that. We won't probably have much in the way of loaner unis when we meet outdoors. We will be meeting, probably even on a regular basis. We just won't be indoors. Keep checking back.

Insurance Assurance

2010-04-02T09:21:00.003-04:00

Anyone checking here for the low down on the upcoming Butler County Stage Race - unicycle division?

If so, here's the scoop: The Butler Wobble will be a sponsor and you'll need to be a Unicycling Society of America member to ride. The reason is twofold: 1. We need liability insurance. We're covered if EVERYONE who is riding is a USA member. If we have to buy it privately, we'll have to charge you approximately $20- maybe more)for insurance for the 2 day event. If you join USA for $20 you get covered and a whole lot more benefits. 2. By joining USA you'll be part of the national organization. It shows the general public that there are more unicyclists out there than they think and they're not all going to be joining the circus.

We'll be working out details for trying to register you close to the event.

Details are going to be coming more quickly as we get closer to the event. Stay tuned...

In Through the Out Door

2010-03-29T19:32:00.002-04:00

Quick exciting update: Last weekend we had a muni ride with 4 people from the really local area. Isaac, Nate, Andy and I had a great ride on Saturday before the YMCA time. The Butler Wobble is heading outdoors. For me it was almost great- #2 of 2 Gazzaloddis decided to not play nicely with the Large Marge on the Conundrum. This left me with not only a lonely walk home, but it left me out of the downhill where Isaac attempted to fly. Unfortunately he didn't miss the ground. Fortunately he wasn't hurt.

We'll be adding more to the tribe when Tony's wrist heals.

Marching On

2010-03-21T09:56:00.003-04:00

We've had a great run of unusual weather around here. March usually isn't in the high 50's or low 60's and sunny. Now that the snow is gone (it went from unrideably deep to non-existent in less than a week) we've been heading outside more and more. Pockets of unicyclists have been springing up around town. That's good.

Since we're unsure how long this weather is going to last, we're still maintaining Saturdays at the YMCA until probably the end of April. While it's tough to head indoors when the weather's so beautiful it does have its advantages. Flat surfaces lined with walls and bleachers are ideal for learning to ride. Our trend of having new riders each week continues. Last time I checked our YMCA roster was around 30 or so. That's fantastic.

The list of people who can check of the "Can ride a unicycle" box on a job application is expanding. Recently we've added Ben, Kelly, Brett, Adam (#2), Matt, Dan (thanks to Lisa for bringing the last 3), and Bruce.

Bruce is amazing. He's definitely the most "Experienced" of the lot- as in he's taken the most laps around the sun. You can ask him how many when you meet him. He's the guy in Butler on one wheel.

Oh wait, that could be any number of people.

At the YMCA, but not the Parade

2010-03-12T20:03:00.002-05:00

There's a part of me that is a bit bummed about skipping out on the Pittsburgh St. Partrick's Day Parade tomorrow. There's a part of me that thinks 45 deg F and rain doesn't sound like much fun in parade mode. 70%+ chance of rain and 18mph winds just don't sound like much fun when you're moving slowly at best. Nate and I are the last 2 standing as Isaac has a case of death (not really, but I'm getting my zombie defense kit in order in case he swings by).

We'll be at the Butler YMCA later in the day. Unlike the parade, they have a roof and walls.

Sorry Wonders Unicycle Club. Ride on.

Unicycle Racing - and Parade?

2010-03-02T21:24:00.004-05:00

The snow's beginning to melt. Planning is underway.

At this point we're still kicking around ideas for unicycle racing classes. EVERYONE should plan on entering the Time Trial and Crit. We're going to accomodate all ages and wheel sizes. The road race we'll be looking at possibly a 1 lap option for 24-29inch wheel sizes and 2 or 3 lap options for the 29 and above set. We're also considering the geared and ungeared debate.

Mid-March is when things really pick up.

Don't forget, March 13th we'll be joining The Wonders for the Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade. We'll have more details soon.

3 Races, 2 Days, 1 Wheel Update

2010-02-22T22:04:00.002-05:00

The unicycling end is still being sorted. Insurance assurance is the current project.

You definitely want to be in Butler for the weekend of July 17-18. Come sooner to if you like. The snow should be melted by then.

New Linkage

2010-02-21T18:39:00.003-05:00

Thanks Isaac for the Photos.

Ben now doesn't feel so left out. He is no longer the only one at the table who can't ride a unicycle. By the end of our YMCA time yesterday he had gone from never sitting on a uni to riding 1/2 way across the gym.

3 Races, 2 Days, 1 Wheel - July 17-18, 2010

2010-02-16T11:09:00.001-05:00

The first Butler County Stage Race is on! This is the first (hopefully annual) unicycle stage race in Western Pennsylvania (USA).

The short details:

Saturday, July 17th: City Parks Time Trial. A 6.6 mile (approximately) closed course featuring the parks of Butler. In addition to the regular smooth flat paved roads the course includes some hills, brick streets, and pockmarked pavement.

Also on the 17th: Main Street Criterium. This closed course includes a flat brick road section and a lollipop loop around the courthouse area. The bicycle course is around 1 mile per lap which is too long for unicycling- especially for those using less than a 36 inch wheel. We're finalizing a good balanced unicycling course.

Sunday, July 18th: Renfrew Rás Road Race. This challenging 8.6 mile loop includes 900ft of climbing (and descending) per lap. (We may extend the 3 lap option a slight bit to get an official marathon distance, although it is plenty challenging enough already.)

We also have a local skatepark (which is getting some uni trials obstacles this spring!) and a lot of good muni riding for those who haven't yet had enough riding.

Racing classifications are being finalized as are costs and many many other details. Definitely all unicyclists are welcomed in Saturday's events. For the Renfrew Rás Road Race a virtual wheel size of 28 inches or greater is recommended as is a brake. The hills around here are rideable without, but they are steep.

The Butler County Stage Race weekend is being put on in conjunction with an elite amateur bicycling event (Cats 1-5). We'll not only have the benefit of well constructed courses with ample markings, marshalling, and all of the amenities that go with an elite cycling event- We will be able to be ambassadors to the general public and bicycling public as well. Last year the 1-day Renfrew Rás drew 100 bicyclists, this year 200+ are predicted.

We're hoping to make this the premier east coast (USA) unicycle weekend. We're working on keeping costs down and the fun up. This will be a weekend for racers and non-racers alike. We've already got a lot of local support outside of the cycling community for events to fill out the weekend's schedule.

I realize that NAUCC is slated for this weekend this year as well. We're not trying to compete- this is the weekend that was available locally. If you're not headed to San Francisco, you should check out Butler.

[URL="http://www.butlerwobble.blogspot.com"]http://www.butlerwobble.blogspot.com[/URL] will have more details as they develop. You can also email me at dave(dot)bikes(at)yahoo(dot)com. (Replace the dots and at with the appropriate symbols).

The YMCA is OPEN TODAY!!!

2010-02-13T09:10:00.003-05:00

The weather this past week hasn't been entirely suitable for one wheeled transport. In spite of that fact it is rumored that Andy was out and about on his 26" Nimbus. Way to go! I wish we had some pics.

Since the YMCA is open, we're on for today. Come join the fun.

What Happens When the YMCA Closes for a Day

2010-02-07T13:38:00.003-05:00

Sorry Ben.

To the best of our knowledge he was the only one who didn't get the message about the YMCA being closed for the day. Forunately he ran several blocks through the 2 feet of snow sporting some stylish shorts.

Nate, Isaac, and Dave still went for a ride. Nate, as always, steals the show with the quote of the day:

Superbowl Saturday Single Speed Suburban Stomp 2010

Pictures of the ride should make it to the photo album soon.

Weathering the Storm

2010-02-06T10:45:00.002-05:00

No Wobble today.

We just found out that today, February 6, 2010, the YMCA is closed due to the weather. The snow is up to the hub on a muni!

We'll see you next week.

Just Like the Mail.

2010-02-05T20:27:00.001-05:00

Even though the weather's lousy we're still on for tomorrow. Butler YMCA, 4:30-6:30. One is more fun.

Superbowl Saturday

2010-02-03T17:17:00.004-05:00

Even though some consider this a holiday weekend, we'll still be riding. As a matter of fact, maybe a bit more than usual: S6 details .

Remember: Wobble Saturday, Superbowl Sunday.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow...

2010-01-29T18:42:00.002-05:00

We'll be in full force tomorrow. Last weekend a few of us were distracted by 2 wheels and the promise of a pump track www.raysmtb.com. While Dave and Nate may have succumbed to the allure of 2 wheels, Isaac remained faithful to 1. Lisa had graciously lent us Pinky for the day.

Turning Green in a Couple of Months?

2010-01-17T20:30:00.002-05:00

What's coming March 13th?

The Wobble will join forces with The Wonders.

More details to follow.

Another Typical Saturday?

2010-01-10T11:17:00.009-05:00

1. Nate goes "sledding" at Father Marinaro Park:

2. Sharon proves unicycling is genetic (apologies for the camera work):

3. Jeff can't ride 55!

4. Shane is off the wall!

I think we tied our record for number of riders (or soon to be riders) in attendance at the YMCA. Once again we had many first timers. A good time was had by all.

Oh yeah...

2010-01-08T15:11:00.007-05:00

I forgot to mention in the "About Me" that the YMCA requires plastic pedals for indoor riding. It's fixed now.

The weather outside has been awful. You should join us on Saturday.

Butler YMCA

Picture this!

2010-01-05T21:34:00.005-05:00

Isaac builds his Nimbus mountain unicycle (MUni or MU are the current debated abbreviations).

Will the snow EVER end? At least we still have the YMCA on Saturdays.

Welcome to the Wobble

2009-12-28T12:44:00.002-05:00

Congratulations! If you're reading this, you've found us.

We haven't been hiding, but we haven't had a web presence before, either.

Just because we've chosen to ride around on one wheel doesn't make us technologically illiterate. It doesn't make us tech-savvy either. We're somewhere in the middle.

Balance is key.

We hope you'll stop back to visit our virtual planet, but more importantly we hope your interest is piqued and you'll join us for a ride.