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July, 2006
Kick it into one--wheel drive with "Unicycle Max"
By Tanya Mitchell
Max DeMilner, a 2004 graduate of Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, has been a unicycle enthusiast since his mid-teens. He recently made headlines across the state for turning to his hobby as a way to make money to attend college, riding his unicycle all over New England to help raise money for school. In addition to the money he raised during his trip, Max also works at a local pharmacy, offers juggling and unicycling lessons, and performs odd jobs to help pay for college. According to his Web site, www.unicyclemax.com, Max plans to attend school at the University of Maine in Farmington in the spring of 2007.
NU: Tell us about how you became interested in riding a unicycle. How old were you when you got started, and what inspired you to stick with it?
Max: It was an odd convergence of a couple influences in my life. I joined a juggling club when I lived in Flagstaff, Ariz., and that lead to an interest in a number of "circus arts." Also, my dad and a number of his brothers were avid cyclists. So, a unicycle seemed like a logical blend. I got my first unicycle for my sixteenth birthday, and spent a very long weekend practicing in the driveway.
NU: How long did it take you to get really good at it?
Max: About 12 hours of practice over a couple days. After that time, I was able to mount the unicycle, ride a ways, and turn the corner into my driveway.
NU: What is the most difficult aspect of learning?
Max: Simply put, it takes practice. You'll fall a lot, and you won't make a lot of progress for a while, but if you can continue to practice despite that, you'll be overcoming the biggest obstacle.
NU: Is unicycling big in the United States?
Max: In some places. There aren't too many of us riders in Maine, but it is becoming more popular. Especially since "extreme unicycling" has gained some attention, and giving it an appeal beyond clowns and the circus.
NU: What kind of unicycle do you ride (make and model), and why that particular one?
Max: I have six unicycles, each with a different purpose. The unicycle I rode around New England was a Coker "The Big One" Deluxe with a 36-inch rim, custom rack, and modified brakes. It has the largest pneumatic bicycle tire in the world. This type of unicycle is purpose-built for distance riding. The large wheel means you'll cover more ground per revolution, and go faster. Since unicycles don't have gears, the easiest way to increase your speed is to increase your wheel diameter. For more technical riding, I ride a Nimbus II 48-spoke freestyle (20-inch). The wheel is the same size as a BMX bike, so tires and tubes are easy to come by. It's good for tricks, and for performances. I also have a Torker CX (24-inch) with an off-road tire, a Torker TX unicycle that's five feet high, and a couple more that are either for novelty, or teaching people how to ride.
NU: Where do you get a unicycle (or parts for one)?
Max: It would be easy enough to go through a bike shop, and have them take care of ordering one for you, but it would probably be a little more expensive. Otherwise, www.unicycle.com is the best source.
NU: How much do they cost?
Max: The most expensive one I've seen was a little over $1,200. But you can get a decent learner unicycle for between $50 and $100
NU: Are there races?
Max: Every year, they hold the NAUCC (North American Unicycling Convention and Championship), where they hold 50M distances all the way up to the 10K. They also have "slow races," where the last one to cross the finish line wins. There are also backwards races, one-footed races, and many other styles. Races are easy enough to imagine, but there's also a high jump event, unicycle hockey and basketball, and jousting exhibitions.
NU: That's interesting. Tell us about some of your favorite spots that you have visited during your trip, and what you enjoyed about each place.
Max: I really liked Montpelier, Vt. I stayed with a whole family of unicyclists there. I also met up with a unicycling club there, and had a blast. Also, I slept in a van behind a bike shop in Southwick, Mass. The shop was very helpful, gave me a few things I'd been missing, but I thought it was really cool to say I slept in a broken van behind a bike shop. Besides, it was a night I had shelter when I thought I'd be shivering in a tent in the rain.
NU: How can people learn more about unicycling, or where can they learn the art themselves?
Max: As with most things, the Internet is a great resource. To learn, all you need is a unicycle and a little pavement, and even that is negotiable. I've been heavily involved in unicycling for four years now, and have seen a lot of people pick up the wheel, so I've acquired a few tips for beginners. People can reach me through my website, www.unicyclemax.com. I am always available to people interested in unicycling.
Email nick [at] noumbrella [dot] com with your questions, comments and concerns.
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