Unicycle in Singapore: April 2014

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Singapore unicycle community facebook page

Singapore unicycle community facebook (official?) page
was formerly at https://www.facebook.com/groups/172712250620/

Some interesting numbers to ponder upon...

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Meetup.com
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From July 2013 to April 2014 (10 month periods), there are 27 new members in http://www.meetup.com/Singapore-Unicycle-Hockey-Unicycle-Meetup/

About 9 of the 27 members managed to learn to ride unicycle.
The pick-up rate is not too bad.

However, the facebook page which had been around as early as 2009, has only 19 members, as at 25 April 2014 (more than 4 year periods).

Why is the group not growing?

What are the push factors in the existing group which are repelling new riders away?

What pull factors are lacking there?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I want to stay politically correct ... let's just say ... unicycling is a pain at the crotch ...

(The membership has a sudden rapid increase to 26, by 25 May 2014. Did my blog accidentally promote the facebook page???)

I am unable to view this facebook page since 28 May 2014, I wonder what has happened. It is growing rapidly in the last 4 weeks, I hope nothing bad happened.

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A local I.T.E. college has a unicycle club. The facebook page
is https://www.facebook.com/groups/566663056712535/

As at 29 April 2014, its facebook membership is at 27, surpassing the former Singapore unicyclist facebook membership!!!

Nice brightly-colored unicycles in the photos. Hope this site remain independent and uncorrupted by commercial influence and pressure.

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Here is another Singapore facebook page - West Unicyclist Singapore

I have no idea why it is not part of the above-mentioned Singapore Unicyclist facebook members .

https://www.facebook.com/west.unicyclistsingapore

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In June I discover another "official" Singapore unicyclist facebook page. It was started in 30 May 2014. I guess it has replaced the previous facebook page which is experiencing stunt growth in the past 4 years or so.

This facebook page started with 1 simple posting.

From 30 May to 1 June (3 days period), this single posting has caused the facebook page to receive 42 "Likes".

The creation of this new facebook page is never discussed in the Singapore unicycle community forum .

How do you explain a 4 years old webpage that managed to only attract 19 members can be replaced overnight by another webpage that attract 42 supporter within 3 days with a single posting?

Is it that a gigantic obstacle that was formerly obstructing its growth had been lifted? Who is that obstacle?

This new facebook page leads to another older Singapore Unicyclist web site which only promote 1 local supplier (the supplier of "team-uni" brand* of unicycle and Qu-Ax unicycle) in Singapore.

*Isn't this private brand own by only 1 person?

You can obtain unicycle from other local sources too:
http://how-to-unicycle.blogspot.com/2014/01/buy-sell-unicycle-shop-in-singapore.html

Better option is to borrow for free while learning (in Singapore):
http://how-to-unicycle.blogspot.com/2014/04/buy-unicycle-beginners-option-b-c-d.html

The Singapore unicycle community forum had been around for a long time and provide richer resources than the facebook page.

Hope the new facebook page can focus on the joy of unicycling instead of becoming another tool to sell "team-uni" private brand of unicycle again.

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http://how-to-unicycle.blogspot.com/2014/05/bait-and-switch-unethical-sales-tactic.html

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Singapore and Taiwan unicycle video

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Terry's informative video on proper Protective riding gear

Different riding environment pose different kind of risk. You need different gears to protect different parts of your body. There are many good stuffs out there. You don't have to buy/wear all of them but at least be aware that they are available.

Terry's video will show you how you can protect yourself while unicycling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4ZBzQwbZac

For myself, I will wear high cut trekking shoe for ankle protection, knee guard, padded cycling shorts and baseball hat to prevent sweat/rain from going into my eyes (and to block sun glare). I will usually carry a pair of bikes gloves and soccer shin guard(the fear of pedal strike, once bitten twice shy) in my bag in case I need them. I don't wear helmet coz I am riding rather slowly and mostly at the neighborhood park.

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How time flies ... nowadays when I am fooling around on my unicycle at the store, I wear ... sandal ... and no protective gear. Lazy ... lazy ...

Monday, April 14, 2014

Where to buy new tyre for your unicycle?

I got this from the Singapore unicyclist forum. Thanks to Jia Hui ( sales rep from "team-uni" brand of unicycle.)

http://sgmtb.wordpress.com/tyres/

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wow ... the BMX bikes are so attractive ...
http://sgbmx.wordpress.com/
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You can also enquire at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Everythingbikezcom/282436625227758
Tel 6348 9727

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Where to Sell (and buy) used unicycle on the internet

For unicyclist living in Singapore,
your best chance is to post your ads at the
Singapore unicyclist community forum at
https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!forum/singaporeunicyclists

You can also post a free ads at http://singapore.gumtree.sg

You may consider selling your used unicycle at "Cash Converter" stores. There is one near Bedok MRT / bus interchange. There is another one near Jurong East MRT / bus interchange.

Other avenue ...

Look for the "Trading Post" thread at:
http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/

and ebay website.

For beginners who bought expensive beginner's unicycle, I wish you good luck.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Do you ride a cheapo uni?

Question: "Who is the brother of cheapo uni?"
Answer: "Zippo uni"

I skate, ride bicycle and racing bikes, play ping pong and used to practice Muay Thai kick-boxing. I derived joy from the act of doing these sports, not from owning expensive equipments.

I think a unicyclist who mocked fellow unicyclists for buying "cheapo uni" probably has serious inferiority complex and thus the need to buy expensive uni to cover up such weakness.

Please be kind to new unicyclist, especially the younger ones. They just want to experience the joy of riding a unicycle.

To new riders: if someone mocked your uni as cheapo uni, probably that person is trying to pressure you to buy a new, expensive uni from her/him. That person probably has sales target to meet. Let's just assume that she/he meant no harm.

.......................................
Sales people are genuinely helpful people?

Surprise, surprise .. the so-called "cheapo uni" can also be used for riding tough off-road and uphill. See the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlZg4FSZ4bk

at 5:34 mark

You can get similar unicycle from:
EverythingBikez bicycle shop

Monday, April 7, 2014

Riding unicycle at the beach last weekend

I had an enjoyable ride with some friends from the Singapore unicycling community. Thanks to Rachelle (blue T-shirt) for organizing the trip.

Buy unicycle? Beginner's option A, B, C, D

Generally, the bigger the tyre of a unicycle, the harder it is to ride it. Thus a beginner's unicycle is typically small-wheeled, 20" or smaller. And a very basic one.

I often ride at a nearby park and a reservoir near that park. I rode a 24" unicycle. But the big, fat tyre turn it into a 26". The ride is relaxing and comfortable.

I once tried riding a 20" uni at the park. The amount of pedaling is unbelievable. A lot of pedaling. The ride is a pain. Even the ride from the park to my house was damn tiring.

So my opinion for people who want to learn unicycling (residing in Singapore) is:

Option A
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If you want to do tricks and stunts on a unicycle in the future, and have no interest to ride long distance at the park, then go ahead and buy a nice, new "Trial" unicycle. Learn to ride on it and later on learn whatever tricks that you fancy. You can find inspiration from youtube.

Option B
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Don't buy unicycle. The Bedok South group has many spare unicycles for beginners to use for free. Use them to learn riding weekly. When you can ride around the hockey court comfortably, then consider buying a 24" or bigger unicycle (used/new).

Option C
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If you feel that practicing once a week is not enough and hope to practice more often, or to practice at a more convenient location or during weekends. Then consider buying a used beginner's unicycle. Ask around at the forum. Many will sell them at very low price. Don't worry about the quality of the unicycle. Most of the time, beginners can't even pedal a full rotation. Even after the beginner can ride a few metres, the speed will be slow. Beginners simply lack the strength to destroy a unicycle. So don't worry too much about the durability of the unicycle.
After you can comfortably ride the unicycle, then consider buying bigger wheel unicycle (used/new).

Option D
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You want to play hockey with a 20" unicycle. You have plenty of storage space at home. You have lots of spare cash. You are a sentimental person who wish to keep your first unicycle. You feel that new unicycle is more hygienic. You wish to pass on the unicycle to your sibling, children, grand-children etc... By all means, buy a new 20" unicycle that please you. And get a bigger unicycle for the ride at the park or beach.
But just be aware that you will have to give a Big discount if you are going to sell it in future.

https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!forum/singaporeunicyclists

See my other post that list out the shops and suppliers in Singapore.