The Journey:
In the 21st century there are very few frontiers that have yet to be explored, few challenges that have still to be undertaken. In this week’s news there is clamour and excitement over the possibility of micro-bacterial life being found on one of Saturn’s moons, and it really does feel as though space is the “final frontier” after all.
So, coming up with something new and original to do on poor old planet Earth is a challenge in itself. Every week you seem to hear a news story of some bloke or other, usually a fading celebrity or minor Royal, who is trekking to the South Pole on a pogo stick or climbing Kilimanjaro wearing flip-flops in an attempt to do something never before been accomplished. The other new trend appears to be attempting to recreate a voyage from several hundred years previously, such as crossing the Pacific in a restored 17th century rowing boat, with no water and only a barrel of rotting, weevil infested biscuits to survive on, just to see if it can be done. That always baffles me. Clearly it could be done. They did it four hundred years ago. Four college graduates and an ex-Olympic gymnast, supported by a twelve-man camera crew, survival team and luxury yacht are not going to prove it wasn’t possible, surely?
So when I tell people what my next adventure is, I get a mixture of responses. These range from the puzzled expression to the look of astonished disbelief.
In May, 2017, we will be taking a trip of 1,000 miles across the UK by electric unicycle.
Quickly look in the mirror and see where your expression fits on the scale.
The electric unicycle (EUC) is a relatively new invention and there aren’t that many of them being ridden in the UK. Certainly, every time I ride mine, I receive attention and looks of wonder from passers-by. So, understanding what we are doing and the physical demands of this challenge takes a little time to explain and comprehend.
The EUC is a self-balancing vehicle with footplates on either side, onto which you stand and control by the shifting and distribution of your body weight. There are no hand held controls, no accelerator or break, no stablizers and nothing to keep you upright other than your own determination. The device itself has gyroscopic motors that keep it stable in a central plane of axis and the rest is up to you.
There are a variety of such wheels on the market ranging in size from ridiculously small (10” wheels) to the relatively massive Gotway Monster (22” wheel), all of which serve their own purpose and meet a need for individual customers. Some buy EUCs as recreational toys, to ride at the weekends. Others buy them to perform tricks and stunts, jumping up and down ramps and riding backwards. I, like many, use my EUC as a serious commuter tool. I take my EUC from home to the train station, and then across London, far more quickly and economically than my previous journey by car and train ever was. The ride to the station takes about 20 minutes, easily faster than the time it would normally take me to drive, find a parking spot and then walk from the car park, and the amount I have saved in both petrol and parking fees has paid for my ECU twice over.
But riding them a few miles in a morning or doing recreational rides at the weekend is one thing. Attempting a journey of 1,000 miles in no more than 12 days is a whole different story.
The most commonly heard phrase I hear when riding is, “what’s that?” closely followed by, “lazy!” If people only knew the amount of physical effort it takes to ride an EUC, they would not be so quick to judge. Riding for up to and beyond 12 hours each day is a staggeringly difficult challenge.
Imagine standing on your feet for 12 hours, then add to that a 20kg back pack, the need to balance and steer your vehicle, and using your knees as shock absorbers to take the painful hits of the bumps in the road.
On top of this are the logistical difficulties we will face. Plotting a safe route for over 1,000 miles to take into account avoiding majorly populated areas and using only minor and unclassified roads. The terrain will be remote and in places steep as we cross the Brecon Beacons, the national forest parks of Scotland, the Lake District and the Peak District. Riding in these conditions is not easy as we need to ensure we look after our wheels as well ourselves.
Add to this the fact that nobody has ever ridden these machines this far, over such long, sustained periods of time before. Day after day of up to 12 hours of use could have all manner of effect on the function of our wheels, and we know from bitter, painful experience, that a cut out or failure of an EUC can have devastating results. We have had broken bones to prove it.
Then there are the conditions we will face. The weather can and will change dramatically on our way. Last week the temperatures were in the 20’s here in the south of England, but this week we have had frost every morning. The news last night said that we were in for an Arctic cold snap next week. That sounds good. Rain will be inevitable and when combined with the cold, this will make for long, uncomfortable days of agonising pain.
I have, in my younger days, run marathons so I make this next statement with a qualified degree of insight. The experience of riding an EUC, in these conditions, for up to and over 100 miles, is equal to that of running a marathon. We intend to do this again and again and again. For 12 days we will aim to cover between 80 to 100 miles each day through some of the UK’s most remote and beautiful regions. This is not going to be easy, but it is going to be epic.
Why are we doing this? We are undertaking this challenge to raise funds as well as to highlight the breadth and variety of Barnardo’s work across the UK. Barnardo’s services include supporting young people who are at risk of sexual exploitation, children’s centres, short breaks for children with disabilities and employment and training services, as well as in many other areas. This work is of great importance and all the money raised goes directly towards supporting the aims of Barnardo’s and not covering the cost of this adventure.
Follow us and join in this journey. It promises to be special!
sponsor us here at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/onewheel-oneway