Upcoming Wobble Sightings

We're indoors in the Winter at the Butler YMCA on Saturdays from 4 - 6pm (Except last Saturday of the month)We're outdoors in the other seasons (well, sometimes in Winter as well too).

Monday, October 28, 2013

Learning to Fly (or Ride)


It's about that time of year again.  Daylight Saving Time kicks in this Saturday.  Looking for something to do to stay moving?  Interested in staying warm?  Every thought of riding a unicycle?

Join us.  We start our weekly meetings here in Butler, PA at the YMCA every Saturday from 4:30-6:30pm.  If you have your own uni- great!  If not, no problem- we have extras.  You will need to wear a helmet (we have extras of those too, but you should bring your own).  You will need to sign a release too (parents need to for those under 18).  We welcome all ages- especially 12 and up.  For those under 12 we often accommodate, but a parent will have to stick around while we practice.  So Mom and Dad you might as well give it a try!

Unicycling is for everybody.  It's fun.  It's relatively safe- on a 20", you're about as high up as standing on a stair.

If this isn't your first time to our site, you've heard all of this before.  The message hasn't changed.

What has, is our schedule- just a bit.  In addition to Saturdays at the Y, we're going to be at The Wheel Mill in Pittsburgh almost every Friday night throughout the Winter, starting Nov. 8th. Both the Y and The Wheel Mill can accommodate all levels of riders, but the Y is a gym, and The Wheel Mill is an indoor mountain bike (and uni) park.  Trust us, it's totally doable.

What we're hoping is to get more people riding with us in situations like this:

(Thanks to Tad Riddell for the photo!)

We LOVE the Y and will never leave.  However, we also hope to see the sport of unicycling move forward.  Part of that entails raising awareness that unicycles aren't just for the circus and parades.  We need more off road riders.  It's a skill that can be learned.  Ask any of us.  NONE of us were riding 10 years ago- much less off road.

We just wrapped up another successful Month of Mud series- this one with the most unis EVER!  Isaac completed his second full series, and Kevin his first.  With Dave, that makes 3 total full series riders (and a couple who made part of the series).  We can add an official unicycle class if we have 5 total.

That would really change things- for the better.

That would make us part of the first mountain bike racing series- at least in the Mid-Atlantic/ East Coast region- that has a unicycle class.

So, join us at the Y.  Learn to ride.  Then head outside.

Note: We won't be practicing indoors on November 9th due to a basketball tournament.  We're back on for the 16th.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

With a Little Help From Our Friends



It's not secret we like the Butler Family YMCA and The Wheel Mill.  From the top down both have not just tolerated unicycling, but welcomed it in their facilities.  It's been a bit of a paradigm shift for some to see unicycles as not just clowns, juggling, and the circus (although there's nothing wrong with those things), but rather an activity that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy.

The Butler Wobble was founded on the principle that unicycling is fun and you should do it.  It can be incredibly athletic if you want it to.  You can enjoy a cruise around the neighborhood or local rail trail or you can enter charity events and races populated with bikes.  We've tried to keep an open mind to what those who join us to ride want to do so we end up in many places with our unicycles- including some parades and basic demonstrations.

But what most of us who are heavily involved in the Butler Wobble like to do is ride unicycles for sport.

The YMCA has and will always be a vital part of what we do.  Teaching people to ride is essential.  However, that's not the end.  We've been spending a lot of time since the beginning of Summer at The Wheel Mill honing our skills, gaining confidence, and pushing each other to ride better over bumps, ramps, skinnies, and drops.  We've had the opportunity to meet other riders whom we might have not met otherwise.

It's been a complete win for us.

Now, it's our chance to get involved as The Wheel Mill moves forward.  They're looking to build a pump track, but need funds to do so.  Follow this link to find out more.  While a pump track will be of a bit of use to unis (but admittedly much more so for bikes), it allows The Wheel Mill to build ridership to generate capital to build more areas that we ALL can enjoy.  The planned new beginner area is really exciting for beginner to intermediate unicyclists looking to improve their skills.  There are other plans for more advanced features that we can't even talk officially about too.

We are excited about the prospects of The Wheel Mill moving forward.  We ride there.  We don't profit financially should you choose to contribute to the campaign.  We do benefit, like everybody else does in the region, from an indoor pedal park where we can ride throughout the dark and cold days of Winter.

And, should you want to try unicycling for yourself you can find us there every other Friday (the odd days) in October and most every Friday after that throughout the Winter.  If you want to learn to ride, we can teach you.  If you want to try a uni, there are two Trials unis and two 24" Munis that live there and are available to use for FREE (with paid admission).

We don't ask you give up biking.  We do ask you try unicycling.