That’s what would result if I got on one of these things…let alone commute with it. But that’s what this is…a commuter unicycle.
I live in Marietta, Georgia…a suburb of Atlanta. Nothing special about this place. People trudge to work and trudge back on their daily commute. It’s a carbon copy of many other big city suburbs.
But, special things do happen here. Or maybe I should say “unusual” things.
There is a fellow who lives here named John Drummond. He used to ride a unicycle as a kid. For about 20 years it sat idle in his basement, he had outgrown it. Then one day, as an adult, he decided it might be fun to try it again. He quickly realized he would need a new unicycle. But alas, there weren’t any in the area. No stores carried them. What to do?
Well, John decided to start unicycle.com and sell the dang things all over the world. Goodbye IBM, hello Unicycle.com. A bit of an over reaction maybe but it has worked out well.
I just love stories like this. I mean for cryin’ out loud, who’d a thunk it. An international business selling unicycles online from Marietta, GA.? Riiiiiiight. But hey, John and his extended family run the company and apparently it is thriving. I see him noodling around on the local sidewalks occasionally…at least I suppose it’s him, I’ve never met him.
You have to admire the drive it must have taken to get this going…and keep it going (no pun intended). As far as I know, it’s strictly an online business. There is no bricks and mortar store front. But, if you check his website, there are loads of dealers across the USA and Europe. I’d have to say John is the Henry Ford of unicycles. Take an idea and make it big.
As for me…well, I would have to learn to ride one of these inside a rubber room. Otherwise, I would certainly wander off the sidewalk in some deadly direction into traffic. Onlookers would hear a rather squeamish, extended scream coming from my lungs and glimpse an uh-oh look on my face as I flailed my arms and wiggled my butt wildly attempting to get out of the way. It would all be over quickly, but it’s not my idea of a good way to transition to the afterlife.
So, until said rubber room for unicycle training exists, I will steer clear of unicycles.
8 Comments
http://www.rubberunicycletrainingrooms.com?????
I really enjoy reading your blog. This story and the wedding one are interesting and well put together! I agree with you about the wedding thing. Craig and I got married in 1982 for abouat $2000.00 and his uncle paid for our honeymoon. Simple but nice. We have friends our age that spend $50.000 back then and were in debt up to thier eyeballs.
Greetings, Don! Thanks for featuring us, and for your kind comments. That was a fun read.
I usually ride down Murdock, Sewell Mill, Old Canton, Holly Springs and Post Oak Tritt. It’s 5 miles round trip. My buddy Chris rides north of Post Oak Tritt. When cars go by, I can always tell friend from foe by how long they sit on the horn.
We do have a brick-and-mortar retail store just off Shallowford Road, around the corner from Horsetown. Stop by if you’re in the neighborhood. We have about 25 unicycles on display and about 100 banjos.
I also play banjo (www.banjo.com), but I don’t recommend riding a unicycle and playing a banjo at the same time. It’s really not good for the instrument.
Thanks again, neighbor. Please honk your horn the next time you pass by.
Lindsay,
Now $50,000 back in in 1982 was a ton of money! It’s hard to believe that people will do that but they do. I would imagine parents who are well to do quietly quake inside on occasion, when they ponder how much money their daughters are going to be “expecting” in the future.
Hi John,
Thanks for stopping by! Glad you liked the article. My mistake on the bricks and mortar store front, sorry! I thought the location was a service center where the orders were processed.
I live over in the Post Oak Tritt/Holly Springs area so it had to be you I’ve seen. I will politely “toot” the next time I pass you.
Regarding banjos, I tried that for a while…to no avail. I love bluegrass music and the banjo though. I’ve decided to enjoy listening instead of attempting to become a practitioner.
I’ll make a note and do an article on banjos.com as well.
And indeed, the next time I’m down Shallowford and have a little time, I’ll drop by. Best of luck with both businesses!
He… I understand all dat, but what is a commuter unicycle?
Check out their website. It’s a big wheeled unicycle that offer a little more cush for the bumps I think.
It was bound to happen. Our 15-year-old son and I were in Walgreens tonight and a gentleman stopped to introduce himself. “I’m Don West,” he said. Then he reminded me about this article. What a treat! How often do we get to thank a kind writer in person? Thanks for entertaining us, Don. We’re looking forward to an article on banjo playing!
Hah! I’ll get one written up on banjos soon.
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