Definitions

Age: Rider’s age for all age categories is determined by their age on the first day of the convention, regardless of whether any events occur that day. Time of birth, time zones and date of arrival at the convention are not relevant.

Championship Level: The Championship Level is the highest competition level of an event. Championship titles are only awarded from finals or final-rankings/overall-rankings at Championship Level. Championship Level events are usually defined without any preffix or suffix in their name.

Coasting: Unless stated differently, coasting is riding without touching pedals, cranks or any part of the wheel including the tire. (Freewheeling on a freewheel unicycle is not coasting.)

Convention Level: The Convention Level is a competition level in which no championship titles are awarded. The Convention Level supports the convention aspect of an event to allow for a broader field of participants who cannot or do not desire to compete at the highest level. Convention Level events must clearly indicate their affiliation to the Convention Level by a corresponding preffix or suffix in their name.

Expert / Junior Expert: The former word for the top category in events that don’t have a system to determine Finalists. Expert or Junior Expert mean events at championship level where there is only one round of competing and a final-/overall-ranking is determined based on this single round.

Figure: (noun) 1. A unicycle feat or skill, such as walking the wheel or riding backward, used to describe skills in the Standard Skill event. 2. A riding pattern, such as a circle or figure 8.

Finalist, Finals: A Finalist is a person, and “the Finals” is the last category or group in any event that has multiple rounds. For example in Track racing, the top riders from the age groups compete against each other in the Finals of most events.

Freewheel: Mechanism allowing the wheel to rotate while the cranks are stationary.

Gearing: Any mechanism that transfers the rotation speed of crank arms to a different rotation speed of wheel.

Gloves: (For racing) Any glove with thick material covering the palms (Leather is acceptable, thin nylon is not). Gloves may be fingerless, such as bicycling gloves, provided the palm of the hand is completely covered. Wrist guards, such as those used with in-line skates, are an acceptable alternative to gloves.

Head Coach: A leader of a team in Basketball, Hockey and Freestyle Large Group. A competitor who may or may not be riding in the event but is able to speak on the team’s behalf with Judges and Officials.

Helmet: Helmets must be of bicycle quality (or stronger), and should meet the prevalent safety standards for bicycle (or unicycle) helmets, such as ASTM, SNELL, CPSC, or whatever prevails in the host country. Helmets for sports other than cycling or skating are not permitted, unless the Referee makes exceptions. Helmets are required for some events as described in the Safety section of each chapter.

IUF: International Unicycling Federation. The IUF sponsors and oversees international competitions such as Unicon, creates rules for international competition, and promotes and provides information on unicycling in general.

Knee pads: Any commercially made, thick version is acceptable, such as those used for basketball and volleyball, or any with hard plastic caps. Knee pads must cover the entire knee and stay on during the whole length of the competition. Long pants, bandages or patches are not acceptable substitutes.

Muni: Mountain unicycling, or mountain unicycle. The previous term for this was UMX.

Non-unicycling Skills: (for Freestyle judging) The riding of any vehicle with two or more wheels on the ground, and any skills not performed on a unicycle. Any skill with more than one support point on the riding surface, such as standing on the unicycle with it lying on the floor, or hopping while standing on the frame (seat on floor); two contact points with the riding surface (wheel and seat), both carrying part of the rider’s weight. The term also refers to skills such as dance, mime, comedy, juggling, playing music or riding vehicles that do not meet the definitions of unicycles.

Prop: Almost anything other than the unicycle(s) being ridden by competitor(s) in a Freestyle performance. A unicycle being used for a non-unicycling skill (such as a handstand on it while it’s lying down) is a prop at that moment. A hat that is dropped and picked up from the floor is a prop. A pogo stick or a tricycle (unless ridden on one wheel) is a prop.

Shoes: Shoes with full uppers are required. This means the shoe must cover the entire top of the foot. Sandals or thongs are not acceptable. Shoelaces must not dangle where they can catch in crank arms.

Shin guards: Any commercially made, thick version is acceptable, such as those used for football or bicycling, or any with hard plastic shell. Shin guards must cover the shin and stay on during the whole length of the competition. Long pants, bandages or patches are not acceptable as substitutes.

Tire Contact Point: The center of the contact patch between the tire and the riding surface. Usually judged by eye.

Unicycle: A Unicycle is a vehicle that has a single rolling contact with the riding surface. It may have multiple wheels, but it must not be possible to ride the unicycle when more than one wheel touches the ground. It is driven by pedals and cranks which rotate to power the wheel. It is powered, balanced and controlled by the rider only, with no additional support devices. Unless noted otherwise, a unicycle may be fitted with handlebars and/or brake(s).

Unicycle, Regular: A regular unicycle is a unicycle with only one wheel. The cranks are fixed directly and permanently to the wheel’s axle. (This excludes unicycles with gearing even if in 1:1 ratio, a chain drive and/or a freewheel.) Unless noted otherwise, there are no wheel size and/or crank arm length limitations.

Ultimate wheel: A special unicycle consisting of only a wheel and pedals, with no frame or seat.

UMX: Unicycle Motocross. This term has been replaced by muni.

Unicycling skill: (noun, for Freestyle judging) Also known as ‘figure.’ Any skills (feats of balance) performed on a vehicle with one support point in contact with the riding surface, this being a wheel, the movement of which is controlled by the rider, thus maintaining balance. All mounts are also ‘unicycling skills.’

Unintentional dismount: In most cases, any part of a rider unintentionally touching the ground. A pedal and foot touching the ground in a sharp turn is not a dismount as long as the foot stays on the pedal while the pedal is on the ground. Dismounts during many races disqualify the rider.

Unicon: Unicycling World Championships and Convention. Unicon is an IUF-sanctioned event organized in partnership with a local host.

Wheel walking: Propelling the unicycle by pushing the top of the tire with one or both feet. Feet touch wheel only, not pedals or crank arms. A non-pushing foot may rest on the fork.