Impossible wheel
Encyclopedia
The impossible wheel, also known as the BC wheel (after the comic strip B.C.
), represents the most basic type of unicycle
, consisting of a single, spoked wheel
with peg
s extending from the axle
. The rider mounts the wheel by jumping onto it while in motion or by putting one foot onto one plate or peg and pushing along like a skateboard.
This contraption has no pedals
, so when the wheel's inertia
runs out due to gravity and friction
, the ride ends. Newer BC wheels use plates instead of pegs which drop below the axle. This makes the BC wheel easier to ride since the center of gravity is lower.
The unicycling community favors the term BC wheel because the device is not actually impossible to ride; proficiency can be gained with a few hours of practice. Some people are able to do tricks on BC wheels such as hopping, drops, grinds
, and spins.
B.C. (comic strip)
B.C. is a daily American comic strip created by cartoonist Johnny Hart. Set in prehistoric times, it features a group of cavemen and anthropomorphic animals from various geologic eras...
), represents the most basic type of unicycle
Unicycle
A unicycle is a human-powered, single-track vehicle with one wheel. Unicycles resemble bicycles, but are less complex.-History:One theory of the advent of the unicycle stems from the popularity of the penny-farthing during the late 19th century...
, consisting of a single, spoked wheel
Wheel
A wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily through rotating on an axle through its center, facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor in machines. Common examples found in transport applications. A wheel, together with an axle,...
with peg
PEG
PEG or Peg may refer to:Devices* Clothes peg* Tent peg* Tuning peg, on a musical instrument* Piton, in climbing* Part of a flatland BMX bicycleScience, medicince and computing...
s extending from the axle
Axle
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...
. The rider mounts the wheel by jumping onto it while in motion or by putting one foot onto one plate or peg and pushing along like a skateboard.
This contraption has no pedals
Bicycle pedal
A bicycle pedal is the part of a bicycle that the rider pushes with their foot to propel the bicycle. It provides the connection between the cyclist's foot or shoe and the crank allowing the leg to turn the bottom bracket spindle and propel the bicycle's wheels...
, so when the wheel's inertia
Inertia
Inertia is the resistance of any physical object to a change in its state of motion or rest, or the tendency of an object to resist any change in its motion. It is proportional to an object's mass. The principle of inertia is one of the fundamental principles of classical physics which are used to...
runs out due to gravity and friction
Friction
Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and/or material elements sliding against each other. There are several types of friction:...
, the ride ends. Newer BC wheels use plates instead of pegs which drop below the axle. This makes the BC wheel easier to ride since the center of gravity is lower.
The unicycling community favors the term BC wheel because the device is not actually impossible to ride; proficiency can be gained with a few hours of practice. Some people are able to do tricks on BC wheels such as hopping, drops, grinds
Grind (sport)
Grinding is a sliding stunt performed in many extreme sports. Stances in which slides are performed are known as grinds.Grinding is performed by sliding across the top of an obstacle, and can be accomplished in a number of ways...
, and spins.
External links
- BC Wheel on WikibooksWikibooksWikibooks is a Wiki hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation for the creation of free content textbooks and annotated texts that anyone can edit....
Unicyclopedia (Encyclopedia of Unicycling) - Riding the Impossible Wheel including photos
- BC Wheel video on YouTube
- Not everything on the Internet is true?!, Jason Carter's blog, 8 September 2008.