As spring brings warm weather back to Indiana, students across campus start to once again bring out their bicycles. One student, though, prefers one wheel instead of two. On any given day, Matthew Deinlein, a freshman special needs education major, can be seen riding his unicycle to and from classes.
Deinlein's interest in the unicycle began in high school when his gym teacher, Juli Speer, brought hers into class one day for students to try. She later gave him his own unicycle as a graduation present.
He was determined to learn how to ride it before starting college, so he spent all summer learning how to ride with his friends Becca Schafer and Andrew Seever, both Ball State freshmen.
"It was really fun but frustrating at the same time," Schafer said. "It takes a while just to actually pedal forward. Once you get it though, it's completely different from anything else and really rewarding."
Schafer said she felt a sense of accomplishment when she was finally able to balance on the unicycle.
It took them about two weeks of practice to finally ride more than 10 feet, Deinlein said. A lot of scrapes, falls and run-ins with feet were involved as they got started.
"We would take turns going back and forth," he said. "It was really not determined on whose turn it was but who had less injuries."
He said he is willing to teach anyone who wants to learn. He has already taught several of his other friends. He even taught Schafer's younger brother how to ride, and now both say that he is even better at it than Deinlein is.
"It's very unique," Deinlein said. "Nobody really does it. There are a couple on campus, but overall when was the last time you heard of someone unicycling? It's just something that nobody does. It's a great icebreaker for meeting people or having a good time with friends."
Deinlein has also incorporated his major into his riding. He taught his friend Joe Gainer, a senior psychology major, how to ride the unicycle. With the help of several other friends, Deinlein was able to get Gainer, who uses a wheelchair, balanced and moving on the unicycle. Gainer joked about the experiences saying that he just needs more practice at it.
While unicycling is a hobby, Deinlein said it is also a convenience. When he is running late for class, it is easier to grab a unicycle instead of struggling with locking up a bike. He can walk right into class with it.
Some people may give Deinlein strange looks when they see him with his backpack on as he unicycles to class, but he said his friends come to expect these kinds of things from him.
"In the years I've known Matt, he's never done anything the way other people do," Schafer said. "So I guess it's a part of who he is."
Aside from the standard unicycle, there are also many other different types, some of which Deinlein has ridden. He has ridden a mountain unicycle, which allows the rider to travel on rougher terrain, as well as a giraffe unicycle, which are usually around five feet tall.
There are many other kinds too, such as the cruiser, which is built like the standard unicycle but has a slightly bigger wheel so the rider can travel faster, and the geared unicycle, which is built for long distance.
One of the more challenging unicycles is the ultimate unicycle, which contains just the wheel and pedal without a seat.
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