Press Release
Unitrainer Invention Developed in West Lebanon
April 11, 2008 West Lebanon, NH, USA
A device that promises to make it easy for anyone to learn to ride the unicycle is in the final stages of product development in West Lebanon, NH. The inventor, David Gaia Kano, reports that one local girl learned basic riding skills after just one hour on his Unitrainer device. When she transitioned from the trainer to her regular unicycle, she could ride 20 to 30 feet and make gradual turns before falling back onto her feet. She reported that riding her unicycle felt just like riding the Unitrainer. It often takes 10 to 30 hours using traditional learning methods to reach a similar level of ability. Using the Unitrainer, the inventor believes that anyone that has learned to ride a bicycle can learn to ride a unicycle almost as easily.
The photograph below shows one version of the device.
The Unitrainer looks like a bicycle at first glance. The rear wheel is provided by a standard unicycle, which is connected to a frame running forward to a front “training wheel” which is also used to steer the device via the handlebars much like a bike. The key to the new invention is that the unicycle is free to pivot forwards and back, by virtue of pivots at the bottom of the unicycle frame where it connects to the main frame of the trainer. Forward and backwards balance is the most challenging aspect of basic unicycle riding. But when riding the Unitrainer, you can use the handlebars to catch yourself as well as steer.
The geometry of the Unitrainer handlebars forces you to swing your hands from side to side as you turn them to steer. This simulates one method of steering a unicycle, via counter rotation of your outstretched arms. On a unicycle, turning your upper body or swinging your arms to the right, causes the unicycle to turn to the left, and visa versa. Thus the Unitrainer helps you learn to steer and balance a unicycle at the same time.
Mr. Kano is currently looking for people that would like to use prototypes of his Unitrainer. Interested Upper Valley area residents may contact him at 603 298-9882. He has a number of versions, each with small differences that effect steering ease. He also has different versions of handlebars, some of which use an electronic device to signal when you are using the handlebars to balance forwards and back, to provide instantaneous feedback to speed learning.
While the Unitrainer is still in product development, the inventor is confident that using any of his prototypes will help you learn to ride the unicycle much more quickly than any other available method. In fact, many people find the process of learning with traditional methods so lengthy and difficult, that they never succeed. It can take a few minutes to learn to steer and balance the Unitrainer. When you do fall, you just put out your foot to catch yourself. Once you master basic mounting, start-up and steering on the Unitrainer, the rest of the process of learning involves riding around with little or no falling. No falling means less time spent remounting and more time spent learning to balance. And you can practice any time, because you don’t need a friend to help you mount and balance as you learn, as you do with many traditional methods. Nor do you need a wall or railing to lean on, any traffic free paved space can be used.
For more information, go to www.unitrainer.com or contact the inventor David Kano by calling (603) 298-9882.