Unicycle time trial records

Unicycle time trial records are performances that are not set in unicycle competitions. They require a separate organization. The unicycles used for these records generally belong to the "unlimited" category. In other words, there are no limits on wheel size, crank length or frame shape. The only rule is that they must have a single wheel and no motorized assistance (This article does not cover electric unicycles).

These records are partly due to technological innovations: 36" wheels (the first brand was Coker), geared hubs (the best known being the Schlumpf ), the use of handlebars and clipless pedals...

Certification
Several organisations can recognise unicycle world records. This article is limited to records recognised by the International Unicycle Federation (IUF) and the Guinness World Records (GWR).

Guinness World Records
The GWR has only recognised male records: hour record, 100-mile record and 24-hour record. New records can be added on request. The criteria for Guinness World Records may differ from those of the IUF. For example: the hour record should be set on an athletics track, the 100-mile record on an ungeared unicycle.

International Unicycling Federation
The IUF recognizes 4 types of time trial records: hour record, 100 km record, 100 mile record and 24h record. Since 20xx, these records have been approved by the International Unicycle Federation. Previously, the records were usually entered in the Guinness Book of Records.

Hour record
The hour record is an event that consists of covering the greatest possible distance in one hour. Unlike the cycling hour record, it does not have to be achieved in a velodrome, in fact, it's almost impossible to ride a unicycle in a velodrome. The first unicycle hour record dates back to the origins of unicycling: in 1888, Bert Myers, in Peoria (Illinois), is said to have covered 13 miles and 5098 feet (22.475 km) on the front wheel of his Penny-farthing "Light Champion" (a 48-60" wheel).

The first records
The first men's hour record to be approved by the Guinness World Records dates back to 1997, with a performance of 9 miles (just under 15 km) on a 24" unicycle. A few years later, Stephan Gauler improved the mark with a 26" unicycle (a first series of 26" unicycles was first produced in the 1990s), but due to a lack of documentation, the record could not be certify by Guinness.

On February 5, 2005, Ken Looi set a new 24h record with a first hour achieved at over 25 kph. Three weeks later, Pete Perron completed his hour record attempt with a customized geared unicycle (Purple Phaze), unaware that Guinness would subsequently certify the distance covered by Ken Looi in the first hour of his 24h record. From 2005 onwards, all records have been set on unicycles with 36" wheels.

The domination of the Schlumpf hub
On October 10, 2008, Jan Logemann was the first to break the record with a Schlumpf geared 36" unicycle. Since then, all records have been broken with a 36" unicycle geared with a Schlumpf hub.

On September 18, 2009, Ken Looi improved the record by over 2.4 km, just 7 meters short of the 30 km mark. This was the last Guinness-approved one-hour record achieved on an athletics track.

On August 8, 2014 (almost 5 years later), during UNICON 17 in Montreal, Christoph Hartmann rode 32.230 km, beating the previous record by plus 2.2 km on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (the circuit on which the UNICON marathon was held and where he finished 2nd behind Scott Wilton). He became the first rider to take the hour record beyond 30 km.

It took another 7 years for the men's record to be improved. On October 10, 2021, Simon Jan took the hour record to 33.365 km, beating by almost 180 m the all-sex record set by Jana Tenambergen a year earlier.

The last 4 records have all been achieved on unicycles with 36" wheels and Schlumpf hubs. The evolution of the record can be explained by the optimization of peripherals (lighter tires and rims, use of automatic pedals), position (more comfortable and aerodynamic) and the choice of course to avoid sharp turns.

History of the female WR
On May 1, 2020, on the Rodgau-Dudenhofen speed ring, Jana Tenambergen became the first woman to hold the hour record for any gender.

24-hour record
The 24-hour record is an event that consists in covering the greatest possible distance in 24 hours. This event is generally run on an athletics track (about 400 m).

History of the male WR
The men's 24-hour records were all set on ungeared unicycles.

100k record
The 100 km record is an event which consists of covering 100 km as quickly as possible. The event usually takes place on a closed road (runway, abandoned airport).

100-mile record
The 100-mile record is an event that involves covering 100 miles (160.934 km) as quickly as possible.