Monowheel

This article is about the one-wheeled vehicle called the monowheel or uniwheel. For the acrobatic circus apparatus, see Cyr wheel. For the novel automotive wheel design, see Uni Wheel.
A monowheel rider in the 2011 Doo Dah Parade, Columbus, Ohio
Hemmings' Unicycle, or "Flying Yankee Velocipede", was a hand-powered monowheel patented in 1869 by Richard C. Hemmings.[1]
1931 Cislaghi Motoruota monowheel, modified by Giuseppe Govetosa

A monowheel or uniwheel is a type of one-wheeled, single-track vehicle. Unlike the unicycle, a monowheel consists of a large, hollow wheel that loops above and around the driver. Monowheels are typically powered by an engine as with a motorcycle, with a chassis securing the steering, driver's seat, and propulsion mechanism to the interior of the wheel.

Hand-cranked[2] and pedal-powered monowheels were patented[3] and built in the late 19th century; most built in the 20th and 21st century have been motorized. Some modern builders refer to these vehicles as monocycles, though that term is also sometimes used to describe motorized unicycles.

A world speed record for a motorized monowheel was set in 2016, at 98.464 km/h (61.18 mph).[4]

  1. ^ US 92528, Hemmings, Richard C., "Improvement in velocipede", published 1869-07-13 
  2. ^ Goddard, J. T. (1869). The velocipede: its history, varieties, and practice. University of Princeton: Hurd and Houghton. pp. 76–78.
  3. ^ US 325548, Lose, John Otto, "One-wheeled vehicle", published 1885-09-01 
  4. ^ "Guinness World Record for bearded woman Harnaam Kaur". BBC News. 8 September 2016.