Twice the fun, half the bike

Associate professor chooses a unicycle as his mode of transportation around campus

Chris Skelton, associate professor of biology and environmental science, can be seen almost any day riding around campus on his alternative method of transportation, a unicycle.

Skelton received his first unicycle from his mother as a Christmas present at the age of 12. He describes it as being “one of those ‘clown’ unicycles with the little tire.”

Skelton admits it was difficult at first, but he soon learned the importance of balance and practiced holding onto fence posts as he tried to get used to his new bike.

“The first time you sit on it you’re like, ‘There’s no way this is ever going to happen,’ and it just shoots right out from under you,” Skelton said.

But after hours of practice, and learning to keep his balance, Skelton was pedaling around like a pro.

“I really think just about anyone could do it if you’re willing to put the time in,” Skelton said.

Unfortunately, Skelton was only

able to enjoy his new toy for about a year before his family picked up and moved, and the unicycle was lost during the transition.

Skelton’s wife, Dana, surprised him with his second unicycle as a Christmas present five years ago. Since then, Skelton has been focused on learning how to ride on tougher terrain than the campus sidewalk: he wants to take it off-road.

“I just try to ride as much as I can, like three to four days a week. I go out to Bartram Forest a lot. I do the trails out there,” Skelton said. “I’m trying to learn how to go backwards and learn to do tricks, but the main thing I want to do is ride off road, on trails.”

When riding off road it can be tricky for the riders to bike over the rocky terrain.

“I recently went with some guys and they’d get to an obstacle, like a rock, and instead of jumping off, they jump their unicycle up on to it and then hop over it and keep going,” Skelton said.

The biology professor recently competed in a 20-mile mountain bike race. He competed against 300 bicycles and six other unicycles. This was his first cycling competition in the unicycle division and he received third place.

When asked how students, faculty and the community react to seeing him pedaling around town on his unicycle, Skelton says that “on campus, it’s usually positive: ‘You’re the man,’ or ‘You rock,’ and then you get the jokes like ‘Where’s your other wheel?’”

Students don’t seem to feel his mode of transportation is that out of the ordinary.

“I haven’t personally seen him riding it around campus but I think it is a great way of getting around on a college campus,” Kaley Boyles, senior special education major, said. “It saves gas and is better for the environment. It takes talent to be able to ride one.”

Skelton bought a unicycle for his 14-year-old nephew last Christmas, passing on this unique gift-giving tradition. He is also interested in starting a unicycling group in Milledgeville.