Inside the thrills and skills that shape the Butler Unicycle Club
Two wheels became one too many for Dave Krack when he became enamored with learning how to ride a unicycle around two decades ago.
After putting in the necessary hours to eventually master the skill, the Butler High School math teacher’s goal was to motivate and teach others after riding solo for the first few years.
“I tried everything with two wheels, and I had built bikes before,” Krack said. “I’ve ridden my bike to work my entire adult life. A natural next thing to do was try a unicycle. That sounded fun.”
He and his wife hatched an idea to bring in open-minded participants by establishing a unicycle club at the Butler YMCA. The free instructional club has met during the winter every year since 2009, with the only exception being 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We came back from an international stage race, and we met a lot of people there and we’re like, ‘it would be cool to do unicycling in our town,’” he said. “We approached the YMCA, and they said that would be great.”
Joel Warren already was friends with Krack when he started seeing social media posts that made riding a unicycle seem like an enticing endeavor. After taking that leap of faith, he’s been a regular at the club for several years.
“It took me a few weeks of riding along the bleachers until I could get to the point where I could let go and ride by myself,” he said. “Even then I could only ride halfway across the gym in a straight line. But over the next season I was able to start steering and having better control of it. It’s really just about balance and practice.”
It’s since become a gratifying activity for Warren, who said he enjoys informing others of his uncommon skill set.
“Everybody I tell that I ride, they just think it’s crazy,” he said. “It’s fun. Once you get the hang of it, it’s something that you can do that not a lot of people can do.”
Meanwhile, Trina Hess boasts more than a decade of experience on a unicycle and says riding one requires the right mindset and a tenacious attitude.
“I would say it’s just a mental game,” she said. “If I crash or something, then it’s back to zero, and then it’s like a fear factor trying to get back on again. I do a lot of brain gym exercises and different things just to stay centered and calm the nervous system.”
Master peddlers like Krack commonly race and play various sports, such as basketball and field hockey. Meanwhile, Warren and Hess have developed the ability to play paddleball, fly pocket kites, read a book and even release butterflies outside while pedaling.
“The whole sport is about overcoming fear and just doing it,” Hess said.
Krack is always searching for new people who are willing to step up and give the unicycle a try. The club meets from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, except the last one of the month, at the YMCA throughout the winter months.
“The YMCA has always supported this to keep it totally free to anybody in the community,” Krack said. “The whole idea is it’s just a great way to move, and it’s something unique to do.”
