Mike Parenteau - One Wheel

Jan 18, 2010 at 0:05
Jan 18, 2010
by Tyler Maine
 
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Source: Dan Poirier

Following in the footsteps of forerunners like Kris Holm and Dan Heaton, Mike Parenteau from Nelson, B.C. is forging new ground in the small, yet always impressive sport of Mountain Unicycling. Incorporating Nelson’s well known style for steep, fast freeriding, Mike is pushing the limits of what was previously thought possible on a unicycle. Watch for him in the coming years as Mike looks to incorporate freeride style tricks and more and more speed into his downhill unicycle riding.

Video interview inside,

(Password protected)
Mike Parenteau:
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51 Comments

  • + 9
flag Terrafire (Jan 18, 2010 at 0:13)
 One wheeled riding, pretty intense. I just wonder how often he has to true his wheel Razz
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  • + 7
flag ralphus47 (Jan 18, 2010 at 6:54)
 yeah very impressive but pointless, two wheels is always going to be better. max respect though that takes serious skill and balls
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  • + 7
flag heyguysletsride (Jan 18, 2010 at 6:02)
 Very impressive, looks mighty hard, but I don't think it will ever overtake two wheels, which in my opinion is far superior to unicycling, as it seems just a party trick.
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  • + 4
flag xjontheroks (Jan 18, 2010 at 12:43)
 From personally trying a unicycle I know how ridiculously insane that is this kid is completely sick!!!!! but I dont like how they call it a "bike" becasue obviously bike comes from bicycle and "bi" means two and last time I checked his unicycle had one wheel
  • + 1
flag Anselm (Jan 19, 2010 at 6:10)
 Uikes!
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  • + 8
flag derrickczn (Jan 18, 2010 at 5:54)
 Kid has skillz. Not for me!
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  • + 4
flag deannec Mod Plus (Jan 18, 2010 at 8:39)
 I think they're definitely getting pretty popular. Seems like more people are picking them up. You should see this one kid in Sherwood Park. He can do more tricks on his unicycle than most kids can do on their BMX.
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  • + 5
flag NorthEasternDH (Jan 18, 2010 at 13:22)
 i think its funny that he goes about the same speed as he does on a bike. he rides a bike VERY slowly.
  • + 1
flag NorCalNomad (Jan 18, 2010 at 14:06)
 exactly what I thought
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  • + 2
flag phastlikedatnascar (Jan 18, 2010 at 22:56)
 alright, so this story is pretty awesome, but seriously, its been done like a million times. I DO NOT NEED TO HERE ABOUT HOW UNIQUE UNICYCLING IS EVER AGAIN, i think we all get the point..shit rogue
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  • + 1
flag Anselm (Jan 19, 2010 at 6:08)
 If he's having fun and making a bit of money - fair enough and I don't mind what he does, as long as trails don’t become full of slow moving clowns, but its's not for me. I can ride one, and juggle on it too, so I know what I'm missing and it’s not that fun compared to proper bikes. Gaps, vert ramps, riding to the pub (school at the time) without being jeered at etc are't possible at least on the fixed wheel unicycles I've ridden as you can't get the speed or any flow as your have to always pedal. The only 'extreme' unicycling would be negotiating ladders or rollable features or plummeting off drops like a lemming – like in the clip. I think he will be disappointed when he compares his time in that race and it turns out not to be very ‘close’ at all. I can’t see how a berm can be railed and how any more air than falling or a hop is possible. Anyway, maybe it’s all just the way the interview was edited together making it sound more stupid and claiming he can do anything better on one wheel (backed up with a speeded up clip) which he can’t. Maybe better doesn’t mean faster or bigger - he’ll be a long time arguing that at a race. No comparison to two wheels but each to their own.
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  • + 1
flag yamatorider (Jan 18, 2010 at 19:31)
 cool or uncool, we all know unicycling is hard. respect to mike for keep on doing his own thing. my buddies and I rode a heli drop run in nelson past summer and mike was one of the local guys who rode the whole thing with us. he was cool guy, quiet but focused. least thats what i thought of him. and yes he can rip on two wheels also. he had a little 4 inch travel brodie with him and he can hang with the best of them. Keep on doing your thing mike!!!
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  • + 1
flag mackdaddy55 (Jan 18, 2010 at 18:58)
 I think he can go somewhere. Chris Holmes made a career of uni trials for a while, but I've never seen a DH racer on a uni. Personally I don't think you can match the speed and big air that regular bikes can get on a uni, but his vids are still fun to watch. Props for pursuing your dreams man, good luck.
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  • + 6
flag thauck (Jan 18, 2010 at 9:25)
 Nice work Mike!
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  • + 3
flag nastynick42 (Jan 18, 2010 at 8:19)
 Until unicycles can hit big gaps, or hit up a sweet DJ rythm section; its not for me, I'll stick with 2 wheels
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  • + 3
flag fr3er1d3r (Jan 18, 2010 at 0:12)
 wonder if this will gain popularity soon. i can see one wheel being an advantage occasionally
  • + 5
flag pperini (Jan 18, 2010 at 8:19)
 well, i cant see advantages...but populary is already pretty big..YouTubers all over the world have propably seen much sicker stunts with a unicycle the anything u saw mike doing..search for it, u will find sick stuff..
  • + 1
flag corsair711 (Jan 18, 2010 at 9:28)
 Someone should make a unicycle with a freewheeling hub in it, like on the front of those Trek Mod tricycles. And then a disc or v brake with the lever mounted below the seat. That'd be cool. Then, these guys wouldn't look like freaks pedaling down the hills.
  • + 3
flag adrenalinaddict (Jan 18, 2010 at 9:40)
 Very popular in France, and there is a advantage, fits in the car Razz
  • + 5
flag Hixee (Jan 18, 2010 at 10:31)
 Problem is if you have a freewheel and a brake, you cant pedal backwards so if you are going off the back of it and not oing very quickly then there be shit all you can do. Oh and thoses suspention unicycles are pointless ad you never sit down when riding off road, watcht he vid he is stood up the whule time.
  • + 5
flag corsair711 (Jan 18, 2010 at 10:34)
 Yeah, I just kind of thought of that. Frown It sounded cool in my head.
  • + 1
flag swan3609 (Jan 18, 2010 at 11:18)
 there are a few unicycles out there with freewheels on them.. and they are insainly hard to ride.. there are videos of them out there..
  • + 4
flag KonaKane (Jan 18, 2010 at 17:25)
 ill stick to two wheels thanks Smile
  • + 1
flag suicidedownhiller (Jan 18, 2010 at 22:22)
 Yeah, I've never understood the attraction to unicycles...
  • + 1
flag fr3er1d3r (Jan 18, 2010 at 22:56)
 well to my first comment, you are very precise with only one wheel on the ground, so for some really steep rockgarden maybe you could hop down the rocks instead of riding them but im thinking really hard, i dont ride one of these things and probably wont get into it. im about the 2 wheeled fullys personally
  • + 1
flag Hixee (Jan 19, 2010 at 12:40)
 There fun but no competition to a proper bike
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  • + 3
flag phastlikedatnascar (Jan 19, 2010 at 13:58)
 wait... chinese people can drive...???
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  • + 1
flag konigkid (Jan 18, 2010 at 23:41)
 K hes got skill at it. But who gives a fuck its unicycling!!! its not a sport its something clowns do in circuses! No matter how good you are at it it still looks stupid
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  • + 1
flag unicyclefred (Jan 19, 2010 at 7:06)
 choke-cough-gasp... the consept that unicycling is for clouns is a larger steriotype than saying all chinees people can't drive
  • + 1
flag Anselm (Jan 20, 2010 at 5:02)
 It's not concept just a bit of banter ;-)
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  • + 1
flag natejmorse2 (Jan 18, 2010 at 22:43)
 I wonder if you could hook up a planetary gear system like the hammerschmidt so you can go faster without having to freewheel down the hills.
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  • - 1
flag flyordie3 (Jan 18, 2010 at 13:22)
 That's gotta make you way faster on your bike. If you can ride crazy technical stuff on a Unicycle, You should be able to kill it on a bike!!! Good luck to him in The World cup. I'd love to see a unicycler try some vert dirt jump's tho.
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  • + 1
flag cazneaux (Jan 19, 2010 at 19:58)
 if he goes just as fast on his unicycle as his dh bike, then he needs some practice.
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  • + 1
flag Juancho918 (Jan 20, 2010 at 1:07)
 oh man, i don't like this for mountain biking style but that takes some serious practice...
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  • + 2
flag ocsrider (Jan 18, 2010 at 15:32)
 Unicycles still aren't cool.
  • + 3
flag anthonytutor (Jan 18, 2010 at 21:27)
 word dude
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  • + 1
flag dualsuspensiondave (Jan 18, 2010 at 9:07)
 Would take serious skills to do that. More fitting as a circus act.
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  • + 0
flag unicyclefred (Jan 18, 2010 at 15:54)
 all u guys that say unicycling is for noobs are fail. like come on! dont be gay! riding a uni is the most fun in the world!
  • + 1
flag doug13 (Jan 18, 2010 at 23:11)
 No, that would be your sister.
  • + 1
flag konigkid (Jan 18, 2010 at 23:42)
 I could have more fun not riding your sister than unicycling
  • + 1
flag doug13 (Jan 22, 2010 at 23:03)
 That's 'cos "she" has a winky.
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  • + 1
flag omzig81 (Jan 20, 2010 at 23:20)
 Respect!
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  • + 0
flag gravelslider (Jan 18, 2010 at 11:08)
 that's bad for the industry.
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  • - 1
flag majeau (Jan 18, 2010 at 5:07)
 I think he look stupid pedaling a one wheeled thing..imo
  • + 2
flag kyleyoso (Jan 18, 2010 at 5:15)
 unicycles are just shit!
  • + 1
flag camdenthekid (Jan 18, 2010 at 10:27)
 there is no WAY he will ever be able to race a unicycle against a bike and win or place well
  • - 1
flag Hixee (Jan 18, 2010 at 10:30)
 Why??? dont knock it untill you have tried it, its a great laugh.
  • + 2
flag camdenthekid (Jan 18, 2010 at 22:05)
 yes a great laugh not competition against a bike
  • + 1
flag rsransom (Jan 19, 2010 at 7:26)
 "Why???"
Because he will never be able to do anything like this. 'Nuff said.
  • + 1
flag Hixee (Jan 19, 2010 at 12:39)
 camdenthekid has hit the nail on the head. He wouldnt get close to somone on a full on downhill course and he i kidding himself if he thinks he can
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