The South Island, New Zealand Unicycle Tour

NZ Unicycle Federation Press Release 17 Jan 2007

The South Island, New Zealand Unicycle Tour (SINZ)

New Zealand will play host to 12 Unicyclists from as far away as Austria, USA, UK, Hong Kong and Australia in the first international unicycle tour of New Zealand. Starting this Saturday, riders will converge on Dunedin with their one-wheeled machines, before embarking on the 900km challenge to unicycle to Christchurch.

"It is not a race," says organiser Ken Looi, "but it's going to be a tough ride. They will be walking a little funny at the end of the tour". Riders on The SINZ Unitour will unicycle for up to 145km per day during the 16 day tour.

Unicycle Touring is a relatively new concept, catching on in New Zealand and around the world. With the advent of The 'Coker' 36" Unicycles, and more recently, geared unicycle hubs, riders can cruise at speeds up to 25km/hr, travelling distances close to that of regular two-wheeled bicycles.

"It is a great way to see a country; you travel at just the right speed" says co-organiser Tony Melton of Auckland.

The SINZ Unicycle Tour starts with a ride up Baldwin Street, the worlds steepest street, in Northeast Dunedin. From there, the riders head to Middlemarch to ride the Central Otago Rail Trail through to Queenstown and Wanaka, before going up the West Coast to Hokitika. The unicyclists will then climb over Arthurs Pass, heading towards Christchurch to finish in Cathedral Square.

The tour is supported by Connie Cotter, a Minnesota native who is also the current President of The International Unicyling Federation. She will be driving a support vehicle and providing the riders with logistical support during the tour. "You can't lug around much stuff on a unicycle! I'll have to do it for them." laughs Cotter.

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