The origin of the unicycle dates back to the 1800’s penny-farthing bicycle.

The penny-farthing bicycle had pedals on the front axle and when the rider stopped quickly, they often found that the rear wheel would raise off of the ground and that the rider would find himself temporarily positioned above the large front wheel. Faced with this amusing predicament, some riders aimed to see how far they could travel riding on one wheel.

In addition to being taken up as a hobby by thousands of people and being used in various entertainment shows, the unicycle has recently been found to beneficial qualities including a reduction of stress and an increase in mental capabilities.