Nathan Tappin practises unicycling near the Rideau Canal.
Instead of riding around on two wheels or more, Ottawa resident Nathan Tappin prefers to travel upon a single wheel.
Tappin is part of the Ottawa Unicyclists, an unofficial group organized through Facebook, which has been active since 2006.
The Ottawa Unicyclists are looking for places where they can keep meeting regularly, while also stay warm during the winter months.
Tappin has travelled the world through unicycling, taking part in conventions and competitions.
His love for the sport has also inspired him to organize the Ottawa Unicyclists into a more official club.
He says that Confederation Park has been an ideal place to meet so far.
Both Tappin and fellow unicyclist Wolfgang Becker say that being able to meet and practice regularly with the other group members is key to becoming more organized.
“We try to meet as often as possible,” says Becker. “We spend most of the time riding under the bridge, in front of the Chateau Laurier and up and about.”
The park and surrounding area is favorable for unicyclists for most of the year.
There are good paths and streets to ride down on, and plenty of ledges, benches and rails to do tricks off.
Tappin is looking to find a place indoors that would allow them to meet consistently, even when the snow comes.
“I’ve been looking for a gym or community centre,” said Tappin. “Somewhere local, where we can bring people together as an organization.”
Tappin explains that unicycling outdoors in the winter isn’t much of a problem at the start.
But with more snowfall and ice their options are either to try unicycle outside, or not unicycle at all.
Even finding a place to unicycle outdoors has come with its challenges though.
“We’ve been kicked out of tons of places,” says Ottawa Unicyclist Nick Jasperse.
Both Tappin and Jasperse listed off Algonquin College, Ottawa University, and the general downtown area where they have run into trouble for unicycling.
“We actually used to meet at city hall but they didn’t want us riding around there,” explains Tappin.
City hall officials say they will look into it, but were unable to comment further at the time.
Jasperse says that city officials probably consider them to be the same as buskers and loiterers.
But the unicyclists are yet to have run into the same kind of problems around Confederation Park.
Julie Rocheleau, from the NCC, said there have been no problems with the unicyclists meeting in their park so far.
“It’s pretty relaxed in terms of where you can ride around,” says Jasperse.
Jasperse says instead of being asked to leave, people actually watch, and cheer them on when they unicycle in front of a store or business in Centretown.
Tappin says he and his fellow unicyclists want to continue honing their unicycle skills through the winter months.
He says they also want to encourage others to join the Ottawa Unicyclists and learn the uncommon, one-wheeled talent.
“It takes twice the man to ride half the bike,” he says.