Puckett Family of Peters: Three Kids, Three Wheels

If you’ve ever driven along Trotwood Drive, chances are good you’ve seen kids on unicycles whizzing by. That would be the Pucketts: Nathan, 16; Katie, 13; and Rachael, 10. All three of the one-wheelers are members of the Wonders Unicycle Club, a local club for unicyclists of all ages.

The somewhat odd choice of cycling started in August of last year when their mom, Julie, was looking for an activity the three could do together. Not an easy task, as any mom knows. She found out about the group through , who teaches Pilates at the . Julie loaded the kids in the car and took them to the Wonders meeting without telling them where they were going.

“I thought it was kind of crazy at first," said Rachael a fourth grader at . "And I didn’t think I’d be able to do it. But, everyone was helpful and patient helping me learn. I really just loved the group.

To Julie’s delight, all three kids got hooked right away, though they had vastly different learning curves.

“It took the girls a few months to learn, but Nathan picked it up in about 30 minutes,” said Julie. Nathan, she said, has since become the family daredevil, riding his unicycle up and down steps and jumping off of walls.

The Wonders meet every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at The Christian Life Center of  Thomas Presbyterian Church in Eighty Four. Group members ride a variety of different unicycles including giraffes, which are tall unicycles, and BC wheels, which have no seat or handle.

At each meeting, the group participates in activities such as playing basketball or going through obstacles. Then they hit the road for a group ride where they take on many group formations, and most likely garner some strange looks. The group also regularly struts its stuff at parades and various community days.

Balance, said Katie, is key.

No matter what type of cycle you ride. At first, two people flank each new rider until they get the feel of the unicycle. Then the rider will progress to riding along a wall for support until they have enough balance to go it alone. At that point, there is no turning back.

“It’s hard at first, but it’s really fun when you learn," said Katie. "And it’s definitely something that you can do if you practice. Kind of like riding a bike.” 

The Wonders is an affiliate club of the Unicycling Society of America. Anyone can join.

Friend The Wonders Unicycle Club on Facebook here.