Okay, so I finally decided to try that single-wheeled bike thing. You know, the unicycle? Looked kinda ridiculous but also fun. Problem was, I had no clue where to actually buy one around here. Started my hunt like any normal person – hit the internet hard.
First place I tried was the big sports store downtown, the one with the basketball shoes out front. Walked in feeling hopeful. Wandered past treadmills and kayaks forever. Asked some kid stacking yoga mats about unicycles. He just blinked at me like I asked for a pet dragon. Guy called a manager over, who scratched his head and said, “Nah, we don’t carry those. Maybe check online?” Felt dumb even asking.
The Second Attempt
Next day, drove across town to that huge outdoor gear shop near the river. You know the one – smells like tents and bug spray. Found the bike section tucked in the back corner. Saw mountain bikes, kid bikes, even electric scooters. Asked the woman tuning a bike chain if they had unicycles. She actually laughed. Not mean, just surprised. “Honestly? Haven’t seen one in years,” she said. Suggested I try specialty toy stores. Toy stores? Oof.
Third Time’s The Charm?
Felt kinda defeated, but there’s this tiny bike repair shop run by this old dude, Mark, near my place. Barely fits two bikes inside. Figured, why not? Worst he could say was no. Mark’s wiping grease off his hands when I ask. He pauses. Grunts. Then shuffles to this cluttered back corner piled with wheels and handlebars. Moves a rusty kid’s bike aside. And there it is: one dusty blue unicycle leaning against the wall. “Forgot I had this,” he mumbles. “Belonged to some circus performer ten years back. Needs a new seat.” Didn’t look pretty, but it was real. Took it home for twenty bucks.
So yeah. After all that running around, the winner was the grubby little hole-in-the-wall. Lesson learned: sometimes you gotta dig through the grease piles to find the weird stuff. And Mark’s shop? Absolute gem for oddball bike needs.
