Spot ‘unicycling kid’ proudly wheeling around Syracuse on sunny days
It’s not hard to spot Syracuse University senior Josh Nielson. If you see someone riding a one-wheeled vehicle from a distance, it’s probably Nielson on his unicycle. Avery Magee | Photo Editor
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People in Josh Nielson’s classes have likely seen him store a unicycle in the front of the room.
Nielson was reluctant to use his one-wheel vehicle in public when he was a freshman. Now, the senior uses his unicycle as his main mode of transportation around campus.
“It’s taught me that a lot of times being yourself is actually a lot more exciting than it is terrifying,” Nielson said.
Nielson first learned to unicycle in high school when he tried one of his camp counselors’ mountain unicycles. Despite the learning curve, the 22-year-old has learned how to maintain balance and stay controlled while riding it. He’s traversed all over Syracuse University’s campus and traveled all the way from Ackerman Avenue to Falk College — using his unicycle so much that the pedals literally fell off on the unicycle he’s owned since he learned in high school.
Though Nielson’s major in computer science has nothing to do with unicycling, the mode of transport has become integral to his college journey. It’s easy for Nielson’s friends, like SU senior Danny Whelan, to recognize him across the Shaw Quadrangle.
Senior Josh Nielson first became acquainted with unicycling in high school. After learning how to stay balanced on the vehicle, the 22-year-old uses the unicycle to traverse all over campus. Avery Magee | Photo Editor
“I unmistakably know it’s him because he’s the only person I know that uses unicycles,” Whelan said. “It’s always nice to see him out and about, it’s a staple of some of my walks to campus.”
Whelan learned of Nielson’s special talent for unicycling when they joined the same professional fraternity; he remembers Nielson arriving to meetings with his unicycle in hand. Whelan said he recalls being in awe that Nielson uses a unicycle.
One of Nielson’s favorite t-shirts has the phrase “do what you love” printed on it. Unicycling is his way of telling himself that it’s OK to practice and embrace activities that you love to do.
Nielson’s current roommate, SU senior Connor Moulton had never seen anyone unicycle as their main mode of transportation before he met Nielson.
“It’s fitting that he unicycles with his personality,” Moulton said. “He is the type of person to just kind of pick up a hobby or have an interest and really give it all he has.”
Much like Nielson, his friends aren’t embarrassed to know the “unicycling kid.” On one occasion, Whelan opened Yik Yak to a photo of someone unicycling across the Quad: It was Nielson.
“I guess it’s just a way of letting people know that I can accept a strange part about myself,” Nielson said.
Josh Nielson has travelled from Ackerman Avenue to Falk College using his unicycle. Nielson rode his unicycle so much that his two pedals fell off. Avery Magee | Photo Editor
Compared to a bicycle, Nielson said a unicycle requires forward and backward balance, as well as left and right balance. When Nielson zooms past pedestrians, he loves hearing their reactions of surprise and pointing him out.
Nielson even created an Instagram page called “suunicycle” dedicated to his journey on the one-wheeled vehicle. His bio reads “I’m a guy riding a unicycle around @syracuseu.”
Moulton helped Nielson film one of the Instagram videos. Now, whenever Moulton returns to the page, he’s reminded of one of his favorite memories with Nielson — making edits to the video. Every time Moulton replays them, he said he remembers the laughs they made that one afternoon.
Because most people don’t know how to successfully ride a unicycle, Nielson said he can walk away from it with a level of certainty that someone won’t steal it while he’s in class.
Nielson’s unicycle is not just another hobby; it’s a way for him to brighten strangers’ days, from just a glance across the Quad, he said.
“He always uplifts my mood, I feel like that kind of goes in tandem with the unicycle, because it’s a very whimsical activity,” Whelan said.
Anytime someone stops Nielson while he’s on his unicycle, Nielson said he likes to explain how he began and the story behind it.
Nielson’s favorite memory of riding his unicycle around campus is when he heard someone shout “‘yo, that’s awesome’” from above him as he pedaled and attempted to say thank you.
“Any reaction is acceptable,” Nielson said. “I understand that it’s a bit of a ridiculous form of transportation.”
