[perydell]

It would be interesting to contrast the unicycle experience with tandem bike experiences. When I ride my tandem bike with a partner I almost universally experience smiles and happy waves from people that see us.

I can ride a unicycle and rode it more often as a teenager. Lots of comments about getting lost from the circus. But they were meant to be funny. I think.

[munificent]

I don't unicycle but I used to be an avid juggler.

My experience is that greatest predictor of what kind of response you get when doing something unusual in public is whether or not the activity is solitary. If you do a solitary activity that takes a lot of practice, it suggests you're some kind of weirdo loner who has to fill the empty days with hobbies because no one wants to hang out with you, and responses in public may reflect that.

If you're doing an activity with someone else, then at least one person doesn't think you're an intolerable weirdo, so people seem to be more accepting of it.

The responses I got between when I was juggling alone versus club passing with another person in a park were very different.

[AriedK]

My wife and I did a couple of tandem tours throughout the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK. By far the most comments we had were in the UK, the most common being: “she’s not pedalling!” jokingly informing me that my wife who sits at the back isn’t doing her part. The amount of comments were nowhere close what the author describes, and I can’t recall any negative comments. Just humorous ones.

I guess a tandem isn’t as uncommon / funny as a unicycle.

[wharvle]

Anyone start singing/reciting the song “Daisy Bell” at you?

[lmm]

I ride a recumbent and get my share of comments, mostly positive. (Others have talked of getting "one of your wheels is bigger than the other" comments, but I don't remember hearing that one yet)

[uranium]

Same--folks are generally interested and/or amused. It's been ages since I unicycled in public [I'm not great at it], but none of what's been posted here about reactions surprises me.

[yjftsjthsd-h]

So... friendliness scales with wheels?

[wiml]

New plan: build a custom cycle with 25 wheels. Become the most popular person in town.

[chrismorgan]

I get a similar experience with my recumbent tricycle, including surprisingly consistently positive reactions from other road-users.

Now I’m curious how the reactions would be for a tandem recumbent tricycle. (Yes, they’re a thing.)

[Baeocystin]

I ride a recumbent bike, and honestly the random commentary is way more positive than I'd expected it to be. Kids go nuts for it, 90%+ of adults' reactions are friendly, too. Lycra-clad street bicyclists are the negative exception, but are easily enough ignored. And it's always fun when you come across another recumbent rider; a friendly wave is all but guaranteed.

[CapitalistCartr]

In the United States, tandem bikes have a strong Norman Rockwell vibe.

[wiredfool]

1 wheel per person, good. 2 bad.

[jenadine]

But better than 4 wheels per person