When Dal Fleischer was 55 years old, he had his life under control, however, a little instability was still desired.

So, naturally, he taught himself how to unicycle.

Officials with the Canadian Association of Retired Persons contacted Peace Arch News this week to share a recent milestone achieved by Fleischer, who is now 72 years old.

Riding on one wheel for about 30 kilometres a day, the White Rock resident recently reached a milestone 含羞草研究社� he含羞草研究社檚 logged 40,075 kilometres, a distance equivalent to the circumference of the world.

Fleischer belongs to an online group of unicyclists that track their distance using the Strava application, which was initially released in 2009. It含羞草研究社檚 quite possible the senior completed the milestone once before, but this time he has an official record, which has been reviewed by his peers.

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Fleischer, a lifelong athlete and cyclist, fell in love with the one-wheel bike after teaching himself how to ride. He started small, and eventually graduated to a 36-inch wheel.

含羞草研究社淚 got a bigger one, a bigger one and a bigger one until I got this 36,含羞草研究社� Fleischer said. 含羞草研究社淭hey don含羞草研究社檛 make them any bigger because they don含羞草研究社檛 make people any bigger. You have to be able to reach, from the seat, the pedals含羞草研究社� bottom position.含羞草研究社�

He has taken his unicycle all over the world, but locally, he said, his favourite places to ride are in South Surrey and White Rock.

While you won含羞草研究社檛 see him climbing up Oxford Street, Fleischer said the one wheel manages quite well on the hilly seaside.

含羞草研究社淵ou have to have quite substantial muscle in order to ride the large unicycle,含羞草研究社� he said.

Part of his motivation are the friendly smiles, waves and cheers from Semiahmoo Peninsula residents while he含羞草研究社檚 out on a daily trek.

含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 lots of accolades. That含羞草研究社檚 a motivator, it含羞草研究社檚 fun,含羞草研究社� he said.

Some days, of course, he can含羞草研究社檛 ride his unicycle due to the weather. High wind seems to be among the biggest challenge.

含羞草研究社淲ind is a problem because headwind is tough slogging and the problem is winds aren含羞草研究社檛 constant,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t comes and goes and you can含羞草研究社檛 see it coming. I含羞草研究社檝e had times where it含羞草研究社檚 just blown me right off the unicycle and I couldn含羞草研究社檛 get back on.含羞草研究社�

Now that he含羞草研究社檚 completed his milestone, Fleischer, who turns 73 this month, has set a new goal that含羞草研究社檚 out of this world.

含羞草研究社淕iven that I含羞草研究社檝e done the equator of the Earth, the next target is the equator of the moon. Simply because I am 73, and some day I含羞草研究社檒l have to give up unicycle riding, but it含羞草研究社檚 not quite on the horizon. So I chose a target that含羞草研究社檚 doable, it含羞草研究社檚 only about 10,000, maybe 11,000 km, opposed to 40,000.含羞草研究社�

aaron.hinks@peacearchnews.com
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