This style of unicycling encompasses all forms of long distance road unicycling. These unicycles typically have a large wheel so as to increase speed and distance per pedal rotation. Long distance unicycles are sometimes fitted with handlebars and a place to mount cargo for long trips.
In competition you will typically see road events like 10ks, marathons, and criteriums.
Muni, short for Mountain Unicycling, is exactly what it sounds like. It is the equivalent of mountain biking, but on a unicycle. Muni riders ride over technical rough terrain such as dirt, roots, and rocks. Muni riders typically ride unicycles with wheels of larger diameters (typically 24″, 26″, 29″) and thicknesses.
In competition you will typically see muni events like cross country, cyclocross, uphill, and downhill.
Freestyle is one of the oldest discipline of unicycling, consisting of a smoother, typically choreographed strings of tricks. It is commonly practiced as part of individual, pair and group routines. Freestyle is almost always done on unicycles with 20″ tires, short cranks and a white tire that won’t mark gym floors.
In competition, you will typically see individual, pair, small group, and large group routines, as well as the unchoreographed, individual x-style event.
Urban unicycling is a term that encompasses 3 similar disciplines of unicycling. All subsets of urban unicycling are typically done on unicycles with 19" or 20″ tires and durable but lightweight parts.
In flatland unicycling, riders perform tricks on flat ground. Flatland tricks typically consist of unispins, crankflips and rolls. These tricks are stringed together to make combos.
In competition, riders battle against each other, 1 on 1, attempting to perform the most difficult, stylish combos. Some flatland and flatstyle riding has also been introduced into freestyle and x-style competitions in recent years.
The goal of trials unicycling is to clear obstacles or sets of obstacles, called lines. A line is cleared by jumping across gaps, onto and off of platforms, across rails and over any other obstacles riders can think of.
In competition, riders compete to complete the most lines in a set amount of time. Other trials related competitive events include high jump, long jump, and speed trials.
Street unicycling is a combination of trials and flatland unicycling. Street unicycling includes doing tricks onto, off of and across obstacles and includes many aspects of trials and flatland unicycling as well as some other unique skills such as grinding rails.
In competition, riders have an short amount of time to perform a string of tricks for a run which is then judged based on several categories such as consistency, difficulty, and flow.
Flatstyle is a newer term which doesn't directly relate to any specific competion. This term describes the style of unicycling which combines the big spins and flips of flatland with elegant and technical freestyle tricks. The lines between flatland and freestyle are becoming increasingly blurry in recent years with many riders of each discipline taking more inspiration from the other, resulting in flatstyle becoming a more dominant riding style. Flatstyle can be seen competed in freestyle, x-style and flatland.
Unicycle hockey is exactly what it sounds like. Small teams of unicyclists compete to shoot a small ball into the opposing team's goal with their hockey sticks. Riders can only hit the ball while on their unicycle. Most other rules of the game are similar to ice and roller hockey.
Unicycle basketball is also exactly what it sounds like. Small teams of unicyclists compete to shoot a basketball into the opposing team's hoop. Just like in unicycle hockey, riders can only handle the all while on their unicycle, and most other rules are similar to standard basketball rules.
Track racing is a discipline of unicycling mostly done at unicycle competitions. Riders typically ride a 24" unicycle with a very thin racing tire.
Some of the track events you might see at a unicycle event include the 100m, 400m and 800m, along with some more unique races like 1 foot, wheel walk, and the IUF Slalom, which is an event where riders complete a set course involving tight turns and weaving through cones as fast as they can.