Unicycles still figure prominently in the life of University of Maine at Farmington philosophy major Max DeMilner.

Despite undergoing a self-imposed hiatus following team competition with his brother and dad in June’s debut five-day 500-mile Ride the Lobster race across Nova Scotia, the Peru native is often seen pedaling his one-wheeler to his Rite-Aid pharmacy job in Farmington.

“I planned on a three-month break, but I only made it two months, in which, I cheated a little bit,” DeMilner said Dec. 20. “I’ve been resting my knee. It was pretty sore after the race. Pedaling hard like that also does a number on your joints.”

Team Unicycle Max, dubbed after his performing name, placed 25th out of 35 teams, some of which consisted of world-record and champion-endurance unicyclists.

Additionally, in a 14-mile timed trial along a coastal road wherein each rider left at 30-second intervals, he finished 27th out of 105 riders.

“The best part of that was I was the 13th rider to leave the gate and I passed 12 people and was the first to pass the finish line, and that’s when it started pouring rain,” DeMilner said.

Currently, he’s considering entering 2009’s national unicycle racing championship in the Midwest and, possibly, competition overseas in the world championships.

And he’s planning a weekend unicycle trip next spring or summer with his dad and Kyle.

– Terry Karkos

“It was great to ride Lobster with my dad and brother, because we hadn’t seen each other in such a long time, so I’m really looking forward to that,” DeMilner said.

– By Terry Karkos