One man will ride one wheel for 12 days and go the extra mile to ride and raise funds for the 2013 Pan-Mass Challenge, taking on 283 miles on the saddle of a unicycle.
This is the second consecutive year that Corbett will take on the PMC on his unicycle, but this is the first time that he will add on an additional 95 miles, tackling the rough terrain, uncertain New England weather, and steep hills on one wheel. The motivation to propel him forward: his brother Ned, who was successfully treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma 15 years ago as well as two close friends who were recently diagnosed and are currently being treated.
Because unicycles have one fixed gear, they are naturally slower than a bicycle, traveling at an average speed of six miles an hour. One pedal turn is equal to each wheel turn, meaning there will be no coasting for Corbett. Whether he is traveling uphill, downhill or riding on flat road, he will have to constantly pedal to keep himself upright. He’ll earn every inch of the road on his unicycle, Corbett says.
Corbett got his start riding a unicycle was when he was teenager working his paper route. The hands-free aspect made, rolling and throwing the newspapers easy, cutting the time of the job in half. Though his unicycle will not be a time saver while riding the PMC, he says he is ready for whatever the road brings him.
“I expect there will be many moments when the burn in my legs or the strain in my back leads me to question taking on a challenge as big as this,” says Corbett. “To keep me going, I’m dedicating every groan and strain I feel to all the cancer patients whose daily endurance represents their commitment seeing the other side of this disease.”
To date, Corbett has raised more than $5,100 for the Pan-Mass Challenge. His goal in 2013 is to raise $10,000 for the cause.
Last August, Peter Corbett made history as the first cyclist to ride in the PMC on a unicycle.
