Local inventor launches ‘yucycle’

It all started with an impromptu unicycle ride. La Cañada resident Scott Comstock and his son, Carter, were hanging out at Memorial Park when they spotted a man cruising on a single wheel. The two Comstocks asked to take a turn.

Scott, who had learned to ride a unicycle years before, zipped around with finesse. Carter could barely remain upright. He was smitten, nevertheless, and asked for one for Christmas.

The unicycle proved difficult for the La Cañada High School 7/8 student to master. Scott, a product development and package design expert, took the one-wheeled ride to his studio in Glendale and began tinkering with the design.

Three years and many prototypes later, Scott is ready to launch the yucycle, a unicycle-tricycle hybrid toy he plans on marketing to teenagers.

“We wanted to make a higher end product for older kids and have it build a reputation as a new kind of cycle,” Scott said.

The yucycle rides much like a unicycle in that the user sits on a narrow seat and balances hands-free using only the weight of his or her body to change directions. However, it is buttressed by two additional wheels that lend additional stability.

“I think the biggest thing is that it looks a lot harder to ride than it is,” Scott said. “People look at it and they think that looks really difficult. And then they get on it and they think ‘wow, this is really easy to ride.’ It gives the thrill of no-hands riding and steering of a unicycle ride, but has the stability of a tricycle.”

Carter, along with his three other children, Kirby, Shelby, and Keaton, have become adept at not only riding the cycle but also performing tricks, Scott said. There are lots of different kinds of scooters and skateboards for children to play with he noted. The yucycle is a completely new type of cycle completely different from any other produce on the market. The cycle is currently available for sale at Montrose Bicycles and online at yucycle.com.

“The yucycle is really a different cycle that’s never been done before,” Scott said. “And it really has a different feeling once you get on it and ride Once you get past 10, 11 years old, that age group is hard to find presents [for]. This is a great new cycle for kids to ride around on and have fun with their friends.”