Monowheels, the giant wheel with a seat inside that resembles a unicycle but has two wheels under the saddle and one larger wheel moved by pedaling, were introduced as a potential new mode of transportation from 1860 to 1930. However, they faced various design issues that made them impractical for ordinary use. Despite this, inventors continued to experiment with their creation in the early 20th century, incorporating airplane propellers and even engines into their designs. Scientific magazines from the 1930s featured more car-like designs for monowheels, which could transport multiple passengers and had a metal frame. However, these vehicles still had numerous design challenges such as poor visibility for the driver, stability issues, steering difficulties, and the “gerbil” phenomenon where the driver could spin inside the wheel under sudden acceleration or braking. Ultimately, monowheels never gained widespread popularity and are primarily built and driven for entertainment purposes in modern times.
