Parade inspires young unicyclist

Caleb Munoz was a master at riding his bike, but after seeing what some people could do with only a single wheel and tire, he was a boy on a mission.

While watching the 2010 Fallbrook Christmas Parade with his family, Caleb, then eight years old, was amazed at the talents displayed by the unicyclists who participated in the annual event.

“He told me, ‘Mom, I want to be in the parade next year riding a unicycle,’” explained Wendy Munoz. Caleb said he was fascinated by the sight.

“What amazed me was that they were riding on one wheel; not many people can do that,” Caleb said. And it continued to intrigue him.

“I thought he would forget about it, but he put it on the top of his list for Santa to bring and on Christmas morning (2010) there it was, a shiny new unicycle.” And the challenge began.

“He was so excited that as soon as he got it we were outside and he was trying to use it,” Wendy said. “He wasn’t very successful at the beginning; he would get frustrated, and say he was never going to try again, but he would always come back to it.”

“It was harder to learn than I thought it was going to be, but, I never wanted to give up; I really stuck to it,” Caleb said.

Wendy said she and the other members of their immediate family tried to ride the unicycle – her firefighter husband, Ray, daughter Machaela, 12, and son, Colby, 7.

“All of us tried to sit on it and it became a comical thing; none of us could even sit on it,” Wendy said, with a laugh.

After a few months, Caleb asked if he could bring the unicycle indoors to try and develop balance on it by bracing himself in a hallway.

“He was finally able to get his balance and started going back and forth down the hallway; then he took it back outside,” explained Wendy.

It took six months, but Caleb mastered the unicycle.

“He worked hard, persevered, and taught himself how to ride,” Wendy said, with pride. “He ended up fulfilling his dream by riding in the (2011) Christmas Parade!”

At 9 years old, Caleb Munoz was the youngest unicyclist in this year’s parade. The next youngest was an 11-year-old.

As the parade date neared, Wendy began researching who the unicyclists in the annual event were, as they are listed on the parade program simply as Idiots on Unicycles. She wanted to get in contact with members of the group to see if her son could ride with them.

“When I found out who one of them was, it was a man we had known for years – Bob Navetta, who owns Diamond Automotive in Fallbrook,” Wendy said. “Bob and his daughter Nicole (12) practiced with Caleb the day before the parade and have been a great support to him.”

Navetta’s 18-year-old son Daniel also rides in the parade.Navetta, who has been riding for six years, said he was very proud of Caleb.

“I was very impressed that he learned how to ride all on his own without any other riders around,” said Navetta. “It’s challenging [to learn] because you get tired really quick when you first start.”

Another member of Idiots on Unicycles, 24-year-old Jake Brittain, is also impressed by Caleb’s commitment to the sport and the way he rides so naturally.

Brittain, who learned to ride at 16 years old, said “It takes hours of practice to be able to ride your first 50 feet. This is the hardest part of learning to ride… once the basic skills of keeping your balance are learned, the learning process is accelerated and other skills such as turning and idling can be concentrated on.”

According to Brittain, “These skills are not as difficult as one might imagine and can be learned with a little practice and a few tips from an experienced rider. If Caleb had the dedication to learn how to ride all by himself, the sky is the limit once he begins riding with others. I can’t imagine how much potential Caleb has at nine years old.”

Caleb said those in the unicycle group treated him well.

“I felt very proud; they were really supportive of me,” Caleb said. “At the end of the parade, I really wanted to do more.”

Navetta, who coordinates the group, said his organization is not exclusive and is open to anyone with an interest in riding in the Fallbrook Christmas Parade on a unicycle. (Navetta can be contacted through

http://www.idiotsonunicycles.com.)

For Caleb Munoz, another goal has been achieved and riding the unicycle is no longer the challenge it was. However, this nine-year-old isn’t going to stop there.

“Actually, now I want to learn how to jump it or how to ride one of the big, tall ones,” he said. And undoubtedly he will.