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He has left drivers’ mouths gaping open with his gravity-defying skills.

But it is all a walk in the park for talented Sandy Armstrong, now a well-loved sight in the Holme Valley for his fearless unicycling efforts.

The 21-year-old from Holmfirth has revealed his identity after a reader sent in photos of him tackling a hill at the weekend and is adamant that despite the phrase four wheels bad and two wheels good, one is as good as it gets.

It’s a passion for the York University chemistry student from Upper Bank End Road, who found his love for the zany sport after being challenged to take part in a charity fundraiser two years ago.

Sandy, who went to Holmfirth High School, said: “It all started two years ago while I was working in a lab for Shell near Chester.

“A guy I knew came in and asked is any one wanted to ride 250km over 50 days on a unicycle with him for Red Nose Day.

“I thought: Why not and bought a little one.

“It took me four days to learn to ride it and by the end of the week I was going down the road.

“It’s down to determination and is just like riding a bike. In the end I rode 250 miles for the charity instead of kilometres.”

Sandy said that taking his first pedals did not come without its risks.

“I was kind of worried at the start about falling off because obviously you’re quite high off the ground.

“I got a bigger unicycle which comes up to my chest so when I’m sat on it I’m about two foot high.

“Any hole in the road will throw you straight off but I just try put my feet down and jump off.

“I have had some bad falls though but I’ve never been hurt.”

Yet the buzz from being on one wheel makes up for any nerves.

“I get this wonderful feeling of freedom and I can really relax while on it.

“Going out and having a ride makes your day so much better and the reactions from people, who pass me with their mouths open, is funny.

“On my big bike I can do up to 10 miles an hour and I’ve used it to commute to work, take part in a 100miles in a day cycle challenge and rode up Holme Moss on it.

“I collapsed at the top but it was great fun. Being able to put my whole weight on the pedals helps get up hills, it’s the going down that’s harder because I have to brace my legs to control the pedals.

“At university I’ve been learning tricks too and have also got into muni-cycling, where you use a mountain bike version to go around tracks.”

Sandy has even bigger plans for next year.

“I’d love to do the Holme Valley Mountain Bike Challenge and compete in the world unicycling championships (Unicon) in Spain.

“I’m just all about unicycling and really encourage people to give it a go.

“They shouldn’t be worried about safety too much because it’s down to natural instinct – I taught a boy in year three how to ride and I think he’s probably better than me now.”