The circus left town weeks ago, but the big-top spirit remains year-round at Mount Bethel Elementary School in east Cobb, where 60 students take part in the school's unicycling club.

Two mornings a week, before the school day begins, physical education teacher Chuck Jones is already on the job, teaching beginners and advanced riders.

JAMIE PLATT LYONS / Special (ENLARGE)

Courtney Greene, 9, tests her skill on the 5-foot giraffe cycle during a performance by the Mount Bethel Unicycling Club.

JAMIE PLATT LYONS / Special (ENLARGE)

Will Aaron, 7, performs with the Mt. Bethel Elementary School Unicycling Club at the east Cobb school's PE Night on March 6, 2008. Unicycling builds confidence and burns calories.

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Unicycling is more than a way to wow friends, he said, "it's good exercise, it's good for self-esteem, and it's fun."

Jones said riders gain a sense of accomplishment that builds their confidence in other daunting endeavors.

"In the beginning, it's almost impossible," he said. A first-timer starts by holding on to the classroom wall and creeping along. Once they're "off the wall" they can move to the advanced group.

Advanced riders spend the half-hour jumping ramps, dodging cones, playing games and racing.

Once a student reaches a goal, Jones said, "I tell them, 'The next time you have something hard to do, remember this.'"

About 10 students now ride 5-foot-tall giraffe cycles, which thrills the crowds when the club takes part in the East Cobber Parade every September.

The unicyclists also perform for parents at Mount Bethel's annual PE Night, along with the juggling and baton-twirling clubs. The March 6 show was a hit even with the more anxious parents.

"It's a freaky thing as a parent to sit back and watch," said Candy Margolin, whose daughter Amy is attempting the giraffe, "but I have confidence because she does."

At any height, one wheel is actually safer than two, Jones said.

"When you fall off the unicycle, you land on your feet and the unicycle usually lands off to the side," he explained. "Injuries are few and far between."

Jones orders the cycles from Marietta-based Unicycle.com. With the company's 10 percent discount on orders of three or more, a student pays about $50 for a basic model.

CEO Amy Drummond said Unicycling.com has sold cycles to more than 100 schools nationwide. Mount Bethel's club is one of only a few in Georgia, and is probably the largest in the state.

Drummond hopes more teachers will discover that one-wheeling is a good fit for a PE program because it's "a great physical workout." The rider can't coast and must constantly maneuver to control speed and direction.

Fifth-grader Amy Margolin doesn't mind the exercise, but she's motivated mainly by the unicycle's cool factor. "It's something you don't see often, so when you get to see it, it's just amazing," she said.

Jones' assistant Dave Laskey said kids without instruction can search the Internet for the phrase "how to ride a unicycle," which pulls up a variety of methods. Unicycle.com assists buyers in choosing the right size.

Unicyclists enjoy being a novelty, but most are happy to share their secrets, Drummond said.

Even first-grader Will Aaron had some advice for beginners: "Don't think about the unicycle. My dad told me that, and I tried it, and it worked!"