CHAMPION unicyclist Roger Davies hears the same joke from his two-wheeled rivals all the time - "Where's your other wheel?"

But instead of his usual response - "Get rid of your stabiliser" - he can now boast that he is a world champion. The 38-year-old designer won a gold medal in the unicycle equivalent of the Tour de France.

Roger triumphed at Unicon, the unicycling world championships held recently in Washington, US.

He left unicyclists from around the world trailing in his wake during the 10km marathon, the blue ribbon event of the championships.

A fan of unicycling since he picked up a friend's machine at the age of 13, Roger is now regarded as one of the world's best, and was favourite for the top spot.

But he was not the only North-Easterner to ride to mono-wheeled success. Paul Selward and Sarah Miller, both members of Stockton Juggling and Unicycling Club, also finished high in their respective events.

Roger, who also runs cycle firm Unicycle.com from his home in Norton, Stockton, said: "It was a massive event - the equivalent of the Tour de France or the Olympics for unicycling.

"People might laugh at me when I go to the shops on my unicycle in Teesside, but once over in America there were thousands of people like me.

"I thought 'we are not alone'."

Roger, who owns 14 unicycles, led a team of 12 UK unicyclists to the event, held earlier this month.