Unicycle progression

i think the scariest and most annoying thing about unicycles is the fact that you can fall off in all directions around you.....the whole 360

but you're right it does get a lil easier

I feel lost without handle bars to cling onto.

thats what the seat is for, try learning to ride holding the seat with one hand, you will find an element of control!

where i live ('used to live' freudian slip) amounst the young kids unicycles are more popular than normal bikes its really strange they go to the shops on thier unicycles and stuff. I was all started by this one little kid who was absolultly mental he'd ride his 5 footer stright at walls and then leap off on to the wall to climb over and get foot balls back and stuff.

lol sounds quite insane

oi russel come and spin in exeter, i gotta see that crazy stuff you do with your sticks in real life

you know you wanna

< me
Made loads of progress last sunday! Hadn't even sat on the thing for about a week and a half (damn that bug that's going around!), then had a play on sunday for a few hours. Managed to move a decent distance about 80% of the time and figured out how to turn! Doesn't sound like a lot, I know, but I was pleased. I'm putting myself at level 0.66!

J

congrats on your progress! It's always fun to see people unicycling instead of gawking and saying stupid things

Ooh! haven't been on here in ages and just logged on to find this thread! Yeps, I'm another HOPper who is terribly good at splatting off a uni I got one late last year (it's pretty with a pink seat and everything!) But have not yet mastered the art of not falling off... I have been wanting to spend some time with it, maybe this thread will kick my arse into year to learn!
thanks HOPpers!

Managed to mount and keep cycling!

Bring on level 10

J

Hi PK.

I'd be wary about recommending holding onto the seat for people learning.

While it is a great way to help stablise yourself when doing tricks and going off-road, holding th eseat while learining can end up in people injuring themselves when falling off, rather than landing on both feet if their arms were free when come off...

In my opinion, of course...

is a very good point there charles, thank you.

UPD's ... always unexpected else they wouldnt be UPD's huh!".. would be much easier to control so to speak with both hands free to break ones fall, i have to admit that i tend to ride not holding on to the seat, just personal preference to me but it is just a little addition to help with stability as and when needed only, majority will only ever come into play with off road like you say.


are you still riding as much these days charles?... i remember your friends were looking pretty hardcore a few years back from photos you once posted... now some where in the depths of the board.

This is not a link to something cool. NOT AT ALL

Concerning seat holding, it's a good habit to get into as it protects the seat and also the unicycle in general (as it doesn't hit the ground and bounce around), and, in 99% of my falls I'll end up with the seat in my hand.

But, if it's a toss up between the seat and the rider landing badly, the seat is the lowest priority, particularly with beginners, who should focus on using their hands to protect themselves.

When I do a unicycle workshop, I generally mention the seat grabbing/protecting the seat, but stress that it's not as important as them using their hands to protect themselves.

At a certain point, they seem to start grabbing the seat in a fall, whereas, if I don't mention it, they'll tend not to think of it.

For me, I rarely have any UPD's (unplanned dismounts), but that's not due to any exceptional skill it's cos most of my riding is on terrain I can easily manage, purely for riding pleasure/distance, rather than attempting stunts/tricks/skills.

In any situation where I feel impending problems, I hold the seat anyway as it adds to stability, so in the event of a fall my hand will generally be near it.

Concerning seat holding, I've found that it also gives extra tactile feedback about the ground beneath, as well as its prime function of giving extra control.

I also find, when riding on roads with the big wheel, I tend to hold the seat if I feel that the roads getting dodgy, or when cars approach a bit too close- it makes me feel more secure.

Then again, it's also good to deliberatly not hold the seat sometimes, it's good practice for those situations where there's been a substantial disruption in balance on rough terrain and you're having to use both arms free to save your balance.

ive just lernedd to ride my uni and it took all in 5 weeks of practise in free time

Never underestimate the power of practice!
I have been riding for 2 months now & it's getting smoother.
Freemounting is a killer tho. I'm up to about 1 in 5 mounts now.
I just reckon, the harder it is to learn, the more rewarding it is once you've learned.
Cathy

Damn..

i thought OWD had changed his name then...



:rollsoff:

Written by:

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I just reckon, the harder it is to learn, the more rewarding it is once you've learned.

---

Oh, hell yes!! Up to about 7 freemounts in 10, quite happily riding to the local shops and back (only a few hundred metres or so), albeit with a look of intense concentration (confusion) on my face. Still can't get the hang of idling.
How're all the other newbies doing??

J

Well, I hesiitate to call myself a newbie, but I haven't seriously ridden any distance for about 2 years (oddly enough, that was when my son was born!)...

Rode home from work for the first time in that period and OW am I sore! I thought my muscles would be sore, but it was more chafing and saddle wear than weak muscles.

I guess we all buildup callouses where we didn;t even know they were...

the last time i rode my uni weas my last trip in italy, i was a little bored one day so i went up the road for about 2 miles, unbeknown how steep this mountain is where sere's home is.... i have never been so ssore after a ride before, not even after riding up and down from the hights of abraham in matlock bath last summer, i thought that was a tough ride but this one on our road here in camaiore..... major sadle sore!"... glad i now have 1: my shinnies and 2: my lycra shorts for riding in.

i havnt been on my uni now for over one month, i want so badly to go for a ride right now but not only is it night time there is also a huge storm out side and we keep suffering with black outs which is not good.
Tommorow i was planning on going to Lucca for a ride in the city but if the weather does not improve by the morning that will all go out of the window for another day boohoo.

Is it ok to travel short distances, PK?

Try going to a gym or school hall if one is accessible and oyu can practice your "flatland" techniques. (freemounting, riding backwards, seat out in front etc etc)...

when you live onm the side of a mountain is a little difficuolt to find some where nice and warm indoors to play, i have room in my bed room to play mounts etc.. but nothing more.
the nearest school is an hour away by coach not easily accessable unfortunatly.... though living here is good for offroad and muni and trails riding, the seafront over in viareggio is nice too there looks like there are some nice spots for trials there.

I dont think i will be able to ride now for another week maybe!, becvause of the storms last night i decided that i would go out on the motorbike and visit a few places but i had a stone hit my leg on the way to pick serena up from school and now have a gash in my shin thats hurting me like hell, i always ride with my shin pads on when i go out on my uni and i dont want that the cut gets all sweaty... maybe just hjave to do some more juggling for a while.... hold up i moved 3000 miles to be with a girl and im thinking about going off juggling *slaps self upside the head*.



So Camaiore... short distance rides.... looking away from our house... turn left... 2 mile uphill with a gradient of 1 in 6 (in places)... tough and you have to get past the house with the 2 dogs from hell (a great dane and a pitbull.. i also have fear of dogs).
From the house and turn right.... 2 mile ride in towards the village.... nothing much there unless like me you love coffee and you want to go to Saurino's. There are busy main roads, cobled streets... but some nice skinnies and walls to pratice on or just to go for a general nice ride even on a 20".

Is coming up to summer now so there will be plenty of time to go riding in warmer and less windy weather conditions.

I got my first unicyce lesson last week.

definatly hooked. much fun

Hurrah for unicycling! welcome to the club, lol

.... i see what you mean about the soreness Mr Charles.

Today i thought sod it i am going for a ride anyway. So i rode from one end of Lido Di Camaiore to the other end of Viareggio following the sea front, then all the way back again and taking time out to muck around and ride some walls and take a few coffee's in Viareggio and see a friend. A total of 12.8 kilometers (7.9 miles)... ne a bad ride, sure am tired.


And welcome to the club Ado-P

12.8 km ! How long did that take you??
Tackling a few curb drops now, managed one slightly over a foot a few times now.
Just went for my first attempt at any sort of distance. Went a little over 3km, with only a couple of UPD's and the odd stop for roads. Took about 3/4 hour on a 16" uni.
Things I learnt - uphill freemounting is a serious [censored], and choice of underwear is crucial .

J

Had my first ride 5 days ago, already hooked! In the process of buying a uni. Can't wait till the next jugglig club, so I can have another go!

how you getting on now MrConfused