Unicycle progression

Up to my old bumping tricks again....

Hope some of you Unicyclists are still around. I was wondering whether or not you guys'n'gals could clarify something for me.

Gliding on a unicycle - dangerous, but fun, and at times effective.

I just can't get my head round it. All the videos I've found are too fast and poorly explained (for a dummy like me to understand anyway ) and reading lumps of text has helped paint a picture in my mind - but there's a good chance the pictures wrong. If you catch my drift.*

From what I understand, one foot is pulled up and sits on the axle* of the unicycle, and the other foot is somewhere on the wheel for balance.

I was wondering if someone could tell me where that 'somewhere' is - as at the moment My leg is uncomfortably draping on the front of the wheel - which effects it's rotating somewhat!!

I really want to nail this - as people are always telling me it's impossible to 'glide' on a unicycle, and I've never been able to show them otherwise.

Ta muchly.




* Open a window
* Probably not the correct terminology... is it called a crown?

The axle is the centre of the wheel, where all the spokes meet. The crown is the part of the unicycle frame where you want to put your foot (where it splits to the left and right of the wheel). Can you wheel walk? Most people progress from riding-> wheel walking->1 foot wheel walking-> gliding.

Ah right, that's what the crown is.

Yah, I can wheel walk haven't tried one-foot wheel walking - though I suppose it is the obvious next step. I'll give that a go instead.

Thanks.

Congratulations on your progress. When I get a unicycle I'll definately be holdin on to something to practise balance, but I imagine it really is something you need to learn while riding.

The elbow and shin pads so many of us neglect bicycling or roller-skating, they seem like a very smart idea for unicycling. I had not pictured using them but I really must.

I recently got a giraffe. I hve done very little riding of it so far, practcing instead to freemount. Ihavenotice however that the unicycle seat is always puuling towards the rear. I suspect it is because the seat is too far roward, so the whole shaft has a small but significant lean to the rear which, with the pressure on the cranks, makes it force to wards the back. I can't readily adjust the seat front-rear.

I wonder if Ishould go tothe trouble of adjusting it back a couple of inches? I can't see anything about it on the web.

Tyciol, the first thing I learned on a unicycle was how to fall of properly. On a unicycle, it's very unlikely that you'll fall off sideways (due the way a wheel rolls!), you're far more likely to fall off forwards or backwards.

Which makes falling of safely remarkably simple (or so I've found anyway). Simply step forwards when you feel like you're falling forwards, and step off backwards when you feel like your falling backwards.

This method of falling (i.e. stepping off the unicycle) has only ever failed me once - and that's because my loose shoe-laces got tangled up on the pedals and tied my foot to the metal!!

I don't think shin pads/helmets etc are really necessary for unicycling - unless you're mountain unicycling or traveling at 'high speeds' on a 36" Road Unicycle.

But hey, if you're finding it a painful learning experience, then it can't hurt to wear them anyway. But it's not as dangerous as it first seems.

Definitely learn to 'step off', it doesn't take long for your body to sense when you're losing balance. If you can't step off the unicycle, fall backwards onto your bum - its the least painful place to land if your feet aren't an option.

Coln, I have only ridden a giraffe unicycle four times - and the seat felt uncomfortable, but it wasn't 'too far forward' like you're describing, so I'm afraid I can't really offer you any advice.

Anyone around doing any?

My own progress is on hold until I get a 24" (should be some time this week). Although, can ride a fair distance, but freemount is my next goal.

Yay! Getting better.

Woop back on hop, finally at the manchester Juggling convention I cracked one footed riding about time too been able to idle one footed for a long time. Wheel walking is my next enemy

I finally learned how to ride mine after having it for 2 years!

So far, I can ride it for a short while... do very wide turns.... and free mount it occasionally.

It is so much fun now that I can ride it!

Its a lonely little thread this.

I bought a bc, its like learning all over again. Four metres is the most I've moved after a couple of goes.