Forums > Other Toys > Unicycle progression
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529 posts
Location: I wish I knew, United Kingdom
I recently got my grubby little hands on a unicycle. Woo, except I'm rather rubbish. So far I have:
fallen off lots
fallen off lots more and worked out that if I grab the seat, the uni doesn't clatter to the ground
managed ride forward somewhat unsteadily, furthest being about 15 metres
managed twice to stop and ride backwards for a couple of revolutions before falling off
idle (more by luck than anything else) for a couple of seconds
bruised my shins lots trying to mount the damn thing
fallen off some more
learnt that a 2 x 1.5 metre patio isn't the ideal place to try to learn
Given the lack of space (meaning I can't really practice going forwards smoothly, as I run out of space before I get going), what is best to attempt to learn next? Idling or mounting?
J
EDITED_BY: MrConfused (1110309471)
If you're not confused, you're not thinking about things hard enough.
veteran
1,453 posts
Location: Lancs England
Iv been going about a week now
I only have a small room to practice in 
(about 1 and a half full revolutions till I run out of space) I live on a steep hill so outside is no good and I'm not confident enough to take it far from home to practice in the open 
.I'm able to free mount about 4 in 10
but I have to role back as I balance best with my right foot forward 
.cos I did a lot of mountain biking when I was younger I actually find it easer to hop around holding the seat
I can idle for about 30 seconds without needing to hop sideways 
my forward back balance is fine just struggling with the left right balance yet
. I can just about cross the room without having to use the fire-place for balance still weaving from side to side with each pedal stroke yet So just have to find a quiet flat space to try this straight line stuff
.Cheers for the inspiration of this thread
before i met those lot i thought they'd be a bunch of dreadlocked hippies that smoked, set things on fire ,and drank a lot of tea but then when i met them....oh wait (PyroWill)
with added berries
1,365 posts
Location: Manchester, England (UK)
try tennis courts or astro turf pitches- very good for practicing, and have surrounding fencing to hold on to Usually they are pretty isolated too. I'm just a bout getting it now, can't belive how long its taken, rode for a good 4 or 5 metres without holding on the other day, was very happy!
Live like there is no tomorrow,
dance like nobody is watching
and hula hoop like wiggling will save the world.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
addict
529 posts
Location: I wish I knew, United Kingdom
One week??
Blimey, you're a fast learner!I found constantly reminding myself to put as much weight as possible on the saddle helped with the wobble when peddling.
Tennis courts/astroturf sounds like a great place to practice. When I finally got up the courage to ride around in public I was using a car park. The obvious disadvantage of this being the cars moving around. Still, taught me to turn pretty fast!
Feeling lazy now. Right, I'm going to go and nail idling tomorrow! Either that or practice for half an hour, realise I'm not getting very far and go watch the circus (moscow state is in town
).Good luck with it all, it's such a good feeling when you can confidently ride without much danger of falling off!
J
If you're not confused, you're not thinking about things hard enough.
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,533 posts
Location: Hampshire College, MA, USA
In the process of joining the club, ordering my uni next weekend. I can hardly wait! Bring on the bruises.
-James
"How do you know if you're happy or sad without a mask? Or angry? Or ready for dessert?"
veteran
1,453 posts
Location: Lancs England
did my first bit outside yesterday am now very brused in unspeakabul places bet my best was about 100m or so. but mostly only about 20 to 50 m
before i met those lot i thought they'd be a bunch of dreadlocked hippies that smoked, set things on fire ,and drank a lot of tea but then when i met them....oh wait (PyroWill)
with added berries
1,365 posts
Location: Manchester, England (UK)
OK, getting very fustrated now, why can't I do this?
I've been practicing for about 2 months about 3 times a week and don't feel like I'm getting anywhere. (apart from the floor). So far I can fide about 4/5metres at the very most unaided (only happened once or twice). and ride for a air distance with someone walking next to me, holding my hand. Thats it.
I can pedal quite smoothly but just seem to fall off whenever I don't hold on to something. I seem to be falling fowards and a bit to my right most of the time. I need advice (and a bit of encouragement please!) 
Live like there is no tomorrow,
dance like nobody is watching
and hula hoop like wiggling will save the world.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
addict
529 posts
Location: I wish I knew, United Kingdom
It does take time. Looking back in this thread, it was a good two months before I managed anything more than a few metres. Keep at it!! And have a
!Some things I have found helpful (some of which are already in this thread, I'm sure):
Sit up as straight as possible, buttocks clenched, stomach in, chest out.
Look up! Try to focus somewhere on the horizon
Put as much weight as you can on your saddle rather than the peddles. This stops the side to side wobbles.
Avoid cycling with anyone helping you. The more used to having someone there you are, the harder it is when they're not there.
Listen to some music whilst practicing. Makes it harder to get frustrated, you'll keep at it for longer.
It does seem to have a very steep initial learning curve, but if you're managing a few metres unaided now, things should progress reasonbly quickly.
J
If you're not confused, you're not thinking about things hard enough.
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,533 posts
Location: Hampshire College, MA, USA
Woo! My unicycle arrived yesterday, and it is an incredably large quantity of fun. I named her -... which is interesting to pronounce. I managed to get about three and a half meters at one point this morning. I'm going to have sooo much fun this summer.
My friend Thom got me all paranoid because he told me that the drummer from Green Day lost one of his family jewels in a tragic unicycling accident. Didn't help that I was listending to Dookie in my CD player at the time.
EDITED_BY: sparkey! (1118938549)
-James
"How do you know if you're happy or sad without a mask? Or angry? Or ready for dessert?"
Groovy ga watashi no namae desu!
1,530 posts
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
i baught a trials unicycle and its beautiful, the only bad thing is i cant ride it, cuz i'm shite
as said in this thread before i am going to stick at it and try not to go running back to my sticks and socks, hopefully in about month i should be able to ride the damn thing
*runs off to order some aerotechs*
I like Languages.
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />
veteran
1,453 posts
Location: Lancs England
woot woot went all the way round the park this evening with both left and right turns am feeling quite controlled and relaxed at times now although for some bizarre reason iv lost my ability to idle seem to have traded going forward for staying still. free mounting is essential foe any serous progression as soon as I had got that down you can just set of from your last UPD without having to look for something solid to hold onto.
so now my plan is to start riding to work (only on the early shifts less people)
before i met those lot i thought they'd be a bunch of dreadlocked hippies that smoked, set things on fire ,and drank a lot of tea but then when i met them....oh wait (PyroWill)
Groovy ga watashi no namae desu!
1,530 posts
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
lucky b*stard
i'm getting worse, i tried again today and was mostly doing very sh** going like half a full pedal rotation most of the time
HEEEELLLLLLPP
I like Languages.
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />
veteran
1,453 posts
Location: Lancs England
humm I spent my first week in my room getting one only once or twice a day and standing their holding on to the fire place just getting the feeling of rocking back and forward on the bike with my feet in all sorts of different positions. this will give you a feel of balance my first time out side was so crap did lots of falling of but once you can do 10 m or so the rest comes on pretty quickly
read all of this thread mrConfused and pk gave some great tips that helped me lots
before i met those lot i thought they'd be a bunch of dreadlocked hippies that smoked, set things on fire ,and drank a lot of tea but then when i met them....oh wait (PyroWill)
...curiously lost
580 posts
Location: at my PC....obviously!, United Kingdom
Hi all
Was wanting to get a unicycle (but not to spend too much) and was looking at them on eBay today.......however I found this thread and having seen the comments about crap uni's on here I thought I would ask for some advice before buying.
I was going to bid on the following :-
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2904&item=7165120276&rd=1
Any advice on this would be appreciated
Laters,
Budgie
Nothing is easy.......until you can do it!
veteran
1,453 posts
Location: Lancs England
eeeeek
no not that one I'm currently the high bidder I am jules931blue 
(or at least my mum is she has the e bay account )but it is the same as the one I already have got it from the same company it has done me proud as a beginners one all I did was changed the pedals
I'm sure some of the more experienced riders will tell you its crap but I love mine has held together and is very comfy.
that shop puts a few up a week just hang round for a cheep one I paid 20 for the last one.
I put a bid on any under £10 in the hope it may slip under the net and I get it cheap they usually go for about 20 +10 postage so 30 in all some may say that is over the odds but I thought it was a good price
before i met those lot i thought they'd be a bunch of dreadlocked hippies that smoked, set things on fire ,and drank a lot of tea but then when i met them....oh wait (PyroWill)
...curiously lost
580 posts
Location: at my PC....obviously!, United Kingdom
lol oops sorry Mint! Had my eye on that one as it finishes in the middle of the day = not many bidder!! Was thinking of maybe bidding on the 2 ending tonight but if ya think they are going a bit expensive I may have to get into a bidding war with ya!
So anyways what ya after another one for if ya already have one?
Think ya should let me get it nice and cheep so I can get hooked Nothing is easy.......until you can do it!
veteran
1,453 posts
Location: Lancs England
awww but I want 2
ok ok tell you what don’t bid on it unless I get out bid if I do go for it if I get it I will happily give them your address to post it to if you send me a check
I don’t like withdrawing bids make you look bad on e bay
you have my word if I win it for under 11.50 my max bid its yours
before i met those lot i thought they'd be a bunch of dreadlocked hippies that smoked, set things on fire ,and drank a lot of tea but then when i met them....oh wait (PyroWill)
...curiously lost
580 posts
Location: at my PC....obviously!, United Kingdom
Awww cheers m8
Its deal then, I'll keep my eye on it tom as I'm off work and if anyone gets in a higher bid than you I'll stick my own on. If you win the bidding u get the nice star and I'll send ya the cash (paypal, cheque etc) and you can get em to deliver it here. I'll PM you my addy if you win the item.
Laters dude
Nothing is easy.......until you can do it!
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,533 posts
Location: Hampshire College, MA, USA
Ya know, there's a separate thread for ebay unicycles.
[Old link]
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this one's just for advise on tricks and whatnot.
-James
"How do you know if you're happy or sad without a mask? Or angry? Or ready for dessert?"
...curiously lost
580 posts
Location: at my PC....obviously!, United Kingdom
Sorry, but ya know if ya read my first post I was asking for advice....and earlier than that PK said if anyone wants advice on an eBay Uni then post up the link....which is what I did.
Nothing is easy.......until you can do it!
veteran
1,453 posts
Location: Lancs England
iv been out bid dont go higher than 20
before i met those lot i thought they'd be a bunch of dreadlocked hippies that smoked, set things on fire ,and drank a lot of tea but then when i met them....oh wait (PyroWill)
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,750 posts
Location: Europe,Scotland,Both
Hello!!!!
reviving this old thread because....
I need Heeeeelllp!
been riding a week, going forward, no probs, freemounting, not bad, works sometimes.
Idling is really getting me down!!!
any tips for side to side ballance, and to stop migrating across the floor?
been at idling for 3 days constantly and not got more than 4 rocks...
okokok, Ill go practice some more....
unicycling is freaking cool tho, big up the one wheeled posse!
T
This is a post by tom, all spelling is deleberate
-><- Kallisti
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,252 posts
Location: sheffield, United Kingdom
Keep practicing; have patience.
Most find idling a difficult skill to acquire- it sounds like you're making good progress.
After months of haphazard intermittent practice at idling, based on using supports (walls etc), I progressed quickly when I forced myself to get away from supports, and freemounting, then just going for it.
For side to side balance- it's a matter of manouvering the wheel underneath you on the side you've over balanced on.
"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."
--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,750 posts
Location: Europe,Scotland,Both
yo,
thanks dave, I been getting a little further with it, bit of trouble deciding when to move the wheel under you when idling, but ive decided to try and correct on the 'backward' stroke, seems to be aworking a bit
cycled 8 miles over the last 2 days, and today I cycled about 2 miles without dismounting!
woot woot!!
T
This is a post by tom, all spelling is deleberate
-><- Kallisti
with added berries
1,365 posts
Location: Manchester, England (UK)
Thats so unfair, tried to learn to unicycle for over 6 months, and still can't do it without support. I've given up for now.
Live like there is no tomorrow,
dance like nobody is watching
and hula hoop like wiggling will save the world.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,252 posts
Location: sheffield, United Kingdom
pricklyleaf- post some details, you may get some useful tips
1. what do you use for support?
2. what's going wrong when you try to ride without support?
"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."
--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,750 posts
Location: Europe,Scotland,Both
yo,
yeah, see if you can fnd a coridor to practice in, and just try getting a little distance without touching the walls...
im lucky cos i got a row of sheep pens that have railings at hand height, perfect for learning.
on the subject of Idling, I think im getting somewhere, I think (and I could be wrong) but it gets better if you make longer movements of the wheel.
I had a LOT of perseverance in order to learn even going forward prickle, so dont get too down.
T
This is a post by tom, all spelling is deleberate
-><- Kallisti
1,687 posts
Location: Manchester
Written by: [Nx?
] I had a LOT of perseverance in order to learn even going forward prickle, so dont get too down.
Yep, 6 weeks practising every day for me to go further than 3 foot. I found trying on dry grass helped a bit when i started, as did going up a vary slight hill - i was more inclined to lean forward than if i was going down a shallow hill. Then after that caught on fine.
Make sure seat is right height prickle. Unicycling impossible/100times harder if seat is wrong height
ah wah wah wah a wah wah
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,252 posts
Location: sheffield, United Kingdom
Always worth mentioning what the correct height is with a tip like that
Correct height is similar to that on bikes, ie when the seat is in position, and the pedal as far from the seat as it can be, putting your foot on that pedal should leave your knee slightly bent.
It's very common for beginners to set the seat way too low (I know I did when learning).
After spending some weeks working with supports, try to get completely away from them- it's the only way.
I know that I spent ages learning th idle using walls for support and getting nowhere.
When I forced myself to abandon all support, it quickly progressed.
"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."
--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!
1,687 posts
Location: Manchester
Written by: onewheeldave
When I forced myself to abandon all support, it quickly progressed.
Also make sure shoelaces are tied away - i had a nasty accident once when one of my bows got caught on one of the pedals
ah wah wah wah a wah wah
with added berries
1,365 posts
Location: Manchester, England (UK)
Yes, definately got the seat the right height, things out of the way etc, I know a lot of very experienced unicyclists. I'm fine if I have someone walking alongside me (just one person), holding their hand, but as soon as I try to launch myself off the wall, I can sometimes get a couple of pedals in before falling off. I even went through a period of practicing every day for an hour, and still made no progress. I think part of the problem is I'm too scared. I know I'm going to land on my feet and not hurt myself, but I still have that barrier. If I'm riding alongside a wall, I can do it perfectly smoothly (according to said experienced unicyclists), and sometimes can even let go for significant distances before reaching the end of the room, but I've been at this stage for a loooooong time. Like say I think its more of a physcological barrier, but i can't see myself overcoming it anytime soon, despite the fact I've really tried. Plus its very fustrating for newbies to come to the juggling club, get on the unicycle for the first time and by the end of the night, be able to ride it. It's got to the point of being embarrasing.
Live like there is no tomorrow,
dance like nobody is watching
and hula hoop like wiggling will save the world.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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