New Female rider at age 57

[57UniRider]

Thanks a BUNCH jojoxie and GILD!

GILD... Great to hear from you! The entire time I was practicing I kept remembering your advice to Darth... especially the "wait" part, which now makes a ton of sense to me. (Obviously it took me a lot longer than it did Darth, as with everything!)

Thanks!

[57UniRider]

While I'm at it, here's another version...

Unicycle Idling to Student Counting - YouTube

Once again, the students are getting ahead of me with their counting. Trying to correct them seems throw me off. Guess I need some more practice.

The boys are quite interested in playing with the unicycles, and I have interrupted their fun to get one of them to shoot the video.

There were about 3 boys out of 6 classes that really showed a lot of interest. One of them was riding about 30 feet with less than 30 minutes total practice. That's a guess. He was sharing with other students, but did a bit of practicing on two different days. I won't be surprised if he has a unicycle by the time school starts next year.

One of the coaches was in my room with some of his special ed students. He was having a blast trying it out himself and helping his kids try it too.

We had fun.
I was going to put together a video with clips of everything, but that may take me all summer.

Thanks Everyone!

[Alucard]

Hey 57

Wow ! That is some idling, and in front of all those kiddies as well, how did you keep your nerve?
That is so cool
Teehee, do you think you'll be hauled into the headmaster's office on your first day back??
He'll have heard about you on 'you tube' and he'll be wanting a go.

I can picture you idling at the traffic lights on your 29''........................

Alucard

[57UniRider]

Okay One More...
(I haven't posted any videos for awhile, so pardon my overdoing it here.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5-MMiQFzEc

This is not exactly what I wanted, but I will post it anyway.
While "proving that I could actually ride the thing" for my 7th hour class (last class of the day)... on the spur of the moment, I just kept going... all the way around the 4 halls... except I ran out of energy... couldn't make the 3rd corner... and then I didn't have enough GO power to make it up the first ramp. Then going down, which is usually much easier, had me touching the wall at first... letting go only about halfway down... then off again... and back down the hall to my classroom. Freemounting wasn't happening by 7th hour either. I was totally "spent," and a bit rattled. The kids didn't miss the freemounting. They thought I was Wonder Woman in the flesh!

I may not get the chance to show the entire route again, so I'm posting it even with the flaws. You can see the route from my classroom... around the little corner with the big post in the way... down the hall to the left turn... which then leads to the four halls that include the two ramps... then a left turn back down the hall that leads to my room again.

It was total FUN even though I was not in great shape for it.

Later on, when I can say "I went around all 4 halls THREE TIMES without stopping,"
you will know what I'm saying.
No, I haven't done it 3 times without stopping... YET.

Thanks for watching.

Okay, enough videos for now.

Happy Riding Everyone!

[57UniRider]

Originally Posted by Alucard

I can picture you idling at the traffic lights on your 29''........................

In my WILDEST Dreams!

[kickstand]

AWESOME! Well done!! Very FUN! Happy Summertime!

[Young at heart]

Nice video. Must be fun with the kids. We practice at a middle school and last time out some kids got excited when we arrived. Great idling. I haven't really tried that yet. Just working on riding. Now that you'll have more time for practice, we'll expect great things!

[Jeff2]

Originally Posted by 57UniRider

Hi,
I am 57 tomorrow and started my unicycle challenge about 4 months ago. I have conquered the riding part. The biggest challenge is endurance, both muscular and cardiovascular (I run out of breath). I started on a 20" Torker LX. After mastering the riding part, I decided a bigger wheel might be the answer to getting me further down the street with less exhaustion. A 24" wheel did improve my distance, but only a little. After about a minute or two (I'm guessing), I am totally exhausted. My muscles won't go any further, and I am totally out of breath. I've decided to take up riding a regular bicycle in hopes that exercising longer without worrying about falling off will help develop the muscles and stamina. Does anyone have any helpful suggestions? I am completely amazed that I seem to be THIS much out of shape! Any idea how long it might take before I can actually ride around the neighborhood? That's what I really wanted to do. I wanted a fun way to exercise. I FOUND it, but gee I am having trouble increasing my distance. Also, are there any other older women taking up this crazy activity. I love it, but I just can't ride long enough! Thanks!!

57unirider,

I find it is much easier for me to ride after running a mile or two. I loosen up and relax. If I just go straight to the uni I get exhausted really quickly.
If I tire myself out and work up a sweat I find it much easier.

69beginner,
Jeff2

[pinefresh]

Haven't been watching the forums too closely lately, but wow it looks like you had a blast at school. Way to show off some uni skill!

[Alucard]

Hi gang
Some piccies of my latest ride
Here's a vid I made yesterday. We spent the day on the flying field.
Hubby was flying his rc planes and I was trying to idle on my 20''. I also practiced short rolling mounts to use on my 29''. It felt much safer trying it out on grass. I did not have my usual uni shoes on and it felt 'odd' using these, but I think I coped okay.
Anyway, the vid is a bit long,so feel free to skip bits
The first section is moi. The second bit is hubby's planes. Then along comes a real Spitfire.
I've posted it here because it's not all uni related. I've also kept the original sound recording so that you can hear the skylarks overhead.

Jeff2 You tire yourself out first. I might try that for idling purposes, then my legs will be so tired that my bum may just stay on the seat like it's supposed to.

57Unirider. School's been out a week, how's the riding going? Have you ventured out on your shiny noo 26'' yet?

Uni, rc planes and a Spitfire - YouTube

[Darth Elevator]

Originally Posted by 57UniRider

Thanks for watching.

Wow! 57Uni, those are some fun videos. Excellent work at idling. And that chase video was a hoot! It's FUN to see you having so much FUN! Happy summer vacation!

[57UniRider]

Hhheeyyyy Everyone!

Thanks a bunch for watching... and commenting!
LOADS of FUN! I'm STILL enjoying it!

Kickstand and Young at Heart!
Great to hear from you!
Kickstand! How's everything going?
And Young at Heart! It sounds like you are doing GREAT on the 29"!
Wow! Impressive!

Darth! It's especially nice to see you here!
I was paying attention way back when GILD was giving you some idling pointers. It just took me a little longer! HHAAA!! I don't think you'll be seeing me try a giraffe though!
You have fun in that 4th of July parade this year! We want to see videos!
One of these days I want to do THAT!!!!!

Hello Pinefresh!
Thanks for watching. It was TONS of FUN!
BTW, I don't remember hearing about your name. How did you come up with Pinefresh?

Hi Jeff2...
I don't know about tiring myself out before I even get started, but thanks for giving me something to think about. Am I reading your sign off correctly. Age 69 beginner?
BTW, you quoted me from over a year ago. I'm doing quite a bit better now. Thanks!

Hey Jojoxie!
How's the weather way up there?
Is it just right for uni riding right about now?

Alucard! Neat video!
It looks like you and hubby have a BLAST doing planes and unis and videos. FUN!
Hey... on that roll back mount... Try putting the pedal that is closest to you a little lower to start with (more like 4 and 10 rather than 3 and 9). That way you want have as far to pull back the second pedal. Also try putting less weight on the first foot... sort of like doing the static mount. The difference (to me) is that you don't have to put so much energy into hopping over the uni... but rather you use the front foot to pull the uni back under you. It seems to me the two are very similar. The "moment of balance" before you ride off is very similar... if not almost identical. It's just the method of getting to that point that is different. Try putting very little weight on that first foot. As you hop up, push the post forward keeping your weight on the seat... continue pushing it forward by pulling the front pedal back with the second foot.. then when the second foot gets to the back there's a very slight pause before you ride off. I doubt I could do it in the grass.
At about .47, you seemed to get it... as you seem to realize.
Neato Video Alucard!

Thanks Everyone!

[jojoxie]

Nice work everyone.....

57UniRider....Today is the first day of real rain in Orkney for over two weeks! We've had lots of cold northerly wind though. Nevertheless it's been very good for unicycling

Alucard Nice vid...your static mounts are really..well...static. Mine still have a bit of naughty rollback. Could you persuade hubby to get a radio controlled quadcopter? Vids of your unicycling could be like this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETWgS4A3-NI

I confess to those who don't know.... I've ordered a 36

Have fun,
Joseph

[57UniRider]

Jojoxie!
A 36!
Woah! GO JOJOXIE,
impressive!

Oooooo! What a GREAT idea!
You are one brilliant guy!
Alucard and hubby could combine their skills into one magnificent finished piece!
So Alucard! I can see the wheels (wheel?) turning in your head on THAT ONE!

Go Jojoxie!
A 36!

[Young at heart]

Nice video of the plane too. Did you show your hubby the Cat copter video posted by Muni addict? It is sick and funny.