Beginners questions

Hi group, Hopefully some kind soul(s?) could help us with these beginners'
questions.

1. The seat of Jorga's uni tends to get misaligned during riding et al. It is a
Showtime 20" with a chrome seat post and a release clamp with a lever on a
screw thread as opposed to a nut (is that clear enough?). I can mitigate (but
not completely stop) the tendency by VERY much tightening the clamp, but
would it help to sand the seat post or make any other modification?

2. Jorga's uni came with a somewhat soft tyre. Just recently we inflated it
properly, in accordance with the rec.sport.unicycling FAQ. However, this
actually worsened her balance (though turning became easier). Is low pressure
better for a beginner for some time? (The ride is on pavement.)

3. Same for seat height: we increased it this weekend by about 1" as per the FAQ
(straight leg with heel on down pedal), but riding is more difficult now, is
this something to get used to or should we go there in smaller steps?

4. Freemounting advice. The FAQ is too concise for us on the standard mount.
More comprehensive info was found on
http:/www.unicycling.org/unicycling/...freemount.html. However, still
this left the basic question about the situation when the mounting
description starts:
a) is the seat placed in the crotch? I think so as there is no mention of
getting on the seat in the description, but then "Tilt the unicycle away from
the side you are stepping on" seems to make no sense.
b) Is the rider standing behind the uni, so that the seat post makes an angle
of, say, 30 degrees to the vertical?

Also, if the idea is to have the unicycle as motionless as possible during the
mount, why not have weight on one foot in the down position. (This is how we
tried before reading the abovementioned sources.)

Is there a jump involved between steps 5 (tilt your body forward) and 6 (ride
away)? Otherwise, one would be leaning forward but still standing on the ground,
with the unicycle more or less in front and far from vertical.

Maybe for the freemounting issue there is a reference to the www? But answering
as a reply to this posting is fine too.

Sorry about the absolute beginners level of the above but we're doing it all in
isolation yet,

Klaas Bil

(b.A. Jorga rides, I don't. But it itches to see her do it.)

Bill,

[color=blue]> 1. The seat of Jorga's uni tends to get misaligned during riding et al. It is[/color]
[color=blue]> a Showtime 20" with a chrome seat post and a release clamp with a lever on[/color]
[color=blue]> a screw thread as opposed to a nut (is that clear enough?). I can mitigate[/color]
[color=blue]> (but not completely stop) the tendency by VERY much tightening the clamp,[/color]
[color=blue]> but would it help to sand the seat post or make any other modification?[/color]

This works, but may lead to rust. Another possibility is to put a different
clamp on there. If you aren't making frequent changes in seat height, try a
strong BMX clamp.

I never heard of "Showtime" as a uni brand, so I don't know what we're dealing
with here. Does it look like any of the unicycle for sale at www.unicycle.com?

[color=blue]> 2. Jorga's uni came with a somewhat soft tyre. Just recently we inflated it[/color]
[color=blue]> properly, in accordance with the rec.sport.unicycling FAQ. However, this[/color]
[color=blue]> actually worsened her balance (though turning became easier). Is low[/color]
[color=blue]> pressure better for a beginner for some time? (The ride is on pavement.)[/color]

Low pressure will help in the early stages. Higher pressure makes the uni more
prone to twist, and if the rider is still clinging to a support, she will tend
to twist toward it. But the higher pressure also lowers rolling resistance, and
makes learning to steer the unicycle much easier. If she's riding on her own,
the higher pressure should be better, and she just needs a little time to get
used to it. Don't worry, her balance didn't "worsen", but the ground contact
area of the tire got smaller, so it might feel that way.

[color=blue]> 3. Same for seat height: we increased it this weekend by about 1" as per the[/color]
[color=blue]> FAQ (straight leg with heel on down pedal), but riding is more difficult[/color]
[color=blue]> now, is this something to get used to or should we go there in smaller[/color]
[color=blue]> steps?[/color]

It's possible you went a little high, but it sounds like the usual initial
reaction of people when raising the seat from too-low to the proper height.
There should still be some bend in the knee at the bottom of the pedal stroke.
Now the legs are being used more efficiently, and she should be able to practice
longer without getting tired. Again the difference may not be noticeable if she
is not yet riding on her own.

[color=blue]> a) is the seat placed in the crotch?[/color]

Yes. Where else would you put it? :-)

[color=blue]> "Tilt the unicycle away from the side you are stepping on" seems to make[/color]
[color=blue]> no sense.[/color]

I agree it doesn't. Except for tricks like a side mount. If somebody wrote that
for a standard mount, I think they were being way too technical for a beginner.
The idea is to get that wheel under you, and ride away before balance is gone.

[color=blue]> b) Is the rider standing behind the uni, so that the seat post makes an angle[/color]
[color=blue]> of, say, 30 degrees to the vertical?[/color]

Angle is not relevant. Rider is standing behind. When the pedal is pressed down,
there should be enough rollback to bring the wheel under (and slightly behind)
the rider. Adjust pedal height until you get this roll.

[color=blue]> Also, if the idea is to have the unicycle as motionless as possible during the[/color]
[color=blue]> mount, why not have weight on one foot in the down position.[/color]

Many people learn this way, but it leaves you stuck in the "dead spot" and it's
very hard to ride away from there. Also, if the seat is adjusted to the proper
height, you need to do something to get you up there. Rolling the wheel back
puts you in a position where the pedals are more level, and if done right,
you're off balance to the front and must then ride away.

[color=blue]> Is there a jump involved between steps 5 (tilt your body forward) and 6 (ride[/color]
[color=blue]> away)? Otherwise, one would be leaning forward but still standing on the[/color]
[color=blue]> ground, with the unicycle more or less in front and far from vertical.[/color]

Jumping comes later (jump mount). I think you're getting too much into theory
and not enough into practice. A video would be nice, but I'm not sure how easy
it is to get a PAL one (assuming you are in Holland?). Go out there and bang
away at it until it works. That's how most people learn it, unless they are in
clubs or learn from friends.

[color=blue]> Maybe for the freemounting issue there is a reference to the www? But[/color]
[color=blue]> answering as a reply to this posting is fine too.[/color]

Some of the most basic riding techniques still don't have good instructions on
the Web. Sorry about that.

[color=blue]> (P.S. Jorga rides, I don't. But it itches to see her do it.)[/color]

Scratch that itch! You can ride too.

Stay on top, John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone http://www.unicycling.com

"I'm not into pain. I'm into juggling." - A grandpa with small child at the
Davis Picnic Day, walking away from the free unicycle lessons toward the free
juggling lessons (and already able to juggle!)

[color=blue]>This works, but may lead to rust. Another possibility is to put a different[/color]
[color=blue]>clamp on there. If you aren't making frequent changes in seat height, try a[/color]
[color=blue]>strong BMX clamp.[/color]
I'll take the uni to a bikeshop for advice. (We have no dedicated
unicycleshops here.) The clamp is integrated in the frame so I am not sure if
your suggestion works.

[color=blue]>I never heard of "Showtime" as a uni brand, so I don't know what we're dealing[/color]
[color=blue]>with here. Does it look like any of the unicycle for sale at www.unicycle.com?[/color]
You can find it on one of the two Dutch unicycle online shops (the other one is
Sem Abrahams') at http://www.showtimejuggling.net/, then click Eenwielfietsen,
which - you guessed it - is Dutch for unicycles.

[color=blue]>> a) is the seat placed in the crotch?[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]>Yes. Where else would you put it? :-)[/color]
Eventually, of course. I meant: before the description starts.

[color=blue]> A video would be nice, but I'm not sure how easy it is to get a PAL one[/color]
[color=blue]> (assuming you are in Holland?).[/color]
My previous VCR would also play NTSC but it's broken. But we have conversion
services here. Can you point to a good video with basic techniques?

[color=blue]>Scratch that itch! You can ride too.[/color]
I'm thinking about it.

Klaas

[color=blue]> I'll take the uni to a bikeshop for advice. (We have no dedicated[/color]
[color=blue]> unicycleshops here.) The clamp is integrated in the frame so I am not sure if[/color]
[color=blue]> your suggestion works.[/color]

No real unicycle shops here either, except the makers and sellers. Sounds like
your clamp is welded on, so the only way to replace it is to cut it off and put
a new one lower down. This is a little extreme for that unicycle.

You can also try replacing the quick release bolt with a regular one, which you
can probably get tight enough for Jorga to not twist it.

[color=blue]> Eventually, of course. I meant: before the description starts.[/color]

Yes.

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone http://www.unicycling.com

"The ultimate wheel -- it feels so good. It's the ultimate feeling"
- Jack Halpern, 1986

They don't machine out the necks on most commercial unicycles so the area that
is clamping to the seat post may not be making good contact with the seat post.
Sometimes weld splatter or drips from the chroming can get inside the neck and
make it impossible to get a clamp to hold the seat post tight.

You can gently file the inside of the neck with a round file or use some sand
paper to get rid of any excess burrs, drips, or splatter inside the neck.
Cleaning out any dirt and grit inside the neck will also help.

john_childs

From: klaasbil_remove_the_spamkiller_@xs4all.nl (Klaas Bil)
[color=blue]>1. The seat of Jorga's uni tends to get misaligned during riding et al. It is a[/color]
[color=blue]> Showtime 20" with a chrome seat post and a release clamp with a lever on a[/color]
[color=blue]> screw thread as opposed to a nut (is that clear enough?). I can mitigate[/color]
[color=blue]> (but not completely stop) the tendency by VERY much tightening the clamp,[/color]
[color=blue]> but would it help to sand the seat post or make any other modification?[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]

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