Journal of a New Unicycler

[dudewithasock]

Nah, they looked just like regular black birds. Maybe crows, or just dark pigeons. There was a few seagulls like weaving in and out of the big line of them; looked like the whole lot of them were flying off to war or something.

[uni-steve5111]

Bravo!!!!!

[RichVoice]

Thanks, Matt! You've helped me a lot in my unicycling infancy. In fact, I need to re-read your journal back around day 7 or so, I think that's about where I am now. Maybe day 5. I don't know, I'll go back and check.

Thanks again!

Rich

[GILD]

Never thought I'd ever use the term in a public place but...

Thanx Dude!

[trials_uni]

bump so newbies can find thread!

[dudewithasock]

~UPDATE~

No, I have not abandoned my plans, I have just been busy with school and lots of unicycling to really have time to sit down and work on a layout.

I have finally started this process on dreamweaver. The design is currently sickeningly simple, with just a solid green background and a basic, easy-to-follow template, but I'm currently only concerned with getting the raw content up there in an easy-to-read form. I will offer the option of either viewing all 35 entries on one single page, or view one entry at a time (with links to both your previous viewed entry and the next chronological one). I will also supply a link to the original thread here that started it all.

I should have all the basics up and ready to view by Monday night, since this weekend will be particularly busy for me. But fear not, this will get done eventually either way.

~Matt

[Spudman]

Bleah, green? You'll melt everyones eyes out. Since it's long you should just make it black, that way we aren't staring at a bright screen for hours on end.

That's just my 2 cents. Now I'm broke. I'll just try to encourage you to finish: hurry hurry!

[dudewithasock]

Nah, it's easy on the eyes; it's more like a forest green, not like neon. I personally don't like starting at a white-text-on-black-background screen. I'll keep it as is and you can tell me what you think when I'm done.

[dudewithasock]

Yeah, ok, I'm extremely lazy, and never got around to making this into a webpage or anything.

BUT...Peter van Boekhout (munimanpete on the forums) has linked this entire thread off of www.unicycletips.com , so here's a public thankyou to him for seeing usefullness in making this journal an easily accessible part of an already outstanding collaboration of unicycling guides.

[Blesbok]

Looking forward to unicycling myself. Might try 26" and would like to write about it too.

[GILD]

Hey BlesBok, with such a username you've got to be from somewhere south of the equator.

I'm in Jhb, you?

[skilewis74]

I've been learning to ride backwards, SIF, hop, and freemount all at the same time, w/ and emphasis on backwards. To learn how to basically ride it took me 40 hours over 8 weeks, starting Easter weekend last year. I figure if I can ride backwards well enough to do so w/o the rail right next to me in that same total of 40 hours, that would be a decent pace for me (but probably very slow for most).

On Sunday I rode the full length of my practice rail, 80 feet backwards, twice. Both times it was w/ the rail on my left side, which doesn't supprize me since I've always been slightly better at turning left (can more easily turn towards the safety of the rail if neccesary).

I also rode SIF 4 revolutions, holding my seat w/ my right hand (the better of the two, I'm practicing both) and again probably because it's easier to turn to the safety of the rail.

Problem: while riding SIF I find it VERY difficult to keep the uni stable side to side while holding w/ my left hand, and hardly at all by comparison w/ my right hand. Is there something in particular I should be doing? Do I just need to practice more? Is it because I'm right handed?

Thanks in advance.

[bedheadben]

Hey, I have my first unicycle (a Torker DX 20) coming in a week, and I just read you whole journal. I think it will help a lot during the learning process, so thanks in advance!

[wickedbob]

Originally Posted by skilewis74

I've been learning to ride backwards, SIF, hop, and freemount all at the same time, w/ and emphasis on backwards. To learn how to basically ride it took me 40 hours over 8 weeks, starting Easter weekend last year. I figure if I can ride backwards well enough to do so w/o the rail right next to me in that same total of 40 hours, that would be a decent pace for me (but probably very slow for most).

On Sunday I rode the full length of my practice rail, 80 feet backwards, twice. Both times it was w/ the rail on my left side, which doesn't supprize me since I've always been slightly better at turning left (can more easily turn towards the safety of the rail if neccesary).

I also rode SIF 4 revolutions, holding my seat w/ my right hand (the better of the two, I'm practicing both) and again probably because it's easier to turn to the safety of the rail.

Problem: while riding SIF I find it VERY difficult to keep the uni stable side to side while holding w/ my left hand, and hardly at all by comparison w/ my right hand. Is there something in particular I should be doing? Do I just need to practice more? Is it because I'm right handed?

Thanks in advance.

Yeah I find if you put a good bit of weight on the seat it helps, but you just need practice and it will click just like riding or anything else. Also try you hardest to keep equal pressure on the pedals almost as if you were walking once I tried that I got it within a day of tring. Remember pratice, practice, practice! and good luck!

[dudewithasock]

Hey, my old thread!

As far as your SIF question - if you can ride SIf with your dominant hand, then you've got the technique down. If you wanna do it with both then yeah, just keep practicing, but if you're anything like me, your right-hand SIF will always be stabler.