The Beginners "Today I..." Thread

[SmellyGeekBoy]

Originally Posted by tmoyer

So this is ridiculous. It took me weeks to learn to free mount. It took my daughter about 10 minutes.

First Free Mount

Nice! I recently saw some kids of a similar age at a uni convention. I love that crazy frantic wobbling riding style they all seem to have - I wonder why it is?

It took me about 2 weeks to master the free mount after I seriously started trying, it's such a useful skill to have. I think it's the stage when you stop being a beginner and become a unicyclist!

[tmoyer]

Originally Posted by SmellyGeekBoy

Nice! I recently saw some kids of a similar age at a uni convention. I love that crazy frantic wobbling riding style they all seem to have - I wonder why it is?

I wondered that, too.

I was guessing that it might be cause the Q-factor (how far apart the pedals are) is so big for them, even if the seat height and crank length are right. Kind of like trying to ride while doing the splits.

Or maybe it's just something about kid arms. We always tell people to flail their arms for balance when they're trying to learn. Maybe all that arm motion isn't as crazy as it looks and it's keeping them upright on things that would have made us UPD at the same stage in the learning process.

[ezas]

I'm bummed. You chopped off her celebration. That was the best part of the vid that Tom M. posted of his kid riding.

Maybe kids freemount easier because they don't have much weight to xfer to the back pedal???

Anyway love the vid's of the young kids learning to ride.

I haven't been doing much. Some distance rides and started practicing running the IUF Obstacle course. It's more challenging than you would think, at least for an old stiff guy. I am also still practicing a little with dribbling a basketball on the 20".

[tmoyer]

Originally Posted by ezas

I'm bummed. You chopped off her celebration. That was the best part of the vid that Tom M. posted of his kid riding.

I know. I agree. The celebration is what's fun to watch. I messed up and stopped filming too soon.
She could ride it again, but I wouldn't get the celebration a second time.

[Clint May]

today I practiced wheelwalking and one foot riding. I have 1 foot riding down to 15 revs and wheelwalking down to about 2. I only started trying to wheelwalk yesterda, though. Trouble is, I finally got wheelwalking right as it got dark and I couldn't practice further. Oh well!

[Tom M]

Today at the park, middle of my normal 6 mile round trip.. Going down the long hill at top speed I notice a tugging at my boot

Rut roh, Shoe lace wrapping around the pedal.. "Death by shoe lace!"
Love those Kris Holm pulse gloves!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[yUNIkoner]

Originally Posted by Tom M

Today at the park, middle of my normal 6 mile round trip.. Going down the long hill at top speed I notice a tugging at my boot

Rut roh, Shoe lace wrapping around the pedal.. "Death by shoe lace!"
Love those Kris Holm pulse gloves!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scary! That hasn't happened to me... yet. i just bought a new pair of shoes and the laces are pretty long and i have been careful about that.

Today I rode with another unicyclist for the first time! I guess he and his little boy had been watching me ride by and it was motivation to take up the uni. He has only been riding for a couple of weeks but he can ride really well. He actually climbed some hills that I couldn't. He is a pretty serious mountain biker and is much more fit than I am. I am motivated to get more fit because I'm pretty sure he'll leave me behind .
I rode some downhills today without braking that I usually brake pretty hard on. Now that I'm riding 125s on my 36er I don't feel like I need a brake on my 29er with 165s. I love unicycling.

[4umfreak]

Since I started unicycling, I've kept my laces tied and leave the loops & ends tucked under. Sure it looks goofy when I'm not on my unicycle, but I'm OK with that at least they won't get tangled in my cranks / pedals.

[mowcius]

Rut roh, Shoe lace wrapping around the pedal.. "Death by shoe lace!"

I know a guy who pretty much destroyed his knees when that happened to him. Took about 6 months for him to recover I think and his knees still aren't great now.

Makes me always watch my shoelaces.

Mowcius

[SmellyGeekBoy]

Originally Posted by Tom M

Rut roh, Shoe lace wrapping around the pedal.. "Death by shoe lace!"

I always tuck mine in. It may look a bit silly to everyone else but that's the least of my worries when I'm riding a unicycle!!

[ezas]

Extra long laces double bow knot. The end up only being about 1.5 inches on each side and right at my ankle not hanging down at all.

So far I've avoided the death by laces and I plan to keep it that way.

[yUNIkoner]

Today I knocked almost another minute off my coker ride. I had some times when i was really spinning smoothly.

I was also called a rude name by someone going by in a car. That's the first time it's happen. Usually people are pretty stoked or at least friendly.

[Tom M]

Originally Posted by yUNIkoner

Today I knocked almost another minute off my coker ride. I had some times when i was really spinning smoothly.

I was also called a rude name by someone going by in a car. That's the first time it's happen. Usually people are pretty stoked or at least friendly.

God I cant wait to get a 36!!!!!! The 29 is great for Muni, and around town is fun, but I want to go on RIDES! We have a lake thats 15+ miles from my house and I have the want to ride to it, then go around and stop for a burger and then ride home.. Used to do it on my Harley but that was a 30 minute trip..
Anyone wanna trade for a 36"? I have an 11 year old who can ride, he just gets a bit lazy at times.. can clean and cook for himself typically, and comes with his own 20 " sun uni.. Hoping to get brakes and a touring handle if I toss in my 4 year old and his 16 inch 2 wheeler..

[yUNIkoner]

Originally Posted by Tom M

God I cant wait to get a 36!!!!!! The 29 is great for Muni, and around town is fun, but I want to go on RIDES! We have a lake thats 15+ miles from my house and I have the want to ride to it, then go around and stop for a burger and then ride home.. Used to do it on my Harley but that was a 30 minute trip..
Anyone wanna trade for a 36"? I have an 11 year old who can ride, he just gets a bit lazy at times.. can clean and cook for himself typically, and comes with his own 20 " sun uni.. Hoping to get brakes and a touring handle if I toss in my 4 year old and his 16 inch 2 wheeler..

Haha. Kids are OK but don't trade your 29er though. I still find the 29er the right wheel for so much riding. There has been a long learning curve for the 36er and I keep going back to the 29 in road/paved situations with unknown variables. it has some speed and is a bit more maneuverable (I am still embarrassed by the 3-4 tries it takes me to get started on the 36er sometimes. I also can't control myself yet nearing intersections. ).

[MichaelMichaelUnicycle]

OK, it was not today, it was yesterday, but not too late to brag.

Yesterday I trued up my wheel and didn't mess it up—it was hitting the rim just a wee little bit. Then I took it out to play, and I actually busted out two unassited mounts in a row. I've been riding just over four months.

I also got my frist shin-scrape, but that's not bragging, that's telling you I haven't bought any protection yet. Ha!