Progress diary

[aarons]

Originally Posted by Feisty

You missed the other free mounting injury Aracer which I seem to do, where you get up enough don't hit the farthest pedal and land on your crouch on the seat!

I think your technique is making this more hazardous than it should be. Crotch goes on the seat first before you jump. That gives you a chance to get everything safely arranged. Then the seat should stay against your body during the jump.

[AngryGumball]

Not a whole lot happened today, progress-wise. While I was riding short distances, rebuilding the mo-jo, I think I spent more time attempting my rollback freemounts. In this sense, this is where road camber sucks. It's not so bad when I'm actually moving but when I'm at a stand-still, the lean throws me off a bit. Speaking of road camber, I find that in order for me to fight the camber, 1: I need to angle myself so I head towards the center of the street, and 2: I need to start at a decent pace so I don't wind up drifting towards a car. It's all of these little things you just kind of discover along the way. Let's see if I can have my distances back by the weekend, 2 day weekend ahead, I usually alternate every other week working on a saturday and this weekend is my off saturday.

[Feisty]

Originally Posted by aarons

I think your technique is making this more hazardous than it should be. Crotch goes on the seat first before you jump. That gives you a chance to get everything safely arranged. Then the seat should stay against your body during the jump.

I do do that maybe I a just have inconveniantly place plums but as I hop and the Uni frame /saddle pivots around and under me it seems to scoop me undermyself then I have two mini space hopers to squash when I miss the forward pedal

You are right I am making it harder than it should be I am a noob

I will do a bit of jumping on bricks to get my aim in tomorrow morning then put some cycle shorts on undderneath my clothes to help keep me out the way.

I am determined to do it this weekend

[aracer]

Originally Posted by Feisty

put some cycle shorts on undderneath my clothes to help keep me out the way.

You didn't have any on already? I have to admit I didn't wear any when I was starting, but as soon as I started freemounting I realised how important they are (actually now I'm better I don't need them for that any more, and frequently ride without on short trips) - thought about commenting, but assumed that as a biker you'd have some on...

[Galthrojh]

If you're sitting on the jewels as you free mount, put the saddle lower down past your crotch and try again. Might help.

[Feisty]

Originally Posted by aracer

You didn't have any on already? I have to admit I didn't wear any when I was starting, but as soon as I started freemounting I realised how important they are (actually now I'm better I don't need them for that any more, and frequently ride without on short trips) - thought about commenting, but assumed that as a biker you'd have some on...

I obviously have some but I am also lazy and a dad so run out for practice sessions when the Mrs sees me hovering and I do the "Do you need anything?" line, she then gives me the nod of approval and I am OUT THAT DOOR

I rode today to and from work in my work trousers and shoes and it was very comfortable, not the hight of grip and comfort though.

Until I get the free mounts nailed I will try the shorts I had similar nut issues when first starting to ride but it all "fell into place "

Originally Posted by Galthrojh

If you're sitting on the jewels as you free mount, put the saddle lower down past your crotch and try again. Might help.

I will give that a go, I think that may also be playing a part

Is it tomorrow yet?

[MissScooties]

Haven't posted in awhile, but I brought my unicycle to the physics lounge at school to let one of my buddies try. He's gotten pretty good pretty quick, kind of hilarious watching him go back and forth in the lounge walking himself along the bookcases.

Today I brought it again, and it was nice out. Adding up the amount of people I got to ride the unicycle, totaled at least 8 people (I can name at least 8 people that rode it at least holding onto people or the wall), and there's probably one or two I've forgotten (a few of them I'd never met before today but were friends of people I knew from class. Very fun with a big group, everyone definitely enjoyed it and wanted to try over and over again.

Also got to show off by doing a few fairly large loops around the parking lot, which involved turning!

Also, quite funny when one of your professors walks into the lounge as your buddy is sitting on a unicycle with his helmet on and everything slowly moving along the room holding onto things. =P

[Byc]

Seems that i was in the lucky position to learn unicycling with a partner, my girlfriend in this case. So we have been quite good at free riding without the need to freemount.
So when i actually started to try freemounting i was already very comfortable with the uni. The more you ride, the more you can relax and therfore can spare some muscle tension to stabilize and shift the weight comfortably on the saddle. Therefore i had avoided the problem of endangering important body parts.
During summer i wore bike shorts most of the time, very loose ones with no support but nice padding. Sitting comfortable does really help staying relaxed and therefore be able to ride longer.

Greetings

Dru

[AngryGumball]

I'm beginning to wish that I had never taken that fall last weekend. I was doing so well. This past week, I feel a bit let down as I've been riding every day like I did the previous week, sans any improvement. I haven't gotten past riding a measly 30 feet (which is probably impressive to the general public). 2 day weekend, there's some hope...let's see what it brings for me whether I'll catch back up where I 'left off' with that fall' or if it's going to be a purgatory of no improvement or 'downgrading'. We'll see. I ended up taking a pause for now to keep from frustration.

[Galthrojh]

You're not alone. I've got a little swelling near my right heel, looks just about right to be a slight case of posterior tibial tendonitis. Even walking is a pain so I've had to ride my bike (which I haven't wanted to ride since I got the uni) to class while pedaling mostly with the left leg. Needless to say, uni-ing is outta the question as it flares up fast.

So you're not alone needa find time to meet the doctor :3

Feist: Let us know how it goes. I had that problem before and just lowering the saddle position before I free mounted fixed it.

Scooties: That's so cool! Was supposed to ride with my uni friend today but decided I better heal this PITA injury. Even though I say that, I'm gonna hop some this weekend cos I'm getting restless. Haha

Happy riding everyone :3

[Feisty]

Still -3 today with 4" of snow forecast tonight but I will be out riding and working on freemounting, curbs, hoping and holding on to the saddle while cranking up hill.

Originally Posted by AngryGumball

I'm beginning to wish that I had never taken that fall last weekend. I was doing so well. This past week, I feel a bit let down as I've been riding every day like I did the previous week, sans any improvement. I haven't gotten past riding a measly 30 feet (which is probably impressive to the general public). 2 day weekend, there's some hope...let's see what it brings for me whether I'll catch back up where I 'left off' with that fall' or if it's going to be a purgatory of no improvement or 'downgrading'. We'll see. I ended up taking a pause for now to keep from frustration.

Focus on how well you are doing mate and you really are, Unicycling is mostly mental so that negativity just makes things worse. You know you can do so well when you're chilled and relaxed.

I go and watch aspirational videos when I can't ride or am not super impressed with my last session.

I do think splurging on a nice Muni as a treat would help your motivation

I like watching this recent Leo Hawkes video, I really aspire to get that fast fluid pace!

http://youtu.be/3Mo4UwkxwrI

[aracer]

Originally Posted by AngryGumball

I'm beginning to wish that I had never taken that fall last weekend. I was doing so well. This past week, I feel a bit let down as I've been riding every day like I did the previous week, sans any improvement. I haven't gotten past riding a measly 30 feet (which is probably impressive to the general public). 2 day weekend, there's some hope...let's see what it brings for me whether I'll catch back up where I 'left off' with that fall' or if it's going to be a purgatory of no improvement or 'downgrading'. We'll see. I ended up taking a pause for now to keep from frustration.

You'll get it - just keep going. If you've not done so already, try getting some camping mat and cutting out some bits to stuff down the back of your shorts - that's what I did when learning snowboarding, and it helped a huge amount when falling on my bottom. You'll probably not need it, as you won't fall backwards like that again, but protective kit can make a huge difference to confidence.

I've not made any progress at all in the last 2 weeks - like Galthrojh I have a foot injury and haven't even been out on it. Stopped riding on physio's advice, but I've also had a cold for the last week, and whilst I thought I might have a go today, it's just so cold and icy that I daren't risk it. Really missing riding

[Feisty]

Did some good riding today, I rode around the corner to a local trading estate which has a big car park and circular private road.

I found I had een startign to lean to far forward and put more weight on my feet again so sitting straight pulled it all back into line and that balanced hardly any effort feeling came back.

When I do an assisted mount now I actually do a static mount whilst reusing a hand on a wall so I am learning the effort/distance I need to jump. This is going well as I am now getting up and onto the pedal (although far from straight) so later on today after doing that for a bit more I will stop resting my hand on the wall and it should be golden!

Turning is becoming more predictable using arms and leg pressure and will work on doing it in a tighter radius.

Some nice smooth transitions to some pavement areas to practice going off kerbs as well at this place.

To carry on the theme of injuries I am feeling the muscles and ligaments etc in the outside of my legs with all these micro adjustments of my foot position but that will just take time to build the strength in them, the connective tissue should be good and strong as I did years of body building.

Chin up people keep watching youtube for Unicycling videos to tide you through the rough times/weather

[AngryGumball]

Going to keep at it but HUGE difference today. I can once again say hello to my 100 foot rides again within just a half hour of no distractions (other than my cousin sneaking videos of my gimpy warmup rides). Well, back to riding I go!

[Feisty]

Originally Posted by AngryGumball

Going to keep at it but HUGE difference today. I can once again say hello to my 100 foot rides again within just a half hour of no distractions (other than my cousin sneaking videos of my gimpy warmup rides). Well, back to riding I go!

I am pleased for you chap hopefully you can ride that wave of positivity and come on even further