Day 365
So, my first year anniversary of learning to ride a unicycle…or more precisely, a year ago I was trying to stay atop while hanging onto a chain link fence wondering how in gods name anyone ever learnt to do this. Well, if you’re just starting out and reading through some of the learning journals on here then let me give you an idea of where you might have reached after a year…your milage may vary of course 
A year on I can ride on the rough and smooth with equal confidence although I’ve never quite felt comfortable holding the seat…still have my arms out there somewhere…
You can expect to have mastered falling off but still excel in doing it very badly when there’s an audience. You will ride without incident for weeks but the first time you hop on ‘just to show someone’ you’ll face-plant hurting a wrist, knocking your head or raking the pedals down your shins…basically which ever bit of padding you’ve omitted to wear, thats where you’ll injure yourself.
Apologies to Alucard for the toe shot again :o)
You’ll have increased your stable of Unicycles. Remember all those questions you asked about the best size for XYZ…a year on you now know you need one of every size…minimum. Don’t get me started on seats/crank lengths, etc.
In the early days riding to the end of the drive is exhausting and the end of the street might as well be another country. Believe it or not, it does get easier and although I’ve not quite made it to double figure distances yet I’m not far off (in kilometres). Once you’ve got the basics under your belt its just a question of riding, riding, riding to build up the muscles and stamina.
Unicycling is lesson in perseverance and in demonstrating how bloody minded determinism can enable you to achieve whatever you want. Every time you do something new you know you’re going to fall off and it’s going to hurt. Even more commendable is that, after doing it anyway…and falling off and hurting yourself…you’re going to get right back in the saddle and do it again. And probably a few more (dozen) times more before you stop falling off and master it. It’s amazing how scary a curb is when you’re approaching it to ride off for the first time. The flip side…smiling your arse off when you pull it off…
I think the most important part of my learning has been having someone to learn with…
Well, maybe not Oscar, he’s been a pain throughout, waiting patiently while I spend 5 minutes mounting and then dropping his tennis ball in front of my wheel or running along side with a branch in his mouth which he then sticks through the spokes.
I would have loved to have had someone local to learn and practice with but, instead, I’ve had the great community here on the forum who have guided, encouraged, informed and commiserated in equal measure over the last 12 months. I love you all.
Day 1 (ish)
Day 365 (ish)
UL