10cm Objects...

General
1

Level 3 requires riding over a 10x10cm object. Exactly whether that is hopping
over or riding over depends on where you take the test, I understand. How do you
go up curbs on a unicycle? I have read that you ‘heave’ yourself up the curb
with a turn of the pedals but I can’t figure out how.

Also, the ‘Side Mount’, I vaguely understand from descriptions how this is done.
Could anybody suggest more accurate instructions and/or photos?

Thanks.

Andrew “That Depressed One” Jones

2

RE: 10cm Objects…

> Level 3 requires riding over a 10x10cm object. Exactly whether that is hopping
> over or riding over depends on where you take the test, I understand. How do
> you go up curbs on a unicycle? I have read that you ‘heave’ yourself up the
> curb with a turn of the pedals but I can’t figure out how.

Any level tester should accept “ride or jump”. Level 3 should be changed to that
wording. This is the one question about levels that comes up the most often.

If you don’t want to jump the obstacle you can simply ride over it. This is
easier if you’re an outdoor rider who hits lots of bumps, or especially if
you’re a trail rider. Even with a 20" wheel it should not be too hard to ride
over, as long as your pedals are in the right position when you get to
it. If your pedals are vertical, good luck. You want to hit the block with
your forward pedal not quite straight out. Then just give a good push, and
stay aware of your momentum to see that your wheel doesn’t get too far
ahead or behind.

The ‘heaving’ method of riding up curbs is more difficult than other ways, and
involves very precise timing as well as having the pedals lined up. The easiest
way to get up a curb is to ride up alongside it, stop when your pedals are where
you want them, and then jump to the side. You can cover more ground with a
sideways jump, but it interrupts your forward momentum and is not as
aesthetically “pure”. Also, on trails or in other narrow situations, you might
not have enough room to do it as described above. you can also ride straight at
the curb and do a big forward hop right up it. But this takes a bigger effort
than the sideways jump, and again your pedals have to line up in an acceptable
way for the jump to not be too long.

> Also, the ‘Side Mount’, I vaguely understand from descriptions how this is
> done. Could anybody suggest more accurate instructions and/or photos?

http://www.unicycling.org/unicycling/mounts/sidemount.html Don’t be put off by
this description. Something that’s very simple in four dimensions is hard to
describe in two. Here are some variations on the advice on that page:

  • Before mounting, hold the seat from the back, with thumb on top. This leaves
    room for you to sit down without sitting on your hand.
  • You will step on the bottom pedal. When you swing your leg around, just
    continue the motion your foot is making to push the pedal backward. otherwise
    you’re in the dead spot, and it’s hard to ride away. Pushing the pedal back
    brings the wheel a little behind your center of mass, compelling you to start
    riding forward.
  • As with all other things unicycle, if you can’t idle or ride backwards
    already, now’s a good time to start learning. It’s part of the basics upon
    which all other skills are built.

Have fun, John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone (reply to jfoss@unicycling.com)
http://www.unicycling.com

“Oh darn it. I meant to roll that!” - Kris Holm after riding off a cliff

> Thanks.
>
> Andrew “That Depressed One” Jones