Hi Triv,
Two things you can try(if you have not already) to focus on:
The stability of idling comes from the rapid fore/aft change in direction. Try to “force” your pedaling action to go a little faster. So, this will also force your legs to maintain more tension and power. You should feel more lateral stability, and need less extra body movement for balance.
The opposite. Slow down and focus on making short “curving” path on the forward motion. Some call this the “banana curve”. This will create stability because you will obviously lean/twist to one side. This all happens quickly and feels like a quick twist. Also, be sure to alternative (left turn, right turn,..etc.).
I’ve lessen up trainings on an idling for a bit. I continue to do it mainly indoors on a 20" unicycle and sometimes outdoors on a 26".
The weather is getting nice outside and I’ve started trainings riding while holding onto the T-bar with both hands, which is of a greater priority for me now. I need to repair my posture because i saw i am leaning to the right while riding. Usually i hold the t-bar with my left hand.
I’m not asking for any advices in this respect here, otherwise it would be an offtop. Will try to search through the forum.
Sorry for my late reply. Work and family has kept me from writing a suitable response. Thank goodness the Easter holidays are here!
Thank you for the praise!
iMovie is not that hard once you get the basics.
Lightning and back drop is purely a product of circumstance. My oldest son is attending a kart maintenance course while I practice at a parking lot near by.
My approach to learning is much less methodical than yours. I had trouble getting consistent doing the side mount. Focusing on the foot position and the knee position resulted in less success. Just anticipating the slap of the seat on my inner thigh improved my success rate tremendously.
Backwards riding is more of a step thing as you suggested earlier doing one half rev at a time.
Idling
I was a bit disappointed when I saw the extent of my arm action. Reducing that will be my focus point from now on. I have otherwise been focused on a high idling rate but will reduce that focus.
SIF
SIF is a very recent achievement. I just letting the seat pull out take several revolutions made me confident and the improved balance from the idling practice gave me the ability to be that slow in performing the pull.
I like the idea of lowering the seat and reducing speed. If I am ever going to use SIF in a muni setting (I.e. jumping) being able to SIF slowly and with good control is important.
Backwards
Yes, I must admit the backwards riding does look sketchy. I do struggle to manoeuvre at all going backwards. Well spotted, my upper body is not cooperating. It’s like my brain has a blank spot. I suffer from the same when I ice skate backwards. Especially when turning from backwards to forwards. I just cannot do it with any elegance at all.
It’s definitely easier when you do the pull quickly, as I became aware recently.
By the way, today I rode for the first time SIF on a 29er. Was quite smooth, I must say. Subjectively less wobbling than on the 20er.
Cool doing SIF on a 29”!
Yes it is much easier to do the pull quickly but it takes some courage and some technique to succeed. I lacked the latter and failed spectacularly a few times. Doing the pull slowly and controlled was what worked for me.
Yeah, everyone is different in how they learn. I also did the pull slowly at the beginning. The more secure I got with SIF, the quicker I pulled the saddle.
Recently I realised that I had startet pulling it really quickly and that the transition was way smoother like that. But I agree, it prolly takes a bit of practice to get there.
Still I thought it was worth for those who have just started their way to SIF to give that a try. Maybe this could help shorten their way to success.
Everybody here regarding SIF, seems to do the “pullout” method.
You guys are all brave, but I see some mention of “spectacular fails”.
Here’s a quick tip for anyone trying this, but it’s applicable to SIF riding in general.
1.) When you stand behind the saddle and SIF, your Center of Gravity of your body is now “behind”. Now you must lean forwards a little bit to maintain center. If you don’t you will notice that you will always step off behind the unicycle. Try to go “little by little” until you are comfortable.
That is why I encourage learning SIF idling, before riding SIF. Assuming you can already idle competently. When you SIF idle, you will learn to “lean forwards” safely because you are not moving forwards. You also learn to develop reflex to be able to jump off pedal at 3 & 9 o’clock(flat) position. This also very important skill that will save you from twisted ankles falling straight down into the unicycle.
2.) Lower your body or “squat down” when you are doing SIF idling or riding. Only “advanced” riders can stand straight up and have “relaxed” leg pedaling. When you squat down your legs are in a more powerful and rapid agile position to help with the balancing.
Ofcourse, it will be a tremendous workout for the legs. Allow your legs to rest between sessions. However, this is also a great leg workout for advanced riders who find regular riding boring or too easy.
Keep on. BTW somebody on youtube made a comment that they have the ability to ride backwards, but cannot idle. Is that anybody here? That is a very very interesting “skill gap” that I find curious. He/She is doing something right, but at same time “missing” some element of skill that prevents. I would assume idling would be easier and backwards riding is harder. hmmmm…
Not me, but this applies to me too. Both for SIF and normal seat position. In normal riding I learned backward riding some ~30 years earlier than proper idling.
As long as the uni is in motion it’s easier to control, in my opinion. When idling it movese less than when riding, so…
Yes definitely, when the unicycle is moving constantly it is more stable.
However, is this the best moment to “add” movements or new tricks?
I want to “limit” my discussion to just SIF.
Such as, rising up and then pulling seat out to do SIF?
I’m really interested in how many people learned it that way?
a.) Riding and then “pulling out seat” to get into SIF riding.
b.) Learned to start in SIF position, and then riding.
…slam
Sorry, to go side-tracking, but the discussion will return back to idling. So, if any beginners out there, you can jump in.
A few things noticed riding today regarding "Pedal pressure" control and sensitivity.
This relates to idling and riding forwards perfectly straight.
I was riding on a well marked bike trail this morning. I got bored “staying in my lane” wobbling back side to side. I decided to try to ride “perfectly aligned” over the painted yellow line on the asphalt. The line is about 3 inches wide, exactly my 24" unicycle tire width 3".
How did I do?
At first, I was very tentative and pedaled slowly. Not relaxed because I was so focused on staying perfectly straight.
Any amount of arm swing or leaning upper body was useless. Sure it can help when staying in the 4 ft lane, but I was sloppy. I found myself over-correctly, side to side and riding off the the line.
So, I tried relying on just pedal pressure. Keep my upper body as still as possible. It worked but I was still sloppy. If I needed to correct to “go right” I would simply add more right side pedal pressure. Then “go left” , vice versa. However, I still could not stay dead straight on t he line. I was over-correcting
What about doing the opposite. Not add more pressure. Let’s “remove” pressure on the opposite side. So, maintain same pedal pressure on the right, but “lessen” pressure on the left pedal. Bingo. It worked and was more subtle and accurate. In most cases, the reduction of force felt almost like grams. I just had to “think it” and I would start to steer in the right direction.
So, I noticed that I apply the same principal when I am idling. If I need to lean/fall to say, the right side. I don’t necessarily add more right foot pedal pressure. I just “lessen” the pressure on the left side.
If you find that you need to steer or counter-act the unicycle leaning for riding or idling, don’t simply add more on the “turn side” but simply “reduce” on the opposite.
