I have a 5 foot giraffe that I can only rarely get on unassisted.
Does any giraffe rider use aids like some sort of stick for assistance?
Being that I can up on the giraffe about 80% of the way consistently, I
think if I could use some sort of stick for support I could get up the
last 20%.
Does anyone else already do this? If so, what have you found works
best?
Is there anything in the market that I might consider purchasing that
is made for this such application? I’m thinking of something ideally
that might be telescoping (assuming it could be locked for safety) so
that after getting on the uni, I could then telescope it in and hold it
while riding if not mount it underneath my saddle on the stem.
No, I just watched an AIDS video yesterday in 6th Grade Human Growth and Deveopment, and it said nothing of getting AIDS from riding a giraffe unicycle.
These two sentences seem to contradict each other. 80% is not a percentage that represents rarely being able to get on.
That said, I used a footstool and basketball pole to mount before I learned to freemount.
However, that said (a favorite clause of mine), even if you’re only getting up 1 out 5 times, i.e. 20%, that’s more than enough to provide the incentive to continue freemounting rather than using a crutch. Seems like you’re doing fine without an aid.
I think that the 80% figure is a reference to how far up the camelopard the fellow can get before falling off. That said, if he could only step on the wheel before falling off he might be said to be getting only 30% up the unicycle. That said, if he actually mounted it once he would have gotten 100% onto the giraffe. That said, it would be interesting to think what getting 150% onto the vehicle might suggest.
to mount when I leave my house
1.step in the flower pot on my patio w/ my unicycle off the patio next to me
2.hold onto support beam holding up the roof part
3.get onto unicycle
4.ride off
to mount away from my house when I have fallen off
1.hold onto a stop sign or something
2.hold onto the back of the seat w/ other hand (still holding onto sign)
3.step onto the wheel (I have a six footer)
4.put other foot onto the lowest pedal (w/ the pedal completely down)
5.move hand from back of the seat to the front
6.put other foot onto pedal
7.gently sit down
8.ride off
to free-mount
1.put one pedal slightly facing back
2.hold one hand on back of seat w/ the other in front
3.tip unicycle a bit forward
4.jump up onto slighly back pedal (the jumping allows the unicycle to roll under you) while removing hand on the back of the seat
5.move hand to front of seat
6.put other foot on the pedal
7.sit down*
8.ride off
*I wear a supporter- it keeps you more confident and ALOT less scared
my edit for :to free-mount starting with the right foot
1.put uni in front of you, you’ll be mounting from rear
2.put right pedal at 6 o’clock position
3. hold front of seat with left hand
4. cover back-top of seat with right hand
5. angle uni slightly forward and slightly left
6. put right foot on right pedal
7. Stand on right foot, pressing on seat with both hand raises you up. Right hand vanishes as seat is quickly jammed under crotch.
8. Sit
9. Left foot hits left pedal (which is at 12 oclock, because right was at 6 oclock, remember) and creates first stroke of an “idle”.
10. Stay up there any way possible and ride off.
If you continually are failing by falling off backwards…tip uni more forward 1/4 inch per attempt.
If you continually are failing by falling off forwards…tip uni more backward 1/4 inch per attempt.
If you continually are failing by falling off left…tip uni more right 1/4 inch per attempt…
etc.
I found it good advice to jam the seat in place before worrying about the left foot on the left pedal.
By the way (this is important): this all happens in less than one second. First you’re standing on the ground and then – SHAZAAM!! – you’re up in the saddle!! Dont monkey around.
If doesn’t work with shazaam, try PRESTO!! or ZIPP!!
For mounting with the assistance of a sign post, lamp post, drain pipe, etc. or a wall that has something to hold on to:
Place front of tire and front of seat against object.
Place pedals in horizontal position, I personally like the right pedal at 3:00 (forward towards the object).
With one hand securing you to the object, place left foot on top of tire then right foot on right pedal. This will “force” your wheel into the object so the uni won’t move.
Continue up, place left foot on rear pedal, stand up to get over seat. Get settled, turn 90 degrees, (usually idle once) and ride off.
when i got my giraffe (qu-ax 5 footer) i found it hard to mount holding on to things (signs and poles) because it took me longer to get comfortable so if it took me that long to get up without holding on i would certainly fall over! hope that makes sence
i found it so hard to free mount (standing mount) starting off but now i can get it everytime, i found that when i was learning i could get on the seat but never stay up! so just keep up with it and you’ll get there eventually