Hi folks,
I’ve really been enjoying my recent SemXL purchase, but I’m having difficulty
free-mounting. I’ve read the FAQs, and the Sem pamphlet, but I always seem to
end up with the cranks vertical, and unable to get things going…
Thanks in advance for any tips.
Doug Peters
Re: any hints for free mounting?
I’m still learning to freemount as well, about 3/5 of the time I get on the
thing. I had the same problem you had, though, until I read a bunch of different
descriptionson how to free mount. From what I can see there are two versions of
the standard freemount:
Start with the back pedal below the horizontal, put your weight on the pedal
and end up with the unicycle beneath you and the pedals vertical. This is
what I was originally doing and I guess what you are doing. I drew the
conclusion that the easiest way to get out of this freemount was to idle
(you can continue going backwards until you have the pedals in the position
to go forwards) but I can’t idle yet, and I think most people learning to
freemount also can’t idle.
Start with the pedals horizontal or the back pedal slightly above
horizontal. With one foot on the back pedal, the other foot hops up onto the
other pedal PUTTING NO PRESSURE on the back pedal. Thus, the pedals remain
horizontal until you are on the beast, and from that position it is much
easier to ride forward. This maneuver is really a one-footed hop as opposed
to the stepping-up motion in 1, and seems to be working for me. Holding your
hands horizontally out in front as you hop helps get your weight forward
directly above the wheel.
I got this far (3out of 5 mounts) in maybe an hour of practice, but I was trying
to teach both feet. If you concentrate on just one foot you may be able to get
it even faster. Of course, then you won’t be ambipedrous (how’s that for
application of those high school Latin courses).
Good Luck, Luke
Doug Peters wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> I’ve really been enjoying my recent SemXL purchase, but I’m having difficulty
> free-mounting. I’ve read the FAQs, and the Sem pamphlet, but I always seem to
> end up with the cranks vertical, and unable to get things going…
>
> Thanks in advance for any tips.
>
> Doug Peters
Re: any hints for free mounting?
It took me a while to learn this; I thought I’d never get it - so don’t give up.
Here is how I learnt to mount my 24".
It’s not terribly graceful but it’s a start. It works for 20" unis as well but
the wheel doesn’t move so much.
Arnold the Aardvark
Re: any hints for free mounting?
I think version nr 2 is the easiest to begin with. The key to avoid ending up
with pedals vertical, in addition to putting no pressure on the back pedal, is
to have the centre of gravity as much forward as possible by leaning forward,
and to have the other foot on its pedal real quick. More details on this way of
freemounting to be found at
http://www.unicycling.org/unicycling/mounts/freemount.html.
Klaas Bil
This message was created with 100% recycled electrons.
On Sun, 11 Jun 2000 14:04:48 -0400, Luke Currano <lcurrano@glue.umd.edu> wrote:
>I’m still learning to freemount as well, about 3/5 of the time I get on the
>thing. I had the same problem you had, though, until I read a bunch of
>different descriptionson how to free mount. From what I can see there are two
>versions of the standard freemount:
>
>1. Start with the back pedal below the horizontal, put your weight on the
> pedal and end up with the unicycle beneath you and the pedals vertical.
> This is what I was originally doing and I guess what you are doing. I drew
> the conclusion that the easiest way to get out of this freemount was to
> idle (you can continue going backwards until you have the pedals in the
> position to go forwards) but I can’t idle yet, and I think most people
> learning to freemount also can’t idle.
>
>2. Start with the pedals horizontal or the back pedal slightly above
> horizontal. With one foot on the back pedal, the other foot hops up onto
> the other pedal PUTTING NO PRESSURE on the back pedal. Thus, the pedals
> remain horizontal until you are on the beast, and from that position it is
> much easier to ride forward. This maneuver is really a one-footed hop as
> opposed to the stepping-up motion in 1, and seems to be working for me.
> Holding your hands horizontally out in front as you hop helps get your
> weight forward directly above the wheel.
>
>I got this far (3out of 5 mounts) in maybe an hour of practice, but I was
>trying to teach both feet. If you concentrate on just one foot you may be able
>to get it even faster. Of course, then you won’t be ambipedrous (how’s that for
>application of those high school Latin courses).
>
>Good Luck, Luke
>
>Doug Peters wrote:
>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> I’ve really been enjoying my recent SemXL purchase, but I’m having difficulty
>> free-mounting. I’ve read the FAQs, and the Sem pamphlet, but I always seem to
>> end up with the cranks vertical, and unable to get things going…
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any tips.
>>
>> Doug Peters
Re: any hints for free mounting?
I found this one to be the most like what I do, but I wouldn’t say that I
“jump”. It feels just like one fluid, easy motion with my left foot, and a
little more awkward with the right (on the “first” pedal). The funny thing about
this for me is that I learned it when I was about 10 years old. It’s the only
skill (including riding forwards) of the few that I know that ever came really
easy to me. I just kept on getting on it the same way with support until one day
I just stepped on
it. My friend across the street did the same thing not long afterwards. And I
never forgot how to do it. I hear of a lot of adults having a hard time
with this skill. I think it’s like learning a foreign language - it’s
actually easier to do as a young child. Take heart, though, once you pick
it up, you won’t lose it as long as you live and can ride.
Carl Trachte Morenci, AZ
Arnold the Aardvark wrote:
>
> It took me a while to learn this; I thought I’d never get it - so don’t
> give up.
>
> Here is how I learnt to mount my 24".
>
> 1. Stand with the uni in front of you but very close.
> 2. The pedal of your preferred foot should be vertically downwards.
> 3. Roll the wheel forwards to angle the stem so you can get the seat into your
> crotch.
> 4. Put your preferred foot onto its pedal.
> 5. Jump upwards, bringing the other foot onto its pedal. Your weight on the
> first pedal will force the uni to roll backwards (i.e. underneath you).
> 6. Balance briefly and ride away.
>
> It’s not terribly graceful but it’s a start. It works for 20" unis as well but
> the wheel doesn’t move so much.
>
> Arnold the Aardvark
re: any hints for free mounting
Hey Doug,
I have found that free mounting is mostly mental. Any hesitation will mess you
up, Visualize yourself on the seat and go for it. You want to explode up to the
seat as fast as you can because that is where you can control the balance. Also
make sure you are a strong Idler on a short unicycle this will also help you
control the 6 footer when you get up there. Good luck and be safe.
God is good all the time!!!