Welcome! You’ll sweat like a pig but that’s normal, great workout. I was in Portland, Oregon last weekend at the Portland Juggling Festival and helped some older riders learn how to ride, they were very enthusiastic.
Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t come easy right away, it WILL happen.
Thanks everyone. It’s cheaper than a Porsche!
Looking for Older Muni’s in North Phoenix/Scottsdale
I’m looking for muni friends in my area. I’m out in the desert for about an hour 6 mornings a week. I’ve carved out a good number of trails interspersed with jumping cactus, in and and out of washes, and joy riding around Wild Fire golf course. Like the rest of you who have not learned to act your age, I get a lot of lookers wondering what the #$%& a 53 year old man is doing riding through the desert. I honestly think they are just jealous.
Anyway, if any of you live nearby, give me a shout. I would love to get a group of fellow Muni’s to converge on Pinnacle Peak park some Saturday morning. It would be a real kick. I have also been thinking about how to get a group together to ride the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Arizona Marathon in January.
Anyone interested?
Sounds like fun but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t allow that:
(from the RNRAZ website)
Sounds like I need to make a “callout” video challenge to you! Do you have any videos showing your best stuff?
I don’t have any recent videos , but now that things are cooling off here, my daughter has promised me to shoot some footage of me on my bad ride. However, I’ve got to tell you up front, after watching your videos, I can see I’ve got a long way to go. Actually, I’ve forwarded your videos on to some of my friends to show them what is possible for people over 50 if they stay in good shape. You’ve set the bar and I’m determined to catch up with you one of these days.
In the mean time, you can see a old video my daughter shot last year. Since then I’ve gotten better and I have the scars (and physical therapy bills) to prove it.
Cheers,
The unigeezer pretender.
Way to go Brad! Life begins at 40, so that means we’re really only barely into out teens!
Over 50? Soon!
I just started learning to ride a unicycle October 4. I am 49 years old.
This is a blast! I am making progress and it is very gratifying. I borrowed a Torker 24" unicycle, and I have a 20" Torker on order. I can ride around a bit, but I cannot always control where I am going and there are a lot of UPDs. I am working on steady riding and some controlled turns. I will try free mounting this weekend if all goes well.
The last ugly fall I had involved trying to stop and dismount with the unicycle in front of me–a level 1 skill. I got very slow and then fell off. (I have no trouble stepping off the front.) Any hints?
First of all - Welcome! I started a couple of years ago and love it, it’s addicting. It will help if you can find some kid to ride with you, or even teach. It doesn’t have to be a kid but they tend to be more fearless.
I learned to step off with the uni in front by riding forward, then pausing with my pedals level, and riding off again. Keep doing this over and over until you get comfortable with it. After a while you can hold the pause longer and longer until you actually stop. At that point keep your back knee bent and step off (back) with your front foot.
If you don’t keep your back knee bent you’ll tend to put all your weight on that foot and the uni will fly in all directions when you accidentally step on that pedal. 
BTW: I often wear soccer shin guards when learning new skills or teaching others. They have saved me many injuries, although I still have some battle scars!
Yi-haa! I turned 55 last week.
Advice
Thank you for the dismount advice. I will give it a try.
“I learned to step off with the uni in front by riding forward, then pausing with my pedals level, and riding off again. Keep doing this over and over until you get comfortable with it. After a while you can hold the pause longer and longer until you actually stop. At that point keep your back knee bent and step off (back) with your front foot.”
i am 51 (soon to be 52). just bought my first uni last weekend. currently i am able to fall in virtually every direction! 
i refuse to give up. i have daydreams of riding to work every day… riding around town… taking the uni with me on road trips… yadda yadda yadda…
where i live is not at the end of the earth… but i can see the end of the earth from my front porch. there are not a lot of riders out here, so i am teaching myself. just me, my uni, two 4 foot long wooden dowels and a lot of patience… i will do this!
what is this mid-life crisis of which you speak?
be well,
jim
Today I am officially 45.
I can now legally post in this thread.
Happy birthday Bondo!
Welcome to the obsession. I started riding 2 years ago at 45 and am still happily obsessed.
Riding to work is certainly possible. I ride everyday from the bus stop to my office and back. The best 2 parts of my day
The last road trip vacation…I brought the uni
When I was in Washington and Oregon this summer, I rented a uni (Thanks Ben @ Serious Juggling) so that I could ride on vacation.
Now my 7 year old wants to learn…his uni is on the UPS truck as we speak.
I would dispense with the wooden dowels. They just slow your progress, and you could fall on them. Ouch. i just used the side of my mini van in the driveway, then the mailbox.
I’m having one of those…but instead of buying sports cars, I buy unicycles Just got my third.
Happy riding,
–tom
this thread has been the very inspiring!
I’m 49 and wanted to learn before I’m 50, which is coming up in Dec. I decided to get a uni and told my partner, who also, has always wanted to learn. We’ve had them just over a week now, and have practiced most days. doing the rocking thing and trying to move a bit. We’ve tried hanging onto a big garbage can, cars, vans, posts, and finally we went to the local tennis court. Somehow the fence makes me feel a bit more stable. We are making a bit of progress, and it’s been a lot of fun.
Burner Dave I love your video, you will inspire a lot of people to try this! Very cool that you video’d from day one.
Just reading about others my age who still want to try things like this, was inspiring too. Happy to see a few gals out there my age trying it too.
this time of year is alway hard for me, since I love to windsurf. But that is a summer thing when you live in Utah. I tried snowkiting last winter, for more excitement, but that will not start for at least a month or so. So I thought learning to unicycle would fill the gap nicely. So far it has, and I’ve enjoyed the practice time, and it seems to be a good workout. I’m looking forward to really riding it down the street in my neighborhood. I hope in the near future.
Thanks to all that posted here with your stories!
Don’t forget to flail like nobody is watching!
Hi GearQueen,
Welcome to the club. I am 49 and started about 4 weeks ago. The learning curve is very steep–keep with it. I spent a lot of time riding around my van holding on and then having a friend lend me a shoulder to hold onto while I rode around. I can now ride around the neighborhood and up and down modest hills. I am practicing figure 8’s and am final getting the knack of free mounting. It is a lot of fun. I have a kid who want to try it.
As far a hobbies go, it is cheap. Perhaps it is time to buy another unicycle!
Another 45+er
Just a hello from a 49er, and fellow unicycle addict!
I’ve enjoyed these threads. Thanks!
I got back in the saddle after 20 years in April, and am having a blast!
Tonight I rode around with my dog through the snow in the park across the street. Fun Fun Fun!
new-old-man
hey guys,
i´m proud to be one of you
05.12.1963
jogi