Re: freemounting a 9’ giraffe
> > Jeff Lutkus wrote:
> > > In the first frame, I see Dr. Strößner with his foot on the wheel,
> ready to
> > > make that first step. Then, I assume, he places the other foot
> on a step on
> > > the frame. Here’s what I wonder about – what happens when he
> removes his
> > > foot from the wheel?
> >
> > When you still have any weight on the giraffe, it will slip away, either to
> > the front or to the back. To avoid that you have to remove all your weight.
> > That means you jump and while in air you hold the giraffe, not vice versa.
> > So you can’t raise yourself at the seat post, but you have to jump to the
> > pedals.
> >
Hi everyone,
I use a different method to freemount my 9’ giraffe. I place my foot on the
wheel, and instead of “jumping” to the pedal I stretch my other foot to the
lowest pedal. It takes longer but I always have contact with the unicycle
(either the wheel or the pedal) so the unicycle will not roll out. It does not
make a big difference for me to do it on a flat surface or in a hill.
Learning how to freemount was like learning any other trick… I just had to try
it 1,000 times (and fall of my 9-footer 1,000 times). At first I used to think
that it was imposible to freemount a 9-footer until I heard that Mel Hal could
freemount a 10-footer. After learning how to freemount my 9-footer I found out
that Mel Hal had a brake on his frame, making it easier. By that time I was too
late and I could already do it. A couple of years later I saw Wolfgang freemount
his way (jumping from the wheel).
Stay on top,
Javier
>
Javier Ruiz javruiz@onebox.com <a href="http://www.javier-ruiz.com/">http://www.javier-ruiz.com</a>
> >
> > > There is a brief moment of time, as his right leg makes its climb from the
> > > wheel to the pedal where only his left
> foot is on
> > > the frame.
> >
> > That’s not quite correct. The left foot is simply going upwards. Sometimes
> > it touches the frame, sometimes it doesn’t. But the frame doesn’t support
> > the foot nor does the foot support the frame.
> >
> >
> > > I would expect that at this point, if he is not careful, the wheel could
> > > easily roll out from under him.
> >
> > That’s actually true.
> >
> >
> > > Does this mean it is completly unreasonable to freemount a 9’ from
> > > anywhere other than perfectly flat ground?
> >
> > As much as it is to me, yes. Maybe someone else want’s to try it at a steep
> > hill or in rough terrain. I don’t.
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Wolfgang
> >
> > –
> > \|///
> > | ~ ~ |
> > (- 0 0 -)
> > ±-------oOOo-(_)-oOOo----------+
> > | |
> > | Wolfgang Strößner |
> > | |
> > | wolfgang.stroessner@sap.com | http://www.unicycling.de | Oooo. |
> > ±------.oooO-----( )----------+ ( ) ) / \ ( (_/ _)
> >
>
>
>
>
–
Javier Ruiz javruiz@onebox.com <a href="http://www.javier-ruiz.com/">http://www.javier-ruiz.com</a>
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