>Hi everyone, I’ve been reading all the mail that has gone to and fro in the >past week and, being an absolute beginner to the sport, I need some >information to make it all become clear! Basically, what are the skill levels >people keep going on about?? Any information on this will be gratefully >received. Thanks, Ewen.
Hooray for Ewen! I’m not the only complete novice after all… * YIPPEE! *
I’m afraid I can’t give you any advice though Ewen. I’m still waiting for a
response to a question like that that I asked a few days ago.
Question: Is this list/group not about advice and such-like? Is it purely for
technical details on the unicycles? Coz me and Ewen really need some help here
and it would be really great if we could get some free advice Please ?
> Ewen Malloch on Tue, Mar 7, 1995 13:17 <pem21@cam.ac.uk> > > wrote: > > >Hi everyone, I’ve been reading all the mail that has gone to and fro in the > >past week and, being an absolute beginner to the sport, I need some > >information to make it all become clear! Basically, what are the skill levels > >people keep going on about?? Any information on this will be gratefully > >received. Thanks, Ewen. > > Hooray for Ewen! I’m not the only complete novice after all… * YIPPEE! * > > I’m afraid I can’t give you any advice though Ewen. I’m still waiting for a > response to a question like that that I asked a few days ago.
Well, the quick answer is that that stuff is covered in the FAQ, but other than
a www browser I’m not sure offhand how to get to it. Basically the skill levels
are just a classification system, not always held with high respect by
free-spirits, such as unicyclists. It’s a way to classify people on a scale from
1 to 10, based on ability to ride backwards, wheel-walk (feet on wheel, not
pedals), different mounts (hey I got an idea - anybody do a kickup giraffe
mount?), doing turns in a set radius, things like that.
Quickie definitions: unicycle sizes - in inches this refers to wheel size. 20"
and 24" is pretty standard. Tall unicycles (chain driven) are giraffes. You can
have unicycles with multiple wheels - they’re stacked up on each other,
touching. Only the bottom one is on the ground. I haven’t figured out the
1/2 wheel and 0 wheel versions but these are things you only see with a really
weird and really serious unicyclists anyway. Idling is where you stay in place
by rocking back and forth. Coasting is where you get a little speed and take
your feet off the pedals and stay up (I’ve even seen it done, or otherwise I
wouldn’t believe myself), and gliding is where you take the feet off, but put
one resting on the wheel and seat post to selectively slow you down to help
make corrections. Or do I got these two backwards (coasting and gliding)? > > Question: Is this list/group not about advice and such-like? Is it purely > for technical details on the unicycles? Coz me and Ewen really need some > help here
The last few weeks have been that way, but normally not.
> and it would be really great if we could get some free advice Please ? > > Garry >
Bert bneff@melpar.esys.com
Leesburg VA, USA
The opinions expressed here are exactly the same as my employer
as they know everything I do and everything I think.
[snip] > >I’ve been reading all the mail that has gone to and fro in the past week and, > >being an absolute beginner to the sport, I need some information to make it > >all become clear! Basically, what are the skill levels people keep going on > >about?? Any information on this will be gratefully received. Thanks, Ewen.
[snip] > and it would be really great if we could get some free advice Please ? > > Garry
Skill levels are (according to my limited knowledge) used for rating
people in competions and big get-togethers--just to get the general idea
of the skill of one unic to the next. People around Mudd (yes, that is a
college) just use the skill level definitions as a list of neat stuff to
try. Although it is sort of fun figuring out approximately what skill
level we would be at (had we anyone to judge us). As far as general help
goes, that's pretty tough to give. Just keep trying lots of stuff (in
the beginning, this can mean anything from making left turns just as
good as right, learning how to free-mount, or riding off curbs). If you
want help on a specific topic, just mention it. I'm sure lots of people
here have gone through the learning process before, and might be able to
give you some insight.
- John Larkin
Please ?