Getting back in the saddle

Unicycles and Equipment
1

I am having a hard time getting back in the saddle. Last year I started riding again after a few decades off. I have a Nimbus 26 and 29er.
When going for the first pedal rotation after an assisted mount I just lose faith.

Any suggestions. Anyone else encounter this and prevail?

Daniel

2

Just do it

I LEARNED at 53. Many in this forum have learned even later. I wouldn’t change my sport for anything. Every day is a new beginning and there is always something new to learn… and reinforce the skills I have.

If you learned as a youth you have a MAJOR advantage. Put the 29er in a closet until you master the 26er. By “master” I mean am comfortable with it at least on paved surfaces.

After taking a few days or, at most, a week off I do feel “rusty”… but it always comes back. “Decades” is some serious rust but beats the pants off of learning well beyond middle age.

3

Back at it

I should have listened to my body when it was asking for an adjustment. My back gave me a warning shout about 3 hours after giving my 26er a try. I will get an adjustment and a TRT shot and give it another try. Meanwhile I am out on my bicycle as a warm up.

4

That’s a bit of a weird way to put it though, to lose faith? I just call it a fail and try again. Losing faith as in you not wanting to continue unicycling? If that’s the kind of losing faith, that’s a bit different.

I’m currently learning and I have offdays. I deal with it by finding a nice quiet area with something to hold onto like a fence or rail and just do whatever I want at my own pace. Then you won’t care about if things are great or not. If you’re afraid of getting on the unicycle due to failure, just do what I just said. So there’s no losing faith there, you just do whatever you want until you get it, even if it takes a month or so…

However, if you find yourself losing faith as in not wanting to unicycle anymore, then don’t force yourself. I think people get into and out of hobbies all the time. Worse thing to do is force yourself into doing something you don’t like. Loving the ride a unicycle is what it’s all about.

5

I presume you are talking about a loss of confidence.
For what it’s worth, I’d suggest dropping your seat a cm and just riding for 15 to 20 minutes for a week or two until the muscles have got used to the new exercise. Then put the seat back up to a more efficient height.

And yes, get back into it on the smaller wheel first.

Good luck

6

I started back after 30+years off, jumped right in with a coker 36. It’s a great ride by the way, but not the easiest to re-learn on. My advice Start slow and on level ground. Get some confidence, learn to fall/step off when you lose your balance - work up to longer rides, when you’re tired-stop. It took me 3 months of daily rides going longer/farther … Now I’m riding 10 mile stretches and averaging abou 10 MPH, a few times a week- it great exercise.

Give it time-

7

Lack of confidence, not desire

Thanks for all the help. Only a couple of months ago I was riding miles at a time. I took some time off and now I am having trouble getting back on. I like the lowering the saddle advice along with finding a secluded place to reduce any outside pressure. It will happen. I always thought a self propelled merry go round, on a flat surface with a bar chest level would be the ultimate training aid.

Thanks again
Uniqueways

8

I learned w/ the help of a long railing. Tried a few, longer the better & chest height while seated was ideal. I found one ~90 ft long a few blocks from my house at an elementary school.

At first I was TERRIFIED of falling. Whenever I thought I was going to fall I’d, just grab the rail (a LOT faster than remounting IMO). At the beginning I had a death grip w/ both hands, then one, then only occasional dabs at the rail.

A rail was better than a wall because I could push myself away OR pull myself towards it if I was drifting too far away.