Phil Himsworth asked in a recent thread (2/22/2002) about techniques for going up curbs. John Childs responded that George Peck can simply ride up curbs but that it takes “magic flow” to accomplish this.
I had been aware of George Peck’d description:
The details seems a bit cryptic to me. That’s why I asked George Peck for some pointers. Here is his response:
---- quoted from George Peck’s e-mail to me —
the upper foot is the foot that is highest just before the tire (tyre-for those english folks) reaches the curb (kerb) [ i like being bilingual…it’s a snap] It is just like stepping up a curb as if
you were walking. As you prepare to step up a curb, one foot is planted on the ground (lower foot) and the other foot is raised (upper foot) to the top of the curb and once extended over the top of the curb the weight shifts ENTIRELY to the upper (curb) foot. this is exactly what happens on a uni when you roll a curb. The only difference is that timing is more critical and less flexible that with walking. As you approach the curb - usually at a bit of an angle less than 90 degrees - you sense when to turn to the curb so that the lower foot is going to be straight down just before the tire contacts the curb.
With the lower foot down, you can throw all your weight on this foot, thrust your center of gravity upward and forward. Once your CG has attained the curb height, come down forcefully on the upper foot to continue the roll.
It helps that the lower foot be slightly above and in front of dead low at the point of lunge as this has the salutory effect of not only allowing you to UNWEIGHT the upper foot, but also propelling you forward at the same time.
The secret to this is committing to the unweight. A tentative unweight means that you will either bang into the curb and fail or bang into the curb and struggle over the top. If the unweight is forceful and confident, you will literally float over the curb without the slightest impact.
The way to gain confidence is to start with a little curb - like a 2x12 plank and add planks as you gain confidence…it’s ok to try unknown height, but not to the point of learning failure. Work for
confidence and technique. After a while the whole shtick will make
kinesthetic sense.
------- end of quote ----------
Now I know the work cut out for me…
Have fun,
Fred
Re: Going up kerbs [curbs] … thread continued … now bilingual
Well I haven’t got the hang of it yet… I think more than anything else
it’s the ‘Crumbs, that’s a big kerb, no way am I getting up that!’
psychological barrier stopping me. It’s a pain, really, because while I can
tootle around all over the place, wait to cross the road by idling and the
like, I just can’t go up kerbs. Which is a pain when you want to cross a
sideroad… if there’s a nearby driveway it’s okay, but otherwise I’ve just
got to get off.
Phil, just me
“fred” <fred.12ysb@timelimit.unicyclist.com> wrote in message news:fred.12ysb@timelimit.unicyclist.com…
>
> Phil Himsworth asked in a recent thread (2/22/2002) about techniques for
> going up curbs. John Childs responded that George Peck can simply ride
> up curbs but that it takes “magic flow” to accomplish this.
> I had been aware of George Peck’d description:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/1cz
>
> The details seems a bit cryptic to me. That’s why I asked George Peck
> for some pointers. Here is his response:
>
> ---- quoted from George Peck’s e-mail to me —
> the upper foot is the foot that is highest just before the tire
> (tyre-for those english folks) reaches the curb (kerb) [ i like being
> bilingual…it’s a snap] It is just like stepping up a curb as if
> you were walking. As you prepare to step up a curb, one foot is planted
> on the ground (lower foot) and the other foot is raised (upper foot) to
> the top of the curb and once extended over the top of the curb the
> weight shifts ENTIRELY to the upper (curb) foot. this is exactly what
> happens on a uni when you roll a curb. The only difference is that
> timing is more critical and less flexible that with walking. As you
> approach the curb - usually at a bit of an angle less than 90 degrees -
> you sense when to turn to the curb so that the lower foot is going to be
> straight down just before the tire contacts the curb.
> With the lower foot down, you can throw all your weight on this foot,
> thrust your center of gravity upward and forward. Once your CG has
> attained the curb height, come down forcefully on the upper foot to
> continue the roll.
> It helps that the lower foot be slightly above and in front of dead low
> at the point of lunge as this has the salutory effect of not only
> allowing you to UNWEIGHT the upper foot, but also propelling you
> forward at the same time.
> The secret to this is committing to the unweight. A tentative unweight
> means that you will either bang into the curb and fail or bang into the
> curb and struggle over the top. If the unweight is forceful and
> confident, you will literally float over the curb without the slightest
> impact.
> The way to gain confidence is to start with a little curb - like a 2x12
> plank and add planks as you gain confidence…it’s ok to try unknown
> height, but not to the point of learning failure. Work for
> confidence and technique. After a while the whole shtick will make
> kinesthetic sense.
> ------- end of quote ----------
> Now I know the work cut out for me…
> Have fun,
> Fred
>
>
>
>
> –
> fred - Uni Gwaihir
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> fred’s Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/478
> View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/16760
>
Re: Going up kerbs [curbs] … thread continued … now bilingual
Phil,
For me hopping is the easiest method to get up curbs (well, unless it has
handicapped access). I would recommend you learn this method first since
it seems to be the easiest way. It does slow me down when I sidehop but I
have the satisfaction of “conquering whatever obstacle comes into me
path.”
I’ve recently learned to half hop and half do what George Peck says. I
can best describe it as a lazy hop (3 or so inches) that almost makes it
over the curb. Using your speed and by weighting the forward pedal you
can power your way over the little bit of concrete remaining.
Or I have an even better idea. You could always carry the wheel chock
(the one with a handle so you don’t have to bend down) that the U.S.
Postal Service uses. Whe you get to a curb just place the chock in such a
position that you don’t have to jump. Just roll right over it up the
curb!
Jeff
On Wed, 6 Mar 2002 18:21:04 -0000 “Phil Himsworth” <phil@flippet.neeeet>
writes:
> Well I haven’t got the hang of it yet… I think more than anything
> else
> it’s the ‘Crumbs, that’s a big kerb, no way am I getting up that!’
> psychological barrier stopping me. It’s a pain, really, because
> while I can
> tootle around all over the place, wait to cross the road by idling
> and the
> like, I just can’t go up kerbs. Which is a pain when you want to
> cross a
> sideroad… if there’s a nearby driveway it’s okay, but otherwise
> I’ve just
> got to get off.
>
> Phil, just me
>
> “fred” <fred.12ysb@timelimit.unicyclist.com> wrote in message
> news:fred.12ysb@timelimit.unicyclist.com…
> >
> > Phil Himsworth asked in a recent thread (2/22/2002) about
> techniques for
> > going up curbs. John Childs responded that George Peck can simply
> ride
> > up curbs but that it takes “magic flow” to accomplish this.
> > I had been aware of George Peck’d description:
> >
> > http://tinyurl.com/1cz
> >
> > The details seems a bit cryptic to me. That’s why I asked George
> Peck
> > for some pointers. Here is his response:
> >
> > ---- quoted from George Peck’s e-mail to me —
> > the upper foot is the foot that is highest just before the tire
> > (tyre-for those english folks) reaches the curb (kerb) [ i like
> being
> > bilingual…it’s a snap] It is just like stepping up a curb as
> if
> > you were walking. As you prepare to step up a curb, one foot is
> planted
> > on the ground (lower foot) and the other foot is raised (upper
> foot) to
> > the top of the curb and once extended over the top of the curb
> the
> > weight shifts ENTIRELY to the upper (curb) foot. this is exactly
> what
> > happens on a uni when you roll a curb. The only difference is
> that
> > timing is more critical and less flexible that with walking. As
> you
> > approach the curb - usually at a bit of an angle less than 90
> degrees -
> > you sense when to turn to the curb so that the lower foot is going
> to be
> > straight down just before the tire contacts the curb.
> > With the lower foot down, you can throw all your weight on this
> foot,
> > thrust your center of gravity upward and forward. Once your CG
> has
> > attained the curb height, come down forcefully on the upper foot
> to
> > continue the roll.
> > It helps that the lower foot be slightly above and in front of
> dead low
> > at the point of lunge as this has the salutory effect of not only
> > allowing you to UNWEIGHT the upper foot, but also propelling you
> > forward at the same time.
> > The secret to this is committing to the unweight. A tentative
> unweight
> > means that you will either bang into the curb and fail or bang
> into the
> > curb and struggle over the top. If the unweight is forceful and
> > confident, you will literally float over the curb without the
> slightest
> > impact.
> > The way to gain confidence is to start with a little curb - like a
> 2x12
> > plank and add planks as you gain confidence…it’s ok to try
> unknown
> > height, but not to the point of learning failure. Work for
> > confidence and technique. After a while the whole shtick will
> make
> > kinesthetic sense.
> > ------- end of quote ----------
> > Now I know the work cut out for me…
> > Have fun,
> > Fred
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > –
> > fred - Uni Gwaihir
> >
>
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