Being new to unicycling I’m not sure what height to have the seat at. I
remember on my mountain bike having the seat so that when my foot was at the
bottom my leg was only slightly bent. On the unicycle I bought I have the
seat at it’s highest point but my leg is probably 1/4 bent. Is this right?
If anyone has a photo it would be great.
I seem to be struggling to keep the movement going, perhaps this is not
helping.
By the way thanks to all those who responded to my last message, you were
all cool with your advice but for some reason still struggling… I know it
will take time but this seat thing is bothering me.
Hi Simon,
good you are asking: initially seat height does make a big difference. Although I cannot fully picture “1/4 bent”, it does appear a bit much. One standard suggestion is that you ought to be able to place your heel (ankle in its normal 90 degree position) onto the pedal while your knee is straight and your opposite leg is just hanging down (make sure you sit straight). Some people prefer a higher position (ankle always way extended at the bottom crank position), others like a lower position much better.
Neil proposes a checklist: http://wobbling.unicyclist.com/HowTo/Tips/Setup.html
For MUni, hopping, jumping, and while learning some skills, it is often recommended to lower the seat initially, but that is not paramount.
It sounds like you may need a longer seat tube or an extension and then some step-wise empirical seat height adjustments. You will quickly realize what works best for you.
Enjoy,
Fred
Set your seat height for your unicycle like you would for your bicycle. A good rule is that, while on the seat and sitting erect your leg should be completely straight with your HEEL on the down pedal. Then, with the ball of your foot on the pedal your leg will be just slightly bent.
Some may disagree with this procedure and it would help you to digest all the suggestions and from them formulate your own. I always find this technique to work for me, though.
I agree with Harper and Fred except that I do not tend to lower the seat for
Munis, hopping and while trying new tricks. You’ll find what works best for you.
If you want to lower you seat a bit for tricks though, I suggest that you do not
“over-lower” it in order to keep a correct riding position .
Christian.
“simon.meadows” wrote:
> Being new to unicycling I’m not sure what height to have the seat at. I > remember on my mountain bike having the seat so that when my foot was at the > bottom my leg was only slightly bent. On the unicycle I bought I have the > seat at it’s highest point but my leg is probably 1/4 bent. Is this right? > > If anyone has a photo it would be great. > > I seem to be struggling to keep the movement going, perhaps this is not > helping. > > By the way thanks to all those who responded to my last message, you were > all cool with your advice but for some reason still struggling… I know it > will take time but this seat thing is bothering me. > > Simon. > Mansfield, UK
Some pics of my house boy Antonio at ‘compramise height’. He might go up or down, depending on what position… uh… trick… type of riding… oh, damn.
Anyway, this is a medium height- low enough for moderate hopping (but could go MUCH lower) and high enough for desent controll. Generaly, controll is best when your foot is in a position in which you can easly maintain it on the pedal (without ever any feeling that it has to reach for the pedal) and simultaniously allowing you to keep contact with the seat for controll. If you are being pushed off the seat at full extension, or you feel like you loose the seat at the horizontal position, an adjustment may be called for.