I have been riding (?) a uni for 3 weeks only and need some help.
I can normally ride a good 50 - 60 feet if I can get off to a good start
(from a wall or high object) but I seem to twist a lot from side to side. is
this normal?
How should my feet be on the pedals? Does it matter? I sometime use the
balls of my feet and sometimes the instep. I suspect I am not putting enough
weight on the seat but putting too much weight on the pedals.
Alan
Re: Help for newbie
Rob wrote:
> I have been riding (?) a uni for 3 weeks only and need some help.
>
> I can normally ride a good 50 - 60 feet if I can get off to a good
> start (from a wall or high object) but I seem to twist a lot from
> side to side. is this normal?
Normal for unicyclists who suck, like thee and me. Put all your weight on
the seat and it mostly goes away.
>
> How should my feet be on the pedals? Does it matter?
Instep. Not really.
> I suspect I am not
> putting enough weight on the seat but putting too much weight on the
> pedals.
You are correct.
>
> Alan
Not Rob?
–
Oderint dum metuant.
–Lucius Accius, Caligula, Cicero, and current U.S. foreign policy
First, congratulations on making good progress in only 3 weeks. You sound like you’re well on the way. :0)
So you’re weaving a bit from side to side? That is how unicycles (and bicycles) stay the right way up. A perfect straight line with no weave is (virtually) impossible.
But yes, you do need to keep the weaving to a minimum, for style, and for energy conservation.
First rule: the seat is there to support your weight. second rule: the pedals are there to propel the uni. So, sit solidly on the saddle, and twiddle those pedals. MANY beginners put too much weight on the pedals.
Rule 3: Don’t try to regain a balanced position at the end of each pedal stroke or wheel revolution. Keep moving. SOME beginners ride like this: step, balance, step, balance, step, balance, as if they want to remain in control (or regain control) at the end of every pedal stroke. The proper way (in normal riding!) is to keep moving smoothly, and to make minor adjustments to your speed to keep balanced.
Imagine balancing a broom on your finger (with the head at the top!). You now want to walk across the room. You let the broom start to fall, then you follow it at just the right speed, and you cross the room smoothly. If it falls too quickly, you have to run faster and faster to stop it falling. If you move too quickly, the broom acts like an upside down pendulum, and you frantically move your hand back and forth as you try to regain control.
A unicycle is just the same. The weight falls in one direction. The support (where the tyre touches the ground) moves in the same direction. Lean too far and you have to pedal faster and faster. Pedal too fast and the wheel overtakes the weight, then you have to correct backwards… difficult!
So, in simple terms, aim for smoooooooth. :0)
Suggested ways of developing skills:
First, get used to riding up to, say, 50 pedal strokes.
Then get into the habit of stopping deliberately and dismounting, rather than riding until you fall. The psychological effect is good if you end each ride (however short) with a success (dismount) rather than a failure (fall).
Ride big circles IN EACH DIRECTION. It is tempting to stick to whichever side you find easier, then you can become a ‘one sided’ rider. This is a difficult habit to overcome.
Ride in a confined space. A hall, small carpark (parking lot) or tennis court is ideal. Having a REAL limit to the space available will concentrate your mind and force you to learn to steer. An unlimited straight path or a path round a lake (etc.) will keep drawing you on to covering distance - at the expense of developing skills.
When you can ride a reasonable distance (50 - 100 pedal strokes), steer each way, and dismount comfortably, it’s time to work hard at freemounting - that’s getting on without leaning on something.
When you can freemount, the world is your oyster!
Good luck. :0)
Re: Help for newbie
Balls of feet in pedals is the default position. Doesn’t matter too much when learning. Matters more when you start picking up speed, riding uphill, etc.
Keep reminding yourself to sit down, relax, and unweight the pedals as much as possible.
Re: Re: Help for newbie
…look ahead into the distance, not at the wheel, and sit up straight.
Re: Re: Help for newbie
I keep thinking that unicycling is a combination of strength and balance. Initially you need a lot of strength to overcome your lack of balance. As you gain in the balance skill, you need less strength.
When I started riding a short 9 or so months ago, I hadn’t done any regular exercise for around 20 years. Riding any distance 10-50M would drain all the energy from my legs. But I think practicing when your legs are drained is very important to your overall learning process. You are forced to continue by finding a less tiring arrangement. You are forced to be lazy and to look for efficiencies.
I didn’t feel that I had really learned to ride until I could go arould the track a few times. By then, I could only stay on by finding some more efficient riding style. I totally avoided even the thought of trying to practice turns for the first few months. I wanted to go for strength building, and I knew frequent dismounts from learning a new skill would only hinder this initial strengthening process.
Tire yourself out when you practice, it helps a lot.
Re: Help for newbie
getting a comfortable (air-) seat makes a world of difference with your weight on the seat issue
it’s difficult to put weight down there when it hurts
cycling shorts also make quite a difference
I found this style of riding to be one of my best practice drills. I pause after each half-pedal stroke and pause (kind of a flat-land Pecking), and the little pause lets me practice recovering my balance. It’s a bit tougher than smooth riding but really helps me find my balance.
Tim
Re: Help for newbie
Mike - thanks for the comments. They were really helpful
Alan
(not Rob)
Re: Help for newbie
Thanks for all the comments. it sounds as if I am on the right track. All I
need is perseverance and practice.
You never know, in a few years time I might have got the hang of it!
Alan (not my son, Rob)