Helping a new uni-owner

I had a neat experience Saturday evening.

A friend of mine has just bought a cheap 24" unicycle and invited me over for the evening (OK, really it was a thing where our two families got together, but we kind of took it over for unicycling).

It was nice to be able to help him with some early practice tips, but I am severely lacking in the coaching department, having had to mostly self learn. I have seen unicycle clubs say they can teach someone to unicycle in as little as 10 hours. HOW?

On a side note, it was fun to try a different unicycle. I don’t think I would go for one like he got, though. I weigh 245 lbs and I was afraid of breaking the flimsy looking wheel (not to mention almost bottoming out on the rim).

-Mandell

Re: Helping a new uni-owner

Greetings Madell,

I’ve tought myself and both my children how to unicycle and now I’m teaching my wife. IMHO there’s no real trick to it and the time it takes a rider to learn depends on the rider more than anything else.

In our case, we all started on a deck railing until we were comfortable enough in the saddle to do a revolution or two unaided by the railing. Next we went to one person spotting out on the open road. As a helper I just remind the rider of a few basic riding techniques and let their own body/brain learn how to deal with the unicycle. The tips are:

Put all your weight on the saddle (not the pedals)
Sit up straight
Look straight ahead
Pedal smoothly

I always spot with one hand and at some point eveyone launches into the abyss and does a few pedal strokes. Over time the number of pedal strokes increases until they’re riding all over the place. In the case of my wife, she now has 11.75 hours in the saddle and has managed 4 meters or so on a couple of occasioms. She is right on the verge of getting it and it’s pretty exciting.

Cheers,
Jason

Re: Helping a new uni-owner

(yes I’m quoting the same thing jason)

Well, I think your thinking in 10 hours straight. The way I’m thinking about it is maybe trying to ride for about 30 minutes in one day, then 30 minutes the next day, etc… rather than learning from 12:00 to 10:00. Then you’d be done in 20 days, right? Get it? Hehe… jason’s also right, in the sense of -how- to learn it quickly. I’m just saying how I think you’re thinking, and how I am thinking. I think. :smiley: