So I just had a birthday earlier this month and got a unicycle. After a few years of asking, of course. So anyways, it’s really big. I’m great on bikes and every other wheeled device I’ve been on, and I understand the physics of balancing a single-point-of-contact device like a unicycle (self-balancing robotics hobbyist here), but I just can’t seem to mount the damn thing. It’s got a 24" wheel, which seems really really big to me. My neighbor down the street is doing machining and general metalworking so he said he’d be fine to cut down the frame a few inches for me. I figured if I put in an 18" wheel it’s gonna only drop 3" instead of 6", so chopping the frame will drop it more and keep me closer to the ground (I’m freaked out about falling, which is stupid).
Mainly I want to do a few things: first, learn a good size to adjust it to. I’m completely clueless about how to figure the right height overall, as well as how high to have the seat in relation to the wheel. Then once I’ve got the right height I can focus on mounting and starting. I don’t think I’ll care much about idling at first, just mainly getting on it. Argh. It mocks me, sitting next to me on the floor, impossibly big.
A 24" wheel is a good size for an adult to learn on, so no need to change your unicycle. To adjust the seat height, typically we tell people to put the seat height at their belly button when they are standing, and that serves as a good guide, but that’s for a 20", so add a couple inches. The other way to figure out the right seat height is to put your heal on the pedal and have your leg fully extended, so that when you have the ball of the foot on the pedal, you have slight bend in the knee when fully extended.
You should try to ride forward before trying to free mount it. To do this, either hold on to a wall, or get a couple people to help you and hold you up on both sides. Make sure you sit up straight and look forward instead of down.
I’ve started unicycling recently, so I know your feelings. For start is good to find some wall. Then put your pedals vertically. When you step on the lower pedal, nothing happens and you can comfortably put your foot on the upper pedal.
This mount should be fine for your first few days, because you will have to hold onto something anyways.
I wouldn’t recommend cutting the frame, because you just make it weaker and in the future you will miss the speed (if you aren’t interested in flat). I have 20" and wish I have bigger wheel.
At some point you will notice that you don’t need the wall, so you still can mount at the wall and then push yourself away and ride. Then (when you lose a bit of your fear of falling) you can start practising freemounting.
I was scared at the beginning as well, but there isn’t any reason to fear at the wall, because you can control your speed, mount easily and your side balance is not necessary because of the wall.