Hello.
Now that I can finally go forward (not necessarily straight) and turn a little I
would like to learn to ride backwards but am not sure how to start. Does anyone
have any advice?
Thanks.
Re: How to go backward?
In a message dated 2/27/00 9:40:05 PM EST, chris@bitstream.net writes:
<< Now that I can finally go forward (not necessarily straight) and turn a
little I would like to learn to ride backwards but am not sure how to start.
Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks. >>
the way I learned to go backwards was first I learned to idle, and I just
started to pedal backwards. One rotation at a time, then two, and eventually a
whole bunch. It also helps when someone does it with you(thanks Tanya and Tammy
Marsh :D).
Johnny T 
Re: How to go backward?
At 08:28 PM 2/27/00 -0600, Chris Hansen wrote:
>Now that I can finally go forward (not necessarily straight) and turn a little
>I would like to learn to ride backwards but am not sure how to start. Does
>anyone have any advice?
There’s been lots of good advice written here.
I find that going up a slight incline helps as well with getting used to
backward riding.
But check the terrain first, though, and be ready for surprises. Crank the “I’ll
bail right now!” trigger duration a few notches shorter. The backward version of
a face plant does not have your shoulders/arms/hands to absorb shock. Land wrong
and, well, it won’t be fun.
I’ve had no such problem, but came awfully close once.
Oh, and the list-constipation I’ve been having with this list seems to have
passed. Thanks to all who wrote with advice and/or suggestions.
Rick Plavnicky plav@earthlink.net from my box to yours mailto:plav@earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~plav/
Re: How to go backward?
Wow. You must really believe your health insurance plan will take care of you.
Learning to ride backwards on a Coker before you can even idle is not the safest
way to learn. 
I prefer the method where you first learn to idle and then begin add additional
backward revolutions until you can ride backwards for 10m or more. Using this
method you learn early on how to stop and how to stay in control. Getting out of
control and bailing while going backwards is not good. I used this
“super-idling” method when I was learning to ride backwards. Now I just have to
learn how to turn.
john_childs
>From: “Kip Koski” <ki@sopris.net>
>
>I learned how to go backward before I ever learned how to idle ( still cant). I
>also learned on my Coker. THe way I would do it is this. I would ride up to a
>wall perpendiculary(?) and steady myself on it. Then I would lean backwards
>quite a bit and push off. It forced me to either pedal or fall. The key though
>is to lean backwards. Just like its tough to go forwards while leaning
>backwards its very difficult to go backwards leaning forwards. And always keep
>pedaling. If you stop pedaling your not going to go anywhere, thats obvious but
>Id say important. “Chris Hansen” <chris@bitstream.net> wrote in message
>news:KRku4.2100$%A3.47692@ptah.visi.com…
> > Hello.
> >
> > Now that I can finally go forward (not necessarily straight) and turn a
> > little I would like to learn to ride backwards but am not sure how to
>start.
> > Does anyone have any advice?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> >
>
>
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Re: How to go backward?
At 08:28 PM 2/27/00 -0600, Chris Hansen wrote:
>Now that I can finally go forward (not necessarily straight) and turn a little
>I would like to learn to ride backwards but am not sure how to start. Does
>anyone have any advice?
Riding backwards feels strange at first - it is not something that you have
already become accustomed to from riding a bike.
I’d recommend that you get fairly proficient riding forwards, and then start
learning how to idle. Idling will help you get used to the feeling of having
your pedals going backwards and will build up your confidence. Once you can
idle, practice idling a bit and then going backwards a full rev of the wheel and
resuming idling. When you can do this consistently it is time to try going
backwards two revs and then three and etc. Try not to go too fast, keep a steady
pace just like you do when you ride forward and extend your arms to help with
balance. Another way is to mount next to a fence and then ride backwards along
it, putting your hand out now and then to check your balance. I did this for
about a week until I got really used to the sensation and then I moved away from
the wall and did it in the open so I could also work on the transition from
forward riding to backwards riding.
-Rick Bissell
Re: How to go backward?
“Chris Hansen” <chris@bitstream.net> wrote in message
news:KRku4.2100$%A3.47692@ptah.visi.com…
> Hello.
>
> Now that I can finally go forward (not necessarily straight) and turn a little
> I would like to learn to ride backwards but am not sure how to
start.
> Does anyone have any advice?
>
> Thanks.
I’m at your stage (maybe a bit further, as I can ride forward and turn w/ no
problems). Right now I’m just working on going forward, rock once backward, then
continue going forward. I’m only about 20% successful right now, but I’ll
improve. Then, add another rock (if you want to learn to idle) or another
backwards pedal (for backward riding). Good luck, and have patience!
Jake Cooper
Re: How to go backward?
Chris Hansen wrote:
> Now that I can finally go forward (not necessarily straight) and turn a little
> I would like to learn to ride backwards but am not sure how to
start.
> Does anyone have any advice?
lots of advice but the main thing is to look forward at a none moving point and
concentrate on it. Do not look down!
Roger
The UK's Unicycle Source <a href="http://www.unicycle.uk.com/">http://www.unicycle.uk.com/</a>
Re: How to go backward?
I learned how to go backward before I ever learned how to idle ( still cant). I
also learned on my Coker. THe way I would do it is this. I would ride up to a
wall perpendiculary(?) and steady myself on it. Then I would lean backwards
quite a bit and push off. It forced me to either pedal or fall. The key though
is to lean backwards. Just like its tough to go forwards while leaning backwards
its very difficult to go backwards leaning forwards. And always keep pedaling.
If you stop pedaling your not going to go anywhere, thats obvious but Id say
important. “Chris Hansen” <chris@bitstream.net> wrote in message
news:KRku4.2100$%A3.47692@ptah.visi.com…
> Hello.
>
> Now that I can finally go forward (not necessarily straight) and turn a little
> I would like to learn to ride backwards but am not sure how to
start.
> Does anyone have any advice?
>
> Thanks.
>
Re: How to go backward?
Chris,
I worked hard on idling starting first with my right foot down and then
worked on idling with my left foot. When I could idle on both sides
equally well I would take forward rides in 1/2 rev increments stopping
to idle left and right. Once that was comfortable I learned to double
idle starting and stopping on both feet. The double idle will give you
your first taste of riding backwards a short distance. It also trains
your muscles to manage the pedal pressures generated by starting and
stopping forward and backward. With a little practice you'll find
yourself going beyond the usual double idle backwards stopping point to
the next idling position (1 rev back). Practice both feet. Next you can
go back 1-1/2 revs and so forth until you can continue backwards without
stopping. I found being able to idle on both sides allowed me to sneak
up on the backwards riding by always having a home position near by if I
didn't feel I could go the extra
1/2 rev. I never used any supports with this method. Knowing how to idle is a
big help in my opinion and well worth the time spent learning it. Good luck.
“The Muniac”
Re: How to go backward?
On Sun, 27 Feb 2000, Jake Cooper wrote:
>“Chris Hansen” <chris@bitstream.net> wrote in message
>news:KRku4.2100$%A3.47692@ptah.visi.com…
>> Hello.
>>
>> Now that I can finally go forward (not necessarily straight) and turn a
>> little I would like to learn to ride backwards but am not sure how to
>start.
>> Does anyone have any advice?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
>I’m at your stage (maybe a bit further, as I can ride forward and turn w/ no
>problems). Right now I’m just working on going forward, rock once backward,
>then continue going forward. I’m only about 20% successful right now, but I’ll
>improve. Then, add another rock (if you want to learn to idle) or another
>backwards pedal (for backward riding). Good luck, and have patience!
I’m just slightly ahead of you, Jake. I can do a half revolution backward about
95% of the time or better now. Most of the time I can do 2-3 before I start
losing it and have to start moving forward again (or dismount). I’m looking
forward to learning to idle a lot longer, it seems like a fun and useful skill!
I got some good practice at this last weekend when I went for a ride with my 3
year old son. He rode his little bike with the 12" tires and training wheels,
and he rides reeeeeeeaaaaaallllllllly slooooooowly. I was on my 24" unicycle and
had to do something to keep from running over him, so I’d do a half revolution
pedal backwards and back forward again when I’d start getting too close to him.
It was fun and good practice for me too. Wished I’d had a 20" though, 'cause
he’s really slow.
One thing that helped me with the half backward was working on learning to mount
that way. I usually take a hop when I mount so that the wheel on the unicycle
doesn’t really move until I’m on (just use my foot on the pedal to keep it in
place), but lately I’ve been putting more pressure on the pedal with my foot and
letting the unicycle roll back under me before I proceed forward. That gives me
the feel of a half idle as I mount. Seemed to help me, you might give it a shot.
Greg
Re: How to go backward?
I’m also at this stage. I can free mount (about 1/2 of the time on the first try
- almost everytime when I’m warmed up), go forward, and do U-turns either
direction. I have started practicing idling using the technique described
earlier this week (hanging on to my garage door). I have also tried to enter an
idle from riding forward as slowly as possible but find that the pedal backward
part immmediately triggers the “danger Will Robinson” dismount reaction. I am
sure the rocking back and forth hanging on - letting go - hanging on approach
will pay off within a few weekends though.
On a separate topic, I just returned from a trip to Japan. While there, I
attempted to buy non-green Miyata Uni saddles (per the suggestion of one of the
newgroupers). What I was finally told by the factory (through the hotel’s
concierge) was that Miyata would only sell the red or blue saddles with new Unis
attached. =;^( I also heard from one of the stores there that carry Miyata that
the red and blue saddles were a little smaller (for kids) than the Bianchi green
ones. Never got confirmation on that though. Oh well…
-Keith Williamson
Jake Cooper wrote:
> “Chris Hansen” <chris@bitstream.net> wrote in message
> news:KRku4.2100$%A3.47692@ptah.visi.com…
> > Hello.
> >
> > Now that I can finally go forward (not necessarily straight) and turn a
> > little I would like to learn to ride backwards but am not sure how to
> start.
> > Does anyone have any advice?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> I’m at your stage (maybe a bit further, as I can ride forward and turn w/ no
> problems). Right now I’m just working on going forward, rock once backward,
> then continue going forward. I’m only about 20% successful right now, but I’ll
> improve. Then, add another rock (if you want to learn to idle) or another
> backwards pedal (for backward riding). Good luck, and have patience!
>
> Jake Cooper
Re: How to go backward?
I look down but mostly i turn my head 3/4 back . I think the best advice is some
real general advice–
practice a lot take it slow -baby steps
strange thing… when im riding backwards, i can do this cool trick- i can wind
up and do an instant 180 - to a standstill. i sometimes can pause there for 3
seconds or so. … then i ride off forwards
but when riding forwards i cannot do the ‘instant’ wind-up 180… to ride
backwards. it takes a stop->twist->ride motion that is VERY unfluid
any tips are appreciated
-chris if there are any uni riders near anaheim california lets get together and
tear up the beach trails “balboa to huntington backwards”
“Roger Davies” <Roger.Davies@octacon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:006901bf81bc$61b2b640$2c00a0c0@p333…
> Chris Hansen wrote:
>
> > Now that I can finally go forward (not necessarily straight) and turn a
> > little I would like to learn to ride backwards but am not sure how to
> start.
> > Does anyone have any advice?
>
> lots of advice but the main thing is to look forward at a none moving
point
> and concentrate on it. Do not look down!
>
> Roger
> --------------------------------------------
> The UK’s Unicycle Source http://www.unicycle.uk.com/
> --------------------------------------------