# How to learn faster
**URL:** https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050
**Category:** Riding Advice
**Created:** [May 24, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050 "2010-05-24T19:03:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@deadbeatpope](https://unicyclist.com/u/deadbeatpope)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/21 "2010-05-26T22:41:31Z")
Someone suggested to me that riding with a shopping cart as a “walker” is a good learning aid. I actually heard this just hours ago and it struck my curiosity. Its too late for me but if you try it report back. 😃
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### Author:  [@mbalmer](https://unicyclist.com/u/mbalmer)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/22 "2010-05-27T15:55:50Z")
> [@deadbeatpope](#):
>
> Someone suggested to me that riding with a shopping cart as a “walker” is a good learning aid. I actually heard this just hours ago and it struck my curiosity. Its too late for me but if you try it report back. 😃
Hmmm. I wonder if that would be helpful for learning one footed riding? I must find a shopping cart and try it. I always wanted to be a “bag lady.”
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### Author:  [@deadbeatpope](https://unicyclist.com/u/deadbeatpope)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/23 "2010-05-27T17:23:13Z")
> [@mbalmer](#):
>
> Hmmm. I wonder if that would be helpful for learning one footed riding? I must find a shopping cart and try it. I always wanted to be a “bag lady.”
If you try it please report back! 😃
About the bag lady thing…It is never too late! 😛
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### Author:  [@kb1jki](https://unicyclist.com/u/kb1jki)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/24 "2010-05-27T19:13:29Z")
> [@mbalmer](#):
>
> Hmmm. I wonder if that would be helpful for learning one footed riding? I must find a shopping cart and try it. I always wanted to be a “bag lady.”
one footed attempt with a shopping cart, smelling of mad dog 20/20… it’s a plan!
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### Author:  [@Clint\_May](https://unicyclist.com/u/Clint_May)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 8:32am UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/25 "2010-05-28T08:32:21Z")
> [@mbalmer](#):
>
> Hmmm. I wonder if that would be helpful for learning one footed riding? I must find a shopping cart and try it. I always wanted to be a “bag lady.”
Yeah, that would work for 1 footed riding. A small garbage can with wheels also works pretty well, although it’s much less stable.
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### Author:  [@deadbeatpope](https://unicyclist.com/u/deadbeatpope)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 8:53am UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/26 "2010-05-28T08:53:20Z")
> [@Clint May](#):
>
> Yeah, that would work for 1 footed riding. A small garbage can with wheels also works pretty well, although it’s much less stable.
I tried to roll my trash cans in on the uni…much less stable - don’t think that would help a learner. Shopping carts are stable on 4 wheels and heavy.
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### Author:  [@Danny\_Colyer](https://unicyclist.com/u/Danny_Colyer)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/27 "2010-05-28T14:22:31Z")
> [@ezas](#):
>
> Two days is nothing. Post up at the end of five days, bet you are a having at least some success by then.
I learnt in two days. But I did practice for about 16 hours on the first day and at least 6 hours on the second, and I had the advantage of being a very fit young man.
If you keep at it you’ll get there. Determination is key, and you seem to have that.
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### Author:  [@Awesomeness](https://unicyclist.com/u/Awesomeness)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/28 "2010-05-28T17:47:41Z")
> [@ezas](#):
>
> Two days is nothing. Post up at the end of five days, bet you are a having at least some success by then.
> [@paulfolio](#):
>
> Stick with it man! I’m on Day 5 of learning and progress has been slow but I find it extremley fun! Keep your head up, the other day I got up to about 8 pedal strokes before falling.
Well guess what? I’m at the end of day SIX and I can go five pedals one out of twenty or so times. The rest of the time I get one or two. That doesn’t sound like success to me.
PS: Paulfolio, I’m jealous… ☹ I wish I could do that…
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### Author:  [@tapeman](https://unicyclist.com/u/tapeman)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/29 "2010-05-28T19:20:18Z")
Youll break through soon. Are you twisting? Thats what helped me.
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### Author:  [@ally1776](https://unicyclist.com/u/ally1776)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/30 "2010-05-28T19:52:31Z")
> [@Awesomeness](#):
>
> Well guess what? I’m at the end of day SIX and I can go five pedals one out of twenty or so times. The rest of the time I get one or two. That doesn’t sound like success to me.
Seriously if you can do five pedals you can do more. I think you are thinking/over thinking about this, get on and enjoy it! Try just practicing five pedals, and don’t put pressure on yourself to ride 500 feet. Don’t worry about how much you can improve today. I think if you just try to enjoy the five pedals the sixth one will come much easier. I’m no expert but I know when I over think I tend to fail when I think and relax I do much better. I have good days where I improve and I have days that I can’t do even the easiest thing, but I think those days I’m just pressuring myself too much. Good luck and just try to relax and go for it (the five pedals and be happy) without pressuring yourself.
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### Author:  [@kb1jki](https://unicyclist.com/u/kb1jki)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/31 "2010-05-28T21:13:56Z")
at the point where I was going 20-50 feet max, I got a text. I flipped open the phone and read it, then I started typing and sending… I had to have ridden 400 feet! by putting my mind on auto pilot, my brain was able to focus on riding! you’re still at a few to half a dozen pedal strokes, but when you start going farther a distraction may help. this isn’t a logical process, it’s a primal brain motor skill. try as you might to think about it, but it’s truly practice that get’s the job done and taking your mind off the task may help.
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### Author:  [@ezas](https://unicyclist.com/u/ezas)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/32 "2010-05-29T02:11:38Z")
Stop counting rev’s and stop counting days is my advice.
Some unsolicited advice: Make sure you are relaxed before each attempt. Shake your arms out, roll your neck around a couple of times and take a couple of deep but relaxed breaths and then do your next try. You might be surprised how much tension you are letting build up.
Two things I have noticed with some beginners:
They tend to pedal too slow, or they don’t pedal smoothly. Keep those pedals moving and try to get your speed up a bit and balance will be easier.
The 2nd thing I’ve seen is that some people think that there is some magic balance spot you can sit in to ride (I call it ‘bike syndrome’). Nope, riding a uni is a more active thing. That’s why people say flail your arms, and twist.
But most of all, relax and have fun, and before you know it you will be.
As you move along in your riding you might like to move over to the: Beginners “today I” thread: [The Beginners "Today I..." Thread](https://unicyclist.com//t/the-beginners-today-i-thread/105209/1)
It’s a long running discussion where new. and some not so new, riders share their accomplishments no matter how big or small.
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### Author:  [@trickcyclist](https://unicyclist.com/u/trickcyclist)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/33 "2010-05-29T06:58:24Z")
> [@kb1jki](#):
>
> Sadly, I learned a roll back mount before the static mount. It helped me idle, but off road it’s BS! and I can’t learn the static, I can jump mount and roll mount with limited success, but on technical terrain -forget about it. the static is the way to go, and despite pushing off the bent leg and hopping up, I can’t get far enough forward before I straighten the left leg. I am strongly considering having a friend punch my quad every time I fail, not to motivate me, but to weaken the leg that I muscle too much. any other ideas?
1. Lean way forward with your arms right out in front of you before you hop on.
2. Make sure your mass is central over the seatpost before you hop.
3. Learn to juggle on the uni - you’ll be getting on and off so frequently to pick up balls that it will become automatic.
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### Author:  [@kb1jki](https://unicyclist.com/u/kb1jki)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2010, 7:20am UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/34 "2010-05-29T07:20:17Z")
> [@trickcyclist](#):
>
> 1. Lean way forward with your arms right out in front of you before you hop on.
> 2. Make sure your mass is central over the seatpost before you hop.
> 3. Learn to juggle on the uni - you’ll be getting on and off so frequently to pick up balls that it will become automatic.
Thank you, this afternoon will be reserved for practice!
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### Author:  [@Awesomeness](https://unicyclist.com/u/Awesomeness)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/35 "2010-05-29T15:39:48Z")
Okay, today, I had the exact same results as yesterday except for one magic moment– I totally forgot about unicycling while I was talking to my brother and I went like 15 feet. I fell because I realized I was unicycling… And I couldn’t do it again…
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### Author:  [@mbalmer](https://unicyclist.com/u/mbalmer)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/36 "2010-05-29T16:22:15Z")
> [@scott ttocs](#):
>
> +1
> [@Awesomeness](#):
>
> Okay, today, I had the exact same results as yesterday except for one magic moment– I totally forgot about unicycling while I was talking to my brother and I went like 15 feet. I fell because I realized I was unicycling… And I couldn’t do it again…
…and then you will do it again. Then, you will do it a bunch of times. Then you will suddenly not be able to do it at all and you will think, “what the heck?” it is all part of the process. It’s frustrating, but it makes the accomplishment that much sweeter. Don’t compare your progress to those who claim to get it in a couple of days. That is rare (and probably not always accurate).
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### Author:  [@ezas](https://unicyclist.com/u/ezas)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/37 "2010-05-29T17:08:17Z")
Way to go! 15’ is awesome. I think most people have had that ‘im doing it, I’m riding, and fall off moment’. Congrats man, you are no longer trying to ride a unicycle. You are now learning to ride better and stay up longer.
and +1 on what Mbalmer wrote.
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### Author:  [@ally1776](https://unicyclist.com/u/ally1776)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/38 "2010-05-29T17:11:41Z")
Awesome, see you relaxed and weren’t pressuring yourself. As mbalmer said you will do it again, then you won’t be able to and then you will surprise yourself again. I totally agree also don’t compare yourself to someone else, just do what you can and know you are getting it. Congrats on the 15 feet!
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### Author:  [@johnfoss](https://unicyclist.com/u/johnfoss)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/how-to-learn-faster/111050/39 "2010-05-29T21:35:13Z")
> [@Awesomeness](#):
>
> I fell because I realized I was unicycling… And I couldn’t do it again…
Ah, the early breakthroughs. Notice how your conscious mind can work against you. It’s hard to relax your body by telling it to relax. Don’t over-think it. Just ride.
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