I should say so… assuming they are super strong balloons and didn’t just burst due to the pressure differential they’d just fall to the surface, however the guy has bigger problems than a UPD as he is about to asphyxiate and balloon up himself due to all his bodily fluids boiling — it was good while it lasted though ![]()
Hi slamdance, I think I am one of a large group who would really love to read about your technique, because sometimes we like to try and encourage others to learn. I am sure your ideas are good and precise and guided by a solid appreciation of motion mechanics. So please give us your ideas!
Just trying to guess, it must involve a preliminary discussion of principles, and an appropriately sized unicycle (whatever that might be) with a tire not pumped up too much (to keep it more “attached to the paving), and a railing and a backstop on the ground. Maybe a person helping with a hand around shoulder or something (although helpers can be a hindrance sometimes). Presumably very slow and steady progress without trying a full wheel revolution until balanced small partial revolutions are second nature. And a smooth surface with the learner paying visual attention to the “correct” zone ahead. I guess if falls are to be avoided, then some sure-fire method of dismounting should be learned (hmm). And I guess the learner should have full safety gear and nice tightish fitting shoes without loose laces.
Yes, I learnt ages ago without a helmet or anything by just pushing off from a post, so it won’t help me, but maybe it would help me teach someone properly. I have a feeling that teaching is actually harder than learning! As I said, I’m looking forward to your systematic approach!!
Last Sunday I went to a unicycle workshop, where I was the oldest and there were several kids that were much better than me. But there was another guy who was still learning to ride. I let him hold my hand to guide him to the other side of the gym. I think holding someone’s hand is better than practicing along a wall. To my mind you get a better feeling for being on top and in the center of the uni where with a wall you would basically be out of balance.
Having an arm around someone’s shoulders I only do with my daughter who was very afraid.
I don’t really believe in being able to learn to ride unicycle without falling. Even though I can ride for several kilometers, every now and then I do lose my balance. In that case I am happy to have UPD’d so often in the learning process, so I can catch myself most of the time while staying on my feet.
yeah, I agree - UPDs are inevitable. Maybe a learner should practice ways to “step off” before even trying a full pedal revolution?
+1 ![]()
I slightly disagree.
Read my name
So… after 47+ posts into a thread about a safe and great method of learning “HOW TO RIDE A UNICYCLE”, are there even going to be hints about actually doing that? Is this more of a fable where you get to the end and realize “The real treasure was injuries and the clowns we met along the way?”
Welcome @Frizzen ! You’re very right, this topic isn’t really about the title anymore. @slamdance you originally looking for interested riders, in particular beginners, and I think that many people are wondering the method that you have in mind.
@slamdance I feel it is a bit pointless to have this thread for ultimate beginners other than telling them not quit. As long as you’re persistent, you will nail unicycling, but instead of reading the forum at this stage, you should be with ur unicycle practising. All the other threads about riding here on the forum already contain heaps of advice.
I understand the peeps on the forum are from all over the world, but maybe you can fing some beginners who live around you that you can have sessions with.
I teach unicycling to total beginners and in my opinion you can’t teach unicycling without falling. It’s part of unicycling, even for ‘expert’ riders. The first thing I teach is how to dismount.
Tbh I feel like it would be dangerous to learn to ride without learning how to fall. I see this within unicycling too, when freestyle riders enter a trials comp but don’t know how to bail a line if it goes wrong. I see some really awkward falls that are easily avoidable with some practice.
same for me! I started doing this when teaching how to ski: first learn to fall! then you’ll will lose the fear of falling! while skiing or unicycling falls are part of the fun! (afterwards I added Aïkido falls to my own skills)
Berm Peak - always a pleasure!
Im just learning and appreciate any tips, Im currently riding along a fence. Was there any actual method shared here?
No.
I spent a lot of time on a fence. My worst spill was backwards, I couldn’t get my feet off of the pedals in time. I switched to less grippy sneakers and that seemed to help. My pedals are probably fine, but if you really wanted to make sure you had good pedals, some folks here recommended the Look Trail Grip pedals. I got some wrist guards and a helmet.
After that, consistently practicing seems to be the biggest trick. As for the OP’s idea for no falls … no clue. As for unplanned dismounts, I wind up stepping off a lot, but no scary face-plant stuff.
Maybe the title should be changed to “Wondering about a hypothetical learning method theat may include tightropes, ladders, harnesses, trees, asteroids, and balloons.”
Fences and walls are good, but a doorway, narrow hallway, or someone on the other side supporting you can be a little more effective.
Maybe try using some tightropes, ladders, harnesses, trees, asteroids, and balloons. Thats what we’ve been talking about in this thread anyway.
I learned 2,5 years ago. My final problems where: whenever i left the wall to try to ride freehands the try was over after less than a second. So then get back to the wall, mount again do the next try. That was very frustrating for me.
In that situation ski-poles saved me. They come with you and whenever you need support you just use the poles and continue riding.
Another problem with the wall i had, was that i did not have enough space to wave with my arms to keep balance.
To take care of the shoulders when using poles, prefer to step down instead of trying to stay on no matter what.
Anyway have fun, its worth to try! I will never forget when it worked out for me for the first time and since then i am kind of addicted to this sports.
…just stay in your armchair and keep talking about it.