Well… Not quite. But after 3 years, I have officially made the
transition from “unicycle owner” to “unicycle rider”. After
practicing for a few dozen hours the past two summers, with nothing to
show for it, I managed to learn in just one day. Something must’ve
clicked, I guess. I can now ride down the street, which is probably a
few hundred feet. I also found that I was able to mount it without
really “learning”–I’m still not that consistent, but usually within 4
or 5 tries I can get it.
I must say, though, it’s quite strenuous! By the time I get to the
end of the street, my legs are beat. Would I be right in assuming it
will get a lot easier once I get better, so that I’m not expending all
of my energy to keep myself up? I’m learning on my 20" Torker Unistar
CX.
It will get easier; as with any new physical skill, at first you are too tense and using muscle power to control yourself. Once you’re more comfortable, you’ll be more relaxed and using much smaller muscle movements.
well done, turning will always be hard to begin with, and it will wear you out quickly too, but after a while youll relax and become more comfortable. it makes it much easier.
good luck and have fun!!
I’m still learning myself. But I’ve found that I can be pedaling straight down the street and it suddenly occurs to me I can use very little force on the pedals and still keep going. So yes, it does get easier. Hang in there.
I had a similar learning experience in that I was an owner for years before I became a rider. But I would put it up for years at a time in between my attempts.
With regard to your legs getting tired, your technique will improve and your legs will not wear out nearly as fast. The main thing is to put as much of your weight on the seat as possible. The other thing you may want to check is the height of your seat. If your seat is too low, it can feel like you are doing squats down the street. Try raising your seat so that when the pedal is in the down position, your legs is almost fully extended.
With any luck, before you know it “around the block” will turn to a mile, then a fiver, then a Coker purchase, then a 10 and 20, and soon you will surrender to uni consuming all your free time. And don’t forget about muni and trials and tricks and touring…so many possibilities just around the next corner.
Congratulations on having things click, getting to that next corner. Now keep pedaling.
Thanks all for your positive comments and suggestions. I’ll
definitely stick with it–I’ve come too far to turn back. (Besides,
you know how I feel about turning…)
My next challenge will be idling. And then hopefully in a year or so,
I’ll be clamoring to get a better unicycle… But now I’m getting
ahead of myself.
On Mar 26, 9:43 am, jzprince...@gmail.com wrote:
> Thanks all for your positive comments and suggestions. I’ll
> definitely stick with it–I’ve come too far to turn back. (Besides,
> you know how I feel about turning…)
>
> My next challenge will be idling. And then hopefully in a year or so,
> I’ll be clamoring to get a better unicycle… But now I’m getting
> ahead of myself.
>
> Jeff
Whoops, wrong account. I’m the original poster, in case anyone got
confused.
Today I finally “rode” my uni, as opposed to making practice sprints up or down our block.
Until recently, it felt like I was a rookie running back struggling for first down yardage, but then I managed some breakaway success, and today was like a kickoff return to score from my own end zone.
I just kept going at the end of our street today and followed the bikepath along the river to a nearby park and then home via neighborhood streets. The total distance was probably just shy of 2 miles, and I had my share of dismounts, but I freemounted with 99 percent success and it felt like a game winning run to me.
On May 22, 7:18 am, cathwood
<cathw...@NoEmail.Message.Poster.at.Unicyclist.com> wrote:
> jzprince...@gmail.com wrote:
> > Thanks all for your positive comments and suggestions. I’ll
> > definitely stick with it–I’ve come too far to turn back. (Besides,
> > you know how I feel about turning…)
>
> > My next challenge will be idling. And then hopefully in a year or so,
> > I’ll be clamoring to get a better unicycle… But now I’m getting
> > ahead of myself.
>
> > Jeff
>
> A year or so, I think you’re being a bit optimisitc. I bet the money
> drain starts long before that
>
> –
> cathwood
>
> Cathy
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Ah, quite a bit! I ended up getting another unicycle in mid April. I
went with the Torker 29" based on recommendations from here.
WAY TO GO. It also helps to recruit people to learn to ride with you too, so you have riding buddies. Good luck and keep pedaling! ! !
Oh yea, Cathy is right, you might as well start saving, because most people can’t own just one.
Tis very true. Within a year of riding (learning and everything), I can count 6 unicycles i’ve owned. Four 24" (three of which are gone), one 29er (which i still have, actually ordered 102mm cranks for it), a coker (which i traded off for the 29er after I had my accident on it) and a small 16" for the roommate’s kid. I can’t count how many upgrades i’ve ordered. I’d say roughly 5 KH fusion freeride saddles, two T7 bars, new pedals, cranks, leg armor, etc…it builds up fast, but sure is fun when you get it!!
