Any tips for how to idle in one spot? As soon as I stop rolling over I go.
Thanks
I find that when I transition from riding to idling, I’m in a hard backwards lean. then my first backward pedal stroke brings the uni back under me.
Practice just the stop and start without idling in between, then you’ll get the feeling for it.
Are you having trouble with idling, or just the transition? Plenty of tips on here about learning idling, though it largely comes down to the same thing as learning anything else on a uni - practice, practice, practice! If it’s the transition you have trouble with, then as 4umfreak says - you have to lean back a lot further than feels natural, as you’re actually setting yourself up to fall backwards before recovering. Not an expert at this at all - just learning to idle myself, though now I can manage 20 or so rocks most of the time I’m working on the transitions, so I understand the issue - it’s an act of faith to lean back enough to make it work.
I’m just trying to figure out how to idle if i get stalled on a pedal roation. I was trying to stay on by being able to idle and not fall off and have to start over.
A question for the expert idlers - can you idle as long as you want?
Ah - just realised you’re the same person I replied to on the other thread - so you can’t idle, and you’re struggling with riding even a short distance? I don’t think idling is going to help you all that much - though there are people on here who seem to have learned to idle before learning to ride, or at least at the same time (personally I’ve found learning to idle a lot harder than learning to ride). The trouble is, when you stall on a pedal rev with the pedals straight up and down, not only are you not in a good position to start idling from, the very reason you’re stalling like that means your chances of idling from there are minimal - the thing is all uni riding is dynamic, and at that point you’ve just assumed a static position!
I’d recommend ignoring the idea of using idling - or indeed any other trick - to help you out, and just concentrate on getting your pedalling better so that it doesn’t happen. There are no secret shortcuts.
OK, thanks for the reply. always lookin for an easier way with the uni.
Once upon a time, I was in a TV commercial shoot with two other members of my old unicycle club. I was the guy on the giraffe. They just had me idling in the background, with some other “window dressing” circusy characters, for most of an 8-hour day. I wasn’t up there for the whole day, but most of the time except for lunch.
I don’t want to do that again. 
Idling is actually easier on a giraffe, but only if you’re used to riding a giraffe. I don’t recommend you learn it that way…
I didn’t know that, but I can agree that learning to idle my 5’ giraffe is way easier than my 26" muni. It’s a good way to force practice freemounting the giraffe as well!
8 hours! Phew, my legs would be wrecked!
That’s good news - I can almost idle my muni. Though I guess it’s more of a problem when you can only almost idle on a giraffe!
I am not an expert, but my best record idling is over 100+ rocks. In my experience with almost anything UNI related, it boils down to how often you practice and how long you have been riding. If I go without idling for a while, then sometimes I fall off after 20-30 rocks. If I have been practicing on a regular basis, then I’ll usually get 40-50 rocks consistently.
As others have said, there are no shortcuts with UNI. However, don’t let this discourage you. The great thing about UNI is that you are pretty much guaranteed to get better the longer you keep at it. A month or two from now, you will most likely be able to ride in a straight line for as long as you want without stalling.
Hi guys,
I like the discussion. Has anyone ever first learned to idle on a 26"? I have a
26" that I have been riding for about 5 years and cannot for the life of me idle on it. I wonder if its worth trying a smaller unicyle, like a 20 or a 24" just to learn to idle. Id hate to buy another unicycle just for that and still not be able to idle.
Otherwise Im having a great time riding about 20 miles a week.
Cheers
To answer your question, yes, it is worth it as long as you don’t spend too much money. Most advanced riders seem to agree that learning to idle on larger wheels is more difficult. The 20 inch seems to be the best choice. Once you master the technique on the 20, then you will have a greater chance of success on the bigger wheel.
I paid $69 for an Avenir DLX on Amazon with free shipping and I haven’t broken it yet (after 1.5 years). It has helped me to learn several techniques like “seat out in front” riding and hopping, idling, riding backwards, and riding over small drops like a curbside.
I find learning stuff much easier on my 20 - hence why I’ve justified to myself buying an expensive trials one to replace the learner one I’ve broken! Even though I’d choose to ride the 26 when going for a ride, I always work on techniques on the 20 first before transferring them over to the 26 (the only thing so far I’ve found easier on the bigger wheel is a rolling mount). Also a lot easier to jump back on a smaller wheel when you keep falling off trying something new.
In a way it’s actually been kind of interesting being without a 20 for a week, as it’s forced me to work more on my idling on my 26, but I’d have really struggled if I’d started learning on that.
My torker pro 20" tire is too smooth, my 26" cranks are too short now. The only successful back and fourth I’ve had has been with my 24" muni, wide tire with pretty low pressure. Tires that like to roll with ease makes it very hard for me. Buy hey I’m just learning too.
When I get my Trials 19" I’m going to run low pressure on that wide tire and I think that will be the key.
Hello Everyone,
I’m sure this will be an absolute SHOCK to quite a few people here, but…
I’m up to 155 rocks…
… so I think I can say I’ve just about got this idling thing. 
As I am perched there counting away, I’m thinking about how it works. I believe I have read advice that says something like, “When the uni starts to fall, you turn it in the direction of the fall.” I found that to be confusing.
My observation is that I am ANTICIPATING the direction the uni wants to go… and I am making corrections prior to the uni getting too far out of control. For me, anticipating what is about to happen (so I can fix it before it’s too late) seems to do the trick.
Thanks Everyone!
ONE week of school left before summer vacation!
57ur* 155! that totally rocks!
Well done on 155 - my pb is still stuck at 53 (strangely set on the 26" muni, even though my average is lower on that - my best on the 20" is 50). Thanks for the tip as well - I’m guessing that’s maybe what happens when riding a uni normally, as it seems so effortless when rolling - something to think about.
Though I have to admit I’m still working on the principle of being able to do the big corrections needed when it gets out of shape, and learning the finer control from there - which is much the same as what happened when first learning to ride IIRC. On that basis I just need to do a bit more practice on moving the wheel hard to the left, as I don’t have good control going that way, and always fall off that side - if I’m falling to the right I can move the wheel back underneath me fast enough to cope.
Well Done 57UniRider that is great.
Not at all…we all have absolute FAITH in you