What is your experience of unicycling? Learnt as a teenager 43 years ago, on a uni my friends dad made. Started again at 55 when I realised just how far unicycles had come since I learnt, the first picture I saw was the 29er Hatchet and that was that. Really I am interested in trail riding/muni nothing to serious as I am approaching 60. I have 6 unes, a cheap 20" starter uni, 20" 26" 27.5 & 29" Hatchets and a 24" Oracle.
My skill are ok, just spent the last 3 years learning to ride my M40 flick flock free wheel uni. I did learn free wheel, howerver I was never able to mix the 2 diciplins, the skils needed are so different. Decided to sell the M40 and go back to fixed riding, its so much easier .
Last year had a big operation to remove a tumur from the sole of both feet, no riding for a year and very little walking and my leg muscles have withered away. I have started riding again, but its like starting from scratch all over again. Really frustrating as no matter how hard I practise I just cannot build up any leg muscle staimina again.
Still as keen and uni mad as ever, and just enjoy whatever I can manage.
Been posting in the group for a couple of months so thought it eas about time to introduce myself.
Did I learn to ride and coast in free wheel @58 ?you bet I did. I could consistently coast about 10-15m, the furthest approx 35m
@slamdance the protective gear ? Fell off mounting, one day maybe 1-2mph and had my worst uni injury ever. Was wearing an open face helmet, although it took most of the force, my face followed through and hit tarmac, put 2 teeth through my top lip, a couple of broken fingers and a split helmet.
Simple the older you get, the longer it takes to heal and that usually means no riding for a bit.
Also much needed when your learning to ride a free wheel une, the injury potential is significantly higher, so I never ride without it. Always shin pads, elbow pads, gloves, padded shorts and a helmet.
Plus if I want to try something challenging, I dont worry to much about hurting myself, I can just chuck myself into it. The body armour is excellent, I am greatful for it everytime I fall off and its taken some serious punishment over the years. I can just dust myself off and get back on.
Youth: I have no money for gear. Screw it, I’m still going for it. Welp that hurt. Shake off minor to moderate pain. Major issues you can heal through it.
Older: Some disposable income. Do I value the money or no pain more? Why am I asking this question? Gear up numpty. I don’t heal like I used to. All those youthful hurts have come back with a vengeance.
When I started unicycling 10 years ago I had a helmet and wristguards and tried shin guards. But as I got more experienced, I stopped wearing those. Only in the forest when off-roading will I wear a helmet, but last week when riding on the cycle path through the forest, I didn’t even wear a helmet, nor do I wear one when riding along the river on the asphalt cyclepath.
Only once at the start I had a nasty fall, which was purely out of stupidity and I won’t do that anymore. Learned my lesson.
Generally I don’t ride fast and don’t care about speed. Every time I am about to lose balance and feel I would be able to get the balance back, I just hop off.
Time will tell I guess. I suppose mentally I fit your youth bucket
