Title says it all, is there any shame in walking up the hill?
I ask because with the off season in full swing, I’m thinking more and more about doing a big ride this summer that I’ve been thinking about doing for the last year or so.
The ride involves bagging 5 summits in one trip spanning 2 or 3 days.
I’m concerned about the vertical though. I like to think of myself as a pretty solid climber, but this trip would be pretty extreme. On some of my previous climbs, I find myself burning out on the ride up, and the ride down becomes a monotonous grind back to the parking lot.
What I’m thinking about doing, is getting a pack that I can attach my uni to, and hiking most of the up hill to save the fun factor of the ride. I’d also make better time. Then I can buy a full face, smoke a bunch of Peyote, and call myself a down hiller.
BUT, is there any shame in that? Am I less of man for even thinking about doing such a thing?
Thought’s please…
Also, if anyone could recommend a pack that you can strap a uni to, and has a hydration system, please share…
In my view, I consider a race to be the fastest from A to B. It’s a shame in walking when you should be running, but unicycling race rules do not permit running.
If it helps, Kris Holm and Nathan Hoover did the same thing, and had it filmed. It’s a question of what you’re trying to accomplish and whether the cost of riding uphill is worth it.
On our local weekend rides here, we’re typically doing two or three loops of relatively short downhills and uphills. It doesn’t make much sense to walk the uphill as you’ll miss half of the ride. But if I were to do the Cannell Plunge (32 miles with over 7000 feet of descent) there’s no way I’d ride up.
The ride is not a race, strictly a massive ride to do because I want to bag some peaks and ride a ton of downhill.
We’re talking 70 miles total, with over 15000 vert.
There’s multiple ‘opt out’ points, where if I decide I’ve had enough I can call for a ride, but if I take 3 days, that’s 23 miles/day and 5000 feet/day.
It’s not shameful if no one is around to see you do it. When I hear people I always jump back on my uni quick to ride past them. I get tired of peoples silly comments when I am resting. “Can you ride that?!” “Why aren’t you on it?” “Your bike is broken!”
When I want to reach a high peak (e.g., in the Alps), there is often the option to ride gravel roads up to a certain altitude, depending on the mountain. I always try to ride such roads and then start to walk as soon as only hiking trails are available.
I also think eating is the right thing to do, and i would stay away from even mounting a uni for several hours after that, imho, just my thoughts. Just heard about those cacti, never actually ate one or saw one. But from what i’ve heard i’d prefer mushrooms, but again, that’s not even remotely connected to unicycling or mountan unicycling at all.
How did we end up in this dark alley??
Who cares. About walking, hmm, as lonmg as you feel good about it (walking or riding/hoping/trying without avail) it is up to you. Do you really decide one what you are doing and how you are doing it based on the judgement of others?
:) (you can decide for yourself where to put one of those into the text above)
My simple rule is: “Never walk when you can ride”. But if a hill or a certain type of terrain is beyond one’s ability to ride, then there’s no shame in some “hike-a-uni”. But the more you train, the better you’ll get at it. As we know, hill climbing requires fitness and technique, both of which can be improved over time with regular training.
Oops! You’re right, peyote is eaten. Mixed up my drug references.
BYC, i don’t do anything without the judgement of others.
I posed the question because i was originally planning on riding all of the vertical, but reality set in once I actually added up the numbers and i dont think I’m capable.
I may also just scale back the ride to something more attainable, that I could more comfortably climb.
I haven’t read the thread yet, so I’ll post blind, read later, and then get embarrassed.
First: Unicycling is meant to be enjoyed, not something that brings on shame.
Second: Just getting out there is a success. Today I walk the hill. Next month I walk the hill. Maybe next year I walk the hill. Perhaps I’ll always walk the hill… but maybe not. Maybe I ride it once and the elation of years of frustration will be pretty sweet.
Besides, one thing is for certain. Riding and enjoying the ride, whatever you do, is far better than not riding because of what you might not be able to do.
I pick my battles all the time. There’s a local trail with about 4 difficult sections. I’ll pick 3 of the 4 and push myself on them. If I try all 4 I’ll be drained and not have as enjoyable a ride. If I have to walk a section to have an enjoyable ride… hey, walking in the woods is nice too.
Some sessions might be sessions to work on climbing, others might have a different focus.
Also, all my “wow, you are the man” comments from mountain bikers come when I’m walking. I guess they don’t want to stop to chat (distract) if they see me busting out a hernia during a climb. If I’m resting or walking they’re more apt to dish out the compliments. Sometimes that makes me feel low - I’m not the man! I have to walk. but their comments are sincere so I have to take it at face value and let the comments motivate me to try harder.
Now to read the thread and feel inadequate in the presence of all our resident monster climbers.
This issue is easier for me because my style of riding dictates that I cannot be too fatigued and stay balanced on my unicycle. On a steep ascent I can choose to either dismount at times and walk up for a while or stop and rest, particularly at the top before the descent. If it’s steep enough to make me walk I usually figure it’s better conditioning to keep moving. Also I’m often racing the sun and it’s faster to walk. However, I’m neither a racer nor an athlete and I’m out there to have fun (first) and get some exercise (second). Why would you burn out your legs to miss the funnest part of the ride? My suggestion is since this is your first time doing this ride to be conservative and walk more. Then you can always set a loftier goal for next time.
Of course you have many more miles then me but I look at the overall miles i plan on doing for the ride, and then strategically plan my breaks so i can get either up a ascent and or make it through the entire ride without boinkin.(hit the wall)
good luck and keep us posted, video will be required of your journey!
Is there shame in walking? Not if it’s wheel walking.
People laugh at you if you ride a unicycle, or else they sing your praises, or maybe they just sing the theme of “The Entrance of the Galdiators.” They don’t react as much if you just carry a uni, though I don’t know what effect that difference would have on the shamefulness to which you refer. I wouldn’t worry about it too much. The day you took off that suit and tie, put away your briefcase and climbed aboard that one-wheeled bike, you pretty much gave up on most commonly accepted forms of respectability anyway.
(you can decide for yourself where to put one of those into the text above)
I guess they don’t want to stop to chat (distract) if they see me busting out a hernia during a climb. If I’m resting or walking they’re more apt to dish out the compliments. Sometimes that makes me feel low - I’m not the man! I have to walk. 
but their comments are sincere so I have to take it at face value and let the comments motivate me to try harder.