Learning a giraffe?

Riding Advice
1

I began unicycling almost a year ago. I’m not great at it, but I can ride up to a 29" and I can free mount and idle on my smaller ones. I’m working to improve my skills.

One thing I really want to do is ride a giraffe, so I bought myself a Nimbus performer giraffe. I have it built to 5 feet. It looks really intimidating though and higher than I thought.

I’ve heard that giraffes are actually easier to ride because a higher position gives more control over balance.

I’m wondering what other’s experiences with giraffes are? Has anyone tried learning to free mount from day one? I’m thinking this might be the best approach rather than trying to ride it first. Does this sound do-able?

2

I recommend finding a wall with a corner, or a light post next to it, and using that to get on. Put the pedals in the normal position you would for a free mount, one pedal at the ver bottom. Have the wheel and saddle touching the wall near corner/lamp post. Then stick your non dominant foot into the frame to stop the wheel from rolling, and use that to push your second foot up onto the bottom pedal. Put all your weight on that pedal, remove your foot from the wheel, and try to sit on the saddle. If the saddle is too high for that/catching your shirt, put your foot on the top pedal and then get on the seat.

Try idling in place for a while, until you feel somewhat comfortable with it. Then try riding along the wall back and forth. At some point, you will feel ready to ride unassisted, as with a normal uni. So begin letting go of the wall a little bit, here and there. Do this until you can ride without the wall at all.

I disagree with the notion that giraffes are more balanced than regular unicycles. Perhaps it could be different from other riders, but for me, when I get on the giraffe and start pedaling, it feels very strange. It’s kinda like a single geared bike in a low gear normally meant for uphill bike riding, or the opposite of a Schlumpf. It also keeps wanting to fall forward. Then again, I don’t ride the giraffe as much as I should, so maybe its a beginners thing. I can’t help you with the free mount as I’ve never managed to do it, but I imagine it’s the same just without holding onto support.

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3

I’ve ridden the Giraffe many times. It’s kind of like what the previous speaker described. For me, it felt like riding a mountain bike in a gear that’s too low. Somehow, everything takes longer and is more time-consuming. In the end, I felt like I was riding the Giraffe more for the spectators than for myself. Compared to a 20-inch or 26-inch Muni, I found the Giraffe rather boring in terms of the riding challenge. However, I lived in a mountainous area back then and rode the Giraffe a lot uphill and downhill. That had its own unique charm back then.

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4

Thanks for the advice, but I’ve broken it already :disappointed_face:. It landed against a wall and buckled the bash guard. Now it’s catching on the chain. Any advice appreciated.

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5

Maybe a pliers or wrench can bend it back but likely the best option would be to remove the guard and straighten on a flat hard surface (anvil) with a hammer.

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7

I managed to bend it back. I used an adjustable spanner to get a grip of it. I’ve managed to get up onto the giraffe using a wall. It feels so nerve wracking though. I think my next step is to practise falling forwards off it and catching the unicycle. For the free mount, I can only get one foot on the pedal so far. This could take a while!

8

No. Learn to ride it first.

There are reasons to mount with a pedal not at the very bottom.

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9

So, think about what is happening here when he steps on his (left) pedal. He puts his whole weight on the pedal, and the giraffe is completely locked toward the pole: the wheel is trying to move forward toward the pole, and the rider also pushes the top of the frame forward. You can see that he does not even touch the uni with his hands – it is comfortably locked.

If you put your pedal (left in this example) down to 6 pm, the uni will be unstable and free to move back and forth. Mounting is still doable, but why make it challenging to begin with?

The same channel shows some advance freemounts. The pedal is down there, but it is not quite at the very bottom either.

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10

I learned to ride a giraffe to do a performance at a wedding. The first video shows the freemount I learned. I don‘t know if I could still do it 20+ years later, but back then I thought it wasn‘t too difficult; think I learned it in one practising session.
If I was @esm I wouldn‘t bother with walls and lamp posts for too long.

Love the end of the second vid, by the way. You know you‘re riding a giraffe when you‘re higher up there than a guy on a Penny Farthing :smile:

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11

Thanks for the replies. I think I should maybe try using a lamp post or something. It probably is best to practise dismounting it first. The freemount videos make it look so easy, but taking your foot off the tyre is scary. I just know I will fall a lot before I get it. Let’s just hope it’s not too painful :worried:

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If my memory serves me right it‘s surprisingly stable. Of course you still have to do the mount rather quickly. But unlike freemounting a regular uni, you can use your arms and hands to significantly help to mount a giraffe.
Maybe it also helps to just imagine you’re climbing up a ladder.

13

The uni will fall a lot. I have 2 Torker giraffes and 1 Savage that were bent by local club members while learning to freemount. Your Nimbus is stronger and will probably survive the abuse.

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That’s why I went for the nimbus. There was a cheaper one but it had a disclaimer saying that the frame could be easily bent if the unicycle falls. And I’ve heard of that happening to many giraffe owners.

15

When he so very carefully mounted the giraffe, it surprised me with how much easy he just took off. I once sat on a 1.5m giraffe. Not very high, but it certainly felt very high. I just chickened out can climbed down without doing any pedalling.
Also seeing him just jump down, makes my 50-yr-old knees hurt in my mind.
It could be very cool to go for a ride on one though, but if I’d ride it where I do my normal unicycling, free-mounting would be a must. I think I have enough unicycles to have enough fun with.

16

Huh, I do not understand the pedal positioning here, but it works:

17

why does he feel more comfy riding backwards than forwards?

18

The 3-wheeled one looks impressive. And it must be easier to ride than the 2-wheeled one, where forwards/backwards are inverted!

19

Wow, that’s one fine jump mount!

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We’ve had some dry weather, so I decided to try the giraffe again today. I’m using the pole of a road sign to mount. This is a scary part because it’s easy for the seat to slip off the pole while mounting, and the unicycle fell a few times (no injuries or damage thankfully). I sat on the unicycle for a while and then I took the next step, which was to practice dismounting. I dismounted forwards a few times and gained some confidence. I then decided to practise dismounting backwards. This felt scary but I managed it a few times. I’ve still not ridden it yet, but I’m trying to gain more confidence. I think the hardest part is overcoming fear.

21

Random thoughts.

If one has a normal uni with same wheel size as giraffe, ride it to “feel” wheel inches for reference.

Riding a larger wheel mostly, then tall with smaller wheel will feel very different.

Do not free mount until very comfortable riding, same for idle!

A very best case learning set up would be 1 better 2 tight ropes, slack lines mounted comfortable high enough once seated on tall uni.

Years ago in a gym a very skilled young rider wanted to try my tall, 6 foot uni.

He was afraid so I thought about the cheat ropes on either side.

It did take a few tries to get slack lines mounted both in height and width.

Then using 2x4 wood block as wheel stop.

He used this to gain confidence being higher

Off the ground.

Did not even need a half hour until could ride unassisted!

This idea was seen and used by many others in the juggle club both for tall and normal uni learning!

I will suggest to once ok riding, do many forward AND rear intensional dismounts just to be ready for U P D, falls!

Try to catch uni to help damage control.

Imho tall uni riding is just a matter of concentration and getting over the fear of falling. I like others do find more time to balance on a tall.

I find having the seat a touch lower can help the getting on the seat and tilted so rear

Is lower.

Pay attention to chain tension ,tire pressure.

Choose nice level clean surface ,gym, tennis court, ect to build skill removing surface variables.

oww

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