I’m working on level 8, and I can visualize how to practice most of the skills but looking for some feedback on two:
Backward-one-foot (or Toofeno, if you are trying to invent a new language Haven’t practiced this much yet. Can anybody offer some advice on ways to break this down? Simply removing a leg while riding backwards seems pretty dangerous/scary for a beginner. Did anyone learn using a wall for support or an assistant? I have ample access to walls and rails, but limited access to an assistants. I’m using 4" cranks, which I love, but wonder if 5’s would make learning easier.
Hand Wheel Walk:
I just watched a tape of NUC2001, and also saw some footage of Sem. He looked like a teenager in the video. I’ve never seen anyone do this live in person though. In all the videos, the performers seemed to go right into a flying V posture, legs in the air, stomach on seat. Is this harder/more advanced than doing it with feet on the fork?
Just to prove I did my homework :)… Jeff Lutkus posted about this on 9/11. Now I understand why I missed this one. Jeff how are you doing with this? Moritz Hahn offered the following brief advice to his query:
Put your foot on the crown of the fork like normal onefoot. Start with slow onefoot. Then go down and start “walking”. Hmm, that sounds easy Maybe this will be the first time wearing a helmet for skills.
John Foss gave the following advice:
For the skill levels, yes you have to get in and out of the skills from normal riding position. The best training method I’ve heard of is to have a
spotter. Since you can’t hold on with both hands on the tire, someone needs to guide you with two hands on or around your waist.
Since I usually didn’t have access to a convenient spotter, I did two other ways:
Stomach on the seat with feet lightly dragging on the floor (very hard on the stomach)
Push tire with one hand, and use other hand on the wall. This is probably the hard way.
But don’t listen to me, because I never finished learning it and lost interest!
I learned to one foot backwards from one foot idle. It’s really a lot like starting one foot forward out of an idle. When you’re first getting the hang of it you need to push really had on the first stroke. Once you get moving it isn’t that difficult to keep going. Starting from riding backwards would be scary.
I don’t think a wall will help you much for hand wheel walk. It’s good to start from the wall but holding on with one hand as you go is as, or more, difficult than going two handed. The stomach on seat idea is interesting. I doubt it would be easier or less painful though.
Backwards spin is interesting. A helmet would be good for it as wall. You can lose control quickly.
level 8 for dummies
poeple who compare their individual unique talents those of others are a dummie anyway.
handwheel walk
Ask yourself: if you legs are NOT hanging, can you use them to correct your balance or not?
bw-1ft-(/ww):
Do not use the wall! You will brake the speed you really need.
For this skill any assistance is
A dangerous since each step you have no wheel contact.
B bad since you really have to do it yourself.
Nycjoe@aol.com writes: >I’m working on level 8, and I can visualize how to practice most of the >skills but looking for some feedback on two: > >Backward-one-foot (or Toofeno, if you are trying to invent a new language > Haven’t practiced this much yet. Can anybody offer some advice on >ways to break this down? Simply removing a leg while riding backwards >seems pretty dangerous/scary for a beginner. Did anyone learn using a >wall for support or an assistant? I have ample access to walls and >rails, but limited access to an assistants. I’m using 4" cranks, which I >love, but wonder if 5’s would make learning easier.
I think the larger cranks are unnec, but they may help a bit. Basically,
what I have been doing is some advice I saw here earlier: idle one foot,
then practice (holding onto a canopy pole is fine) going from the idle to
one backwards rev. When that’s ok, use a wall as a ‘support.’ Then get off
the wall. Then go for two revs toofeno next to the wall. Then off the
wall. Etc. I am up to 4 revs and am close to mastering the skill. > > >Hand Wheel Walk:
Can’t help ya there!
David
Co-founder, Unatics of NY
1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
@ Central Park Bandshell
1:30 start time after 11/1/01
forum.member@unicyclist.com writes: >just my opinion: > >- level 8 for dummies >poeple who compare their >individual unique talents those of others are a dummie anyway.
ok, whatever. > >- >handwheel walk >Ask yourself: if you legs are NOT hanging, can you use >them to correct your balance or not?
Well, 1-foot forward is lots easier with the non-riding foot ON the frame
than off, so I imagine the same can be true for hww. > >- bw-1ft-(/ww): >Do not use >the wall! You will brake the speed you really need.
You don’t need any special speed. Joe and I can ride one foot forward
very slowly, and we teach that skill as a slow skill rather than the way
we both learned (which involved riding fairly fast and then removing a
foot) > >For this skill
>any assistance is > A
) > dangerous since each step you have no wheel
>contact. > B
) > bad since you really have to do it yourself.
No offense, but Leo, are you able to ride toofeno? It wouldn’t seem so
from this advice.
David > >– >leo
Co-founder, Unatics of NY
1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
@ Central Park Bandshell
1:30 start time after 11/1/01
>> poeple who compare their individual unique
>> talents those of others are a dummie anyway.
>
>ok, whatever.
poeple make too much a big deal about the levels, and use it to compare themselfs with each other.
They forgot they can be creative in finding their own ways to execute tricks. Like Joe said himself in general only artists choose the other way. In exception of Joe, the competitors only look to each other and too less are looking any further than the levels.
>handwheel walk
>Ask yourself: if you legs are NOT hanging, can you use
>them to correct your balance or not?
Well, 1-foot forward is lots easier with the non-riding foot ON the frame
than off, so I imagine the same can be true for hww.
>
But thats because it makes it easyers to force your upperbody on the right place. In case of the hand ww this is not so nessacairily.
>> You don’t need any special speed.
>
correct, the speed is not importance, but a stable speed is.
Last year, when I found out after 37 years of unicycle riding that there was a USA and skill levels and evaluations of those levels, I got really pumped. For me, it is competition strictly with myself. I have learned more about unicycling and advanced my skills more in the last year than in all of the previous 37 years combined. I am comparing myself to what I could do yesterday and the rate of change of skill level that I had yesterday. Please don’t think I am trying to prove that I am better than you at some skill or trick. I have really enjoyed progressing like this and I think most others kind of feel the same way about it.
forum.member@unicyclist.com writes: > - level 8 for dummies > poeple who compare their > individual unique talents those of others are a dummie anyway.
I agree it’s counterproductive to compare oneself to others, but not sure
what the idea of “people comparing their individual unique talents” has to do
with this post. I think that, for most in this newsgroup who aspire to
master unicycling skills, the “Levels” ranking is simply a useful list of
stuff to work on. It lends structure to a practice routine and gives
everyone a common reference point. It is just a starting point, not the end
result. Plus, it’s fun!
As for hand wheel walking, I lowered my seat this morning as far as possible
this morning and found it much more conducive to learning hand wheel walk.
With the seat way down low, and stomach on the seat, I can
drag my toes on the ground or lift them up
easily reach the wheel with my hands and
acclimate my stomach to the idea of supporting my full body weight.
Okay, I have to agree. The levels have also their benefits. This is where they initialy were ment for. So luckaly there are exceptions.
But still I think poeple make too much a big deal about it, like the patches (to sew on clothes). Or when you met other unicyclists who first tell you their level, and later on their name.
> I agree it’s counterproductive to compare oneself to others,
It is, but people watch the Olympics anyway
> “people comparing their individual unique talents”
was stated by someone earlier, but this is the opposite of skill levels.
Unique talents are things that only you do. There’s always room for more
unique in unicycling. That’s what makes it such an interesting activity.
But the skill levels are designed to give people a meter to compare
themselves to other riders–within the narrow bounds of what the levels
cover. They are not an overall rating of unicycling quality, but more a
rating of skill for doing commonly known tricks on flat ground.
The levels are not for everybody. If you want to be a professional
performer, you can use them as a tool to point you toward some skills, but
for a really good show you should focus on stuff that’s not on the levels
(and skills an audience thinks are amazing, like jumping rope).
The levels are for people looking to compare themselves, challenge
themselves, or to know what skills are available to try.
As for sewing on patches, I think that’s a lot of work. To each his or her
own. The Unicycling Society of America sells them to whoever wants to do it: http://www.unicycling.org/usa/merchandise/
forum.member@unicyclist.com (Leo) writes: >Okay, I have to agree. The levels have also their benefits. This is >where they initialy were ment for. So luckaly there are exceptions. >But still I think poeple make too much a big deal about it, like the >patches (to sew on clothes). Or when you met other unicyclists who >first tell you their level, and later on their name.
I don’t know what the conditions are by you, but the last thing
unicyclists want to talk about anywhere I have been is their level – in
fact, outside of our serious club memebrs, most have no clue about them
(if I ever bring it up in the first place, and certainly that would not be
right away). And I surely don’t know anyone who makes a BIG deal about it.
I could understand your complaint only if you were associated with a
really well-established club where members asked about levels in order to
learn a little about your riding – it’s a convenient short-hand.
The patches are great as an inspiration to kids and other new learners. No
one over 12 has them in my group (except me!). I have had several parents
tell me that the patches made their kids really proud and were the
inspiration for further practice. These kids also have fun with non-skill
items, but the levels are a great way to learn important tricks.
So thus far I have seen no evidence to back up anything you’ve said about
levels.
David
Co-founder, Unatics of NY
1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
@ Central Park Bandshell
1:30 start time after 11/1/01
One of the first lines on my web page is “skill level 4 rider as of…” some date. So, I not only talk about it, I broadcast it. Again, it has to do with me and not anyone else. It doesn’t make me better or worse than any other rider or person. I’m not much of a joiner and I don’t make a particularly good “serious” person.
As for patches, I have all of my patches and I’ve been 12 years old four times so far. I just haven’t sewn them onto anything yet. I need a cool Power Puff sweatshirt or something equally fashionable. To what do you plan to attach yours?
I don’t think I could ever get any skill level badges, personally. I do not like competition. I dislike it so much that I don’t even like to think of improvement as competition with myself.
In fact, I wonder if I will ever be a level 1, even unofficially? While I can now ride on slopes, grass, some rough places, and while I can make 90 degree turns fairly quickly, I still cannot freemount and I cannot dismount gracefully with the cycle to the front. I’m more of a “hop off and insta-grab the cycle behind me” type.
As for freemounting, I have yet to come close. I prefer sign/pillar/wall mounting, and curb mounting (which I have finally started doing with consistency).
Anyway, guess I’m just rambling here … skill levels are cool, and I also like looking at the list just for ideas.
And do they sell PowerPuff Girls jackets? I want one!
I only read the contents of the skill levels some time after I’d learnt many
of them.
Consequently I didn’t learn them in order I just copied tricks that I’d seen
at Juggling conventions and looked cool.
I learned to wheel walk well before I could one foot and learned to coast a
couple of years before gliding.
I learned tight turns, figure-eights and backwards riding so that I could
play hockey.
I learned bunny hopping so that I could skip on a giraffe and to help ride
off-road.
I learned flick-up mounts so that I could freemount whilst holding clubs.
I learned still-stand and horizontal idle so that I could unicycle through
crowds and stop dead without hitting anyone.
I forgot how to two-foot wheel walk after I learned to one-foot wheelwalk!
I learned to hover left foot so that I could club pass on a unicycle 'cos my
right leg would get knackered.
I only became aware of the relative percieved difficulty of tricks when
entering the Standard Skills competition at Unicon.
So maybe I might have learnt tricks more efficiently if I’d followed an
ordered progression but I didn’t treat unicycling like a text book - I just
tried to do tricks and skills that I was inspired to practice. Some tricks
like coasting practice require a lot of determination to practice as there
is very little in the way of early rewards.
I’d conclude that the skill levels are a good idea but you don’t have to
stick to them to enjoy unicycling.
forum.member@unicyclist.com writes: >As >for patches, I have all of my patches and I’ve been 12 years old four >times so far. I just haven’t sewn them onto anything yet. I need a >cool Power Puff sweatshirt or something equally fashionable. To what >do you plan to attach yours? > > >David Stone wrote: > > I don’t know what the conditions are by you, but the last thing > > unicyclists want to talk about anywhere I have been is their level > > – in fact, outside of our serious club memebrs, most have no clue > > about them… > > The patches are great as an inspiration to kids and other new >learners. > > No one over 12 has them in my group (except me!).
Hey Harper. My patches are sewn on a jeans jacket and make me THIS cool! I
should get out my old Apollo lunar module patches for the back of the
jacket, too!
David
Co-founder, Unatics of NY
1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
@ Central Park Bandshell
1:30 start time after 11/1/01
Working on the levels helps me to see my weak areas. One of my weaknesses
is backwards turns. I’m strong going backwards in a straight line, but light
on turns. (Too choppy) In shooting for level 8, I realized, I have to go
back and work diligently on this, or I will never be able to do a backward
spin. As others have said, the levels present a well rounded list of
exercises. They are a means, not an end.
Joe
In a message dated 2/13/02 5:18:50 PM Eastern Standard Time, leo.white@tesco.net writes:
> I only read the contents of the skill levels some time after I’d learnt many > of them. > > Consequently I didn’t learn them in order I just copied tricks that I’d
seen > at Juggling conventions and looked cool. > > I learned to wheel walk well before I could one foot and learned to coast a > couple of years before gliding. > > I learned tight turns, figure-eights and backwards riding so that I could > play hockey. > > I learned bunny hopping so that I could skip on a giraffe and to help ride > off-road. > > I learned flick-up mounts so that I could freemount whilst holding clubs. > > I learned still-stand and horizontal idle so that I could unicycle through > crowds and stop dead without hitting anyone. > > I forgot how to two-foot wheel walk after I learned to one-foot wheelwalk! > > I learned to hover left foot so that I could club pass on a unicycle 'cos
my > right leg would get knackered. > > I only became aware of the relative percieved difficulty of tricks when > entering the Standard Skills competition at Unicon. > > So maybe I might have learnt tricks more efficiently if I’d followed an > ordered progression but I didn’t treat unicycling like a text book - I just > tried to do tricks and skills that I was inspired to practice. Some tricks > like coasting practice require a lot of determination to practice as there > is very little in the way of early rewards. > > I’d conclude that the skill levels are a good idea but you don’t have to > stick to them to enjoy unicycling. > > Leo White (Cheltenham, England)
> Hey Harper. My patches are sewn on a jeans jacket and make me > THIS cool! I should get out my old Apollo lunar module patches > for the back of the jacket, too!
I think the coolest place to sew them patches (if you’re going to sew them
at all) is onto your cycling shorts. Where on the shorts is up to you!
> Hey Harper. My patches are sewn on a jeans jacket and make me > THIS cool! I should get out my old Apollo lunar module patches > for the back of the jacket, too!
I think the coolest place to sew them patches (if you’re going to sew them
at all) is onto your cycling shorts. Where on the shorts is up to you!
> Hey Harper. My patches are sewn on a jeans jacket and make me > THIS cool! I should get out my old Apollo lunar module patches > for the back of the jacket, too!
I think the coolest place to sew them patches (if you’re going to sew them
at all) is onto your cycling shorts. Where on the shorts is up to you!
> Hey Harper. My patches are sewn on a jeans jacket and make me > THIS cool! I should get out my old Apollo lunar module patches > for the back of the jacket, too!
I think the coolest place to sew them patches (if you’re going to sew them
at all) is onto your cycling shorts. Where on the shorts is up to you!
Haven’t practiced this much yet. Can anybody offer some advice on ways to break this down? Simply removing a leg while riding backwards seems pretty dangerous/scary for a beginner. Did anyone learn using a wall for support or an assistant? I have ample access to walls and rails, but limited access to an assistants. I’m using 4" cranks, which I love, but wonder if 5’s would make learning easier.