Well, here it is - my Uni journal - For anyone who is interested!
OK, so day 1
I got home from work, left my car out of the garage (which is covered in carpet tiles), went for a bike ride and got my Uni as soon as i got back.
This days Uni’ing only went on for about 30mins.
I first placed myself between a cabinet and mum’s car, mounted myself (i found the rollback mount easier) and just stayed there balancing for a while, after not long starting to fall off.
I kept at it and got back on, starting to rock trying to keep my balance while gradually trying to rely less on my supports - i figured at about this point that this could be a long journey if i dont get alot of practice.
Finally i just thought ‘bugger it’ and tried to ride, i got half rotations every now and then but bailed right away - after doing this for a while mixed with my rocking i decided it was time to pack it in for the night.
Day 2
This time i decided to try a different method i had read on the net: Getting 2 chairs and setting them up with the 2 backs facing one-another with me in the middle.
I just started to rock back and forth in between the chairs at first, i couldnt really decide if this was a better idea than the car/cabinet method or not, but hey, i guess i’ll keep at both and see what works.
This was another 30 minute session and i really didnt get past the rocking - although i will say i felt my balance on the Uni had improved dramatically as i could graudually lose contact with the chair and balance by myself (not for long, but longer than the previous day.
Tonight i am going out for tea so wont be able to fit much practice in, but i am aiming for a quick razz before its time to go.
Jono, you can do whatever you want, but most people swear by slowly navigating up and down the length of a fence. You might want try that, or you’ll be stuck knowing how to idle (rocking back and forth in half-revolutions), and not knowing how to ride*. Whatever you do, good luck though, and welcome to the forums.
*I think someone did that with their Coker (big 36-inch wheel). I think it was Blake (podzol on the forums)…I’m not sure. Was that you, Blake?
Oh, thanks, i never thought of it like that
I had a slight plan in the back of my head to take a trip down to the local school on the weekend and give the ‘fence method’ a crack.
I had only really attempted it the way i have been as from reading on the net it seemed the right thing to do!
Ta
J
I’ve heard of people learning next to all sorts of things…two chairs, a car, mailbox, nothing at all, etc. But I’ve learned using a fence and a sidewalk and I’ve helped 2 of my friends learn with the same process.
Day 3
Ok, this was pretty much a non-event (possibly not worth a post but anyway).
During the day i was considering giving it a total miss as my upper leg muscles were a bit sore, but decided a little go was better than none!
I got home from work, got changed, pulled out the Uni and missioned down stairs.
Back to the chairs, after about 15minutes of rocking and bailing many times it was time to get ready (just as well or my legs woulda been useless today).
All in all a pretty worthless session but i guess every little bit helps.
Tonight i plan to put in about an hour and see how far i get - hopefully make some decent progress.
You might try using a stop block behind the wheel so that it doesn’t roll backward. Balancing sitting in place and balancing moving forward are completely different.
When you don’t use the stop block by the time you’re on and balanced you’re a bit tired already before you even try to move forward. with a stop block, you can be on and ready to move forward without spending all that energy first.
Just be sure to get the pedals in a good position when it’s at the block. Otherwise you aren’t going anywhere.
Day 4
So today i started out as i had pretty much finished yesterday - In between the chairs just rocking/balancing.
After a few minutes i decided to try and go along while holding a rafter going along the garage roof - soon got sick of this.
I decided to go back to the chairs and rocked on the spot for a while - got no-where quick!
I went and got 2 more chairs and placed them a few feet in front of the others and started to ride one pedal rotation in between the 2 while holding on, after a while this was easy and just got repetitive.
OK, if i wanted to get to ride this thing i decided it was time to go balls out…
The second set of chairs got moved out a bit wider, i began to mount in between the first set and just go for it, for quite some time this resulted in an almost immediate bail, but after some time i was going one full rotation unassisted then bailing with the occasional 2 rotations.
This went on for quite some time and i feel this was the most productive session i have had - also the longest - this was about an hour and 15 minutes.
One thing i did notice towards the end of my session was that i think as i get going my right hand seems to wanna hold the seat - is this normal? or should i try and stop this happening?
Also, i think i have realised that it is better to just get on and go rather than trying to balance then take off (thanks ThisGuyIKnow!!!)
I look forward to putting in maybe 2 hours tomorrow and see how much more i progress
Till then, laters!
Day 5
My session today went for about an hour.
I started out between the chairs and just trying to ride as soon as i mounted again, this seems to be working OK.
Things i think i have realised today are:
Dont go to slow - no speed = no momentum = your not goin anywhere!
Dont try to go too fast - it just makes you poo-shoot the Uni.
If you have a bad mount and feel uncomfortable just get off and re-mount - nothing worse than feeling ‘not right’ from the word go!
Start moving from your mount slow - too fast and you’ll just mess it up.
Make sure you lean forward to start moving (i know this one is stated everywhere but just thought i’d put it in) - just tryna pedal is useless!
Ride like the seat post is going straight up your @ss.
I got to 2 full pedal rotations more frequently today but never got past this - i plan to keep at it tho
I might have another crack this arvo but its about to rain and i doubt the family will wanna move their cars out of the garage again!
Lets hope the rain stops!
If anyone has any further tips/hints, PLEASE POST THEM!!!
Jono
Just went and read it up to the turning part - very usefull;)
Tomorrow i will go and add in some attempts to change a few things and see how i go.
If i can make progress at the same rate as you i will be STOKED:D
Day 6 Session 1
I had in my mind that today I was going to make some more progress, and that I did!
I decided to get out of the garage (my confort zone) and try the great outdoors – I grabbed my Uni and headed out the back near the BBQ (see photo).
I started to mount in front of the BBQ and didn’t get too far (2-3 pedals) before I bailed, this went on for about 15 minutes (I was getting a bit further more frequently than yesterday so this was all good), then BINGO, I started to get more distance and my balance started to improve!
I could now make it from the BBQ to the grass!
This session was about an hour and a half of getting to the grass occasionally and I could feel it becoming more second nature.
I decided to give it a break – I had to do a few things before lunch and I was getting hungry anyway. The concrete I decided was a good move for these reasons; 1. Change of terrain, 2. This will be most likely what I will ride on in the long run (mentioned in other posts), and 3. Good to try different areas around the place to see what’s best.
Session 2
After lunch I went for a road ride (45-50 ks) and was pumped for another go when I got back – went inside, grabbed the Uni and out the back I went – more of the same distances, but, I started getting to the little rock garden so had to bail – didn’t wanna kill myself landing on rocks!
I went on doing this getting more frequent distances for about 30 mins – I then decided it was time to call it a day.
Tomorrow after work I plan to bail the back yard and hit the drive (if it isn’t too dark – smoother concrete and longer distance (no bloody rock garden!).
All in all today was a huge step for me and I feel I am finally getting somewhere! It was an awesome feeling knowing that I am now starting to cover some distance
I am pumped for another session and will keep you posted (if you care, and if not this is a good record for me!)
Yeah, he has pm’d me before… we plan to meet next time he is down my end of the state
Unsure about the stand-up… cant say i have ever taken an interest in it but things can change
Day 7
Today i hopped on the Uni straight after tea and hit the drive with 2 chairs to help me mount.
Today i reached about 15 meters every now and then, with 10 meters becoming a frequent occurance
I am starting to get used to correcting my errors with my hips and can see my balancing improving.
The drive was a good move as there is nothing in my way, only thing is it could be a bit wider - but that will be my weekend mission - down to the netball court at the local school.
I am really starting to enjoy this and look forward to being able to balance and ride for a decent distance:D
Oh yeah, todays session went for bout an hour.
J
Well mill_mobile, i must say that you’re going to be an inspiration for those who would want to learn the wonders of the unicycle like what dudewithasock unicycle journal was to me.
