Having read some great learning threads on here, i thought I’d add my two cents worth.
I am getting a uni for Xmas, but I’m not allowed it until the day.
Fortunately an experienced unicyclist, Kevin Callaby, lives less than a mile from me and has very kindly lent me a uni to practice with. I’ve also found out he could have done a great deal for me on a new one, Doh! Still, there’s always the next one!
So, this afternoon. I picked up a Hopply 26" trainer, set at the right saddle height for me and Kevin even showed me how to get on it without face planting. Luckily I had to get gone as the kids were due out of school any minute and I had to be home for my daughter, so I couldn’t try my first mount with an audience.:o
As soon as I got back I hopped on (successfully I’ll add) and rode down the 8m alleyway to our back gate. Granted it has a fence either side and I had 3 UPD’s along the way, but I made it! I later spent another 30 mins going back and forth the same stretch with a brief period where I was actually “travelling” along only touching the fences to fend them off. It must have been for nearly 2 metres!
Anyway, it’s dark and raining now and my legs are like jelly so the funs over until tomorrow. I’m having surgery on December the 12th, so it’s a race against time to learn as much as possible in such a short time.
Only 20 minutes today because my legs still hurt from yesterday. Big improvement tho! I can mount with only one hand on the wall for support and managed a few 8m trips with only mild bouncing from wall to wall and no stopping. At the end I tried a couple of times using only one side for support and only dropped it a couple of times. Less than an hour down with 24 days to go, I’ve enjoyed it all so far…
The uni spontaneously punctured itself last night while sat in the corner of the room. The seam had split on the tube, so first job of the day was fit a new one.
That done it was back into the alleyway for a 30 min and later a 10 min session. Legs are feeling a bit better and stood up to it ok, and I generally felt more comfortable in the saddle. I was travelling faster, further and with less support from the wall. Nearly time for the Grand Prix now (Austin, Texas. Should be fantastic) so I’m in for the night.
I tried “flying solo” today. Buoyed up by my confidence with walls either side I thought I’d give the wide open space of the car park a go. I tried several times from the security of the back of our vw camper and the furthest I got was almost 2 revolutions. I don’t know if I’d got too high expectations or if I just worried myself out of it, but I couldn’t get it to flow. Once back in the alleyway I was flying again.
The cranks come loose so I’m gonna call it a day and fix it later.
