Unclipping…
Thank you for the compliment. I thought my dismount at the end looked a little clumsy. Now that I’m starting to age past my prime my body usually is complaining a little by the 122nd mile. Riding is not so much the issue. But the sudden change to anything else with little or no transition that gives me troubles.
As a side note, if you were to examine closely, you might be able to notice my shoes, spd pedals, and cleats are usually worth as much or more than the rest of the unicycle (unless I’m riding a Schlumpf). I originally decided when converting to clippless never to trust my wellbeing to inferior or economy grade components.
“Kit”…
Those two water bottles, id, AAA card, and a boat anchor (smart phone with little or no service) got me 52 miles nonstop unassisted. Then my wife, who I had sent back to bed after taking start photos and video, caught up with me and provided any necessary assistance and pampering.
A couple weeks later I made a 43 mile unassisted nonstop with the same “kit” on a Friday afternoon in gridlocked rush hour traffic through Seattle. I’ve also completed a 62 mile unassisted nonstop on a Semcycle 43” with the same “kit”.
Even though I usually carry very little with me, in reality only a few times I’ve needed “rescued”.
I’ve been on the verge of a hypothermia crisis (this has happened more than once and each time I managed to avert disaster). I’m now more careful when the potential exists to have options available.
Also when I destroyed my knee, fractured my tibia, and severely sprained my ankle on the last day of Ride the Lobster I was immediately rescued by a medical aid vehicle and two support vehicles with additional generous offers of assistance. I’m hoping if this type of issue arises again a Good Samaritan will take pity on me and tend to my needs.
In the places I’ve unicycled, usually, almost immediately after I dismount and either start fiddling with anything or start walking my unicycle people stop and check on me and offer assistance.
If I’m anticipating being remotely isolated, I adjust my “kit” accordingly. I’ve also stopped the adventure and put the unicycle in the boot several times when faced with unexpectedly being remotely isolated and in an at risk level exceed my or my wife’s comfort zone. Yes, there have been multiple times finishing a ride, outing, or event and the risk of needing search and rescue to extract me from a bad choice limited our continuing. I like to think I’ve made wise choices and averted a few life altering experiences.
What items do you other distance unicyclist and endurance municyclist find essential that you think I should consider adding to my “kit”?
Is it just me or is the picture upload broken? Both yesterday and today despite my repeated efforts and setting adjustment I keep getting upload failure messages. Maybe it’s my new iOS update and configuration changes.
Regards,
JM