Hi, Is there anyone out there who could tell me what the process is for learning to Pirouette or Spin. I have not come across anyone yet in my local group that can - but there must be loads in the Birmingham area who can.
Even a good video may help.
ThanksStart with a skinny tire that can take high pressure. I use a 28" (it’s really 27") X 1 1/4" Continental Contact tire. It doesn’t have much tread. I pump it up to about 80 or 90 psi.
Find some level, dry, smooth asphalt or smooth cement. Tennis courts are great. Rough surfaces provide too much drag and inconsistent friction. Stay away from surfaces with gravel or sand on them. You might slip on them.
Smooth, consistent and light friction are important qualities to seek out in the Tire/Ground interface.
Start riding straight ahead and turn into an ever-tightening circle. When you reach that certain point of going fast and turning fast, just give it a ZIP! and start spinning.
I can pretty consistently make about three rotations and ride out of it. If I nail it just right I might get 5. It’s kind of hard to keep count at that point. The dizziness overwhelms my rudimentary counting ability. I swear that I did 6 once. Total fluke I’m sure. No one has ever filmed me doing it, so I can’t verify any of this.
Sometimes I feel that I pirouette a little better if there is an ever so slight slope to the ground. I like to make my entrance into the tight spinning phase on the up hill. Don’t know why.
Oh yeah, don’t forget to lean UP!
Here’s 2 videos of me learning spins and pirouettes,
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pirouette+unicycle&search_type=
Remember, a spin is when you ride around and around, keeping a circle size of about 1 meter or less. Three times around to complete one “spin” by the IUF Standard Skill rules.
A pirouette is when you’re rotating on one spot, with no pedaling at all. You generally have to start with a spin and wind it into the center for a pirouette. Again, three rotations on one spot for a complete IUF pirouette under the Standard Skill rules.
If you don’t have a nice indoor surface to practice on, use lots of tire pressure and look for the smoothest pavement you can find. Sometimes, having a little sand sprinkled on the pavement makes it easier, but too much will make it too slippery. A little bit will loosen things up and also help your tire to last longer.
try to saty over just one point and let the rest of youe body go around it(tha’ts how i think of it)