Foot position is quite different on a bicycle than it is a uni. On my uni I
position the center of my foot on the pedals, while on my road bike I position
the ball of my foot on the pedal’s centerline of the axel. I also find that I
work different muscle groups when I ride the uni, maybe because of the shorter
cranks and being more upright. The worst case, as in mine to learn to ride a
uni, is a bicyclist who rides a lot with no hands. I finally got the hang of it
after almost three weeks of an hour a day… now for free mounting. -tom
Re: Position on pedals and more.
>
> Foot position is quite different on a bicycle than it is a uni. On my uni I
> position the center of my foot on the pedals, while on my road bike I position
> the ball of my foot on the pedal’s centerline of the axel. I also find that I
> work different muscle groups when I ride the uni, maybe because of the shorter
> cranks and being more upright. The worst case, as in mine to learn to ride a
> uni, is a bicyclist who rides a lot with no hands. I finally got the hang of
> it after almost three weeks of an hour a day… now for free mounting. -tom
>
Your foot position on the uni should be the same as for your road bike. I
suspect that your seat is too low. I also suspect that when you try freemounting
you end up going over the top and dismounting with the uni in back. You will
find balance and turning much easier with a correctly adjusted seat.
Yes, you are probably using new muscle groups. I believe this is because the
back leg is fighting the front (and at an odd angle). As you learn to ride
better and in a more relaxed position you will no longer notice those groups
fatiguing (sp?) so quickly.
Come up smiling, Bill GilbertsonRe: Position on pedals.
The responses I have seen so far seem split between classic “ball of the foot
over the pedal axle” position bicyclists use and the “arch of the foot over the
axle” position.
As a bicyclist, I accepted that the “ball over axle” position is the best and in
my short unicycling career I have ridden that way, quietly looking down my nose
at the sloppy looking “arch over axle” riders. But this injury has really
changed my thinking. On a bicycle you just don’t get the potential for those
really jarring drops and sudden stops and/or reversals of pedal direction since
(on all but fixed-gear track bikes), the pedals are not able to “feed back”
forces from the drive wheel to the rider’s feet.
For really rough uni riding, like drops off curbs, riding up over curbs &
descending stairs I believe the “arch over the axle” position should be used to
protect the ankle from overflexing. Maybe with experience I will learn NOT to
land from a drop with all my wieght on one foot, but until then (at least until
my injury heals) I’ll probably play it safe.
I find drops can be very jarring and cause me to lose the pedals–if the middle
of my foot is on the pedal, there’s a chance some part of my foot will still be
in contact with the pedal after the jolt happens.
I find that riding on grass (a lawn, that is) I put most of my wieght on the
pedals and do a lot of twist-steering through the pedals. This requires maximum
friction between the sole of the shoe and the pedal and I the “arch over axle”
position is very good for this.
It took me a surprisingly short time to adjust to the new position, but once I
did, I can do all my skills confidently. I still switch back to “ball over
axle”,though, to get off the seat or back onto it while riding.
Dennis Kathrens
Re: Position on pedals.
The ball of the foot over pedal spindle position has the following advantages:
-
The ankle can provide more minor adjustments to pedaling speed, ensuring
greater forward / backward stability. -
The ankle can also provide more shock absorption, supplementing or relieving
the knees, waist and arms in these duties.
However, Dennis points out though, if one’s ankle or corresponding muscle,
ligaments or tendons are damaged, an arch over pedal spindle position would
reduce the risk of additional damage. Not riding at all with a damaged ankle
might be an even better option.
On One Wheel,
Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com
Re: Position on pedals.
Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com> writes:
>However, Dennis points out though, if one’s ankle or corresponding muscle,
>ligaments or tendons are damaged, an arch over pedal spindle position would
>reduce the risk of additional damage. Not riding at all with a damaged ankle
>might be an even better option.
>
Once you’re truely into this though who can stop riding. Unless your wheel
breaks down, as mine has recently. I’ll have to stick to the giraffe until I can
order the new parts.
_ _ Doug Borngasser
(o)(o) San Diego CA db db@ucsd.edu \__/ You know you're a
unicyclist when walking feels strange.