for some weeks i’ve been trying to learn to ride with seat out in front – with not a whole lot of success. recently, just for fun, i tried it with the seat in the back – and discovered to my surprise that i find it much easier. i could do almost 50m on my first try and now can even steer, somewhat.
in fact, i find it slighly easier than riding with the stomach on seat!
i have a few theories about why this might be so … something to do with the upright position and the fact that the seat doesn’t get in the way of the legs?
am i just odd or do other people find the seat-behind-back way easier to learn?
I found seat out in front easier, but when I finally did try seat out
in back, I was surprised at how easy it was. But I think that was
because I learned it second. I think there’s a lot of difference
between riders in what skills seem easy or hard though - not just the
order you learn them in.
—Nathan
“julianlim” <forum.member@unicyclist.com> wrote in message news:9fj4lq$4p6$1@laurel.tc.umn.edu… > for some weeks i’ve been trying to learn to ride with seat out in front > – with not a whole lot of success. recently, just for fun, i tried it > with the seat in the back – and discovered to my surprise that i find > it much easier. i could do almost 50m on my first try and now can even > steer, somewhat. in fact, i find it slighly easier than riding with the > stomach on seat! > > i have a few theories about why this might be so … something to do > with the upright position and the fact that the seat doesn’t get in the > way of the legs? > > am i just odd or do other people find the seat-behind-back way easier > to learn? > > julian
> > am i just odd or do other people find the seat-behind-back way easier > > to learn?
Most people in my experience find the front easier. But along with this
goes a definition of what we mean by seat in front or back. When learning
this skill, the seat is first pressed tightly against the body, then not
so tight, then ultimately held out where it doesn’t touch.
The proper form of seat in front or back, according to the IUF Standard
Skills Descriptions
(http://www.unicycling.org/iuf/rulebook/iufrules/7sslist.html) says that
the seat may not touch the body, nor the hand and arm holding the seat.
Technically, the arm may touch the rest of your body at the shoulder; the
rulebook spells it out differently.
When first learning these skills, having the seat against your bum may be
more similar to normal riding than having the seat and fork in front of
you, potentially interfering with your legs. But in the end, it’s all a
matter of personal preference.
Once people get comfortable with either way, it is generally
considered easier to have the seat in front because it’s easier to
reach. Seat in back, not touching body, requires a more awkward
posture and is harder to reach.
I’d like to learn to ride with the seat out in front. But is it best to first learn the stomach on the seat? It sounds like I need to know that before getting the seat out in front.
I don’t have a wide array of skills at the moment. I can ride a good distance, I can freemount, and most recently I learned to hop. That’s about it. But I seem to pick things up fast and improve at a good rate.
Yes, stomach-on-seat is a good start. Your stomach provides weight and
stability to the seat, making you less likley to fall to the side. Once
you’re comfortable with the seat-on-stomach riding, you can try holding
the seat with your hand. You will find the seat will try to get away from
you, and it will probably take more arm strengh than you’d expect as you
first develop a finer sense of left-right balance.
> I’d like to learn to ride with the seat out in front. But is it best to > first learn the stomach on the seat? It sounds like I need to know that > before getting the seat out in front. > > I don’t have a wide array of skills at the moment. I can ride a good > distance, I can freemount, and most recently I learned to hop. That’s > about it. But I seem to pick things up fast and improve at a good rate. > > -Darrell Royter > > > > > – > Posted via the Unicyclist Community - http://unicyclist.com/forums
I tried stomach on seat over the weekend by leaning against a wall to guide myself along. But I’d get my left foot all the way down and not have the strength or momentum to keep going. I don’t think I’m leaning forward enough. I’ll keep trying.
If anyone has more pointers, I’d love to hear them
> I’d like to learn to ride with the seat out in front. But is it best to > first learn the stomach on the seat? It sounds like I need to know that > before getting the seat out in front.
I start people off with an interim way of riding that’s easier than either
full-on seat in front or stomach on. Work your way toward that seat in
front riding position in small steps. Try riding while sitting on the back
end of your seat (yes it’s not comfortable). Then try holding the seat
tightly against you while riding. Use one arm to hold it stiff, but keep
the other one for balance. Then you gradually get used to the idea of
moving the seat away from your body while riding.
Also you can practice getting the seat in and out from under you, though
this is generally harder than the actual ride. Stand up with the balls of
your feet on the pedals, and there should be plenty of room when your
pedals come level.
By definition (according to the IUF Standard Skill rules), seat in front
is where you’re holding the seat with your hand but the seat and your
hand are not touching your body. So this is the eventual goal of learning
this trick. But the learning process is where you take it one little step
at a time, holding the seat against your body, then your arm against your
body, etc.
Avoid the wall. It will only slow you down, and make you tend to balance
improperly. While it may seem like progress is slower at first, learning
without a wall will get you there a lot faster.
> Thanks for the advice. > > I tried stomach on seat over the weekend by leaning against a wall to > guide myself along. But I’d get my left foot all the way down and not > have the strength or momentum to keep going. I don’t think I’m leaning > forward enough. I’ll keep trying. > > If anyone has more pointers, I’d love to hear them > > -darrell > > > > > – > Posted via the Unicyclist Community - http://unicyclist.com/forums