Sunday I was riding at a nearby park when a teen male approached. He asked the
usual questions. Is it hard? etc. Finally he asked, can I try it. I said he
sure, because he had been nice and polite. Also, I judged he was tall enough to
reach the petals OK, but still small enough that I could support his weight when
he went off balance. As he climbed on the uni I noticed he had braces on his
teeth, and I the thought occured to me that I might become libel for a few
thousand dollars worth of dental work. I let him try to ride it away. It was
uneventful. So here is my question. Does anyone else out there let other people,
(strangers / passers-by) try to ride their unis. What are some reasons for and
against this practice? Mark
Re: Someone ask, can I try?
In message <950328101032_63647925@aol.com> Qdot@aol.com writes:
> it away. It was uneventful. So here is my question. Does anyone else out there
> let other people, (strangers / passers-by) try to ride their unis. What are
> some reasons for and against this practice?
I do as long as s/he lets me explain it to him/her first. Those show-offs that
want on RIGHT NOW to see ‘if they can do it or not’ I won’t let on, but if I can
explain how to do it I think its fairly safe. How many people here would be
unicyclists if no one would let you on their unicycle?
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/ ____ Jimmy Brokaw -> jimmy@juggler.demon.co.uk ________\ Also at ->
unicycle@juggler.demon.co.uk
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|| <- My Absolute Balls Red Unicycle <- Also known as really bad art
Re: Someone ask, can I try?
Thanks to all who responded to my post. Everyone who responded, said they
encouraged others to try and ride. I think that is great!
Jimmy Brokaw wrote;
>I do as long as s/he lets me explain it to him/her first.
I think I’ll use this stipulation.
Thanks again, Mark
Re: Someone ask, can I try?
>
> Sunday I was riding at a nearby park when a teen male approached. He asked the
> usual questions. Is it hard? etc. Finally he asked, can I try it. I said he
> sure, because he had been nice and polite. Also, I judged he was tall enough
> to reach the petals OK, but still small enough that I could support his weight
> when he went off balance. As he climbed on the uni I noticed he had braces on
> his teeth, and I the thought occured to me that I might become libel for a few
> thousand dollars worth of dental work. I let him try to ride it away. It was
> uneventful. So here is my question. Does anyone else out there let other
> people, (strangers / passers-by) try to ride their unis. What are some reasons
> for and against this practice?
I let people try, but they usually don’t get too far, especially when they try
to put the first foot on the forward pedal. Occasionally someone will want to
try it who can really ride, and that’s no problem with me. The other folks I
usually let ride enough to flounder and give up. If I ever start a club, maybe
I’ll get cards printed to give them.
Beirne
Beirne Konarski | Subscribe to the Unicycling Mailing List bkonarsk@mcs.kent.edu
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Unicycling Web Page:
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Re: Someone ask, can I try?
Qdot@aol.com writes:
> Sunday I was riding at a nearby park when a teen male approached. He asked the
> usual questions. Is it hard? etc. Finally he asked, can I try it. I said he
> sure, because he had been nice and polite. Also, I judged he was tall enough
> to reach the petals OK, but still small enough that I could support his weight
> when he went off balance. As he climbed on the uni I noticed he had braces on
> his teeth, and I the thought occured to me that I might become libel for a few
> thousand dollars worth of dental work. I let him try to ride it away. It was
> uneventful. So here is my question. Does anyone else out there let other
> people, (strangers / passers-by) try to ride their unis. What are some reasons
> for and against this practice? Mark
Sure, I do this all the time! In fact, whenever most anyone expresses some
interest I hop off and encourage them to try. Never gave much thought to the
liability issues except for once, and that was the only time I refused someone
a try. The person in question had not one, but TWO casts on one arm, and had
been drinking. Dude must’ve had a death wish.
Some observances. About 1 in 10 people, when offered the chance to try, actually
do. Of those that attempt, about 1 in 10 seem as though they could get the hang
of it with a couple of hours of practice. I’ve been riding about ten months now,
offering rides to just about anyone, and exactly 2 actually hopped right up
and rode off. One, a co-worker, had done it before but not for some 15 years
(like riding a bicycle, you never forget, right?). The other, at the same event
as the guy with the casts I refused, a volunteer fireman in full garb (this was
an Independence Day celebration) actually rode quite well. Quite a sight!
Maybe I should pay more attention to the liability issues. Has anyone been sued?
Any lawyers (or lawyer wannabes) care to comment? Can’t wait to see where this
thread leads…
Finally, I’m always looking for other unicyclists around here in the central New
Jersey, USA area. Haven’t found any yet. 
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