Having been planning to learn unicycle for a number of years, I’ve finally got
the opportunity as I’ve borrowed one from a friend. I’ve read many tips online
(unicycle.com etc.) and after a week can feel some progress, but have a long
long way to go! I currently have a couple of questions:
As yet, I don’t feel I have any control over direction (I just go where
it takes me!). Sometimes I find I’m “gripping” the saddle with my
thighs - should I need to? (I’m sure it would be uncomfortable for any
length of time!)
I have two halls in which I can practice. The more convenient, and larger, is
carpeted. Is the extra friction going to cause me problems?
> 1. As yet, I don’t feel I have any control over direction (I just go where it > takes me!). Sometimes I find I’m “gripping” the saddle with my thighs > -should I need to?
No, the hard part is not doing it. Over time your body will learn to relax. But
as long as you’re sitting down (keep your weight on the saddle), it will not get
away so there’s no need to squeeze it.
> 2. I have two halls in which I can practice. The more convenient, and larger, > is carpeted. Is the extra friction going to cause me problems?
Though friendlier to fall on, carpet is harder to ride on. As you ride along,
the wheel is constantly pushed to one side or the other as it runs over the
carpet fibers. If you’re just learning, and you’re out in the open, stick to a
hard floor if you can. You might see an improvement right there.
> 1. As yet, I don’t feel I have any control over direction (I just go where it > takes me!).
As John points out, once you learn to relax and get used to the unicycle, you
learn how to control the unicycles direction rather than the unicycle
controlling your direction. Just go with it at first, and then slowly start
making conscience decisions as to the direction you want to go and try to get
the unicycle to follow your command A little bit of time and practice and
things will start to work out.
> 2. I have two halls in which I can practice. The more convenient, and larger, > is carpeted. Is the extra friction going to cause me problems?
I ‘rode’ on carpet for the first 3 weeks I had my unicycle (occasionally, I’d
venture outside, but it was winter when I started to learn and it was quite
cold!). The first couple of days I spent just getting used to sitting on the
thing by staying within the confines of a door frame. Then I started trying to
ride down the hall. I didn’t find the move from carpet to asphalt all that
difficult. It was a welcome change to have more open space to ride (or attempt
to) without having to worry about scuffing up the drywall in the house.
In message “Re: Tips for a novice, please…”, Carl Hoyer wrote… >Hey Trevor,
Hard surfaces are far better than carpets. Even experienced riders have
difficuty in fulling controlling teh unicycle on a carpet.
>> 1. As yet, I don’t feel I have any control over direction (I just go where >> it takes me!). > >As John points out, once you learn to relax and get used to the unicycle, you >learn how to control the unicycles direction rather than the unicycle >controlling your direction. Just go with it at first, and then slowly start >making conscience decisions as to the direction you want to go and try to get >the unicycle to follow your command A little bit of time and practice and >things will start to work out. > >> 2. I have two halls in which I can practice. The more convenient, and >> larger, is carpeted. Is the extra friction going to cause me problems? > >I ‘rode’ on carpet for the first 3 weeks I had my unicycle (occasionally, I’d >venture outside, but it was winter when I started to learn and it was quite >cold!). The first couple of days I spent just getting used to sitting on the >thing by staying within the confines of a door frame. Then I started trying to >ride down the hall. I didn’t find the move from carpet to asphalt all that >difficult. It was a welcome change to have more open space to ride (or attempt >to) without having to worry about scuffing up the drywall in the house. > >Keep at it, > >Carl (The Carl that can’t mount a giraffe … yet >
A little bit of time and practice and