Tips on learning to unicycle

Hello,

I have read everything that I can find online about learning to unicycle. I seem
to be getting better, but wonder if anyone has any tips to accelerate learning
besides practicing.

Thanks, Matthew

RE: Tips on learning to unicycle

> Is unicycling becoming more dangerous these days? There have been quite a
> few posts recently that suggest unicycling == injury. In my early days of
> unicycling I can recall only one incident when I failed to land on my feet.
> Maybe I just wasn’t very adventurous. Either that or I have a lousy
> memory… :wink:

I seem to remember having my share of scrapes & bruises in my early days
of riding. Not so much from the basic learning process, but from learning
the tricks. No doubt this has been more or less consistent over the years
for everyone.

More recently, more people are writing about trail riding and big wheel
commuting. Both of these allow more room for damage, so we’re hearing a little
more about injuries I think. Unicycling is still safer than virtually any other
sport that uses wheels; you can’t coast, so you can’t go too fast to stop. And
unless you’re on a tall giraffe or the edge of a cliff, it’s not very far to
fall. Unlike a bike, you don’t get tangled up in a unicycle as much.

Stay on top, John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone (reply to jfoss@unicycling.com)
http://www.unicycling.com

“I’m okay, I crash like that a lot.”
- Dan Heaton

NOTE: The above quote is paraphrased from a statement Dan made after picking
himself up on the infamous Mailbox hill at MUni Weekend. Uninjured.

RE: Tips on learning to unicycle

> Want a bet, I managed to get so tangled up with mine at the BUC i bent the
> saddle by landing on it. Also brusied pelvis, leg, both knees, both elbows (
> very colourfull) and dented pride. All I was doing was one foot idleing with
> the wrong foot… oops

You should have noticed the problem when your leg was crossed over the front of
your wheel to reach the pedal! :slight_smile:

Anyway, I knew somebody out there would be proud to point out an exception to my
“tangling up” rule.

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone (reply to jfoss@unicycling.com)
http://www.unicycling.com

“I’m okay, I crash like that a lot.”

  • Dan Heaton

Re: Tips on learning to unicycle

I’m a beginner too, but some advice I got was

  1. Look forward - preferably focus on something that doesn’t move
  2. Put all of your weight down through the saddle
  3. Keep Pedalling - otherwise you’ll just fall off
  4. Ignore the bruises - they come without saying!

Keep trying! Kieran

Re: Tips on learning to unicycle

>> 4. Ignore the bruises - they come without saying!
>
>Is unicycling becoming more dangerous these days?

I’d say that most beginners are going to suffer the obligatory “clipped ankle”
from the crank and pedal bruises to the shin - “shindentations” several times
while learning to get going.

My first exposure to a unicycle was pretty bloody. My neighbor brought hers out
to show us and let me have a go on it. Soon, a small crowd had formed to watch
us. I clipped my ankles several times but I was immediately hooked and kept
trying and trying to ride it. Finally my neighbor’s father, a very polite and
dignified gentleman from India who was visiting at the time, came up to me and
took the unicycle out of my hands placing it about 30 feet away from me in the
grass, “I think you better stop now and go inside and take care of yourself”
pointing at my feet. I looked down and saw that both ankles were nicked and my
socks were getting soaked with blood. I was having so much fun that I hadn’t
noticed. My kids freaked out. I couldn’t stop smiling though…

Re: Tips on learning to unicycle

> I seem to be getting better, but wonder if anyone has any tips to accelerate
> learning besides practicing.
>

I read last year some information on brain research that suggested when learning
physical skills that the brain takes up to 8 hours to “hard wire” muscle memory.
This “hardwiring” occurs after you stop practicing! To me this meant that during
practice that you need to work on fundamentals and good habits. After you stop
practicing your brain keeps working on learning the new skills. I think the
article suggested that after practicing a new skill that you shouldn’t try to
learn anything new or complex for several hours. I guess this would mean that to
be most efficient, students shouldn’t try to learn new skills before school or
just before studying. The article mentioned doing routine tasks after practice.

Anyone else see this research? I try to apply this when learning a new
juggling skill.

JD Miller

Re: Tips on learning to unicycle

Rick Bissell wrote:
> I’d say that most beginners are going to suffer the obligatory “clipped ankle”
> from the crank and pedal bruises to the shin - “shindentations” several times
> while learning to get going.

Ah, yes. The pedal and shin thing seems to be an inherent part of learning quite
a few unicycling skills - especially mounts. A sensation that you get to enjoy,
ahem, throughout a unicycling career I suspect.

The crank and ankle thing seems to be more dependant on the rider and their foot
position on the pedal. Not something I’ve suffered with during “normal” riding -
but again different mounts can bring it on.

Regards, Mark.

Fujitsu Telecom Europe Ltd,| o Solihull Parkway, | In the land of the
pedestrian, /|\ Birmingham Business Park, | the one-wheeled man is king. <<
Birmingham, ENGLAND. | O

It’s back !! Birmingham Circus Convention returns 29th April, 2000 !!

Re: Tips on learning to unicycle

John Foss (john_foss@asinet.com) wrote:
: not very far to fall. Unlike a bike, you don’t get tangled up in a unicycle

Want a bet, I managed to get so tangled up with mine at the BUC i bent the
saddle by landing on it. Also brusied pelvis, leg, both knees, both elbows (
very colourfull) and dented pride. All I was doing was one foot idleing with the
wrong foot… oops

sarah

Re: Tips on learning to unicycle

Ground Zer0 Technical Support wrote in message
<380f252c.@news.gzinc.com>…
>Hello, I have read everything that I can find online about learning to
>unicycle.
I
>seem to be getting better, but wonder if anyone has any tips to accelerate
>learning besides practicing. Thanks, Matthew

Hi Matthew. No techniques (everyone else has posted all mine), but two
points to remember:

381.  No matter HOW frustrated you get, DON'T quit. I wanted to quit throw
      my uni in the canal SEVERAL times when I was learning, but I didn't.
      And I'm glad I didn't.

382.  You might still stumble after years of riding. I just managed to ride
      a bit in Charleston, WV, and while riding there I got distracted and
      fell. No damage but a skinned knee, skinned finger, and brused ego.
      &lt;g&gt;  I've been riding since the early 90's.

-UniC

Re: Tips on learning to unicycle

Greetings

In message “Re: Tips on learning to unicycle”, Peter Brookes wrote…
>I’m a beginner too, but some advice I got was
>1. Look forward - preferably focus on something that doesn’t move
>2. Put all of your weight down through the saddle
>3. Keep Pedalling - otherwise you’ll just fall off
>4. Ignore the bruises - they come without saying!

I would add – keep your back almost upright, but lean slightly forward as you
incrrease speed.

>Keep trying! Kieran
>
>
>
>

Stay on top, Jack Halpern, IUF Vice President Website: http://www.kanji.org

Re: Tips on learning to unicycle

Theres an excellent book by the name of “Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies”,
by Douglas Holfstader (hope I spelled that right), which talks about some of the
things you mention… at least it gives great insight into how the mind works.

ObUni: I haven’t clocked many hours on my DM ATU, and as its starting to get
colder its going to be harder for me to get out. I know, poor excuse. Last time
I went out for a uni session I was making progress, but I still can’t ride
around yet… :expressionless:

By the way, do the greats like George Peck and Kris Holm read this list?

On 22 Oct 1999, JMille2788 wrote:

> > I seem to be getting better, but wonder if anyone has any tips to
> > accelerate learning besides practicing.
> >
>
> I read last year some information on brain research that suggested when
> learning physical skills that the brain takes up to 8 hours to “hard wire”
> muscle memory. This “hardwiring” occurs after you stop practicing! To me this
> meant that during practice that you need to work on fundamentals and good
> habits. After you stop practicing your brain keeps working on learning the new
> skills. I think the article suggested that after practicing a new skill that
> you shouldn’t try to learn anything new or complex for several hours. I guess
> this would mean that to be most efficient, students shouldn’t try to learn new
> skills before school or just before studying. The article mentioned doing
> routine tasks after practice.
>
> Anyone else see this research? I try to apply this when learning a new
> juggling skill.
>
> JD Miller
>

Re: Tips on learning to unicycle

Peter Brookes wrote:
> I’m a beginner too, but some advice I got was
> 1. Look forward - preferably focus on something that doesn’t move
> 2. Put all of your weight down through the saddle
> 3. Keep Pedalling - otherwise you’ll just fall off

Yup.

Be sure to check out http://www.unicycling.org/

> 4. Ignore the bruises - they come without saying!

Is unicycling becoming more dangerous these days? There have been quite a few
posts recently that suggest unicycling == injury. In my early days of unicycling
I can recall only one incident when I failed to land on my feet. Maybe I just
wasn’t very adventurous. Either that or I have a lousy memory… :wink:

Regards, Mark.

Fujitsu Telecom Europe Ltd,| o Solihull Parkway, | In the land of the
pedestrian, /|\ Birmingham Business Park, | the one-wheeled man is king. <<
Birmingham, ENGLAND. | O

It’s back !! Birmingham Circus Convention returns 29th April, 2000 !!

Re: Tips on learning to unicycle

Arnold the Aardvark wrote:
> A lousy memory >:-).

You’re probably right. :frowning:

> I seem to recall you mentioned learning to idle in your kitchen before
> venturing outdoors.

No, that would’ve been plain silly. It was in the living room. :slight_smile:

> This must have helped a bit…

Yup. In fact the one fall I remember was during one of my early ventures outside

  • my first ride down a gentle slope, I found myself going faster and faster and
    neglected to keep a bit of speed in reserve for stopping. Not a mistake I’ve
    made since… :wink:

> I’ve had plenty of spectacular falls. Without exception I have been unharmed
> except for a minor graze now and then. I find I know it’s going to happen so I
> guess I’m not taken by surprise. I just go with the flow and roll on my back
> or whatever. Perhaps people get hurt if they try too hard to stay on, if you
> see what I mean.

I’ve never been very good at rolling out of falls - maybe because of that I’d
bail out earlier and land on my feet rather than push my luck.

> But it’s true to say that I mostly land on my feet. And usually I catch the
> uni too.

Indeed.

Of course, this “landing on your feet” business doesn’t work nearly so well when
learning to wheelwalk. Just trust me on that one… :-}

Regards, Mark.

Fujitsu Telecom Europe Ltd,| o Solihull Parkway, | In the land of the
pedestrian, /|\ Birmingham Business Park, | the one-wheeled man is king. <<
Birmingham, ENGLAND. | O

It’s back !! Birmingham Circus Convention returns 29th April, 2000 !!

Re: Tips on learning to unicycle

Mark,

A lousy memory >:-). I seem to recall you mentioned learning to idle in your
kitchen before venturing outdoors. This must have helped a bit…

I’ve had plenty of spectacular falls. Without exception I have been unharmed
except for a minor graze now and then. I find I know it’s going to happen so I
guess I’m not taken by surprise. I just go with the flow and roll on my back or
whatever. Perhaps people get hurt if they try too hard to stay on, if you see
what I mean.

But it’s true to say that I mostly land on my feet. And usually I catch
the uni too.

Arnold the Aardvark

http://www.foxholly.demon.co.uk ICQ# 30592054 Don’t miss the Birmingham Circus
Convention’s return on 29 April 2000.