<snip> I’m sure the best way to learn is to get on the thing instead of
running my mouse, but if you have any secrets on learning the UW I would
be very appreciative.
**
My 2c worth. The most usefull piece of equipment in learning to ride an
ultimate wheel is leg protection.
When I first tried riding one I was in shorts and sand papered the skin
off the inside of my legs. Couldn’t practice for two weeks 
I have tried the following froms of protection, roughly in order of
increasing usefullness:
Jeans: hot but provide more protection than trousers.
Shin pads: better than jeans but you need to reposition them every minute
or so. Note that you where the shin pads so that they sit on the inside of
your calves rather than your shins.
Neoprene rubber: I got some wet suit off cuts for next to nothing, cut the
ends off two old socks and used them to hold the wetsuit material onto my
legs. Cheap alternative to leg armour.
Wrap around Leg armour: hot but there is no pain and not as much
repositioning. Only downside is it costs lots and the UW is rather hard on
it.
Note I would also recommend wearing hi tops, your ankles are very likely
to suffer and a bad landing could leave you with a nasty sprain.
I have also heard of people using silicon spray or some other lubricant on
their legs to reduce the friction.
Re wheel size, I found a 24" UW easy to ride than a 20".
Re learning, learning to ride seat out in front helps, especially if you
try to use your hand as little as possible (try seat out in front with
just 2 fingers).
Otherwise you just have to get on the thing and go for it. I found it
virtually impossible to work your way along a wall, you just have to let
go and go for it. Be encouraged though that it isn’t as impossible as it
first feels. I got good progress after a few hours.
o o Peter Bier o O o Juggler, unicyclist and mathematician.
j/|\o peter_bier@usa.net