Uni competitions

General
1

Chris and I are from Kuna, Idaho. It’s about a half hour away from Boise. We
know of at least 12 Unicyclists from our hometown area. We are living in Rexburg
right now and are students at the college.

He is almost 22 and has been riding a Uni for 6 years. I, on the other hand,
have been sitting on a Uni and hugging the wall for a few months. I got my very
own for Christmas. Before I could learn to ride it, we tore it apart to make
Chris’s dream. THE 26 INCHER!!! He rides it everywhere. When people find out
who I married, they say, “Oh the Unicycle guy.” He’s the only one on campus.
Although there have been a couple over the years that have gone by that title.
There is snow for about half the year here. He loves to ride in it. Since we
have been here, he has learned to hop curbs, go down stairs and try not to be
too embarrassed when something throws him.

Chris wants to enter a competition, but he’s worried he’s not good enough. What
do you guys think? What are the courses like? What was your first one like and
how did you do? Did you think you would do well or was it mostly for fun? Any
pointers for learning to ride? I’ve tried the “just letting go” tactic and it
didn’t work so well.

Jennifer Reeder

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2

Re: Uni competitions

Text item:

Chris/Jennifer wrote:

>Chris wants to enter a competition, but he’s worried he’s not good enough. What
>do you guys think? What are the courses like? What was your first one like and
>how did you do? Did you think you would do well or was it mostly for fun?

The competitions are for fun! There is no prize money, no picture on the
Wheaties box, and no future sports commentating (I think). Most of the people
don’t really practice for racing. So if you do, you have a pretty good chance.
But if your purpose is only to win, you won’t have any fun even if you do.

I used to practice a lot, so I did really well. I’ve been the national and world
racing champion many times, and now I head up the committee that writes the
rules. So that makes me a bad example of who to ask this question to.

>Any pointers for learning to ride? I’ve tried the “just letting go” tactic and
>it didn’t work so well.

Try the stuff on the unicycle page if you haven’t:

http://www.unicycling.org

Remember that learning to ride a unicycle is 30% perspiration and 70%
motivation. If you really want to do it, you will.

Make sure the unicycle fits, and you’re not riding with the seat too low. Then
stick with the wall (or fence, or someone else’s car) until you’re really bored,
then make Chris ride along side you.

Good luck!

John Foss (obviously a slow day at work…)

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3

Re: Uni competitions

In a message dated 98-03-16 19:03:46 EST, you write:

> Any pointers for learning to ride? I’ve tried the “just letting go” tactic and
> it didn’t work so well.
>
Ride behind a shopping cart. I’ve used this to teach my kids and even taught
myself how to ride with one foot with this method. It works great. You can start
by riding holding on with both hands, then one hand, then letting go for a few
seconds, etc…

Good luck!

-Mike UniChef@aol.com http://members.aol.com/UniChef/unichef.html

4

Re: Uni competitions

cjreeder@juno.com writes:

> I, on the other hand, have been sitting on a Uni and hugging the wall for a
> few months.

Don’t worry, you’ll get it. Some people tell me they learned to ride in a couple
weeks, but it took me a few months.

I spent a whole month holding onto a dumpster, climbing onto the uni, and riding
off into the sunset… for about a half a rotation, then I’d twist hard to the
right and fall off. I kept at it, practiced hard, and didn’t make any progress
at all until I dragged myself over to the local juggling club, where an expert
rider and professional unicycle coach took one look at my pathetic attempt and
told me to put more of my weight on the seat and less on the pedals.

It was like magic. It suddenly got easier. I still remember the first time I
went more than a few steps. I just rode around the parking lot. I felt like I
could fly.

5

Re: Uni competitions

>
>Chris/Jennifer wrote:
>
>>Chris wants to enter a competition, but he’s worried he’s not good enough.
>>What do you guys think? What are the courses like? What was your first one
>>like and how did you do? Did you think you would do well or was it mostly
>>for fun?

>
>The competitions are for fun! There is no prize money, no picture on the
>Wheaties box, and no future sports commentating (I think). Most of the
>
>people don’t really practice for racing. So if you do, you have a pretty
>good chance. But if your purpose is only to win, you won’t have any fun even
>if you do.
>
>I used to practice a lot, so I did really well. I’ve been the national
>
>and world racing champion many times, and now I head up the committee that
>writes the rules. So that makes me a bad example of who to ask this
>question to.
>

Hi, this is Chris here. The thing that interests me the most (even though I’m a
distance runner by trade-- or at least by college hobby) is MUni. Is MUni also a
race, just on a tortuous course? Or is it based on how many times you wreck in
the course of the run, or what? And just how fast IS a Uni? my best 3000m time
on foot is 8:49. Are unis faster than that? I know a bike would be, but there
you’ve got gears.

I figure the closest Muni event would the California Mtn. Uni. weekend that I’ve
seen on the Internet. If any of you know of one closer to Idaho, or if any of
you uni fans are from the gem state yourselves, please let me know.

Chris

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6

Re: Uni competitions

Chris

> Hi, this is Chris here. The thing that interests me the most (even though I’m
> a distance runner by trade-- or at least by college hobby) is MUni. Is MUni
> also a race, just on a
>
> tortuous course? Or is it based on how many times you wreck in the course of
> the run, or what?

Muni has come to describe any off road riding

> And just how fast IS a Uni? my best 3000m time on foot is 8:49.

Beast! I’m impressed

> Are unis faster than that? I know a bike would be, but there you’ve got gears.

I was lapping a 2250 course in 7.07 (dropped to 7.23) on a 700c wheel with
150mm cranks on Tuesday in my training for Polaris (I could only keep that up
for 5 laps at that pace). I will let you do the maths but I think that you
will be going faster than me. That felt fast and was a lot faster than I can
go on my 24.

> I figure the closest Muni event would the California Mtn. Uni. weekend
>
> that I’ve seen on the Internet. If any of you know of one closer to Idaho, or
> if any of you uni fans are from the gem state yourselves, please let me know.

Why don’t you pop over to the UK in 2 weeks time for the Polaris challenge, 120
miles or so off road.

Cheers

Roger

          ----------------------------------------------------
                       Roger.Davies@Octacon.co.uk
                      Stockton, North East England

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7

Re: Uni competitions

I’ve never timed a 3000m, but I ride my 24" around campus in New York, and I
know it can be faster than running. Especially long distance. It can be a
walking pace, too, but that’s all up to the rider. I’ve found a normal riding
pace – not pushing for speed – to be about a comfortable jog for most people.

Alex