>I just read through the unicycle levels. They are way different than the the >requirements I have in “The Complete Book of Unicycling”. > >Have things changed this much? In a some ways they seem more reasonable.
Changes. Discussions. Meetings. Arguments. Outraged Huffs. We've seen
it all; and I've just looked on from the sidelines. Ask Connie all
about it. :-)
>But others … I think are typos. I mean some of tricks don’t seem to flow from >one level to the next.
Bingo! Got it in 1! ;-)
>Like: Level 3 ride with stomach on seat is Much harder than Level 4 idle.
Agree.
>And: Level 5 Ride one footed in a figure eight!!! and Level 6 is Ride one >footed for 10 m.
Agree.
>And: Level 4 Ride one footed is harder (IMHO) then level 5 one footed idle.
Disagree.
>Is it me or is this crazy? Who decides these things anyway.
Hey, you haven't even mentioned the major headache: hopping up and down
on top of the tire of your unicycle like a mutant pogo-stick. It comes
way too early in the sequence.
Hmmm... looks like one of my buttons was pushed. :-)
Craig Milo Rogers
We’ve seen it all; and I’ve just looked on from the sidelines.
Ask Connie all about it.
I wasn’t around for the changes to the current levels (read - I wasn’t invited
to the select list of unicyclists who arranged these levels), but I’ve heard
that a lot of discussion went into the current levels.
>But others … I think are typos. I mean some of tricks don’t seem
>to flow from one level to the next.
Bingo! Got it in 1! ;-)
>Like: Level 3 ride with stomach on seat is Much harder than Level 4 idle.
Agree.
Not necessarily, it just depends on where you’re coming from. Many unicyclists
who learn by themself learn to idle first because they saw someone else do it,
but the stomach on seat skill is really easier! And, don’t forget, in Level 4,
you must idle with both the left foot in control, AND the right foot in control.
Many people never practice their skills ambidextrously, so idling with either
foot could easily be more difficult.
>And: Level 5 Ride one footed in a figure eight!!! and Level 6 is
> Ride one footed for 10 m.
Agree.
Wait a minute! Level 6 says: “Ride one footed for 10 m with the LEFT FOOT Ride
one footed for 10 m with the RIGHT FOOT” Everyone usually has a dominant foot,
and some never learn the skills with their other foot! I know that this is the
reason why some of the top unicyclists in the USA dont test the levels because
they never learn to ride one footed (or wheel walk) with their non-dominant
foot. Learning the skills with either foot in the control position teaches much
better control overall, and will help the unicyclist learn the more advanced
skills easier.
>And: Level 4 Ride one footed is harder (IMHO) then level 5 one footed idle.
Disagree.
I both disagree and agree on this one - I think that the skills are close to the
same… I usually teach people these two skills at the same time.
>Is it me or is this crazy? Who decides these things anyway.
Hey, you haven't even mentioned the major headache: hopping up
and down on top of the tire of your unicycle like a mutant pogo-stick.
It comes way too early in the sequence.
My reasoning that most people find the level 5 skill (hopping on the wheel) so
difficult is that there aren’t any skills in level 1-4 that really lead up to
it! Another problem with that skill is that so many people have such a negative
attitude toward this skill that it becomes impossible for them. I’ve developed a
technique for teaching this skill, and have found that people can learn how to
hop on the wheel (and perform the more difficult part of returning to the
pedals) in about 5 hours of total practice time.
Neither of you mentioned my biggest problem with the levels, which is the
obstacle in Level 3! When these skill levels were developed, the unicyclists
were adults who were strong riders, who usually rode 24" wheels. Try telling a 5
year old who rides a 16" wheel to go over a 10x10cm obstacle!! Almost
impossible!
Constance Cotter cotter.cae.wisc.edu Vice-Pres: Unicycling Society of America
