Hi all! I’ve been watching videos, looking at stuff from your posts here (I don’t even know how I got onto the idea of unicycling, but I’m really excited!) I have no idea how to ride a unicycle.
I just ordered the Nimbus II 24" in red from UDC. http://www.unicycle.com/unicycles/nimbus-ii-24-inch-unicycle-red.html/
It should be here sometime this week. I’m only 5’7 but I want to ride it to college classes and stuff so since my furthest class is 1.5 miles away, I thought it might be a good idea (also some input from UDC over the phone).
I think I wanna get into street/trials stuff sometime in the future, and will probably buy another uni for that (oh boy. as if I don’t spend way too much on instruments already) but do you think it’ll be alright to learn some simple tricks and hops on? Also wondering if I could put a fatter tire on the 24" Nimbus II frame for Muni later on.
I’m sure I’ll have a lot of questions once I get started, and I’ll be running back to you guys for help a lot! I’ll update my progress here too. I guess here’s thanks in advance! Real excited to start up! (/ ^_^)/
Welcome to the forum! I always like reading peoples accounts of learning. Remember to keep the weight on the seat, and keep trying, it takes some perseverance.
The Isis hub is very strong and the rim is doublewall, so it should be fine for hopping and doing sone tricks on. I’m sure you’ll love unicycling, it’s a lot of fun!
Thanks, guys! I can’t wait. Since I live so close (kinda) to UDC’s shop, it takes a day to get here after it’s shipped… I just finished a 15 page paper and may just wait until UPS arrives. Excited to learn!
Nimbus II is pretty tough. You don’t have to worry about breaking it.
The frame is too small for a big muni tire. You can still use it for muni though. A slick tire will work off road. Just let some air out so you get a little bounce. You don’t need super grip for most trails unless it’s muddy. You’ll probably want a muni eventually, but in the beginning, just ride what you got and have a fun.
While it’s raining outside I would suggest maybe just practice keeping your bum on the seat, let your seat take the weight, not the pedals, and watch lots of 'you tube ’ vids. Helps to search under ‘monocycle’ as well as uni.
Have you read the learning jounal thread by NSYO and dudewithoutasock?
Good Luck and keep us all posted.
Sorry for how crude this sounds, but my balls hurt. =/ Lol. I can only stay steady with my right foot downward also. My left foot down is wobbly!! XD I might sleep though. I haven’t slept in way past 24 hours, and that may have to do with this too, though most likely i need to keep at it. I do feel a tiny bit more comfortable staying in place with my right foot down, though I hope it’s sunny tomorrow and I get to practice outside!
Quick question! Are the pedals supposed to be at the balls of my feet, middle, or heels?
I started inside. A narrow hallway where you can reach the walls on both sides works really well for the first few days. Plus tire tracks on your walls are kinda cool. There are tutorials on youtube. This site has good information. Just don’t get too fixated on advice. There isn’t any magic tip that will make it easy. Your muscles sort of learn by doing.
Really needing that better practice place. I can do a bit over half a revolution in my tiny apartment before running into something on this 24". Fortunately, feeling a lot more comfortable on the uni, just in general. Will be somewhere close to a fence in a parking lot this weekend and should my cold allow it, I’ll get as much practice as I can. I’m having a ton of fun. I just need to get somewhere where I can actually roll without fear of tearing up my apartment.
I also realize, that although I find this place and its advice a treasure, that I really just need to keep getting on the unicycle. It’s not a natural thing to do, and the more I keep doing it, the more normal it feels. I AM gonna learn to ride this!
That KH Freeride Saddle is looking very enticing though.
Keeping the ball of your foot above the pedal spindle will give you the most leverage.
Unicycling is something your body needs to acclimate to the feel of. It isn’t a series of facts to “learn”. Take your time, feel it out, and you will be riding before you know it!
Damn this is difficult! I can do a revolution and a half without the fence now! Haha. I was able to do it on a little slope downward. Been adjusting seat height a bit and I think I’ve got it to where I like it.
Keeping at it! Finally at the driving range where I work so I’ve got a fence now!
When I fall it’s usually backwards and to the left Gotta fix that. Gonna head out again now!
So I was coming close to the corner of the fence (I usually stop a bit before) and I was like, I’m gonna get there. So I let go of the fence and kept going and got it!
Coming the other way, I did the same thing and sorta punched the trailer. But both times I jumped and shouted Yay! Started to have my hands out forward instead of to the side, and it helped me keep a bit straight and continue my lean. Happy happy. =) Time to close up shop and start early tomorrow, maybe some more at the porch tonight.
Progress in baby steps that feel like gigantic leaps
deadbeatpope, I finally got what you meant today! If I don’t get the balls of my feet above the pedal spindle, I don’t feel comfortable, and even just against the fence I wobble left and right like CRAZY.
I got up to three revolutions today! There’s these markings we have in the parking lot and I made it across one of them. I’ve found it easier unsupported if I look down, not necessarily straight down, but definitely not at the horizon. I’m gonna see if that can help me a bit more tomorrow. I’ve been practicing a few sessions today, still taking theraflu for my cold (had an awful one a week ago and just got got another as I was getting better) so I’m kinda woozy today. Also I’m fat, so that might be a good part of the reason
I did manage to get a friend of mine to video me practicing my UPD and kinda 3 revs unsupported! Feedback and corrections please?
UPD
3 revs!
At the end I say something like “Oh my God, this is the furthest I’ve ever gone.” Though now that I think about it, I had done it a good number of times today. Yay!
