Hey that ain’t bad! You’re making good progress.
Your progress surpasses any progress I had when I first started. I just read your learning journal thing here, and you’re doing fantastic. The way to learn unicycling is to just keep trying! Those videos are lookin’ good though! Keep it up!
-Micah
Thanks for the support guys! Really looking forward to being able to ride!
Unfortunately it’s raining today so I won’t be able to go outside, and I’m about to head back to the apartment (couple hundred miles away) and won’t get the fence till Friday. I’m still gonna practice whatever I can inside though and maybe if it’s not wet outside, try to see if I can get past three revs.
LoneReaction, I’ve been going through your unicycling journal as well. Looks really awesome! It’s been real helpful =)
Man, with the amount of rain you get, I’d think you live in Binghamton!!! (where I live) 
No kidding Micah. The rain was going when I got out for work at 10 AM and when I arrived at the house at 7 it was still going strong. I’m sure it hasn’t stopped. I did just sit on the uni a little inside today, tried to idle or free mount but was too close to too many things that when I fell off (which was always) something nearby was in danger of breaking. 
Waiting for a sunny day =)
Wasn’t free till I had only about an hour of sunlight left, but I found about 30 mins of time to practice. Wasn’t able to get to 3 revs, I have a wall I can kinda use but the walkway is narrow and there are cars to the left Still, didn’t take too long to get back to relatively comfortable, so I went out in the parking lot and practiced freemounting (regardless of being able to ride or not)
With a wall and rolling back the uni, I use my right foot down, but I find it kind of difficult to rollback without the wall, so I tried the one where you jump over without pushing down on the pedals. I found it easier to do this with my left foot back and made it on top a good number of times, stalled for a second or so and realized I can’t really ride yet But still, kinda happy. Once I do get the hang of riding, freemounting isn’t gonna be too far away. Found someone here at my college that rides, so I hope I can get help from him Friday.
I think right now what’s tiring me the most is falling off and having to get back on
Get away from the wall as soon as you can! If you’ve done 3 revs, drop the wall, cos you just needa keep repeating those 3 revs! 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 and repeat!
Finally got to practice again today. I’ll call this day 5 or something.
I was practicing for a bit along the walkway, maybe a rev and a half here or there, but when I fell to the side there was nowhere to go. So I decided to go to the parking lot. Looking for somewhere to mount, I went up to someone’s pickup, mounted, and right away, got to 3 revs, albeit wobbly. Yay! So I did that a few more times.
Then I realized, since I had practiced freemounting the other day, I decided to drop the pickup too. I kept at it till I got a half rev, then rested cos the arches of my feet were killing me. When I resumed, same same, tried a couple times with the back of the wheel to the curb so I could see what it felt like and how “forward” I needed to go. Then back to the parking lot in the open, and then I got 3, then none, then 4, then none, then a wobbly 5 revs after freemount and then the uni shot out in front and I almost fell! But 5! I couldn’t even do 5 near a wall!
Since I moved to the parking lot, I realized if I was falling in one direction to just turn into it (like many have said here). But after that 5 revs, I decided I was still too wobbly so I thought about it a sec, and I wasn’t sitting down on the seat. So I raised the seat a tiny bit, and landed directly on my balls after the first freemount, but then tried again a few times, and was much more stable! About 5 revs again, and just came inside to rest after about 45 mins to an hour of practice.
Just for clarification, the freemount I’ve been doing is where the pedals are parallel to the ground, and with one foot on the back wheel (no pressure on it) just jump over the uni to the other pedal and go. The rollback mount has been a no-go for me because I can’t catch it with my left foot fast enough. Though I have my right foot forward on the jumping freemount. Fun stuff! Just remember up and over, lest you land on your jewels.
All in all, I’m happy. Extremely happy because I don’t need a wall to get on the unicycle, and can now practice anywhere! So other newbies, if you can do 2 or 3 revs, get off the wall so you’re not bound, even if you can’t ride very far! Then you’ll have everywhere to practice! (/ ^_^)/
Typo!
Hi Galthrojh,
Way to go on getting the freemount from the get go!!
In my case, once I finally started getting the freemounting, I think it actually improved my riding. I find that the ride from a freemount feels more balanced and “right” than one that starts off holding on to something.
You are doing GREAT!
I’m with you there. Had a huge breakthrough in my freemounting success rate today - was even getting them on reasonable uphills which I’ve not managed before. The most significant thing though was there was a bit of a tricky descent I was trying to do - there were some trees where I had to start, with the first drop only a few metres away, so I thought I might as well get on using those to help to save on the stress of freemounting straight before a tricky drop. Tried that twice and UPDed both times due to not getting going properly, so thought I might as well try freemounting - it actually made it so much easier!
Subconscious
That’s because it’s subconscious. After trying it enough, your brain will train it’s subconscious to react when your falling and keep you balanced. It just takes time. It took me 2 weeks to learn, but I’ve seen other people learn faster!
Exams almost done, then I can get back to practice. It’s been a messy 2 weeks!
I know right! I’ve had all this Spanish homework and now that that’s out of the way I can uni a lot more! Yeah!
So much to say!
Day 8! ~80 feet! (Straight almost because the place I’m practicing on is about 4 or something feet wide, no space to turn)
Gonna start back with Day 6:
First reaction was “Oh my god I forgot how hard this was.” I had been sitting on it, just in place in the apartment sometimes, but with all the rain and school and finals, I didn’t get to go practice much. Also it had been cold. /excuses But I’m on vacation, working at my dad’s driving range, so have plenty of free time. Tried just against a wall, or post then going off, never got over 2 revs. Sometimes I’d practice static freemounts, failures for the most part.
Day 7:
Same same really, a more consistent run of 4-5 revs with the help of a wall or something to mount up. I noticed that if I went faster (kinda revved up with the help of the wall then let go) I could keep going for longer more consistently. Consequently I fell down when I got too fast. The platform isn’t completely level, downhill a bit and tiny (but still noticeable for a newb I guess) gradual bumps that threw me off. I realized when I fall off, it’s usually to the back. Falling forward is much more scary for me, so I forced myself to fall forward more, Superman style. When I practiced static freemounts again, I noticed I could kinda twist as I mounted to get the unicycle into a better place under me before I went off. Led to a couple runs of 4 or 5 revs from freemount, but still kinda rough.
Day 8: Haven’t ridden too much today, just getting started really, but it looks like it’s gonna rain soon. Tried to mount and go a few times at first, then decided to go to the wall for just in case times. I found it a lot easier to have my arms close to me, and in front kinda swimming when needed, instead of straight out to the sides. Raised the 300mm seatpost to max on the 24" Nimbus II. Then back to the wall and a few 20ft or so runs, (there’s a little gradual bump at the 20-30ft mark that I fall off on or go too fast then UPD) Then I got to the end of the little platform I use to practice. Happy! 80 feet or so! I’ll upload a pic to show where I practice.
Place on the right has a wall further up to help out, though I can go from the near point, on a slight upward incline, just mounting with the dividers. Place on the left is where I practice freemounting. Practicing on the right depends on if there is anyone there. Most of the time if I go far enough to meet a customer, they stop to watch and let me pass by or fall. Plenty of regulars and we’re friendly enough that they’re either laughing at me or encouraging me =)
I meant 200mm. No way in hell I have a 300mm seatpost max on this uni. I’m not tall enough.
Day 9
Rained a lot today, didn’t uni till much later. One thing I did yesterday was order longer cranks (150mm, right now using 125mm) just because I have my seatpost to the highest and want to make it feel like the seat is higher I guess. Also figured it might feel more stable, but kinda thought it through/impulse buy kinda thing.
Anyway! First run of the uni was good, maybe 50 feet or so, not completely stable, but just fine. Still can’t freemount, though I did try. My biggest problem seems to be getting the seat in place under me when I mount. Just not comfortable where it should be. =/ Near the end of practice, started with the seat lower than I usually hold it before freemount, seems better, but only maybe a couple revs cos not positioned right.
One thing I did near the middle of the day was go to the parking lot. (Picture attached later.) Went to the side of my car (the black accord) and used it to mount, then proceeded to ride across the lot. (May it be noted that this was where I first started to practice, up against the fence, and the parking lot is sloped upward from where I am parked, and not completely even.) Long story long, I made it across on that first go! Kinda, there was mud on a little dip and the wheel kinda just lost it there, but still! Cool! Proceeded to go back and forth a few times throughout the afternoon/prevening, without many UPDs. The ratio of successful rides to UPDs has been weighing heavily in favor of the rides (with the exception of freemounts) I wasn’t really able to turn, cept that a few times, I did by extending the opposite arm in the direction I wanted to, then quickly UPDing. Awesomeness. I had been wanting to uni to the gates, close them, and ride back for awhile now, and, to an extent, I can!
Also of note, near the end of the evening, I freemounted and then rode back halfway across the parking lot. Kinda cool, but was tired and also had to kinda “work.”
Pic of the lot :
You’ve broken through. Congratulations! You, sir, are a unicyclist (:
Way to go Galthrojh!
Day 10/11 ?
Thanks guys =) Your encouragement here is one of the biggest things pushing me forward.
Day 10, yesterday had a bit too much rain so I’m not gonna count it. Did get to hop holding on to a pole indoors, but not much more, went outside a bit and tried some, then rain came so I didn’t do much cept try to freemount inside (no space to move around really.) I did make sure to get one good run before I left work, just used the car as a mount, then rode off to the far end of the parking lot and went home. Seems like being able to hop after a freemount helps maybe position more comfortably (though today I figured something else out)
The REAL Day 10: No rain! No mud! No puddles! Woo! Oh and no customers so I’ve been riding for the better part of the past hour or so. I was landing more and more freemounts right off the bat, making sure to start my pedal right after and adjust my seating position and feet on pedals in the first few strokes after the freemount. My dominant foot (right) is the one I leave forward on the static freemount so once it hits the pedal, I use it to twist the unicycle under me, then pedal off.
----break---- One thing I have changed is my foot position on the pedals, I’ve been strictly on the balls of my feet since almost Day 1 or something. I paid more attention on the videos that everyone’s been posting and your feet are closer to the middle/arch of your feet. So I copied that. Lessened my need to raise the seatpost, and I guess just knowing that everyone else does that helps me freak out a bit less when I freemount and the balls of my feet aren’t smack dab center of the pedal. Seems less tiring to ride like this and feels a bit more… connected? to the pedals. -----break over----
The number of unsuccessful freemounts is quickly becoming lower than the number of successful freemounts! Though the 150mm cranks were kinda weird, feels like I have too much “give” when I pedal, so after about 30 or so minutes I switched back to the 125mm ones and they were… easier to freemount. Feels like even if I put a little pressure on the back pedal, the wheel didn’t move as much. Long story long, I’ve been riding back and forth across the parking lot, mostly freemounting (I used the car a couple times to mount just so i remember the feel of a proper ride, but like I said, maybe 2 times) After a few revolutions standing up and waiting till my pedal position feels comfy, my legs get tired so I force myself to sit down on the seat, and it’s so much easier.
I was having trouble with turning, not really knowing how. Reaching my left hand forward and my right hand back to turn right, but that really just ended up with me UPDing on the right side after too sharp a turn. I did turn a good number of times successfully (though I really don’t know how I did it). Any tips?
And the USPS man just dropped off some mail, so I’m gonna ride across the lot to the mailbox (hopefully in just one go) and then come back!
Edit : Well, it took more than one go, but I didn’t walk it! (Cept the part with the rough construction area near the mailbox) woo!
Wow your are doing awesome!
I wish after 10 days of riding I was freemounting and able to ride that far!
I think after 10 days I was still riding along fence and maybe getting 10 feet without the fence. freemounting? and Hopping? Heck NO!
For turning… maybe set up a little course for yourself with a few turns in it and just keep trying at it. Sometimes you have to use your arms push your body and kind of twist yourself around bit by bit. If you have a bit more speed you can try leaning into the corner a bit, this is the smooth elegant way to turn, but will take much longer to master. It will be key to learn on a flat surface, and slope will effect your direction.
Keep at it! and have fun, sounds like your doing both!