That’s a great idea! After all, unicycling is a wonderful opportunity to practise some spring sports!
…I love your illustrations Accurate depiction of the one time I hit a pinecone I didn’t see
EDIT: Wasn’t on the 36er though, I was on a skinny 700c wheel. I think if I was on the 36 I would’ve just rolled over it
Thanks, I‘ve got some for summer and autumn (or is „fall“ a more appropriate term?) as well, but it‘s too early for that.
I’ve only done maybe 3 Muni rides this winter, but season starts soon.
But I’ve been practicing a lot of freestyle. I learned to unicycle a few year before 40, but didn’t discover freestyle and tricks until after 50.
I started freestyle about 2 years ago, as the younger kids in my club started and for the first competition, I figured it would be a good example if I also competed.
Now I’ve been training freestyle about 2 years. While it is true that the kids learn way faster, it’s still possible to learn a lot over 50.
After mastering a lot of the basics like one-foot riding, idling and backwards, in the last 2 years I’ve learned so many new tricks: wheel walk took a long time. 1ft wheel walk is solid. After practicing about a year, my drag seat is also good and I hope to learn to pick up the seat by the fall. Close to learning one-foot backwards (can do 1-2 revs). And hop on wheel and stand up hopping. I hope to learn stand walk by the fall (currently can do 2-8 kicks before I fall). I can do 180 jump mount but the 180 unispin is still not there (I’ve been practicing other stuff). Starting trying to glide. Coasting is still a ways off, but I think attainable.
Compared to the younger kids, I would say I need about twice or more as much practice (my daughter learned drag seat in weeks and I took months). But progress is still possible.
I watched a video about 3-4 years ago with drag seat, 1ft wheel walk, gliding and stand up wheel walk and thought it all looked impossible and totally unobtainable. The other day it hit me that I’m close to being able to do most of those tricks (albeit not as gracefully as the under 20s in the video). And all learned after 50!
50 seems like an eternity ago, now that it’s going on 20 years since picking up where I had left off around 1969. It was around December of 2005 that I watched a YouTube video of Kris Holm, and I was blown away! I was shocked that they were now making purpose-built unis specifically engineered for off-road riding, made to withstand extreme use, on par with mountain bike quality! Now, after almost 2 decades of riding - almost daily - I love it more than ever!
And you’re still not a geezer! Getting closer though, as are we all!
Keep inspiring us!
(I turn 50 this year)
Watching you has been one of my greatest inspirations. I will never be at your level but I’m happy to hop on and put some miles behind my wheel. I’m 56 now and looking forward to riding at 60 and beyond. Thanks Terry.
Keep on pedaling Terry, you are an inspiration – hopefully you’re never 2-tired
Terry, you’ve been a great inspiration! Im not up to your skill level. But I’m 66 and have been riding for about 5 years after decades of not riding. I figured if you can do all the advanced stuff you do, the least I can do is ride. Thank you!
Albert Pelletier
I’m 60 and 10 years in now on the 36er let’s keep riding.
Oh boy, November will be when I hit the 50. Yesterday when riding my trials uni, someone called me a clown. Some old guy of 60+ who rode a 2-wheeler with his wife. Im sure he was jealous he could ride uni.
… and I bet he was motorised.
Naturally!
I’ve just realised that the last time I rode a yike was a couple of months before I turned 50! I’ll be 52 in a few months.
Following a back injury in 2019, I spent most of 2020 learning to walk again. I still don’t have, and I’m not expected to regain, full motor function in my left leg, but I’m working hard on recovering as much function as I can.
Once I started riding again I found that I could ride further, and with less pain, on a yike than on a bike (probably because of the fixed wheel). But I also really wanted to work on getting my bike distance back up.
Last spring I bought an electric bike, giving me a motor to supplement my partially-functioning leg. It’s been transformative. Last summer, all my riding was on that bike. I was finally able to get back to riding worthwhile distances, all while gently exercising the muscles that I’m trying to get back into use.
I must make sure I get out on the 29er at least a couple of times this summer.
I never understood recovery until my own minor ankle fracture. Hope you meet and surpass any goals you have. Keep on riding when you can.
Riding the 36er at age60 and loving it.