The more I read about yous 50+ physical issues, the more I feel the urge to get everything out of my unicycling fun. Mostly everything still works in my body, but by overdoing it with the Ultimate Wheel, I continuously feel my knee joints yammering. Normal riding is ok, but I need to be careful with UW or hopping and I’ve been pushing off learning to ride a BC wheel.
Also when I do tumble off, then it takes weeks before my body is healed, so I generally ignore the pain and push on.
It would be nightmare having to sit home because of some injury and not be able to ride for a month or few months.
Very good @Beener keep at it. Unicycling remains fun until the end.
Oh, other books by Grant Peterson (according to GoodReads). I figured I’d describe what was in the link to spare some of you from clicking if you weren’t that curious. The “eat bacon” book resonates with me a bit, because I have been wondering about what actually constitutes a good diet (doctors wanting to alter my vital statistics, etc., me not wanting to be on perscription meds for the rest of my unicycling career)
Also resonated with me was the “uncomfortable” bike thing that Grant writes about … riding in an aero position is literally a pain in my neck, and the problems you can have if you are in aero position with a poorly-fit seat … makes me want to throw my bike away, and get on my cheap Sun unicycle and just enjoy life (although, I may want to upgrade the seat, that Sun seat is floppy).
I (secretly) like bikes, and Rivendell bikes are up my alley … but in my car, I have my unicycle in the trunk, almost all the time. If I’m out for a drive and I see some neat park - I might go for a ride. They’re just more portable, and (usually) don’t cost a fortune.
This is definitely my philosophy. While I can do these things, I’m going to do these things! I’ve had enough strikes of “nope, that activity is permanently off my list” that I’m really pushing into what I can still do…
I was one of the several people who tried it at the Guildford Unicon. It was not a relaxing ride - the potential consequences of a backwards UPD were always on my mind .
I must agree with you, the whole rivendell vibe really aligns with my riding style. I must say I’m lusting after one of their bikes, I would love to go to California and have one properly fitted for me. Like you Clyde I am never without a unicycle in the back seat of my truck and I am definitely doing more unicycle than bike these days.
Really? you keeps yours always in the trunk. My wife always complains that I never take mine from my trunk, especially when she wants to do groceries. Priorities you know…
here is a youtube vid from someone on a recumbent unicycle:
Looks more like swimming while on 1 wheel. Must be quite a challenge to take it off-road. Free-mounting must also be impossible. I will stick to a normal uni.
Thanks, 62, and I’m still riding, and I hope you are. I am pretty careful; the thing I need to do is ride with my helmet on at all times, but I don’t. I should know better. You be safe as well.
I’ve been riding up to two miles per day before work, alternating between my 36" and my 24" muni. I know it isn’t like what most of you would consider too great a workout but those short rides have helped me drop forty pounds in the past six months, along with some dietary changes.
Unfortunately though, while idling on asphalt on my muni, a recent fall caused a humerus break.
The fall was nothing spectacular, the wheel went a bit too far forward, out from under my center, and I just fell back toward the right. I landed on my right hip and arm. SNAP. Pretty sure I heard the break. Definitely felt it. After I sat up and realized I had no control of my right arm, I tucked my hand and forearm into my hoodie pocket, grabbed the muni, walked to the truck, then drove myself to the hospital.
I’m currently in a temporary splint and will see an orthopedic specialist tomorrow.
Being in the over 50 crowd, I figured my pain would be a good reminder that some of us are not as resilient as we were and that even small accidents can be life changing.
Sorry to hear that! You’re definitely right about staying within you limits, but I think it goes both ways: I am much more resilient and less likely to get injured in general at 55 because of unicycling (combined with other training). Your body gets older but activity/sport/training slows the rate of loss. My knees and lower back are currently stronger and in better shape than in my 30s. (Although I’m still slower but that’s fine)
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You be safe as well.