I normally just come to halt and kinda roll off the front, this is a habit since learning when just landing on my feet felt like an achievement!!
I’ve never seen another Unicyclist in action so have nothing to compare to but I’d like to know what people think is the best looking dismount. ie from a non riding spectactor piont of view - vain I know but image is everything:)
i dont know what the people thought but I though how i dismounted last weekend. I was coming riding on downhill course and came around a turn and heard them right as i turned so i pulled my brake quick, slid sideways, and jumped off. The uni shot out from under me and into a bush. It was pretty cool and i wish i could have seen myself do it
as for regular mounts i usually just do a short standstill and step off the back.
Dismount bit by bit, so first take one leg of (so you ride one footed), then lower an arm then lower the other arm to hold the seat then finally take the other leg off to fully dismount. It may look really stupid, but I dunno. maybe you could do it in like robot motion
Grab the brake and take your feet off both pedals. Stick them in front of you, like you are sitting – do a few revs of the wheel (this takes some speed), and then drop your feet to the ground. It looks really cool.
Here’s a video of me doing it:
Except, drop your feet to the ground at the end, and let the wheel go in front of your body. I get off the uni this way all the time (any sized wheel – coker, or 24").
if coasting dismount is too extreme - it is for me - come in at high speed, slam the brake on hard while dropping your butt down low behind the uni, wait till uni is stationary and just step to the ground.
else…
one crazy looking thing that happens when people are learning sometimes - the unicycle comes to a stop and the rider looks to be stuck to the seat, riding the stationary uni like a bucking bull, legs and arms flailing for what seems to be an impossible amount of time, usually followed by landing behind the uni on your butt.
You should see Beau (or Corbin) do it mid-stride on a bumpy trail!
The OP is looking for the “best looking” dismount. Of course that would be in the eye of the beholder. How about a hands-and-knees power slide? When done right, you’re going sideways when you stop.
A dismount to the rear always looks more controlled than one to the front. Start with that. Then to add style, come to a full stop with your feet still on the pedals, then take the front/top one off slowly and place it on the ground; always looks great if you come in all balanced.
On my 24", I used to do kind of a 180/frontspin stop sometimes. Stop hard while hooking out a little bit to one side. When done right, you will pivot around the tire’s contact point on the ground, to finish up facing back the way you came, standing behind the unicycle.
My favorite dismount was two winters ago riding the toboggan hill at Little Red Park near Prince Albert, SK.
Going down the hill with a bit of speed I hit a “woop” launched into the air (where I think I continued to pedal like mad) and when I landed my tire got a massive pre-load and went SPROING launching me forward.
Flying superman style I transitioned into a shoulder roll when I once again hit the ground, got in two rolls when the unicycle landed on top of me and I came to a sliding stop.
Two teenagers applauded my performance and a concerned mother asked me if I was OK while her daughter laughed. I think it made quite and impression.
Generally if I want to look in control I step off the back
I’m not good enough at uni yet to do what I am suggesting. I did a lot of street juggling, so I know how the public loves a flowing rhythm in something new, that they can follow with their eyes.
So I would say if you can ride up something, jump and do a uni spin, then land and do another trick ,YOU MUST DO IT IN TIME WITH THE RHYTHM THAT YOU STARTED WITH. Sorry to shout it, but talent only takes you so far. If you can get the audience to feel the rhythm of your movements, to anticipate the timing before you do it, they will feel smart and artsy when all the moves play out. In both juggling and uni, it is important to keep a rhythm the audience can follow.
Maybe I am full of BS (I don’t have any vid’s of me doing any good dismounts). True, just trying to contribute to the discussion. When I dream, I see the uni moves pulled off with musical precision.
As soon as you try to define cool, you’ve failed to be it. However, falling into my own trap: cool is about getting it just right whilst not appearing to make any effort. I think that calls for “casual and controlled” rather than “dramatic and dangerous”. (Alliteration is always advantageous.)
My favourite dismount is therefore always the controlled step off the rear. Come to a halt, stop dead without idling, step off the back, holding the front of the seat, and walk away. Stepping off the front is less controlled.