Wheel Walk Challenge

Hey, great job so far! Keep after it. It is a rewarding trick once you get it. Everbody loves it. In fact my neighbors just the other day said, “So first no handlebars now no feet!”
Keeping your seat higher will definetly help on that big tire. If you have access to a 20" it will be a bit easier to learn.
Have fun!

Day 2: 1h 50m | Total: 04h 20m

Day 2

Hi,

Thank you MP Uni for the tips, I also think that it is a rewarding trick. actually I have access to 20" (my son’s Muni…) I’ll try that :slight_smile:

Today is my second day, and it feels much better!!! I feel more relaxed on the saddle, focus on balance and take it slow (although I have tendency to get faster when I have no “wall support” anymore… :thinking: ).

Here is my vid for today. I don’t know if you’ll notice any improvement (few last seconds), unless you run it in slow motion ;):

UVcycle

Day off…

Today I met a good friend of mine, so I took day off, and left the WWC (WheelWalk Challenge… :)) hanging from my Ceiling :wink:

Anyway I need more place, I have to go out with my regular protective gear (helmet, shin guards, 5/10, gloves), to some kind of open space and start practicing with minimum support. Weekend is almost here, and I’m sure that I could find few suitable places for that, at my favorite park (Hayarkon, Tel-aviv) :slight_smile:
Till then, tomorrow will be probably still indoor, and I’ll post my last corridor vid :stuck_out_tongue:

Have fun,

UVcycle

I’m also trying to learn wheel walking. After about 5 sessions along several days I can stay up for like 3 seconds without holding on to something. I may post a video soon. It’s cool to see your progress through the videos, keep posting.

Thanks ISBAX, it would be very interesting to see your vid - stick with it!

Good luck,

UVcycle

Making some of my own edits to Blueharmony’s great pointers:

  • It's all about controling the wheel, slower is better at first. Check!
  • Once you are off the wall forget straight lines for now. Go where you need to go to maintain balance. Yup!
  • The wheel should be farther forward than usual... Instead of thinking of it that way, think of sitting up straight. You may feel like your weight is too far back.
  • If you are always falling off forward the wheel is too far behind you. True. Same if you're always coming off to the back. If it's a little of both, you're on the right track.
  • Soft, flat shoes are very important? I much, much prefer a shoe with tread on it. Much better grip on the tire! We used to have "turf shoes" where the little knobbies ran up the toe and heel; like they were made for wheel walking.
  • It's easier to learn on a high seat. Definitely!
  • Foot placement will be toe, heel, toe, heel. Don't rush, don't crowd your feet, and always leave space between them on the tire! Otherwise you will always end up kicking a foot off when you get out into the open.
  • Don't underestimate the traction you have with your heels. You have much more control with your toe and heel than you do with the middle of your foot. Get used to this idea and you'll have much more room for your feet on the tire!

Hi johnfoss,
Thank you very much for Your edits (mine in blue):

Have fun,

UVcycle

UVcycle - you’re getting me psyched to try to learn WWing.

BUT!! I’m still not solid on one-foot riding yet. (I never practice skills, I just ride muni and distance.) Should I get the 1-foot riding down before I try WWing?

Hi steveyo,

I can’t ride one-footed either (yet… :o). Few months ago I gave it very short try, but left it (I could only take off my left feet from the pedal for 1/2 rev).

Personally I don’t think that there is dependence between the two tricks, but lets see, soon or later my WW Challenge will give us the answer :).

Thanks for your comment!

Have fun,
UVcycle

The 5.10 shoes have excellent, grippy rubber, so that’s a good choice. In your last video clip, your foot movement was similar to most WW beginners; feet crowding each other. Leave a good 3" or more between heel and toe. Learn the power of your heels to control the wheel way down the front.

No need; those skills are pretty unrelated. Both are useful core skills though.

Day 3: 2h 30m | Total: 06h 50m

Day 3

Hi,

It’s my third day now with the WW, and I feel pretty good!
Maybe I don’t have it yet, but at least I felt it for a second - and it’s great :D:D:D

Thank you all for the comments and excellent tips, I’m really trying to combine them into my practicing.

With your permission johnfoss, I’ll make it my new mantra :slight_smile:

Well here is my vid for day 3:

Tomorrow will be my first outdoor practice, very curious about it…

Have fun,
UVcycle

I’ve never even thought of trying riding one-footed, it sounds really hard jaja.

Here’s a video, I think I had a couple better tries after, but this is pretty much where I am right now. I hope we both learn soon. :sunglasses:

VIDEO

NOTE* The following has absolutely nothing to do with wheel walking:
Everything in www.unicyclist.com suddenly changed to what looks like german, I can’t understand the text in the buttons or menus. Anyone knows how I can fix this? :thinking: THANKS.

Good job ISBAX, I didn’t try yet starting the trick from leaning back the wall (instead of riding along the wall, like I do), do you find it easier that way?

About the German interface of the site, you can roll (any page) all the way down and you׳ll find drop-down box (second from left), where you can select English.

Keep practicing and posting about your progress.

Have fun,
UVcycle

YES! Thanks! It’s in english now, wow.

What I actually do is grab something with one hand and then let go, I mean, I’m not really starting from a wall, it may seem that way in the video though.

I think it’s a bit harder, actually, I’ve also been trying to let go and advance without support, but next to a wall, so if I’m losing control I just touch it to regain balance and let go again. I think that’s helpful, tell me how it goes, I’ll try to go longer tomorrow. :slight_smile:

Not really… but a unicycle is.

Day 4: 1h 20m | Total: 08h 10m

Day 4

Hi,
Outside at last… found nice flat open place at the park today. I’m trying to start WW with less support, so I had that Wire fence on my right - I used it to mount and for the first few movements. The first attempts were hesitant, next it became more and more controllable :sunglasses:

True! I’ve tried that today… :wink:

So here is the vid for my fourth day of WW:

Have fun,

UVcycle

Great progress!

I haven’t even really started training yet, so far i only tried to sit on the uni, legs off the pedals, with support.

Greetings

Byc

Only status…

Hi,

Byc, indeed sitting with both legs on the wheel, isn’t that simple at the Beginning - take your time, it will come soon!

No WW practice today :frowning: I (had a good picnic with friends)…
BUT… I took the 26" with me and did sweet muni :wink:

I hope that tomorrow I’ll have a chance to practice outside (my apartment doesn’t suit anymore) and post new vid.

Have fun,
UVcycle

Your feet are still crowding each other; looks like your right foot wants to get next to your left. Leave more space between. Practice pushing the tire with just the heel of your shoe, and you’ll see how much power you have there.

Cool, you’re doing good, I haven’t been able to practice the last two days, but I’ll try to post a video tomorrow.