If I want to learn to wheel-walk, will it be beneficial to learn one-
footed pedaling first?
Thanks,
John
Yes, if you get good with both feet, it helps each leg to be more coordinated, and its another step of balance to master that will help with wwing. And it one footed riding doesn’t take that long to learn, just stick with it.
~Jon~
Re: Wheel-walking question
Johnny B wrote:
>
> If I want to learn to wheel-walk, will it be beneficial to learn one-
> footed pedaling first?
>
> Thanks,
> John
When I asked this question, everyone said
the two skills don’t really overlap that
much. I am learning WW but can’t ride
one-footed.
Arnold the Aardvark
do both feet go from the pedals to the wheel at the same time?
I can foresee this being a very flat-on-the-back-landing type of skill…is it?
It certainly seems that way when your learning, because the balance point for WW tends to
be a little further back than regular riding. Combine that with having both your feet in front of
the frame, and it feels very dangerous at first. I’ve never actually had a fall WWing where I couldn’t
get my feet back under me in time, though. I don’t think it is as dangerous as it initially feels.
As for getting in to it, I think most people put one foot on the wheel before taking the other
off the pedal. That’s how I do it, at least.
Ben
Re: Wheel-walking question
Sofa.5gt6z@timelimit.unicyclist.com writes:
>
>do both feet go from the pedals to the wheel at the same time?
Not when first learning. I still don’t usually do this.
>
>I can foresee this being a very flat-on-the-back-landing type of
>skill…is it?
I certainly ups the potential.
>
David
Co-founder, Unatics of NY
1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
@ Central Park Bandshell
1:30 start time after 11/1/01
If you want to be able to see properly then a helmet is a very good idea if there is any chance of a flat-on-the-back-landing. A friend of mine came off my 20" several years ago and was not wearing a helmet (just messing around on the patio), all was fine until the next day when she oke up she was partially blind !! 
When see fell she had hit the back of her head and had delayed concussion. It took over 6 months for her sight to recover fully.
Re: Wheel-walking question
aardvark@tubulidentata.demon.co.uk writes:
>Johnny B wrote:
>>
>> If I want to learn to wheel-walk, will it be beneficial to learn one-
>> footed pedaling first?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> John
>
>When I asked this question, everyone said
>the two skills don’t really overlap that
>much. I am learning WW but can’t ride
>one-footed.
>
I disagree. There is little actual overlap, but the thing is: ww takes a
lot more balance than straight riding. 1’ riding takes a bit more, too. So
the better your contrl and balance, the easier time you’ll have with ww.
In effect, you have to ‘sharpen’ your balance.
David
Co-founder, Unatics of NY
1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
@ Central Park Bandshell
1:30 start time after 11/1/01
>I can foresee this being a very flat-on-the-back-landing type of skill…is it? <
It sure was for me!
I had mabye four of these falls and man do they suck!
Oh… the pain… arggghh…
Re: Wheel-walking question
David Stone wrote:
> I disagree. There is little actual overlap, but the thing is: ww takes a
> lot more balance than straight riding. 1’ riding takes a bit more, too. So
> the better your contrl and balance, the easier time you’ll have with ww.
> In effect, you have to ‘sharpen’ your balance.
Hmmm… I haven’t tried one-foot much because I was more
interested in WW. What would be the best way to start?
I’ve tried going from one-foot idling. Trying to lift
a foot while riding seems very difficult…
Control and balance aren’t exactly my top strengths, but
I have managed to WW 20m or so a few times. Still can’t
turn right though.
Arnold the Aardvark
Re: Wheel-walking question
aardvark@tubulidentata.demon.co.uk writes:
>David Stone wrote:
>> I disagree. There is little actual overlap, but the thing is: ww takes a
>> lot more balance than straight riding. 1’ riding takes a bit more, too.
>So
>> the better your contrl and balance, the easier time you’ll have with ww.
>> In effect, you have to ‘sharpen’ your balance.
>
>Hmmm… I haven’t tried one-foot much because I was more
>interested in WW. What would be the best way to start?
>I’ve tried going from one-foot idling. Trying to lift
>a foot while riding seems very difficult…
One of the best ways to learn is to idle and then lift the top (vanilla!)
foot at the point where it’s in front, and then replace it. If you can
freeze that pose (foot off, and uni at the farthest point forward
possible) for a second, and then go back into the rest of the idle, then
you’ve really honed your balance and control. Then, while riding (I
recommend a small wheel, esp 20"), go slow and briefly take off that
vanilla foot while at the top of its rotation. Eventually try to take it
off (and keep it ready to replace) for a whole rev. If you have to bail,
remember that the other foot is anchoring you – there is no reason to
remove it. If you keep Mr Chocolate in place even as you are about to lose
your balance, you usually won’t fall (S-3). I have done the same while
trying to learn toofeno, and amazingly, that advice still holds up. That
foot on the pedal keeps you grounded (so to speak).
David
Co-founder, Unatics of NY
1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
@ Central Park Bandshell
1:30 start time after 11/1/01
Re: Wheel-walking question
I personaly dissagree with this method of learning. It is as faster
way to learn, but you don’t gain as much of the imporoved balance
nessisary for wwing as you could. The way I learned/am learning, is
to start from a one foot idle (which i learned specificaly to learn
this skill, which i am learning in hopes of wwing, which im hoping to
turn into gliding), and bringing the idle into almost perfect control,
where you are doing almost a full rev each idle, back and forth, and
hesitating a full second or two while you wate for the uni to come
back into control again. then, when you have that down, try jsut
pushing a bit harder at the top of the back swing, and letting your
body move past the dead spot into the next revolution instead of
switching directions at the dead spot. from this point its only
another hr or two of practice and you should be able two ride a full
block or two. Thats about where i stand today because i stupidly
sidehoped a wide 3 stair on my 28 spoke 20" shituni and the rim bent
at a full 90 degrees.
“David Stone” <dstone@packer.edu> wrote in message news:<mailman.1022850483.25222.rsu@unicycling.org>…
> aardvark@tubulidentata.demon.co.uk writes:
> >David Stone wrote:[color=darkred]
> >> I disagree. There is little actual overlap, but the thing is: ww takes a
> >> lot more balance than straight riding. 1’ riding takes a bit more, too.
> So
> >> the better your contrl and balance, the easier time you’ll have with ww.
> >> In effect, you have to ‘sharpen’ your balance.
> >
> >Hmmm… I haven’t tried one-foot much because I was more
> >interested in WW. What would be the best way to start?
> >I’ve tried going from one-foot idling. Trying to lift
> >a foot while riding seems very difficult…
> One of the best ways to learn is to idle and then lift the top (vanilla!)
> foot at the point where it’s in front, and then replace it. If you can
> freeze that pose (foot off, and uni at the farthest point forward
> possible) for a second, and then go back into the rest of the idle, then
> you’ve really honed your balance and control. Then, while riding (I
> recommend a small wheel, esp 20"), go slow and briefly take off that
> vanilla foot while at the top of its rotation. Eventually try to take it
> off (and keep it ready to replace) for a whole rev. If you have to bail,
> remember that the other foot is anchoring you – there is no reason to
> remove it. If you keep Mr Chocolate in place even as you are about to lose
> your balance, you usually won’t fall (S-3). I have done the same while
> trying to learn toofeno, and amazingly, that advice still holds up. That
> foot on the pedal keeps you grounded (so to speak).
>
> David
> Co-founder, Unatics of NY
> 1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
> @ Central Park Bandshell
> 1:30 start time after 11/1/01[/color]