Anyone unicycle out there?

[two_ravens]

Uni arrived last week while I was gone to Whitefish! :) One more weekend of carving up the Ghee, then I'll get started with the one-wheel experience. Jonbass, thanks for the advice and link!

[JakeW.]

I'm shocked that so many carvers ride unicycles! I don't unicycle, but I do ride bike trials. They should start a summer version of the SES for biking, unicycling and skateboarding. It seems like we all do at least one of those sports.

[jonbass]

I'm shocked that so many carvers ride unicycles! I don't unicycle, but I do ride bike trials. They should start a summer version of the SES for biking, unicycling and skateboarding. It seems like we all do at least one of those sports.

I'd love to try bike trials but it looks way harder than unicycling! :D

Is it very expensive to get into? How do you get started?

[dano]

I juggle pins as well, so it's a natural progression...:)

Any brands I should avoid? Would a supension ( seat post or forks ) be harder or easier to start with?

[jonbass]

I juggle pins as well, so it's a natural progression...:)

Any brands I should avoid? Would a supension ( seat post or forks ) be harder or easier to start with?

No one really uses a suspension seat post as it takes away from your ability to control the wheel under you. Most good unicycles have a fairly cushy seat and if you get a trials or mountain unicycle, it will have a fat tire that gives you some suspension.

The Nimbus brand from unicycle.com is very sturdy and economical. The main thing to think about is whether you will be doing tricks and hopping on it. If you are, then I would suggest getting a uni with a ISIS splined hub and cranks because they are quite a bit tougher. I am quite heavy and I've never bent a pair even after doing drops.

It is probably easiest to learn on a 19/20" or a 24". 19" is a trials style wheel and is used for trials/street with a trials bike tire. 20" is the size for freestyle and people use bmx tires for the most part. 19" and 20" are sometimes used interchangeably so be aware. 24" unis are often used for technical trail riding.

Hope that helps. :)

[Alaskan Rover]

I tried a unicycle last summer....the exercise was NOT a success! I found it VERY unruly!!

I think the main problem was that it was basically a kid's unicycle. I'm 6'3" and even with the seat-tube fully extended, my knees were still quite bent...I figure this must have affected the balance of the system.

I tried different techniques for practice...like holding on to two counters in the kitchen....worked great...until I let go of the counters. I managed to get a 2 second peddled ride across the kitchen floor...that's about it.

Any hints for learning on...besides a longer seat-tube?? I figure that just sitting on the thing, with feet on the peddles and hands free, WITHOUT trying to peddle, would be a good start. But every time I go hands-free....watch out. Gravity might indeed be life, but sometimes when you're trying to learn a unicycle...it can SUCK.

___________

Gravity's bitch, sometimes...ain't it?

[jonbass]

Starting in a tight space like a kitchen might create more problems than solutions. you are too worried about doing damage to actually ride. ;)

It is ok to use a small space just to get a feel for how the unicycle balances under you.

I am a big fan of using a railing or something you can grab onto with ONE HAND to start off as opposed to a wall. I think the sooner you free up your hands the sooner you can use them to help your balance. Once the ice was melted, I used an outdoor skating ring. The boards were just about the right height for my hand and the ground was smooth pavement.

Before you just try to pedal away, take a bit of time holding onto the railing and pedaling the wheel around so you can get a feel for how the unicycle moves. It is all about controlling the wheel with your legs. It feels like the uni is going to roll away from you right away but you can control that with the pressure your legs are putting on the pedals backwards and forwards.

Trying to balance on the unicycle without pedaling is actually much more difficult than pedaling it.

I also think that it is better to pedal away from the wall right away once you are committed to start riding it. This is my own theory though, based on hearing about people that spent a lot of time pedaling along a wall using for slight balance help. Open space is good!

I also think that it helps to wear a lot of protective equipment to start. There's nothing like a pedal in the shins to wear down your confidence. Helmet, shin/knee guards and gloves are what I use when I am trying something new. Some people like wrist guards too. If you feel more confident, you will commit that last bit of balance to the uni.

The main thing is to remember that you are pedaling the unicycle under you to keep your balance. If you are falling forward pedal faster, if backwards put some back pressure on the pedals.

I described it before but I will do it again because it is the way that understand it. Unicycling is basically falling forward and pedaling the uni under you so start with pedals level. Lean forward so that you are falling forward and then start pedaling.

jon

[pebu]

Unicycling is basically falling forward and pedaling the uni under you so start with pedals level, lean forward so that you are falling forward and then start pedaling.

jon

It's like a human powered segway.

[jonbass]

It's like a human powered segway.

Totally! :):D

[bobble]

i was at my local bike shop today and saw some unicycles.

what would be a good size to start on? 16, 20, 24 inch?

[jonbass]

It kind of depends what you want to do with it. If you are wanting to ride off road at all, you will probably want a 24" because 20" are pretty slow. 20" unis are pretty standard to learn on if you are on pavement.

I think 16" unis are built mostly for younger kids.

[dano]

I got a cheap 24" ( but has 10 year warranty) uni on ebay from Bike Island a few weeks ago to play with, then my 9 year old daughter kept trying to use it so I got her a 16" one as well. I'm glad I did as I switched seats..hers was much more comfortable and had a front handle.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170429412981&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT

At the moment I can only go about 10 rotations without losing it...Flailing arms does wonders. It's much harder that it looks. Once I get better I'll invest in a better one.

Thanks for the tips Jonbass!

[jonbass]

I got a cheap 24" ( but has 10 year warranty) uni on ebay from Bike Island a few weeks ago to play with, then my 9 year old daughter kept trying to use it so I got her a 16" one as well. I'm glad I did as I switched seats..hers was much more comfortable and had a front handle.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170429412981&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT

At the moment I can only go about 10 rotations without losing it...Flailing arms does wonders. It's much harder that it looks. Once I get better I'll invest in a better one.

Thanks for the tips Jonbass!

Yes! I love hearing about people taking up unicycling! How tall is your daughter? I have a friend that was interested in buying a unicycle for her 6 year old but I wasn't really sure about the really small sizes.

The unicycle that you bought looks good for the price. I am thinking of buying a bunch of inexpensive unis to start a club and give people a chance to try it. To bad those don't ship outside the US. $44 is pretty good if they hold up well.

[dano]

Yes! I love hearing about people taking up unicycling! How tall is your daughter? I have a friend that was interested in buying a unicycle for her 6 year old but I wasn't really sure about the really small sizes.

The unicycle that you bought looks good for the price. I am thinking of buying a bunch of inexpensive unis to start a club and give people a chance to try it. To bad those don't ship outside the US. $44 is pretty good if they hold up well.

Hey JB,

Sorry for the delay. ( I had to measure) She's 4'7 and is able to have fun with this 16" uni and a fence. It's a little cheezy but should be fine if I can keep it out of the rain.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230463887176&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

My son is is 7 and 4" tall so it's too big for him. However he MUST do everything his sister does, so he has no problem getting up on it between 2 chairs on the patio. It would fit him fine if I cut some off the bottom of the seat post. ( it hits the tire if adjusted too low )

BTW, your "just pedal away from the fence" theory is spot on. You gotta go for it!

[spil]

I borrowed my friend's unicycle and have been riding it since last week, I can make it about 20-30 feet before falling. What usually happens is that I keep accelerating until my pedal strokes can't keep up with my falling body, and I end up falling forward. I guess that means I am leaning forward too much?

It's been a lot of fun, although my shins and ankles have taken a bit of a beating.

[caspercarver]

I borrowed my friend's unicycle and have been riding it since last week, I can make it about 20-30 feet before falling. What usually happens is that I keep accelerating until my pedal strokes can't keep up with my falling body, and I end up falling forward. I guess that means I am leaning forward too much?

It's been a lot of fun, although my shins and ankles have taken a bit of a beating.

pretty much the only time i lean forward is when i am trying to go fast or am climbing a hill. when i am on level surface i try and stay perfectly centered over the wheel. when i climbing, my wheel is behind me, when i am going down a steep hill my wheel is way out in front. falling forward is the most common way to fall but you will learn in time when your about to fall to dismount from the rear. it's a lot safer and easier on your joints. another thing, going down hill on a gentle slope is much easier than trying to uni on level surface.

[jonbass]

I borrowed my friend's unicycle and have been riding it since last week, I can make it about 20-30 feet before falling. What usually happens is that I keep accelerating until my pedal strokes can't keep up with my falling body, and I end up falling forward. I guess that means I am leaning forward too much?

It's been a lot of fun, although my shins and ankles have taken a bit of a beating.

Once you are falling forward the goal is to get the wheel directly underneath you so you keep your body as upright as possible. A lot of time people break at the waist and think they are leaning forward but in reality they are also sticking their butt out back and the weight and the seat is behind the wheel instead of over it. If you are breaking at the waist and your seat and butt are over the wheel then you could have a lot of weight forward, more that you can control by pedalling forward. keeping your upper body inline with the seat post might help.

I wore 661 shin and knee guards right from the start. I am a wimp and I find it hard to commit if I am scared of getting hurt. I also found a pair of soccer shin guards with ankle padding that work when I am not worried about my knees.

[spil]

pretty much the only time i lean forward is when i am trying to go fast or am climbing a hill. when i am on level surface i try and stay perfectly centered over the wheel. when i climbing, my wheel is behind me, when i am going down a steep hill my wheel is way out in front. falling forward is the most common way to fall but you will learn in time when your about to fall to dismount from the rear. it's a lot safer and easier on your joints. another thing, going down hill on a gentle slope is much easier than trying to uni on level surface.

Once you are falling forward the goal is to get the wheel directly underneath you so you keep your body as upright as possible. A lot of time people break at the waist and think they are leaning forward but in reality they are also sticking their butt out back and the weight and the seat is behind the wheel instead of over it. If you are breaking at the waist and your seat and butt are over the wheel then you could have a lot of weight forward, more that you can control by pedalling forward. keeping your upper body inline with the seat post might help.

I wore 661 shin and knee guards right from the start. I am a wimp and I find it hard to commit if I am scared of getting hurt. I also found a pair of soccer shin guards with ankle padding that work when I am not worried about my knees.

Thanks for the tips, guys. I'll try to keep my body above the post more and break not break at the waist. I read somewhere online about leaning forward and it didn't provide much detail other than 'lean forward and catch up with your falling.'

Also, how high should the seat be? I feel like if it is too low, I have trouble keeping my weight on the seat instead of the pedals, but if it is too high, it is harder to mount (and more painful during falls:eek:).

[jonbass]

Seat height is pretty variable. I tend to have it lower if I'm riding trails as bumps and roots will throw you off your seat. I tend to ride it a bit lower than I would on a bike in general with a bit more bend in my knee. That is a personal preference though. Try different ways and see what works for you.

Keeping your weight on the seat is a pretty common problem when you are beginning. Over time it will become more natural.

Keep having fun!

[jonbass]

So I've developed quite a quiver of unicycles. I just bought 3 learner unicycles because I plan on holding some Learn to Unicycle clinics this summer. I am hoping to get some more people interested in the sport and eventually get a club started in the area.

I'm now up to 6 unicycles in my quiver .