Can anyone else here ride a unicycle?
 

If I'm lucky, I can get from my back door to the end of the drive - a distance of maybe 50 feet slightly uphill. At that point I have to turn somewhat sharply either up or down onto a somewhat steeper incline, which I have not yet successfully negotiated.

I need to lean against something to mount the thing. I've tried to do a free mount many times. I succeeded on my second attempt, thought "that was easy", and have never managed it again.

[url=http://www.mersenneforum.org/showpost.php?p=209321&postcount=58]Here[/url]'s the only other post in the forum to mention the word "unicycle". I can do two of the things he mentions, neither of them well, and not at the same time.

Although its been a long time, I'm sure I could still ride a unicycle. I used to ride it all over the place, to school, through the woods, down stairs, etc. Pretty nerdy, huh?

I can. I learned when I was 14 whilst camping with my family.

The hardest part for me was riding down steep inclines under full control. I'm still not really sure I ever got that part right, I certainly fell off numerous times trying to do that.

[QUOTE=retina;275490]The hardest part for me was riding down steep inclines under full control. I'm still not really sure I ever got that part right, I certainly fell off numerous times trying to do that.[/QUOTE]

My "practice" area has a slight incline, which causes me no problem in either direction. So far I've not managed to go more than a few feet into the road without coming off, though whether that's because of the turn, the sudden change in inclination, or because I'm having a "S***! I'm in the public road" moment.

[QUOTE=Prime95;275468]I used to ride it ... through the woods ... [/QUOTE]

How on earth can anyone ride on an uneven, bumpy surface?

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6Fzq4MB7Mo[/url]

and

[url]http://video.dirtworld.com/node/30016[/url]

and

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK3ETfyw82I[/url]

are a few things a google search turns up.

it "FR°DE"

[YOUTUBE]haFgJuh8kEQ[/YOUTUBE]

(!t) FAN..tozzi rag. Ug°

[YOUTUBE]ABGpMm2YcEY[/YOUTUBE]

|°|

Apparently the "Penny Farthing" is coming back into fashion.
Never tried it, although I expect it's like "riding a bicycle".

Did learn to walk on stilts in 1964.
But never mastered the Pogo stick.

David

I did a 343-step handstand in 1974 if that counts.
I was delighted some time after when I realised it was 7^3.

A unicycle is easy; I can ride two at the same time.
[YOUTUBE]2CTPLUcQAjk[/YOUTUBE]
(David is a bad effluence. [I]Influence[/I], sorry.)

I'm (obviously) a beginner at this, and am getting discernably better at it in just a few days of practice. Today I made to to the road, and was about halfway through negotiating the turn in the uphill direction before I came off. Pedling got noticably harder, which is what threw me.

I also tried in the underground carpark. Conditions are ideal in there - no wind, smooth level surface, and plenty of space. I managed to go from one end to the other, I guess 100-150 feet, much further than I've ever managed to go outside.

First Bicycle, then Unicycle
 

[QUOTE=Mr. P-1;275457]If I'm lucky, I can get from my back door to the end of the drive - a distance of maybe 50 feet slightly uphill. At that point I have to turn somewhat sharply either up or down onto a somewhat steeper incline, which I have not yet successfully negotiated.

I need to lean against something to mount the thing. I've tried to do a free mount many times. I succeeded on my second attempt, thought "that was easy", and have never managed it again.

[url=http://www.mersenneforum.org/showpost.php?p=209321&postcount=58]Here[/url]'s the only other post in the forum to mention the word "unicycle". I can do two of the things he mentions, neither of them well, and not at the same time.[/QUOTE]

Being an armchair unicycle enthusiast, I can see this as being a three step process. 1) Bicycle riding indicates an ability to keep one's balance over two separated points with either 0 m/s ( metres per second ) velocity or greater. 2) Doing wheelies on the rear wheel, and then proceeding to the front wheel with control is next ( gravity assist is essential, with deft application of brakes ). 3) Purchase, rent or borrow a unicycle and start to practice putting your previous experience to the test. Just considering to ride a unicycle at this point, if still alive and breathing, shows, at least, bravery and initiative, so you've come to the correct place for further advice !

I'm always here to help !

Bravo ! !

[QUOTE=9021951;275552]Being an armchair unicycle enthusiast, I can see this as being a three step process. 1) Bicycle riding indicates an ability to keep one's balance over two separated points with either 0 m/s ( metres per second ) velocity or greater.[/QUOTE]

I've never been able to balance on a stationary bike; the slower it gets the more I wobble until eventually I can't stay on.

The first step in going from bicycle to unicycle is to master riding a bike with your hands off the handlebars. Bikes are usually designed to be stable, with a positive '[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_and_motorcycle_dynamics#Trail]trail[/url]' so steering can be achieved by just leaning slightly in the direction you want to go, and leans, whether induced intentionally or not, can be corrected by this automatic steering effect.

There's no similar concept of 'trail' on a unicycle, so any tendency for it to turn into a lean is small and insufficient to correct the lean. Instead you turn by swinging your arms and twisting your body in the opposite direction.

[QUOTE]2) Doing wheelies on the rear wheel, and then proceeding to the front wheel with control is next ( gravity assist is essential, with deft application of brakes ).[/QUOTE]

I have never done these things. A sustained rear wheelie is basically riding a unicycle, except that on a unicycle, you break by resisting the forward motion of the pedals.

Front wheelies are probably harder than unicycling. You don't normally have a means of accelerating and you're not rigidly attached to the front wheel, as you are to the rear.

[QUOTE]3) Purchase, rent or borrow a unicycle and start to practice putting your previous experience to the test.[/QUOTE]

My recommendation: go straight from 1 to 3, and don't bother with your stage 2.

[QUOTE]Just considering to ride a unicycle at this point, if still alive and breathing, shows, at least, bravery and initiative,[/QUOTE]

Not really. When you come off, as I do regularly, 99% of the time you land on your feet.

it ... brum brum "Brum_otti"_m°°°°°°°°

[YOUTUBE]5Hi6RXoH8xc[/YOUTUBE]


%

I'm not sure !
 

I'm probably not as " armchair " as I thought.

I think that I have tried to ride one unicycle at least once. It was an unique opportunity. All the things you mention convinced me that with practice, I would probably succeed. So I'll see, the next time that I have the chance to give it another go.

Simon

PS I have experienced " road rash " down my entire left side, after attempting to regain control using frontwheel braking, and failing, on a " down a hill " decline of a road covered with loose gravel. OUCH !

[QUOTE=9021951;275587]PS I have experienced " road rash " down my entire left side, after attempting to regain control using frontwheel braking, and failing, on a " down a hill " decline of a road covered with loose gravel.[/QUOTE]Everyone repeat after me:

Lock your front wheel and serrate your side.
Lock your back wheel and enjoy the slide.

[YOUTUBE]wOLQtHl2Coc[/YOUTUBE]

'°5 m'

I can (or say, could, when I was younger) ride my BI-cycle in any possible positions, back wheel, front wheel, etc, I was a real "expert" in that stuff, with or without hands.

I can/could roller-skate too, but just "average", never been able to do complicated tricks.

In the communist country where I grow you could not find skateboards, unicycles, and other stuff. Bikes were common, and roles could seldom be seen.

I tried skateboard few times when I was already adult, without any result except bruises. That f*king board I can't control at all and I am still scared of it after my bottom inevitable met the pavement few times.

I never rode a motorcycle or scooter, except as a passenger (did not have the occasion, and wasn't very eager to try, even if here in Thailand everybody is riding one from a very early age). In my home-country, using the motorbike is limited to few months a year, because of terrible winters, and nobody would buy one at that time when I grow up, except few people forced by their jobs to have one (like postman or so).

Of course, I never tried unicycle, from the same reason. If I would had one or see one at the age when I learned to ride the bike, I would have had a different fate, for sure :P

The unicycle could be a fun-fun experience at my age, and maybe lot of laughing for my daughter and her friends from the neighborhood. I would try one for sure at least for fun, if I could get one.

Thanks for Sharing Your Experiences
 

[QUOTE=LaurV;275627]I can (or say, could, when I was younger) ride my BI-cycle in any possible positions, back wheel, front wheel, etc, I was a real "expert" in that stuff, with or without hands.

I can/could roller-skate too, but just "average", never been able to do complicated tricks.

In the communist country where I grow you could not find skateboards, unicycles, and other stuff. Bikes were common, and roles could seldom be seen.

I tried skateboard few times when I was already adult, without any result except bruises. That f*king board I can't control at all and I am still scared of it after my bottom inevitable met the pavement few times.

I never rode a motorcycle or scooter, except as a passenger (did not have the occasion, and wasn't very eager to try, even if here in Thailand everybody is riding one from a very early age). In my home-country, using the motorbike is limited to few months a year, because of terrible winters, and nobody would buy one at that time when I grow up, except few people forced by their jobs to have one (like postman or so).

Of course, I never tried unicycle, from the same reason. If I would had one or see one at the age when I learned to ride the bike, I would have had a different fate, for sure :P

The unicycle could be a fun-fun experience at my age, and maybe lot of laughing for my daughter and her friends from the neighborhood. I would try one for sure at least for fun, if I could get one.[/QUOTE]

Fascinating, and thanks for sharing your experiences !

Simon

[QUOTE=cmd;275598][YOUTUBE]wOLQtHl2Coc[/YOUTUBE]

'°5 m'[/QUOTE]

I commented at the wrong place

[YOUTUBE]Z19zFlPah-o[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]hhYEQY5SWF0[/YOUTUBE]

[m°_|@z°°

|_YOUTUBE]AXXRm9tNnIM[/YOUTUBE]

I've been making steady progress over the past few weeks. Cycling on the level is starting to get a little boring, so I've been cycling up and down the road. I still can't make it up the steepest part, but going down is quite fun, especially on the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidewalk#United_Kingdom]pavement[/url] where there are several curb cuts to make it more interesting. Also interesting is a region of pavement with a layer of leaf mulch.

On the level, I have a turning circle of 3-4 meters, though I am quite likely to come off in the attempt. I still can't idle or free mount. I guess those are the skills I should focus upon next.