Can anyone else here ride a unicycle? - Page 2

Mr. P-1 · 2011-10-24, 21:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9021951

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.

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 'trail' 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 ).

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.

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,

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

cmd · 2011-10-24, 21:35

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

%

9021951 · 2011-10-24, 21:40

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 !

retina · 2011-10-24, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9021951

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.

Everyone repeat after me:

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

cmd · 2011-10-24, 22:17

'°5 m'

LaurV · 2011-10-25, 03:44

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.

9021951 · 2011-10-25, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaurV

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.

Fascinating, and thanks for sharing your experiences !

Simon

9021951 · 2011-10-25, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmd

'°5 m'

I commented at the wrong place

Xyzzy · 2011-10-25, 19:43

cmd · 2011-10-25, 21:31

[m°_|@z°°

|_YOUTUBE]AXXRm9tNnIM[/YOUTUBE]

Mr. P-1 · 2011-11-10, 16:05

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 pavement 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.

2011-10-24, 21:40	#14
9021951 Mar 2005 58967,17,3,3 ---> bc.ca 2³×3² Posts	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 !

2011-10-24, 22:17	#16
cmd "(^r'°:.:)^n;e'e" Nov 2008 ;t:.:;^ 3³·37 Posts	'°5 m' Attached Thumbnails Last fiddled with by cmd on 2011-10-24 at 22:18 Reason: look closely at the bottom

2011-10-25, 03:44	#17
LaurV Romulan Interpreter Jun 2011 Thailand 22700₈ Posts	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 fking 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. Last fiddled with by LaurV on 2011-10-25 at 04:07*

2011-10-25, 21:31	#21
cmd "(^r'°:.:)^n;e'e" Nov 2008 ;t:.:;^ 3³·37 Posts	[m°_\|@z°° \|_YOUTUBE]AXXRm9tNnIM[/YOUTUBE] Attached Thumbnails Last fiddled with by cmd on 2011-10-25 at 21:45 Reason: _\|_

2011-10-24, 21:35	#13
cmd "(^r'°:.:)^n;e'e" Nov 2008 ;t:.:;^ 999₁₀ Posts	it ... brum brum "Brum_otti"_m°°°°°°°° %

2011-10-25, 19:43	#20
Xyzzy "Mike" Aug 2002 5×17×97 Posts

2011-11-10, 16:05	#22
Mr. P-1 Jun 2003 2221₈ Posts	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 pavement 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.