Getting off the wall

Hi, I am new to this, obviously. Anyway, I bought a unicycle last week
and have been practicing along my garage wall. I mount from the open
gate by the back of the garage, and with my fingertips can now manage
the length of the garage(about 3.5 full rotations) without landing on
my butt anymore. I have a 24" uni and set the seat at almost full leg
length from seat to peddle. I go slowly with no regular speed. As in
almost stopping a few times. I had my son stand on my other side and
it was a little smoother holding his hand instead of the garage wall.
As I take off I am leaning with a straight back and all. What can I do
to get smoother from one stroke to the other? I am sorry this is so
long. I am really excited about learning to ride.
Jeff


--
jeffrollins
------------------------------------------------------------------------
jeffrollins's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15856
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/64636


Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

Basically, as you learn and get better, your strokes will be alot
smoother. Starting out, I was choppy at best till I managed to ride
around a bit. Pedal as you would a bicycle. Only difference is you have
one wheel (minus giraffes)...and no handle bars (unless you have a T7
or something similar)...and no chain or gears (again, minus giraffes
and gunis)...and no brakes (muni excluded)...and no reflectors (unless
you want it to be pretty)...or those pom-poms sticking out the handle
bars (nifty!), too. You should see it smooth out in time, and probably
won't notice unless you are OCD about it.

Just keep at it and before you know it, you will be asking about the
difference between a 29er and a coker (36er). And welcome to the club!


--
Rubix

Unicycle
Not just for clowns anymore!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rubix's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14793
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/64636


Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

I would start letting go of that wall and pedal without assistance. YOU
MAY FEEL LIKE YOU ARE STARTING AT SQUARE ONE BUT AS SOON as you get one
rotation without help you will find you will get more real fast. Stick
with it. You will be riding in no time. The key to success is
perserverance.


--
rem48
------------------------------------------------------------------------
rem48's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15538
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/64636


Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

I'm not sure if you already know this, but try not to think too hard..
Look straight into the horizon and be sure not to stare at the ground

(This really helped me)


--
NKahler


------------------------------------------------------------------------
NKahler's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15277
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/64636


Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

What worked well for me is that i put my tire up against the curb, so
the tire was on the street, and the back of the tire is touching the
curb. i would then just mount it, and see how many revs i could get
before falling off.. i did this for about an hour or two each day, and
learned how to ride consistantly in 5 days. It's smooth sailing from
there. Keep at it. Hope to see some videos soon!


--
beeper

Ride with fear, and shed a tear. Ride with confidence, - What rhymes
with confidence?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
beeper's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15159
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/64636


Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

Hi all,
thanks for the replies. Another question: All of my falls (thank
heavens only 3 bad so far), have been with the wheel going out the
front. These have caused the peddles to nail the back of my lower
calves pretty hard. I can live with my butt hitting, but the back of
my legs hurt. Any tips?


--
jeffrollins
------------------------------------------------------------------------
jeffrollins's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15856
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/64636


Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

jeffrollins wrote:
Hi all,
thanks for the replies. Another question: All of my falls (thank
heavens only 3 bad so far), have been with the wheel going out the
front. These have caused the peddles to nail the back of my lower
calves pretty hard. I can live with my butt hitting, but the back of
my legs hurt. Any tips?



Do your pedals have pins on them? If so.. Maybe you can get leg armor
like these ones that I found really 'cheap' (http://tinyurl.com/29bbxx)
but they only have it in Small and extra large...

And if you get hit in the shins you can wear soccer shingaurds

ps. you may also want to wear gloves or wristgaurds for falls


--
NKahler


------------------------------------------------------------------------
NKahler's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15277
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/64636


Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

i started riding about 3 months ago and i went and used the search
engine and found a bunch of imformation about all this stuff and i
leanred that none of it really helps (some do though) and ive come up
with unicyling is like sex you can watch all the porn you want
(unicycling videos) and read all the "How to's" but the best way to
learn is by just doing it,


--
brendon557

Santa Claus is lucky, he knows where all the naughty girls live
If we're not supposed to eat animals, how come they're made out of
meat?
If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there
Check out my website www.OffRoadRuckus.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
brendon557's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15228
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/64636


Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

Thanks NKahler, I do wear gloves. The garage wall is not smooth and it
helps when I land.


--
jeffrollins
------------------------------------------------------------------------
jeffrollins's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15856
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/64636


Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

Look for a longer piece of wall to ride along. The best is a tennis
court or other fence with pavement next to it. Ride along the
wall/fence until you get bored. Then start veering away from it.

We adults tend to overthink this stuff. Don't. Try to approach it like
an 8-year old. You fall off (should be onto your feet most of the
time), think about which direction you fell off, then go again.

Repeat.


--
johnfoss

John Foss
Email: "jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com
-----------------------------------------------

"I bruised my tailbone the other day, it's a real pain in the ass." --
Forrest Rowell
------------------------------------------------------------------------
johnfoss's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/832
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/64636


Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com