BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

i learned a few years ago. what do you want to know?

I am not having much progress on idling on my 36 inch. Also I seam to do OK with the 150 cranks but when I move down to 125s I cant seam to mount very well, speaking of mounting I do the same thing but get different results. some times it is jump and go the first time but sometimes it takes 3 or 4 attempts to get going. (this is on the 36 inch

I've spent most of my uni time on a 24", and have worn out five of them over the years. I'm more into local travel than stunts. Two of those wheels were worn out in 4+ years at college, including snow riding. (western NY)

For a time I commuted by a combination of bus and wheel. About 1 in 30 drivers gave me a hard time; about 10 in 30 asked me why I didn't have it with me on the occasion I didn't.

i still can't idle. i basically can go forward, but have an easy time mounting. haven't ridden a 36. i have a 24 and a 20.

The trick to the coker (36) mounting seems to be one of two mounts. The roll back mount or a static mount. It seems you already know the static mount from your description basically jump and go. The rollback mount with short cranks you don't have a lot of room for error as you don't have very much torque you can apply to the wheel and can be hard to learn. It is much easier to learn on a smaller unicycle but the principal is about the same. Basically you want to first start with your larger cranks. When you jump to mount you want to go straight away into an idol for 1/2 a rev before going forward.

The trick to idols is riding forward stopping as best you can then going forward again. From here you will add a half rotation backwards and then go forward again. When you get the hang of that then try for two. exe.

Again I would say for learning tricks it's best to work with longer cranks then switch to shorter ones to master the trick. There are very few tricks that short cranks make easier. Goodluck and keep on wheelin'

oh I guess I should say a little about myself. I've been unicycling for 8 years now. I mostly ride trials and have won competitions in the US, Canada, and France. I wouldn't say I have kept my skill level to that caliber these days but I know a fair bit about riding on one wheel. I don't have a ton of experience on big wheels but I have ridden them and can do the basics on them.

If you are looking for a group in the area to unicycle with the Wonders in washington county are an awesome group.

http://www.thewonders.zoomshare.com/

is there a local unicycle club, in pgh?

If there is not a uni club in Pittsburgh perhaps we could start one. I hear the wounders are a great group but driving to little Washington would not be able to happen on a consistant basis. I am clearly the neophyte in the group but the first step in learning is the willingness to become a fool. I have a lot to learn and have the fool part down fairly well. As stated eriler I have been riding @ 1 year anit has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.

the first step in learning is the willingness to become a fool.

that's really good advice, i haven't overcome that part yet

this one's for you stu:

http://bikehugger.com/images/blog/SANY0099.JPG

Geez, a giraffe, and juggling, no less!

The giraffe I've done. Juggling I haven't mastered. *sigh*

I *do* like the dedicated lane, though. (And yes, two-wheeled friends, you're welcome to join us one-wheelers there.)

I am not saying, I am just saying, in my opinion the unicycle is the purest form of fix gear riding. Two wheels and a chain is over kill.

Just a thought

I need to learn how to ride a unicycle. Then maybe I can learn how to wheelie.

A long narrow hallway, a carpeted floor, and tolerant parents was what got me started (at 15). When I could cross the living room reliably, I knew I was onto something. (This was Buffalo NY the week after Christmas. Outside was not an option. There are still marks on the walls back home!)

It took a week or so of dedicated practice, but I finally graduated to hanging onto the mailbox, telephone poles, trees, vans, etc., to get started. The only difference between riding 25 feet and 250 yards, without falling off, is the amount of time you put in.

All you really need is a never-say-die attitude, and no fear of chewing up ankle and elbow skin. Turns, side winds, tricks, etc. will come eventually!

The man speaks the truth. Do what he says and you will learn to ride. It took me 12 hours, two 1/2 hour sessions per day to get to the point of riding @ 100 feet. I started at the tender age of 50 and my name could or should have been maladroit. I would be willing to loan you a uni if you wanted to learn.

"we choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not only because they are easy, but because they are hard," JFK

Re: club. Ten years ago there was a group at Pitt that got together every Thursday night between Hillman Library and Posvar Hall (aka Forbes Quad) to unicycle and juggle. Anyone know if they're still there?

I don't know about that club but there is a club in 84 PA

The Wonders meet every Tuesday night at 6:00 at The Christian Life Center of Thomas Presbyterian Church in Eighty Four, PA. We love to ride anything on one wheel. We ride a variety of unicycles including giraffes (tall), Cokers (36" wheel), MUnis (for off road riding) and even a BC wheel that has no frame or seat!

Come join us for an evening and learn how to ride!

For more info or to book The Wonders for a show: 724-229-7141

The Wonders are an affiliate club of the Unicyling Society of America

brad, i can ride a unicycle, and still can't wheelie.

Looks like the Pitt group might still be around. Anyone care to check them out?

http://www.pitt.edu/~sorc/cfools/

where do you unicycle in shenley plaza? it used to be at forbes quad where there was a bunch of space

I went to the web site and sent them an e mail to query them on how much unicycle riding they are doing. When I find out something I will post it.

Am I the only one seeing that the yellow dot (i.e., "new thread") never goes away on this thread?

Perhaps seeing the yellow dot is an on set of something.

Unicycle rider! I saw an older gentleman on a MASSIVE unicycle--wheel bigger than 700c's on the jail trail yesterday. I couldnt even say hi because I was so surprised.

I am older, and like to think of my self as a gentleman but that was not me I was working the hills in Imperial yesterday on the unicycle. I would hazard to guess he was on a 36 inch unicycle. Riding the unicycle is not that hard, I am not athletic and started when I was 50 and it took me @ 12 hours to learn ( two 1/2 hours sessions per day). I am still learning and continue to work on skill sets. I have taught some people to ride in as little as 3 hours.