Words of encouragement anyone?

[RichVoice]

About a month ago, my wife told me that her boss was taking unicycling lessons. I told her I thought that was great, and that I'd wanted to learn how to ride a unicycle for as long as I could remember. Lo and behold, I received a unicycle for Christmas! Woohoo!

Now, four days later, I have the following:
1. Scuff marks on my walls (note to self: consider learning new sports outside).
2. A bruise on my left shin that's mysteriously in the shape of the left pedal of my unicycle (note to self: shop for shin guards).
3. A bruise on my left thigh that's mysteriously in the shape of my cell phone (note to self: leave the cell phone inside when learning something that might entail falling).
4. Very sore palms (note to self: consider learning new sports that might entail falling on soft surfaces).

Someone who's more prone to giving up might find all of the above too much. But not me. I'm one of the most determined (read: stubborn) people around, so I have no intention of giving up.

I've cut the stem down so that I can reach the ground with my toe when the unicycle is more or less straight (I figure if I get better and want the additional height, I'll just buy a new stem). I've moved from inside the hallway to outside with a chair on one side. I started experimenting with two lengths of PVC pipe as poles this afternoon, and was able to successfully complete one full crank revolution (before watching my unicycle go flying out in front of me onto the lawn). I've also joined the Unicycling Society of America, and registered here.

I'm determined. But I'm also a beginner, with no friends that I can turn to for advice. So any advice would be appreciated. As would any words of encouragement. And recommendations. What the hell, a good joke wouldn't hurt either.

All the best,
Rich

[harper]

As a beginner, start using the search function on the RSU forum to find threads about learning to ride. Philosophies differ somewhat. Mine is this:

1. I think your seat is too low. Adjust your seat just like you would for a bicycle. With the down pedal all the way down your leg should be fully extended with your heel on the pedal. That way, when you put the ball of your foot on the pedal your knee will be slightly bent. To learn maybe lower the seat an additional inch or so, but no more.

2. Keep your weight on the seat at all times. Think about it constantly. Remind yourself constantly.

3. Focus into the distance slightly, don't look at the wheel or the pedals.

4. Take off from some point and ride until you fall. Don't ride until you think you're going to fall because you'll just get into the habit of stepping off. Ride until you actually fall and you will learn to correct more quickly. Try not to depend on walls, fences, crutches, or other supports besides your mount and launch point.

5. Pedal with round, smooth strokes.

KEEP YOUR WEIGHT ON THE SEAT!!!

You have what it takes. Unicycling is not about balance, it's about determination.

Edit: This post could have been put in RSU rather than Just Conversation.

[GILD]

Welcome to the fora.
Greg covered most of the basics in his post.
Seat height is pretty crucial. Make sure you're not too low.
Oh, and keep your weight on the seat.

A couple of other points.

Consider buying gloves/wrist guards rather than learning on a soft surface. It's way harder to ride on the lawn than on the driveway.
Get yourself a pair of cycling shorts. It may be some time before you're able to spend enough time in the saddle to lead to any appreciable crotchetal numbness (now there's a band name just waiting for a genre of music to be invented), but in the meantime it will help keeping Frankie and the Twins from being sat upon - and incredibly stupid thing that happens to learning unicyclists with alarming frequency. I would advise that you get the 'bib-shorts' as they are just that much more comfortable.
Try n link up with other unicyclists in your area. There is nothing that beats the motivation of hanging out with people who can just pop up onto these things and ride away. Some 'hands on' tuition is also pretty helpfull.
Don't hold onto the front of the saddle. Wave your arms about to help with balance. To paraphrase Charly Dancy, it may not help but it will make you feel better. Seriously tho, let go the front of the seat. You may start grabbing it again when you start hopping.
Put and keep your weight on the seat. Like with horse-riding you will instinctively try n find some sense of stability on your feet. You won't find that on the unicycle. Your stability lies in keeping your weigh on the seat.
Have fun and keep us updated on your progress.

[BillyTheMountain]

As a beginner, start using the search function on the RSU forum to find threads about learning to ride. Philosophies differ somewhat. Mine is this:.....

Wow! Greg and I share the SAME philosophy! How did THAT happen?

Billy

[RichVoice]

Thanks for the tips, all. I've also checked out the thread started by fellow newbie Kris in the RSU forum. And I've read a lot of the "journal" thread started by, er, the sock puppet guy; lots of great tips there!

I've got some cycling shorts, since I've been a cyclist for many years; I don't get on my Trek 5200 nearly as often as I should, but I know how to ride it. That's one of the things that's a little frustrating about this unicycle experience: it's easy enough to think, "well, I know it'll be different than riding a bicycle, but it's got a seat and a wheel and pedals and forks -- how much different can it be?" But from my first time in the saddle it was clear that they're only related in some seventh-degree-of-separation kind of way.

Anyway, I'm afraid that my UPD yesterday might keep me out for a couple of days. My thigh is killing me right where I landed on my cell phone and Swiss Army Knife, which were in my pocket. If it's not raining too much later I'll give it a shot to see if it feels better while riding (er, falling). And I'll definitely get on it in the bike shorts, which have no pockets! If not, I'll just take a day off, and get back on it tomorrow.

One thing I've tried a little bit inside is riding on my bicycle rollers. I've got a set of full-length rollers for indoor riding, and I set the back portion up in a doorway and "rode" for a little while. Has anyone else done this? Any thoughts on potential problems learning this way? One thing I'll say for my experience on them so far is that it gave me a sense of the importance of putting my weight in the seat: although it does seem counter-intuitive sometimes, doing it while on the unicycle with the pedals rotating definitely felt different (and better).

Thanks again,
Rich

[harper]

Wow! Greg and I share the SAME philosophy! How did THAT happen?



You're a waffler, that's how.

[BillyTheMountain]

You're a waffler, that's how.

Amazing. YOU'RE a waffler too!! And we BOTH unicycle! We're just the same! That's why I like you, Greg!

Billy

[Fuego]

A good read about learning to ride is The Journal of a new Unicyclist. (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44950)

IT goes through how dudewithasock learned to ride, day by day, with tips, comments, etc.

[cathwood]

One thing about reading the dude with one sock's journal is that he is young. I am not young and it took me 6 weeks, not 2, to be able to ride at all. 6weeks of practicing for about half an hour every day. Older bods usually take a bit longer than younger bods to get it.

But don't give up, the triumph of actually riding is all the sweeter for it taking longer. Practice and practice some more. It's well worth it. It's the closest you'll ever get to flying until you grow wings and the feeling is terrific when you've got the knack.

I learned to ride last January/February and during the summer I regularly rode 6 miles along the prom. IF I can do it anyone can.

Cathy

[harper]

Amazing. YOU'RE a waffler too!! And we BOTH unicycle! We're just the same! That's why I like you, Greg!



You ARE me, you silly goose.

[Mikefule]

I am not young


Tosh and piffle! You're younger than I am, and loads younger than some of the others here. Your no' but a bairn. In our off list PM discussions, we call you "Junior".:p

[oldfatboy]

richvoice, I am 53 and just learned this last August/September.
Like Cathwood, it also took me about 6 weeks to learn. I was hoping to learn in one month. I am out of shape and overweight, but I learned! :)
When I would wear myself out trying to learn, I would just sit on my uni while holding onto something. Practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more.
The first time on my uni was mounting it in a doorway here in my home. I did that for 3 days before getting the courage to move outside. Like you, I have nobody around here to talk to or watch or even to ask questions about my technique. The people here are great in helping and answering questions.
What type/size uni do you have? I firest bought a 24" and then my wife "suggested" I buy a 20". The 20" really helped get me going.
I think the others mentioned it but just to emphasize...practice and practice a lot ;)
I have been off mine for 6 weeks now, but that is a different story.
Keep us posted.

[RichVoice]

Although on the one hand it's discouraging to hear that it might (probably will) take 6 weeks -- or maybe more -- to learn how to ride this thing, it's also encouraging in a way: I won't be alone if it takes me longer than a few weeks! And although I'm a cynic, in certain cases I'm an optimistic cynic, and this is one of them. So I'm looking forward to learning, whether it takes 4 weeks or 4 months!

My wife bought my unicycle with the help of her brother, who works in a bike shop. It's a Sun 24". Based on a quick Google search and what I know of bicycle prices, I'm guessing that it's relatively low on the unicycle food chain. But that's fine with me. Based on my experiences so far, I won't be surprised if I have to swap everything out on it by the time I learn how to ride it just from the damage I inflict on it, and by that time I might be interested enough to buy a higher-end model.

Today it's supposed to rain, but it hadn't started yet by 9:30 or 10:00, so I geared up -- bike shorts, knee pads (one down around my very bruised left shin), helmet, and leather gloves. I ended up spending more time than I'd thought I would, about an hour.

Disappointments:
1. The farthest I got was about one-and-a-half crank revolutions. And that only happened a couple of times, it was mostly pedal-pedal-splat, or pedal-pedal-whooosh as the unicycle sped out in front or behind me. Or sometimes just pedal-splat or pedal-whoosh. And an occasional just plain old splat.
2. Jeans, bike shorts, it doesn't seem to matter: Frankie and The Twins just aren't all that happy with this sport yet.
3. Freemounting now seems a little more like a nice dream than an actual achievable goal (don't worry, I'm not actually trying to do it yet, and I won't until I can actually ride; it's just that the experience of getting on the thing has so far made the possibility of freemounting seem damn near impossible).

Encouragements:
1. When I started off today, I was spending 30-60 seconds (and sometimes longer) getting on, holding on, remembering to keep my weight in the seat, and getting "centered." By the time I finished, I was able to accomplish that in usually 10-30 seconds.
2. I ended up spending longer outside than I'd planned to, without realizing it.
3. Having something to focus on seems to keep my spirits up, and that wonderful little ditty from the classic claymation Christmas special "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," "Just Put One Foot In Front Of The Other," seemed to do the trick for me.
4. Nice messages from people here.:)

I'll keep checking back here, and posting updates. Probably not like the sockpuppetguy's journal (I'll have to see if he's posted his name before I refer to him again), but something. Or maybe I'll start a blog. Or both.

Cheers,
Rich

[burjzyntski]

When I would wear myself out trying to learn, I would just sit on my uni while holding onto something.

Whenever I try to show people how to unicycle, I have them sit on the seat - with all of their weight - and hold on to something. I say "pretend it's a chair and just sit there. find your balance." It's not terribly difficult and once you get the hang of it, it's no harder than walking!

Jeans, bike shorts, it doesn't seem to matter: Frankie and The Twins just aren't all that happy with this sport yet.

Just reach in there, grab 'em, and pull 'em up over the seat.

[Naomi]

...and MOST importantly , if no-one else has already mentioned it: learn to fall off forwards, and hence to land on your feet. Its easier than learning to ride, and VERY important. Falling off in any other directions hurts, with or without the swiss army knife.

Nao

[RichVoice]

I went and bought a set of BoneShieldz wrist/knee/elbow pads today. I'm not sure how much I'll need them, but I think I'll be slightly less apprehensive about falling, which should help me "just do it." I think Harper's advice about "riding until you fall" is good: in other things that I've learned, I bailing out intentionally is a safety valve that just seems to delay attaining the goal.

Rich

[GILD]

It's been a couple of days now, are you still suffering the after-effects of the New Years Party?

[RichVoice]

It's been a couple of days now, are you still suffering the after-effects of the New Years Party?
Unfortunately, I'm still suffering the after-effects of the latest weather system here out west. It's fairly unusual for us here in the San Francisco Bay Area to have so much continuous rain; yesterday I don't think it stopped for more than a few minutes before starting in again.

Fortunately, it's supposed to ease up today, then one more mild system, then it's supposed to clear up for several days. Unfortuanately, weather forecasters are notoriously wrong.

In any case, I posted a pic to my blog that my wife took of me "riding" on my rollers in a doorway.

Rich

[GILD]

"riding" on my rollers in a doorway
I'm very curious to know how that would compare to the 'actual' riding experience.
Has anyone else ever ridden on rollers?

[RichVoice]

I'm very curious to know how that would compare to the 'actual' riding experience.
Has anyone else ever ridden on rollers?
I've only spent a couple of hours outside trying to ride so far, so I'm not sure about all of the differences. But the one thing I've noticed that seems like the biggest difference so far is the huge differential in forward/backward momentum.

On the rollers, it takes very little force on the pedals to turn the wheel, and when the wheel does turn, my body stays in the same place, negating the need to work on balancing forward-to-back (well, I still need to work on it, or I wouldn't have to hold onto the door jamb nearly so much, but it's tiny adjustments).

Outside, I've only been able to complete one or one and a half crank revolutions so far, and the main reason seems to be balancing forward-to-back. It takes a lot more force on the pedals to move, and when I do, I suddenly have to compensate for where my body has been shifted to, relative to the unicycle; compensate too far forward and the unicycle shoots out behind me, compensate too little and the unicycle keeps going without me.

Still, I think the rollers are helpful in a small way on rainy days. Although I'm not having to balance as aggresively, it seems to me that every little bit of practice understanding the balancing dynamics is helpful. And when I let the wheel "walk" some side-to-side, it helps me get a feeling for the side-to-side balancing as well.

But here's hoping for some clearing soon. I'm staying focused on Harper's response to my initial post: "Unicycling is not about balance, it's about determination."

I'm definitely interested in hearing if anyone else has used rollers as a training aid as well!

Rich

[GILD]

compensate too far forward and the unicycle shoots out behind me, compensate too little and the unicycle keeps going without me.
You obviously understand the basics perfectly.

I ran a quick search for 'rollers'. Apparantly they have (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45500&highlight=rollers), and it's not looking good (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44483&highlight=rollers).

[RichVoice]

it's not looking good.
If I ever get good at it, I'll post a video. Something tells me, though, that I'll actually have to learn how to ride first.:p

[thencamebronson]

I don't want to steal Rich's thunder, but I also got a Sun 24" unicycle for Christmas. Twenty years after I got my first unicycle, a 24" Nissan. Anyway, after months of trying, I finally rode unassisted on Aug 23 1986, my son's first birthday. I rode quite a bit but never learned to mount unassisted. Fast forward 18 years and my youngest son, who was 15 at the time began riding the old unicycle and became very good at it, wearing out the Nissan and graduating to a trials model a year later. Watching him gave me the bug again and I tried to ride his trials uni. Not good, but I was able to go a few yards before falling. So this year he and the wife gave me the Sun.

To cut to the chase, I got on the new one and after a couple trys, I was able to get started using two poles, which is the method I used back in the 80's. I got it from Jack Wiley's Unicycling book. After a couple of days I was back to my old form, so I guess once you learn Rich, you never forget.

You might try the two poles, it was what worked for me. By the way, Rich, nice Blog.

[GILD]

I finally rode unassisted on Aug 23 1986, my son's first birthday.
That's one more of us and one less of them.

Welcome to the fora Bronson.

[RichVoice]

so I guess once you learn Rich, you never forget.
Thanks for that, Bronson! I'll feel that much better about it once I get to the "once you learn" part.:rolleyes:

Speaking of which: no rain today! I'm heading outside now!

Rich

[Catboy]

RAH RAH RAH!!! GO RICH GO!!! RAH RAH RAH!!!


/encouragemnent

[RichVoice]

I got 15' several times yesterday. That was pretty encouraging!

When I was able to complete two full crank revolutions (about 12'), I was just able to feel what "riding" feels like. At 15', that feeling was definitely more pronounced. What others (Podzol?) posted about the learning curve becoming exponential at some point makes more sense after getting a feel for it.

Since my backyard is so small, I think it's time to change practice areas. I put some pictures on my blog of some areas at a local park that seem like good training grounds: flat pavement (probably slightly better than the pavers that make up my patio), and several posts/trees right next to the pavement in certain places that should be good supports. I usually hate doing something in public until I have some amount of proficiency, but I don't think I have a choice at this point. It's either that or not learn how to ride -- and at this point, that's just not an option.

Rich

[trials_uni]

its all about practice...and from the sounds of it your doin alot better than i was at you point in learning...good job!

[DonO]

Rich, I am a newbie unicyclist as well, so if you don't mind, I'd like to share a couple of experiences with you.

First, as a newbie, I had a couple of advantages:

1. I started in the summer (01Jul05 to be exact), so I had a lot of daylight and warm weather to learn in - that meant I could spend hours each day learning.
2. I started on a 20" uni - I think the small wheel made it much easier to learn on.

It took me about two weeks of CONCERTED effort (read "lots of hours per day") to learn how to free-mount and ride around the block without UPDs. For the last 5 1/2 months I have been commuting on my unis to and from work, so I'm gradually getting the hang of this new sport.

The moral of the story is that it takes LOTS of bum time and LOTS of UPDs for old farts like me to learn to ride a uni (you're not an old fart yet, but you're getting there). Hang in there - you are doing great, better than I could have done on a 24" in the winter.

Here's my second point. Last week I picked up my new Coker (36" wheel). I was very nervous because I had never seen a real one before, let alone ridden one, so I didn't know if I could even get up onto the thing.

But in October I had watched a great video on UDC of a guy doing a rolling jump mount up onto his Coker and riding away. It looked so fluid and so spectacular that I watched it over and over again. I watched it so much that I started to DREAM about doing a running mount when I finally got my Coker. For two months before I finally picked up my Coker, I'd daydream about it, and visualize doing the freemount first time, every time. I should tell you, I've never been a great fan of "visualization" before - it sounds kind of hokey - but I'm a believer now!

So last week I drove down to Vancouver and picked up my new Coker. Then I went riding with a couple of guys from the Vancouver Unicycling Club (first time I've ever ridden with other unicyclists) and they both did the rolling mount on my new Coker. I didn't really think I could do it, but after two months of dreaming about doing it and visualizing successfully free-mounting the Coker, I gave it a try. Third try and I was up. Wow! And the best part was it felt totally natural - I had visuallized the mount so many times, that when I actually got to try it on my Coker, it felt right. Now after 10 days I can do a rolling mount first time almost every time.

So the moral of this story is visualization can cut that steep learning curve down to a reasonable time. Watch videos of what you are trying to learn, daydream about them, visualize doing them right the first time. And you may surprise yourself at how quickly you learn to ride that uni.

'nuff said.

[GILD]

I got 15' several times yesterday. That was pretty encouraging!
Time to read this post (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showpost.php?p=232931&postcount=4).

[RichVoice]

No rain, sunny skies, a couple of hours that I could spend practicing, and forward progress in learning how to ride -- what more could I ask for?

I moved to the park and started hitting 15' to 20' more consistently today. I also got two or three runs of about 30' in. It felt great! I actually started feeling like I was in control of my unicycle (sometimes). I also got pretty fast at mounting with a support, and freemounting doesn't seem like quite so distant a dream now (though it's still a long way off).

I don't quite feel like a unicyclist yet, because I wasn't in control most of the time, and I can't ride indefinitely. But I feel like I'm a lot closer to being a unicyclist!

A few more details on my blog if anyone's interested, along with a couple of pictures that my wife took when she took the dog -- and camera -- for a walk to the park. One even seemed like it would make a decent avatar.

Woohoo!

Rich

P.S.: Thanks for the words of encouragement, Don -- I look forward to commuting on a Coker! I'm visualizing it, I'm visualizing it!

[RichVoice]

Take off from some point and ride until you fall. Don't ride until you think you're going to fall because you'll just get into the habit of stepping off. Ride until you actually fall and you will learn to correct more quickly. Try not to depend on walls, fences, crutches, or other supports besides your mount and launch point.
Don't hold onto the front of the saddle. Wave your arms about to help with balance. To paraphrase Charly Dancy, it may not help but it will make you feel better. Seriously tho, let go the front of the seat. You may start grabbing it again when you start hopping.
Those two things, combined, make up what I'm having the most trouble with: every time I start to fall, I have an irresistible urge to grab the seat. Well, almost irresistible, probably 9 out of 10 times I end up grabbing the seat, despite repeated warnings from myself to not do it. I guess it's just the survival instinct telling me to grab onto SOMEthing, regardless of the fact that it's not like the MOVING unicycle seat is actually going to give me much support.

That aside, though, progress continues. I had a few decent 30'-40' runs that were along the lines of the longest run I had a few days ago (the last time I practiced), and I wanted to end on an up note again today, so I kept at it for two hours, at which point I went over 50'. I took the dog for a walk to my practice area later on with a tape measure, and it turns out it was almost 60'. Felt awfully good to end it on that one!

Rich

[podzol]

Excellent on the long runs!!!

You're well on your way to shedding those habits if you're going that far.
Very exciting.

[GILD]

In both the pics you posted (hardly a representative sample I know, but do I look like a statitician to you?) you're looking at the ground in front of the uni.
Try looking up at the horizon. It helps with a variety of aspects, including keeping your weight on the seat.

[RichVoice]

It seems that when I sit up straighter, I either: a) fall off right away, or b) go much farther. I imagine it's just because when a) happens I'm not actually sitting up "straighter," I'm actually leaning too far one way or the other. During the longish runs, I feel like I'm getting closer and closer to figuring out where the balance lies.

Thanks!

Rich

[GILD]

During the longish runs, I feel like I'm getting closer and closer to figuring out where the balance lies.
That balance is usually easier to find when your body is ramrod-straight and not bent at the hip (like in the pic in your avatar).
Bending at the waist is (at the beginning) the first indicator of an impending UPD. Once you bend at the waist, you'll just slow right down and eventually be forced off the side of the uni.

Still on the 'sitting upright' thing. If you notice excesive swerving from left to right in time with your pedalling motion, you are sitting too upright.
The 'swerving with every pedal' problem can be fixed by leaning forward about half a smidgen.

[RichVoice]

Well, on a few of the longer runs that I've had, I have noticed a bit of swerving, but I'm not sure if it qualifies as "excessive." I'll be out there today, hopefully sitting up straighter and riding better because of it!

Rich

[habbywall]

dont know if anyone has said this yet, but what you should do when your learning is try to watch where your feet are on the pedals, and always have them there, then when you get better your feet will start moving around on the pedals, that is when you really are getting good.

**EDIT**
don't worry about losing weight so much, if you just keep up the unicycling about a half hour everyday it will come off

[RichVoice]

I usually try to ride with the balls of my feet on the pedals. Since I'm still mounting with a support, I usually have them right where I want them. So far, when I try to correct my foot position after I've "launched," it invariably ends in a quick UPD. But I'm sure that when I can actually ride comfortably I'll be able to move them when necessary.

Why would you think I'd be concerned about losing weight?

Rich

[habbywall]

i thought that was you, but it is someone else, they posted in the area about responding to rep comments that they were trying to lose weight and the asked for encourgment but all they got was negative rep, so i thought it was you, but i guess not.
o well good luck

[RichVoice]

Still on the 'sitting upright' thing. If you notice excesive swerving from left to right in time with your pedalling motion, you are sitting too upright. The 'swerving with every pedal' problem can be fixed by leaning forward about half a smidgen.
I owe you one, GILD. I was out practicing for about two and a half hours this morning/afternoon, and I tried to keep the sitting-up-straight thing in the forefront of my mind the whole time. When I was able to remember it, I was usually able to ride farther, and regardless of the distance, I could usually feel why it was "right."

In a different thread, I saw someone's post about "leaning forward" vs. "falling forward." If I understood the point correctly, it makes sense, since that "bending at the waist" thing certainly did seem to be a move that caused UPDs to happen more quickly.

So your advice -- plus just plain old practice -- seems to have helped quite a bit. I had many runs in the 20'-40' range, two or three that were as long as my longest run last week, and my final ride of the day was about 70'. Those high points were certainly interspersed with a lot of frustration, but overall I still feel like I'm making progress. And I did notice swerving, but at this point I'm not going to consider it "excessive": I'm guessing the benefit of being able to ride farther when sitting up straight probably outweighs the detriment of having to adjust to a sitting-up-straight-minus-a-half-a-smidgen later. :)

Many thanks!

Rich

[GILD]

just plain old practice
I see you found the secret to unicycling.
Add a dash of persistence and keep your weight on the seat and you're good to go.

It may not feel like it always, but you are making pretty good time (http://www.xs4all.nl/~klaasbil/agelearn_short.htm)with this learning thing.

[uni57]

Hi. I don't read the forums or post very much any more, so I'm not sure if anyone has told you...

At some point in the learning process, it is INEVITABLE that your brain reaches a saturation point. It happens to EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. It's sort of an unwritten rule here not to talk about it. People feel it discourages the new riders. However, I always say that managing one's expectations is the best approach.

Once your brain reaches this saturation point, it goes into a housekeeping "clean-up" mode where it tries to sort everything out and re-wire the brain. This is when unicycling starts to become a true automatic, hard-wired motor skill -- like walking. It is at this point that the motor-skill is committed to long-term memory.

The only problem is that while this process is happening, which lasts for about a week, you will struggle just to get one or two pedal revolutions. It's frustrating to have such a setback! But the brain is struggling to re-wire itself. As a result, it's a period of much neuro-confusion. Rest assured that after this transition phase, you brain is wired-for-unicycling. Just don't get discouraged while your brain is adapting and forming all these new neuro-pathways. Like I said, it happens to each of us. Many quit at this time, but just hang in there. The set-back is temporary and won't last for more that a week. Probably closer to two, since you are over forty (yes, with age forty comes presbyopia and slower learning of physical skills). Good luck.

[MERCYME]

Hi. I don't read the forums or post very much any more, so I'm not sure if anyone has told you...

At some point in the learning process, it is INEVITABLE that your brain reaches a saturation point. It happens to EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. It's sort of an unwritten rule here not to talk about it. People feel it discourages the new riders. However, I always say that managing one's expectations is the best approach.

Once your brain reaches this saturation point, it goes into a housekeeping "clean-up" mode where it tries to sort everything out and re-wire the brain. This is when unicycling starts to become a true automatic, hard-wired motor skill -- like walking. It is at this point that the motor-skill is committed to long-term memory.

The only problem is that while this process is happening, which lasts for about a week, you will struggle just to get one or two pedal revolutions. It's frustrating to have such a setback! But the brain is struggling to re-wire itself. As a result, it's a period of much neuro-confusion. Rest assured that after this transition phase, you brain is wired-for-unicycling. Just don't get discouraged while your brain is adapting and forming all these new neuro-pathways. Like I said, it happens to each of us. Many quit at this time, but just hang in there. The set-back is temporary and won't last for more that a week. Probably closer to two, since you are over forty (yes, with age forty comes presbyopia and slower learning of physical skills). Good luck.
Thats true.

[RichVoice]

It may not feel like it always, but you are making pretty good time (http://www.xs4all.nl/~klaasbil/agelearn_short.htm)with this learning thing.

Thanks, GILD, very interesting numbers! I think I'm falling into the "slightly-below-average" group of people my age learning to ride, and that's fine with me. I figure I've spent around 8 1/2 hours at the park, and I probably spent 6-8 hours outside at home before that. Add a few hours inside, balancing in a doorway on and off my rollers, and I'm probably somewhere around 20 hours. That's fine with me, I can tell I'm progressing, and I wasn't out to break any speed records learning how to ride. Two hours would have been nice, but after I sat on it the first time I knew that was completely out of the question.

I think the help I've received here has been worth more than 2%, by the way. :)

At some point in the learning process, it is INEVITABLE that your brain reaches a saturation point.

I think I'm about there! My shins and ankles are pretty saturated as well. :)

It happens to EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US.

It's always nice to know you're not alone!

Rich

[GILD]

I think I'm about there! My shins and ankles are pretty saturated as well. :)
You'll know when you're there.
And you won't be much in the mood for using smileys either.

[cathwood]

I think I'm falling into the "slightly-below-average" group of people my age learning to ride, and that's fine with me.

Cool. I fell into the very below average (perhaps you should think of giving it up :) ) category. Still, one year later I can ride for miles on my 29er, on my 20" I can idle well with my right foot and a bit with my left foot, I'm also getting the hang of backwards riding. I can do a bit of Muni and hop on and off the pavement. Some people may have learned this in a week but at least I have learned it. And enjoyed almost every minute of it.

So when I say, if I can ride, anyone can, I mean it literally. And anyway, how much more of an achievement is it when it's taken someone three weeks to learn something rather than half an hour. It probably indicates that you will be more likely to stick to it as you have invested more effort.

Keep it up. There comes a time when it isn't such hard work, when it comes more naturally and then it's like flying. Fantastic. And a wonderful achievement.

(sorry if this is a bit ranty, I'm feeling inadaquate after dudewithasocks great progress. It'll pass)

Cathy

[RichVoice]

Keep it up.

Thanks Cathy, I will! No rain tomorrow, so I'll be back out there again!

And you shouldn't feel the least bit inadequate. I have absolutely no doubt that while Matt might have learned unicycling faster than you did, there's some skill that you learned (or will learn) in a quarter of the time that it would take him. We're all like that, better at some things than others, none of which make us better as a person than someone else.

Cheers,
Rich

[cathwood]

Thanks Cathy, I will! No rain tomorrow, so I'll be back out there again!

And you shouldn't feel the least bit inadequate. I have absolutely no doubt that while Matt might have learned unicycling faster than you did, there's some skill that you learned (or will learn) in a quarter of the time that it would take him. We're all like that, better at some things than others, none of which make us better as a person than someone else.

Cheers,
Rich

Thanks for that, although I have no doubt my quick learning is not concerned with motor skills. It took me weeks to juggle the three ball cascade. But my skill is in persevering. I can now juggle a 5 ball cascade and I'm very proud of my recent trick - 4 ball Mills Mess.

Cathy

[johnb]

Yeah, keep it up Rich.

The level you are at is something that I am aiming at, as I have just got my first Uni this morning.....

So while you may not be the best Uni'er on the forum, you certainly are not the worst!!!

Regards
John

[GILD]

I have just got my first Uni this morning.....
And??
How are you getting along?

Welcome to the fora.

[johnb]

And??
How are you getting along?

Well I spent about 1hour practising - so far not much progress, still trying to lessen my death grip on the support....:eek:


Thanks for the welcome :)

[RichVoice]

Keep at it, John! I have, and I'm past that deathgrip thing -- now if I could just keep riding!

Frustrating day, not much progress that I know of, although I think I had some progress that I don't know of -- i.e., I think my body continued to remember what to do, even if my mind didn't.

But I'll be keeping at it as well!

Rich

[uni57]

Hi. I don't read the forums or post very much any more, so I'm not sure if anyone has told you...

At some point in the learning process, it is INEVITABLE that your brain reaches a saturation point. It happens to EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. It's sort of an unwritten rule here not to talk about it. People feel it discourages the new riders. However, I always say that managing one's expectations is the best approach.

Once your brain reaches this saturation point, it goes into a housekeeping "clean-up" mode where it tries to sort everything out and re-wire the brain. This is when unicycling starts to become a true automatic, hard-wired motor skill -- like walking. It is at this point that the motor-skill is committed to long-term memory.

The only problem is that while this process is happening, which lasts for about a week, you will struggle just to get one or two pedal revolutions. It's frustrating to have such a setback! But the brain is struggling to re-wire itself. As a result, it's a period of much neuro-confusion. Rest assured that after this transition phase, you brain is wired-for-unicycling. Just don't get discouraged while your brain is adapting and forming all these new neuro-pathways. Like I said, it happens to each of us. Many quit at this time, but just hang in there. The set-back is temporary and won't last for more that a week. Probably closer to two, since you are over forty (yes, with age forty comes presbyopia and slower learning of physical skills). Good luck.Okay, the above was supposed to be a joke. You were supposed to believe that you were in for a frustrating, two-week setback where you could barely ride. That was the joke. So much for practical jokes.

[GILD]

still trying to lessen my death grip on the support
This is a refrain you'll hear all the time around here, I might as well start now.

Keep your weight on the seat.

By keeping your weight on the seat, you're taking it off the pedals and since it's your weight on the pedals that's making the wheel feel so twitchy and about-to-fly-out-from-under-you-any-second-now!, putting your weight on the seat is the easiest way to help reduce the death-grip.

Keep your weight on the seat.
Like with horse-riding, it's counter intuitive at first, but trust me.
Keep your weight on the seat.

How did you get into learning to ride a uni?

[BillyTheMountain]

Okay, the above was supposed to be a joke. You were supposed to believe that you were in for a frustrating, two-week setback where you could barely ride. That was the joke. So much for practical jokes.

We miss that oh-so-dry sense of humor.

And: Please tell us who chased you away from the forums, so we can take care of them....

Billy

[uni57]

We miss that oh-so-dry sense of humor.

And: Please tell us who chased you away from the forums, so we can take care of them....Don't "take care" of anybody. I'm just busy (which is an understatement) trying to start my own business. I'll keep you posted when something interesting happens (not in this thread, obviously).

[johnb]

Keep your weight on the seat.
Yeah, I keep telling myself that - but then I get the wobbles and my brain overides with "It'll be much more stable if you use your feet" ...doh - but practice makes, er, better - or so I'm told

How did you get into learning to ride a uni?
Not really sure what made me think about learning to Uni - just seemed like a fun thing to do.

[RichVoice]

I rode over a hundred feet today -- woohoo! I got lots of 40 and 50 footers in, and finished the day with a ride that was about 85 or 90 feet.

Going farther feels great, not just because of the distance, but because each time I'm able to "feel" what I'm supposed to be doing for a longer period of time, and it seems like that helps get it locked in a little better. Today I was able to correct out of several potential UPDs while riding the longer distances, which felt good.

I don't know if I'll get a chance to get out this weekend, but I hope I can find the time!

Rich

[johnb]

First real chance at practicing today [Saturday], so I ventured outside for the first time.

Spent about 2hours and my biggest run was about 20meters - although I am still cheating as I am using a stick to dab occasionally as i ride :)

Boy there certainly is a lot to think about, but all in all I am very happy with my efforts today.

[GILD]

Boy there certainly is a lot to think about.
Not really, just keep your weight on the seat and everything else will pretty much fall into place.


I rode over a hundred feet today -- woohoo!
Congrats on the 100.
I guess I can now say

That's one more of us and one less of them.

[uni57]

Sad but true:

I haven't ridden a unicycle for as long as Rich has been riding. Once, I went 38 years without riding a unicycle. Then I bought my first unicycle. Other than that, this is the longest I've gone without riding. What should I do?

[RichVoice]

Sad but true:

I haven't ridden a unicycle for as long as Rich has been riding. Once, I went 38 years without riding a unicycle. Then I bought my first unicycle. Other than that, this is the longest I've gone without riding. What should I do?

Ride?

[uni57]

Ride?Thanks for the advice, Rich, but you've only been riding a few weeks and I've been riding for over three years. I'm going to hold out for some advice from the more experienced riders, such as SillyTheMountain and GILD.

By the way, you are doing amazingly well. It took me much longer than you. Congratulations.

[GILD]

I'm going to hold out for some advice from the more experienced riders, such as SillyTheMountain and GILD.
Keep your weight on the seat.

[RichVoice]

I was finally able to do what I've been trying to do for the past week: I rode from my launch point to my car, which was parked about 150 feet away. That was after two hours of practicing, with quite a few longish rides.

I'm hoping I'll be comfortable riding mostly at will within a couple of weeks. At which point I'll start learning how to freemount, which I'm not looking forward to (based on my experience learning to ride, I'm guessing it'll be a month or two of trying before I get it down).

But it'll be awfully nice to just be able to take my unicycle anyplace and ride!

Rich