terry@santafe.edu
1993-02-16, 10:29 PM
>>>>> "rusty" == Rusty DeShazo rgdeshaz@joker.b23b.ingr.com (Rusty DeShazo)
>>>>> writes:
rusty> Does anyone have some good tips for learning to Walk the Wheel,i.e. feet
rusty> directly on the tire?
rusty> I haven't spent much time with this trick, but thought I would seek some
rusty> net advice. --
I'll bite. I have been working on this occasionally for the last six months or
so. I have gone about 15 feet (5m) at best.
One word of warning is that this is a bad trick to attempt before you are
ready. It's a bit hard to tell if you're ready, but finding out the hard way
can be very painful. Twice when I fell off backwards I was unable to get my
feet off the wheel to catch myself and landed heavily on my back/elbows/head.
It hurt a lot.
There is a tip on the uni video that the IUF put out. I can't remember who it
is, maybe John Foss, but he says that he finds it easier when he leaves a space
between his feet. The space looks like maybe an inch or two. This is perhaps
easier on a 24" wheel as then there's more space to begin with.
My current method of practice is to get two portable ballet barres in the gym
and walk the wheel between them with a hand on each (or just above each). When I
get to the end I try to go out on my own. This sort of equipment is probably not
available to everyone. Previously I also would try to go up and down a wall with
one hand on the wall. Head up, sit up straight. I find it is easier if I try to
imagine that I am riding the unicycle normally, so I lean forward a bit and move
the wheel quickly.
One thing I tried was to raise the seat a lot. I raised it so much that I
couldn't have ridden normally. That way my feet seemed more comfortable on the
wheel. I thought that if this seemed easier, I'd learn it that way and gradually
bring the seat down. It didn't seem any easier :-)
To me this trick is the biggest step in getting from level 5 to level
6. I don't think anyone will dispute that. It also seems to be one of the bigger
steps that need to be made at any level - but that's just from speculating
about the higher levels. I wonder what juggling trick it could be compared
to. Maybe 5 balls.
Is anyone out there planning on attending the National Unicycling Meeting (NUM)
in Adrian (Michigan) from July 30th to Aug 1st? If people want details, I can
type them in.
Terry.
>>>>> writes:
rusty> Does anyone have some good tips for learning to Walk the Wheel,i.e. feet
rusty> directly on the tire?
rusty> I haven't spent much time with this trick, but thought I would seek some
rusty> net advice. --
I'll bite. I have been working on this occasionally for the last six months or
so. I have gone about 15 feet (5m) at best.
One word of warning is that this is a bad trick to attempt before you are
ready. It's a bit hard to tell if you're ready, but finding out the hard way
can be very painful. Twice when I fell off backwards I was unable to get my
feet off the wheel to catch myself and landed heavily on my back/elbows/head.
It hurt a lot.
There is a tip on the uni video that the IUF put out. I can't remember who it
is, maybe John Foss, but he says that he finds it easier when he leaves a space
between his feet. The space looks like maybe an inch or two. This is perhaps
easier on a 24" wheel as then there's more space to begin with.
My current method of practice is to get two portable ballet barres in the gym
and walk the wheel between them with a hand on each (or just above each). When I
get to the end I try to go out on my own. This sort of equipment is probably not
available to everyone. Previously I also would try to go up and down a wall with
one hand on the wall. Head up, sit up straight. I find it is easier if I try to
imagine that I am riding the unicycle normally, so I lean forward a bit and move
the wheel quickly.
One thing I tried was to raise the seat a lot. I raised it so much that I
couldn't have ridden normally. That way my feet seemed more comfortable on the
wheel. I thought that if this seemed easier, I'd learn it that way and gradually
bring the seat down. It didn't seem any easier :-)
To me this trick is the biggest step in getting from level 5 to level
6. I don't think anyone will dispute that. It also seems to be one of the bigger
steps that need to be made at any level - but that's just from speculating
about the higher levels. I wonder what juggling trick it could be compared
to. Maybe 5 balls.
Is anyone out there planning on attending the National Unicycling Meeting (NUM)
in Adrian (Michigan) from July 30th to Aug 1st? If people want details, I can
type them in.
Terry.