Kickup Mount

[Mark Wiggins]

Prompted by the skill file that Beirne posted a while back, I've been playing
with the kickup mount and I was surprised to find that it's not as hard as I'd
thought. Within a couple of hours I've moved from the stage of being amazed when
I'm successful to being annoyed when I fail.

Anyways, the things I've noticed are:

1. I find it easier if, as I stand over the uni, I rest the heel of my dominant
foot on the tyre/rim.
2. The foot I have most trouble with is the non-dominant under the saddle - not
surprising 'cuz it's got further to travel. If I watch the saddle, I'm OK.
Maybe that's just me being nervous about the seat missing my thigh and the
uni going flying again (I've got the bruises...)

My major concern now is damage to the uni (apart from it going flying, that is).
I'm putting a lot of weight across the crank and wheel - something it's not
really designed for. It's a pretty tough uni (20" Semcycle) but I wouldn't fancy
trying it on my 24" Pashley...

Mark.

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Mark Wiggins, | markw@ftel.co.uk +44 (121) 717 6255 Fujitsu Telecom Europe
Ltd,|----------------------------------------- Solihull Parkway, | I've been
walkin' in my sleep, countin' Birmingham Business Park, | troubles 'stead of
countin' sheep. Birmingham, | Kate Wolf. ENGLAND. |

[Tim Sheppard]

>I am having difficulty with the kickup mount. I put my right foot on the pedal
>and when I try to kick up the unicycle with my left foot, it gets stuck about 3
>inches off the ground on my leg. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

You are probably trying to do all the work with the left foot. The main thing
you should try and do is launch your whole body weight towards your right foot.
If you imagine that when you do get upright, the unicycle tyre will roll across
its width a little, you can see that your body weight will have to be centred
above that point by the end of your mount. That is quite a distance, and is
very slightly beyond the length of the uni when it's laid out horizontally for
the mount.

The problem is that launching your whole weight that far is quite scary,
especially when you're not sure of succeeding. But the reluctance to go for it
is the main reason you don't succeed. You just have to steel yourself. The mount
really isn't too difficult if you don't hold back.

Meanwhile what does the left foot do? Forget about the term "kick up", because
it's not that forceful. Your left foot simply presses against the saddle enough
to keep a grip on it, and lifts directly upwards until it gets towards your
bottom. It doesn't really do any work, it just guides the saddle to the right
place. If your weight goes far enough forwards over the pedal, the saddle will
flip up gently and almost automatically into your crotch - don't try and pull or
heave it up.

In some ways it can be easier to position your left foot at the saddle and start
with your weight back on your right foot on the floor. You can then swing your
right foot onto the pedal at the same time as launching your weight forwards,
thereby giving yourself a bit of momentum.

Courage and the position of your centre of balance - those are the keys.

========================================================
Tim Sheppard tim@lilliput-p.win-uk.net Lilliput Press - Publisher of fine books
in miniature
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