d.kathrens@genie.geis.com
1995-06-22, 05:21 AM
I have been practicing 360 degree turns a lot lately, trying to make them smooth
and graceful. Last night I stumbled on a technique which fills the bill nicely.
For ages I have been trying to muscle the wheel around in a tight circle by
forceful twisting of my hips, but this is much better.
I start a 360 turn with the outside pedal at 12 o'clock. My outside arm is down
and back. I initiate the turn by leaning the uni in the direction of the turn
and sort of "throwing" the arm in an arc--my hand starts near my hip pocket and
ends up over and slightly forward of my opposite shoulder. During this arc I
bend the elbow slowly, effectively shortening the distance from my shoulder to
my hand. The timing of how fast I throw and when & how fast I bend my elbow is
important: slow and controlled works best. My hand seems to follow a
hook-shaped path.
If I swing too fast I either lose it or end up turning so fast I do a
backspin and come out of the turn riding backwards. That needs
exploring too...
I also swing the arm on the inside of the turn from front to back (in more
of a level arc) at the same time.
It feels like an invisible helper is pulling me around in a circle by the
hand. All I have to do is keep pedaling steadily and I've done 360 degrees
in the wink of an eye--inside a circle about 1/2 meter in diameter with my
24" wheel.
Does anyone else do it this way?
and graceful. Last night I stumbled on a technique which fills the bill nicely.
For ages I have been trying to muscle the wheel around in a tight circle by
forceful twisting of my hips, but this is much better.
I start a 360 turn with the outside pedal at 12 o'clock. My outside arm is down
and back. I initiate the turn by leaning the uni in the direction of the turn
and sort of "throwing" the arm in an arc--my hand starts near my hip pocket and
ends up over and slightly forward of my opposite shoulder. During this arc I
bend the elbow slowly, effectively shortening the distance from my shoulder to
my hand. The timing of how fast I throw and when & how fast I bend my elbow is
important: slow and controlled works best. My hand seems to follow a
hook-shaped path.
If I swing too fast I either lose it or end up turning so fast I do a
backspin and come out of the turn riding backwards. That needs
exploring too...
I also swing the arm on the inside of the turn from front to back (in more
of a level arc) at the same time.
It feels like an invisible helper is pulling me around in a circle by the
hand. All I have to do is keep pedaling steadily and I've done 360 degrees
in the wink of an eye--inside a circle about 1/2 meter in diameter with my
24" wheel.
Does anyone else do it this way?