Getting back into Unicycling

[Troy Harding]

I'm new to the list so I thought I'd say "Hi". I don't currently own a uni, but
I'm interested in getting one. I learned to ride when I was maybe nine years
old. I learned to ride completely on my own by getting on next to a telephone
pole and then letting go. I didn't know any better since I didn't have a book or
anyone to give me guidance. I never really learned any tricks or stunts, if fact
I was quite astounded to see all the stunts listed in the FAQ. Anyway, once I
out grew the unicycle (it was a small uni I ordered out of the Sears catalog) I
pretty much forgot about unicycling. Well, recently I came across the unicycling
newsgroup and a little bell went off. I have two young children, 4 and 7 years
old. We often take family bike rides around town. The problem is that the kids
are the only ones that get much exercise since we have to go so slow. It seems
to me if I was riding a unicycle (assuming I can relearn to ride one) I would be
going closer to their speed. Besides, I think it would be fun to try to learn a
few of the skills listed in the FAQ.

How much does a decent unicycle cost? Actually I have lots of questions, so I
better save them for another message. If you have any advice you would like to
offer to someone purchasing a unicycle please let me know. Thanks.

Troy troyh@acck.edu

[Morey, Randall L.]

Troy wrote:
----------
. . Well, recently I came across the unicycling newsgroup and a little bell went
off. I have two young children, 4 and 7 years old. We often take family bike
rides around town. The problem is that the kids are the only ones that get much
exercise since we have to go so slow. It seems to me if I was riding a unicycle
(assuming I can relearn to ride one) I would be going closer to their speed.
Besides, I think it would be fun to try to learn a few of the skills listed in
the FAQ. . . Troy troyh@acck.edu

--------------------
My wife and I take our 4 kids (9, 8, 6, &4) up and down our street on bikes,
with me on the uni. My 4YO is starting out on a bike with training wheels and
tends to really lag behind the others. So I stay with her while mom goes ahead
with the others. It works out fine, and looks pretty funny to observers: 6
ducks in single file with a uni picking up the rear. (BTW, I'm only an
unofficial Level 1).

If money weren't scarce right now, I'd buy my kids a 16" uni and teach them.
They've been asking me to teach them. I think Tom Miller (see FAQ) sells a 16"
for $75 to $100. My old Klutz catalog lists a 24" Miyata for $155
(415-424-0739). And I _think_ I saw one in a Hearth Song catalog. You might also
try your local bike shop and see if they can order one. With my limited
experience, I'd say that a 20" is easier to learn on than a 24". I learned on a
20" at age 15, and had a tough time when I got a 24".

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Randy Morey | ==\\ "Those who play the sax United Technologies Research Center |
|8| |\ play twice" - R. M. East Hartford, CT | |8| __ o| EMAIL TO:
moreyrl@utrc.utc.com | |8|(__)
| |8|| | "@#!$*&!%!"
All expressed opinions are mine, | \____/ - Sgt. Snorkel except for those that
aren't...I think|

--
Beirne Konarski | Subscribe to the Unicycling Mailing List bkonarsk@mcs.kent.edu
| Send requests to unicycling-request@mcs.kent.edu Kent State University |
Unicycling Web Page: "Untouched by Scandal" |
http://nimitz.mcs.kent.edu/~bkonarsk/

[Beirne Konarski]

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[TOM@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU]

In-Reply-To: bkonarsk@mcs.kent.edu -- 06/23/95 09:29

Hay Randy, I was always wondering if a twenty-incher would be easier to ride
than a twenty-four. I have a twenty-four (sorry I don't have number keys) and it
took me a very slow three weeks to learn before I could finally ride. It seems
you can get around quicker on the cranks with a twenty-incher. How about for
longer distance riding? Seems the twenty-four would cover more ground when
turning the cranks.

My son was five when I tought him how to ride a two wheeler, he's eight now. I
think it took him about two weeks to learn, faster than I learned on my uni.
Before it was "hurry-up son", now it's "hurry-up dad".

-tom

--
Beirne Konarski | Subscribe to the Unicycling Mailing List bkonarsk@mcs.kent.edu
| Send requests to unicycling-request@mcs.kent.edu Kent State University |
Unicycling Web Page: "Untouched by Scandal" |
http://nimitz.mcs.kent.edu/~bkonarsk/

[Beirne Konarski]

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