Mounting help needed

[Doug Borngasser]

>However, very often I find myself in the position where step 4 leaves me
>static, with one pedal at its lowest position and the other at its highest (or
>perhaps the low pedal 5 deg forward and the top pedal 5 deg back), which makes
>it difficult to get any of the necessary leverage on the pedals.

>Staying on Top, unable to move forward, Scott

I had this same problem when I started free mounting. What I have found works
for me is to jump more with the other leg and push less on the pedal. Just use
the pedal to keep the uni from rolling away when you jump on, then when you get
up your pedals are ready for that first push.

Keep it rolling, Doug

[Scott Dudek]

I am a newbie with a basic question about standard free-mounting. I have read
the FAQ and reviewed the archives, but the problem I'm having is not addressed.

Presently the way I try to mount is as follows:

1) Put the rear pedal low, so that its crank arm is about 30-45 degrees from
the vertical.
2) Place the seat between my legs
3) Step on the low pedal, bringing the uni underneath me
4) Place my free foot on the free pedal

However, very often I find myself in the position where step 4 leaves me static,
with one pedal at its lowest position and the other at its highest (or perhaps
the low pedal 5 deg forward and the top pedal 5 deg back), which makes it
difficult to get any of the necessary leverage on the pedals.

What am I doing wrong?

Staying on Top, unable to move forward, Scott

[Scott Dudek by way of]

>scott@barkley.ME.Berkeley.EDU wrote:

>However, very often I find myself in the position where step 4 leaves me
>static, with one pedal at its lowest position and the other at its highest (or
>perhaps the low pedal 5 deg forward and the top pedal 5 deg back),
.which makes it difficult to get any of the necessary leverage on the
>pedals.

>What am I doing wrong?

wot I do when I'm training my students, I get them to roll the wheel back 180
degrees so that the pedal to place second foot on is at the rear (horizontal),
this puts your best foot forward, ready to power off in the forward direction
you can't achieve yet!

hope thats some help....

[Tim Sheppard]

>Presently the way I try to mount is as follows:
>
>1) Put the rear pedal low, so that its crank arm is about 30-45 degrees from
> the vertical.
>2) Place the seat between my legs
>3) Step on the low pedal, bringing the uni underneath me
>4) Place my free foot on the free pedal
>
>However, very often I find myself in the position where step 4 leaves me
>static, with one pedal at its lowest position and the other at its highest (or
>perhaps the low pedal 5 deg forward and the top pedal 5 deg back), which makes
>it difficult to get any of the necessary leverage on the pedals.
>
>What am I doing wrong?
>
>Staying on Top, unable to move forward, Scott

I used to have this problem when I was learning. Two things in combination
helped me overcome it.

1) When I push down with the first foot, I release the pressure slightly after
it has reached the bottom pedal position. This makes the wheel keep turning
instead of coming to a dead stop. In other words the foot pumps on the pedal,
rather than just pressing continuously. However this does mean the wheel is
rolling backwards not forwards! Which means the next technique is needed...

2) When my second foot comes onto its pedal, I don't just rest it there, but
angle it forward so that my sole is more vertical, and push the top pedal
backwards as the foot meets the pedal.

Both of these actions make the unicycle come from being in front of you prior to
mounting, to ending up angled behind you after mounting. This is obviously an
unbalanced position, but it's exactly right for the pedals and your body to be
ready to move forwards. The next thing that happens is that I pump again with my
first foot, which is enough away from being vertically down to start the wheel
moving forward - the rest is just riding.

All this sounds terribly complex and convoluted, but that's just the language -
it's a simple natural movement. I've not analysed whether everyone else does it
this way, but I suspect most do something pretty similar whether they know it or
not. Once one is skilled this rocking movement can become very small and subtle,
and not easy to spot.

Scott you need to develop the control to be able to *relax* quickly and
controlledly after pushing strongly on the pedals - this is true for all sorts
of uni skills. If your muscles seize after/in the middle of a strong push, then
you can't provide any sensitive correcting/balancing effort.

If all else fails, try going for the record at balancing motionless on
the uni...

Tim

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

[John R. Farrington]

In article <408b24$l8h@agate.berkeley.edu> scott@barkley.ME.Berkeley.EDU (Scott
Dudek) writes:
>I am a newbie with a basic question about standard free-mounting. I have read
>the FAQ and reviewed the archives, but the problem I'm having is not addressed.
>
>Presently the way I try to mount is as follows:
>
>1) Put the rear pedal low, so that its crank arm is about 30-45 degrees from
> the vertical.
>2) Place the seat between my legs
>3) Step on the low pedal, bringing the uni underneath me
>4) Place my free foot on the free pedal
>
>However, very often I find myself in the position where step 4 leaves me
>static, with one pedal at its lowest position and the other at its highest (or
>perhaps the low pedal 5 deg forward and the top pedal 5 deg back), which makes
>it difficult to get any of the necessary leverage on the pedals.
>
>What am I doing wrong?
>
>Staying on Top, unable to move forward, Scott

What may be happening is that you are pushing down too hard with your 'low' foot
in an attempt to get the unicycle under you. Try pushing harder with the foot
that is on the ground. You want to try and jump your body up onto the unicycle,
not force the unicycle under your body. Try to jump and get your body over the
unicyle without the wheel moving more than an inch or two. (This way the pedals
will still be very nearly the same place as when you started).

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

--
-John Farrington -jrf@austin.ibm.com My opinions are my own.