riding uphills

[Jan-Fredrik Braseth]

Hi! I got myself a unicycle 3 weeks ago, and by now I can almost ride
indefinatly, make almost smooth turns to the right and a bit more jerky turns to
the left, freemount, and ride backwards a couple of meters. But it seems to me
that riding a uni uphill is very difficult. I can manage to cycle uphill if it
isn't too steep, but when it gets too steep it seems like you have to put all
your weight on the pedals insted of the seat, and I fall off. I also wonder if
it is very difficult to freemount when the road is sloped upwards, I can only
mount when the road is straight or sloped down.

BTW: I had a hard time finding "the right" words for describing everything here,
so I hope it makes sense to you :)

-----------| ZeaZ |---------------- E-mail: zeaz@online.no Homepage:
http://home.sol.no/~zeaz/

[Peter Bier]

Jan-Fredrik Braseth wrote:

> Hi! I got myself a unicycle 3 weeks ago, and by now I can almost ride
> indefinatly, make almost smooth turns to the right and a bit more jerky turns
> to the left, freemount, and ride backwards a couple of meters. But it seems to
> me that riding a uni uphill is very difficult.

Just like anything else it takes practice. Riding very steep uphills requires
more balance because you are often forced to take it "one pedal at a time". You
end up pushing down hard, then pausing, pushing down hard with the other foot ,
then pausing, pushing down hard etc

Slopes of 45 degrees are possible like this (you just get stuffed very quickly)
I ride up a 30 degree slope everday and don't find it problem anymore, practice,
practice, practice :-)

Catch ya Peter

[P Selwood]

Jan-Fredrik Braseth (zeaz@online.no) wrote:

Hi - welcome to the madhouse!

: I got myself a unicycle 3 weeks ago, and by now I can almost ride indefinatly,
: make almost smooth turns to the right and a bit more jerky turns to the left,
: freemount, and ride backwards a couple of meters. But it seems to me that
: riding a uni uphill is very difficult. I can manage to cycle uphill if it
: isn't too steep, but when it gets too steep it seems like you have to put all
: your weight on the pedals insted of the seat, and I fall off.

Riding uphill can take some practice - it ain't all that easy. To try and
counter the problem you are having, holding the front of the saddle can be quite
a helpful technique. It gives you something to *push* against. You have to lean
forward a lot more than on the flat as well.

: I also wonder if it is very difficult to freemount when the road is sloped
: upwards, I can only mount when the road is straight or sloped down.

On a hill you can always mount across the hill if you've got enough width -
otherwise you really have to throw yourself a long way forward to mount
successfully - it'll come with practice.

: BTW: I had a hard time finding "the right" words for describing everything
: here, so I hope it makes sense to you

Fine...

--
Paul Selwood "Smock, smock, smock, smock, smock, smock!"
ps@scs.leeds.ac.uk --Hobbes