Complete N00b Sez Hi.... - Page 2

kahunacohen · 2012-07-02, 02:16 PM

...that Schwinn brings back memories...

Leevolver · 2012-07-02, 02:48 PM

Hey there, I'm new to the forum too, and a beginner unicyclist. I'm starting out with a Coker 36 inch and 125mm cranks. It was slow going at first, and has been about a month since I started. Yesterday was the flash of enlightenment though. I straightened up, loosened up, and almost all my weight went into the saddle. I found my legs weren't doing all the work, and hardly had to pedal. It was more like the uni was peddling my feet, and my feet were going along for the ride, applying pressure when needed. I was gone for hours going all thru the neighborhood. It's funny how balled up in frustration the learning process can be, then one day...Boom! you take off. Cheers, and happy unicycling.

kahunacohen · 2012-07-02, 02:55 PM

Nicely stated Leevolver! Isn't it beautiful how the mind-body connection works? You work real hard, then take a break and BAM you get it. I have been working for weeks on Walking the Wheel, then I stopped for a few days, got back on and broke my record.

It is very true. When riding on flats and downhill, it should feel that you are merely along for the ride and your feet are just barely touching the pedals. A great feeling, no?

Leevolver · 2012-07-02, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YooNeeNoob

I still feel like I'm riding with my knees, but today while consciously trying to sit back and take the weight off my feet, I actually felt like I was properly "sitting" on the uni! It felt amazing. So, do proper posture and weight distribution just evolve over time? Any tips in this area?
Thanks

Thanks, Kahuna

What YooNeeNoob said here is spot on. I've been riding with my legs/knees for about a month--and they're sore!!! I would free mount, get to the end of my street, but then bail out. Not due to balance, but because my legs were on FIRE. After seeing a few pictures of myself, I noticed that my frame was pointing back and my upper body forward, making a bow shape. My legs were picking up all the slack of balance. Gonna give my body a rest for a couple days, then hit it hard with a fresh mindset.

Once my butt became dead weight it was like magic! Simply one of the greatest feelings ever.

Alucard · 2012-07-02, 04:07 PM

Leevolver
Welcome to the forum

I am really impressed that you're riding a 36“ after such a short time of practice.
Well, okay I admit, I'm really envious of you

Way to Go !

YooNeeNoob · 2012-07-07, 03:24 AM

O...M...freaking G! Just had to post a quick progress update after this evening's twirl on the one-wheel, because I just made a huge quantum leap, knocking off two of my three stated goals for the summer (see above). I can now go places and make tight turns...YAY!
OK, so two days ago I was mechanically going through the motions of my daily uni workout, feeling a tad dejected at my slow progress, and I decided to do a bit of exploring. I was on a newly-built road, still closed to the public, and was wondering to where and how far the thing went. So, I decided to just follow it on my unicycle. Turns out, the damned thing is over a mile long...imagine it: a complete mile of brand new, unviolated virgin asphalt, utterly devoid of cars, pedestrians or other obstacles--the perfect n00b playground! Anyway, since my general goal is to get more comfortable on the uni, I reasoned that some distance might be of benefit. Over the next hour and a half, I traversed the one-mile stretch of road four times. I wasn't fast, and I fell off half a dozen times, but the feeling of getting somewhere on the unicycle was great!
The real payoff from Wednesday's distance run, however, wasn't apparent to me until earlier this evening when I headed downstairs to the parking garage below my office. I sometimes use the garage to practice turns because a single lap of the rectangular space takes you through four tight corners and a pair of 50-yard straights. Before today, the best I could manage was three or four shaky, uncomfortable laps. Somehow, the big-mileage workout of two days ago had a transformational affect because this time I pushed off and began riding with new legs--faster, smoother and with almost no flailing. The feeling was tremendous, and after ten quick laps, I knew that the only things that might stop me were hunger, boredom or death by old age. Completely elated, it slowly dawned on me that for the first time since taking up the sport, I was really riding a unicycle!
Thanks to the generous advice and sage wisdom from the posters on this thread (especially Alucard who introduced me to the doctrine of Bum on Seat), I now know with absolute certainty that I will achieve all my uni goals by the end of summer and be rolling down the local bike path, devouring the miles with a carefree happy chuckle....
--cheers

aracer · 2012-07-07, 12:44 PM

Congratulations. When little kids ask me how I ride my unicycle (something I get quite a bit, given I often use it to pick my 5yo up from school) I often say "magic", and there is a touch of truth in that - with practice you learn to do stuff without even being aware of it. Just keep riding, and you will learn how to do it.

On your third goal, have a look at http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78310 - I learnt to freemount that way before I could ride as well as you can. Admittedly it is in a way a dead end - I no longer use that technique at all - but not only does it give you a lot more freedom very easily, it also helps a lot with learning the technique and confidence for other freemount techniques.

Going back in the thread, I only skimmed the off-road video you posted, but from what I saw I reckon I could ride pretty much all of that after 9 months of riding - I even reckon my chances on one of the bits he fell off. Definitely feasible for you far sooner than you expect. I do agree with aarons that he should be wearing a lid though - I would be for riding that (even though I'm not an advocate of lots of protection - I've never worn knee pads and don't regret not doing so).

Oh and regarding riding in sandals, I've actually ridden in flip flops - can't say I was all that comfortable doing so though!

Alucard · 2012-07-07, 01:49 PM

Congratulations YooNeeNoob !

It sure sounds like youre having fun.
As 57 says... ''Way to Go !''

YooNeeNoob · 2012-07-07, 05:10 PM

Thanx tons for the freemount tip, aracer. I'll give it a shot. As soon as I can free mount, I can start getting seriously lost on my uni and frightening the life out of pedestrians. The progress of the last couple of days completely validates the idea expressed by yourself and others: this sort of less-than-conscious aquisition of new skills. I know it sounds bizarre, but it really seems to be the case that I'm not so much teaching myself to unicyle, rather, the brain/body is teaching itself--by getting on the uni, I'm just providing the necessary conditions for this process to take place.

A quick bit of turn practice from this morning. BTW: I only go helmet-less when the garage is completely empty--seems fairly safe.
Thanks again, aracer and Alucar!

old guy tries to uni Day 22 - YouTube

YooNeeNoob · 2012-07-08, 07:33 PM

Free(mounted) at last! YAY!!!
Headed out for another practice session with CK this morning, not really planning to practice mounting (hence, the sandals), but after getting some really nice long (1/2-mile), UPD-free runs, we stopped for a quiick mounting seminar. With my buddy's encouragement and advice, I was able to nail the normal free mount after about 20 tries. Prior to this session, I had never actually focused on free mounting; I'd try it a couple of times, convince myself it was as impossible as it felt, then give up. But today, I was determined to get it, and I just listened to CK and tried various things until it worked! Now, I just need to refine it and get comfortable (a week ought to do it)...then...BYE!!! heh.
Thanks again for the encouragment and advice on from the people on this thread.

old guy tries to uni DAY 23 - YouTube

UniTographer · 2012-07-08, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YooNeeNoob

Free(mounted) at last! YAY!!!

Woo! Congrats!!

Leevolver · 2012-07-11, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YooNeeNoob

Free(mounted) at last! YAY!!!
Headed out for another practice session with CK this morning, not really planning to practice mounting (hence, the sandals), but after getting some really nice long (1/2-mile), UPD-free runs, we stopped for a quiick mounting seminar. With my buddy's encouragement and advice, I was able to nail the normal free mount after about 20 tries. Prior to this session, I had never actually focused on free mounting; I'd try it a couple of times, convince myself it was as impossible as it felt, then give up. But today, I was determined to get it, and I just listened to CK and tried various things until it worked! Now, I just need to refine it and get comfortable (a week ought to do it)...then...BYE!!! heh.
Thanks again for the encouragment and advice on from the people on this thread.

old guy tries to uni DAY 23 - YouTube

congrats! Mounting is an artform in itself! Even after gaining good consistency, there are times when I still muck it up sometimes 3-4 times in a row. I've found the more loose I allow myself to be, the easier I get up over that wheel. I like to take a deep breath (yoga style) and make sure my leg that starts on the pedal is light as a feather and not weighing down on the wheel. I swing my other leg up and lean more foward than I think I need to. Finally getting the free mount is liberating, isn't it! I love your progress videos, so keep them coming and I'll post a few of me in the future. Have fun and keep at it!

Leevolver · 2012-07-11, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alucard

Leevolver
Welcome to the forum

I am really impressed that you're riding a 36“ after such a short time of practice.
Well, okay I admit, I'm really envious of you

Way to Go !

Hey Thanks! It's been a challenge, but I've enjoyed every minute so far. I have literally beaten the crap out of my Coker Big One from it hitting the ground. It's a blast now that I can get around through town. Almost everyone who passes by gets a smile on their face. As if riding isn't fun/enlightening enough, the fact that I can spread a little happiness and positivity everywhere I go really adds a kick to it. Like when you see an unexpected hot air baloon pass by in the sky. Makes you feel special. Cheers

lg318ww · 2012-07-12, 03:10 AM

Hey that looks just like mine. I bought my Schwinn in 79. I was free mounting by the middle of the summer and going over steps and curbs. Now, I am happy with turning corners around the block. Free mounting is necessary because I need to stop often. I have been riding for 33 years, with a few off when I was having children. It is just like riding a bike ?(uni)

Are the new unicycles actually easier to ride? It seems so effortless to watch someone on a new unicycle. My Schwinn actually needed a new tire since I'd worn off the tread a couple years ago. The seat/saddle is missing most of the plastic on the ends. Not fun catching when you stop or fall since you are grabbing rough metal.

How many 49 year old women unicycle riders out there?

jbtilley · 2012-07-12, 12:22 PM

Good job YooNeeNoob. You're making swift progress! Just like Alucard said, give it another week or so and your user name won't match reality anymore.

lg318ww, I don't know whether the new unicycles are easier to ride but my experience is that they are much more comfortable to ride. I took about 10 years off and eventually got a newer model uni to replace my schwinn once I came back. The new saddles (KH freeride) and the larger tire (duro leopard) combined to make for the smoothest, most comfortable ride I had ever experienced on a uni. I seriously didn't know riding could be so nice.

The new saddle made most of the difference. The main thing about the tire was that I was running with lower pressure, that could have been achieved on the old uni had I known better.

The schwinn had a very hard seat, combine that with 60-70 PSI in the tire and I could feel every facet of the texture of the ground transmitted up through the seat. It hurt bad after the first mount and didn't let up until I got numb. Contrast that with the new seat/lower pressure and it was like I wasn't even on a uni at all.

As far as the other parts are concerned (cranks, hub, pedals, frame)... I don't think they made riding any easier, it's just that the parts are much stronger than before so they hold up better to 'abuse.'

2012-07-02, 02:16 PM	#16
kahunacohen Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Silver Spring, MD Age: 39 Posts: 347	...that Schwinn brings back memories... __________________ KH20 Street '85 Semcycle 24" Custom KH29 with Oracle Disc Hub

2012-07-02, 02:55 PM	#18
kahunacohen Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Silver Spring, MD Age: 39 Posts: 347	Nicely stated Leevolver! Isn't it beautiful how the mind-body connection works? You work real hard, then take a break and BAM you get it. I have been working for weeks on Walking the Wheel, then I stopped for a few days, got back on and broke my record. It is very true. When riding on flats and downhill, it should feel that you are merely along for the ride and your feet are just barely touching the pedals. A great feeling, no? __________________ KH20 Street '85 Semcycle 24" Custom KH29 with Oracle Disc Hub

2012-07-02, 04:07 PM	#20
Alucard Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Flintshire UK Age: 46 Posts: 529	Leevolver Welcome to the forum I am really impressed that you're riding a 36“ after such a short time of practice. Well, okay I admit, I'm really envious of you Way to Go ! Last edited by Alucard; 2012-07-02 at 04:09 PM.

2012-07-12, 12:22 PM	#30
jbtilley Muni Foot Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 559	Good job YooNeeNoob. You're making swift progress! Just like Alucard said, give it another week or so and your user name won't match reality anymore. lg318ww, I don't know whether the new unicycles are easier to ride but my experience is that they are much more comfortable to ride. I took about 10 years off and eventually got a newer model uni to replace my schwinn once I came back. The new saddles (KH freeride) and the larger tire (duro leopard) combined to make for the smoothest, most comfortable ride I had ever experienced on a uni. I seriously didn't know riding could be so nice. The new saddle made most of the difference. The main thing about the tire was that I was running with lower pressure, that could have been achieved on the old uni had I known better. The schwinn had a very hard seat, combine that with 60-70 PSI in the tire and I could feel every facet of the texture of the ground transmitted up through the seat. It hurt bad after the first mount and didn't let up until I got numb. Contrast that with the new seat/lower pressure and it was like I wasn't even on a uni at all. As far as the other parts are concerned (cranks, hub, pedals, frame)... I don't think they made riding any easier, it's just that the parts are much stronger than before so they hold up better to 'abuse.' Last edited by jbtilley; 2012-07-12 at 12:24 PM.

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2012-07-02, 02:48 PM	#17
Leevolver Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado Posts: 10	Hey there, I'm new to the forum too, and a beginner unicyclist. I'm starting out with a Coker 36 inch and 125mm cranks. It was slow going at first, and has been about a month since I started. Yesterday was the flash of enlightenment though. I straightened up, loosened up, and almost all my weight went into the saddle. I found my legs weren't doing all the work, and hardly had to pedal. It was more like the uni was peddling my feet, and my feet were going along for the ride, applying pressure when needed. I was gone for hours going all thru the neighborhood. It's funny how balled up in frustration the learning process can be, then one day...Boom! you take off. Cheers, and happy unicycling.

2012-07-07, 03:24 AM	#21
YooNeeNoob Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Seattle, WA., USA Posts: 224	O...M...freaking G! Just had to post a quick progress update after this evening's twirl on the one-wheel, because I just made a huge quantum leap, knocking off two of my three stated goals for the summer (see above). I can now go places and make tight turns...YAY! OK, so two days ago I was mechanically going through the motions of my daily uni workout, feeling a tad dejected at my slow progress, and I decided to do a bit of exploring. I was on a newly-built road, still closed to the public, and was wondering to where and how far the thing went. So, I decided to just follow it on my unicycle. Turns out, the damned thing is over a mile long...imagine it: a complete mile of brand new, unviolated virgin asphalt, utterly devoid of cars, pedestrians or other obstacles--the perfect n00b playground! Anyway, since my general goal is to get more comfortable on the uni, I reasoned that some distance might be of benefit. Over the next hour and a half, I traversed the one-mile stretch of road four times. I wasn't fast, and I fell off half a dozen times, but the feeling of getting somewhere on the unicycle was great! The real payoff from Wednesday's distance run, however, wasn't apparent to me until earlier this evening when I headed downstairs to the parking garage below my office. I sometimes use the garage to practice turns because a single lap of the rectangular space takes you through four tight corners and a pair of 50-yard straights. Before today, the best I could manage was three or four shaky, uncomfortable laps. Somehow, the big-mileage workout of two days ago had a transformational affect because this time I pushed off and began riding with new legs--faster, smoother and with almost no flailing. The feeling was tremendous, and after ten quick laps, I knew that the only things that might stop me were hunger, boredom or death by old age. Completely elated, it slowly dawned on me that for the first time since taking up the sport, I was really riding a unicycle! Thanks to the generous advice and sage wisdom from the posters on this thread (especially Alucard who introduced me to the doctrine of Bum on Seat), I now know with absolute certainty that I will achieve all my uni goals by the end of summer and be rolling down the local bike path, devouring the miles with a carefree happy chuckle.... --cheers

2012-07-07, 12:44 PM	#22
aracer Registered Unicyclist Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Malvern, UK Age: 43 Posts: 1,038	Congratulations. When little kids ask me how I ride my unicycle (something I get quite a bit, given I often use it to pick my 5yo up from school) I often say "magic", and there is a touch of truth in that - with practice you learn to do stuff without even being aware of it. Just keep riding, and you will learn how to do it. On your third goal, have a look at http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78310 - I learnt to freemount that way before I could ride as well as you can. Admittedly it is in a way a dead end - I no longer use that technique at all - but not only does it give you a lot more freedom very easily, it also helps a lot with learning the technique and confidence for other freemount techniques. Going back in the thread, I only skimmed the off-road video you posted, but from what I saw I reckon I could ride pretty much all of that after 9 months of riding - I even reckon my chances on one of the bits he fell off. Definitely feasible for you far sooner than you expect. I do agree with aarons that he should be wearing a lid though - I would be for riding that (even though I'm not an advocate of lots of protection - I've never worn knee pads and don't regret not doing so). Oh and regarding riding in sandals, I've actually ridden in flip flops - can't say I was all that comfortable doing so though!

2012-07-07, 01:49 PM	#23
Alucard Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Flintshire UK Age: 46 Posts: 529	Congratulations YooNeeNoob ! It sure sounds like youre having fun. As 57 says... ''Way to Go !''

2012-07-12, 03:10 AM	#29
lg318ww Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 6	Hey that looks just like mine. I bought my Schwinn in 79. I was free mounting by the middle of the summer and going over steps and curbs. Now, I am happy with turning corners around the block. Free mounting is necessary because I need to stop often. I have been riding for 33 years, with a few off when I was having children. It is just like riding a bike ?(uni) Are the new unicycles actually easier to ride? It seems so effortless to watch someone on a new unicycle. My Schwinn actually needed a new tire since I'd worn off the tread a couple years ago. The seat/saddle is missing most of the plastic on the ends. Not fun catching when you stop or fall since you are grabbing rough metal. How many 49 year old women unicycle riders out there?

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