Social-phobe's first town ride

[gkmac]

Hi all, bit of a long one coming up...

I learnt to ride a uni in late 2003, mainly because I always wanted to be able to do it. But virtually all of it is done at my juggling clubs hall. This is mainly because... now this may seem surprising for someone who rides a unicycle, but I'm not a showoff. In fact I'm the complete opposite, an introvert who when walking or taking the train, just wants to be quiet and mind their own business with little interference from strangers.

And of course, we all know that we turn a few heads and get the inevitable comments shouted at us from the "general public". I didn't get that many comments during the very few street rides I did around the juggling clubs hall with a couple of other members. Despite that, several times over the months I've pondered the possibility of riding the semi-suburban backstreets alone around my home, but panic set in each time I approached the front door with uni in hand, just because "someone could see me", and therefore it never happened.

To summarize, somehow I had a phobia of riding outside amongst the general public.


We're currently having a heatwave in the UK (apparently the temperature got no lower than 20c/68f during the night) and thus I awoke at 3:45am this morning, about 7 hours before the time I usually wake up on my days off. I couldn't get back to sleep, and then I thought... all the town nightclubbers will be home by now, and most people won't be even awake yet.

So I got changed, picked up my brand new KH 24" XC Muni and with a decent looking unicycle I was actually able to get out the front door this time. Trembling with a rapid pulse, I held on to my sisters car, hauled myself onto my machine and pedalled away as daybreak began.

Two unusual UPDs happened within the first few yards. Was it because I was still trembling and afraid? Was it because I'm still used to a 20" wheel with 125 cranks? Or was it the potholes in the road?

But after that, down the no-through road opposite my house and up again, round the local youth centre car park and up through the alleyway, back round to my house over the speed bumps. I was still shaking, but excited at the same time, so I just rode around again the opposite way.

My fear slowly began to subside, but somehow I UPDd when trying to transfer from road to pavement and that's when a group of 4 youths on BMX bikes came around the corner, one with a bag of newspapers. I just walked on the pavement, pushing my muni in front of me and braved myself for the worst, but they didn't seem to take any notice of me at all! When they passed, down and up the no through road again.

I then arrived at my front door and had one "last" look around with muni in hand before coming back in. I DID IT! I actually summoned the courage to ride in my hometown! I still couldn't believe it,so I went around for one more ride... and then another last one... by now almost all fear had gone and actually managed to relax in the saddle and pedal a lot slower. On the last approach I rode up a very low kerb from road to pavement without a UPD, before finally going back into the house at about 4:20am and drinking two glasses of water to combat my thirst, looking at the sunrise.


OK, with almost nobody about it was a slight cheat to overcoming my phobia, but I'm still proud of actually riding in part of my hometown. I hope that there will be a next time for this (not necessarily at a quiet 4am time) and next time I won't have as much trembling fear as I start the ride.

I knew I had to get over this sometime, that's why a bought a muni. I think the muni helped a lot, since it looks a lot less "circussy" than my freestyle and I could actually cruise along at a decent speed.

[cathwood]

Fantastic. Well done!
I ride outside nearly everyday and I still have a bit of a non-unicyclist phobia. I hate it when people say stuff. I enjoy it most when no one takes any notice of me. Off road is fantastic.
Keep going.
Don't let the buggers stop you. (I wonder if I'm actually trying to convince myself).
It's the hardest part of unicycling.

Cathy

[s7ev0]

Nice one gkmac!

Even apart from the lack of prattish clubbers to hurl inane comments, your 4am ride sounds like a great idea! Hardly any traffic (so up and down kerbs would be easier), clear pavements, nobody to chuck you off low walls, steps, etc.

I'm really coming round to the idea of a decent 24" muni now. My rubbish ebay chrome 20" is still sort of ok for practising on, but is now beginning to make a horrible sound as the left pedal passes bottom dead centre (no idea what that is!). My 29" is great on the flat, but I still don't have control of it downhill, so I'm thinking a 24" will allow me to go further and retain control downhill.

Still can't think of a good enough excuse to buy one straight after the beach buggy indulgence though!

Anyway, your next outing should be at 4.30 am, then 5.00 am, and so on, until you are out in the Epsom rush hour!

[totally_hooked]

Well done gkmac

I didn't have the option of learning indoors, so right from the start I was having to learn in the public view at a local carpark and believe me, I'm a slow learner.

This had two effects:

Firstly, I soon got used to the "where's the other half of your bike" comments, which didn't actually happen that often;

Secondly, some "regulars" out wallking their dogs, or whatever, were actually giving me friendly support and positive comments as I improved!

As for the kids - they are either are young enough to think that the wobbly riding I do is really amazing, or the older, more gobby, youths soon shut up when I let them have a go on my uni!

The funny thing was, though, that I wouldn't practice down my own street for ages in case the neighbours saw me! I guess that I have my own self-conscious streak too.

I hope that you continue to beat your fear of riding in your neighbourhood - Its crazy when the ordinary pavements, roads, kerbs, ramps and everything else that you used to take for granted suddeny become your own adventure playground.

Good riding.

Hooked

[s7ev0]

Originally posted by totally_hooked
Its crazy when the ordinary pavements, roads, kerbs, ramps and everything else that you used to take for granted suddeny become your own adventure playground.

And have you noticed that you now know (and even acknowledge as you pass on foot!) all the dips, bumps and other undulations on the pavement around your home?! It's as though you're riding them in your mind!

[napalm]

Good work,
Whenever i ride in public i just remember that no one is going to DO anything to you that you wouldn't want. If they look like they might, you might find some comfort in having something in your hands to do as you cruise by- texting on a mobile or checking the time works well, on the whole remember that most people are positive about it and will encourage you. Even if that means saying the stupid one liners,
Keep up the good work,
Mark

[phil]

This is why muni is great. You end up miles from anywhere where the only people you'll run into are also there to enjoy the surroundings; I find you meet a better class of people riding trails than you ever would riding around town. Today I passed walkers, people on horseback and other cyclists and there's never anything but mutual respect because everyone is just out enjoying the sunshine and having a good time in the countryside.

I hardly ever unicycle around town any more, for this reason; the ride might be good, you might meet some nice people, but it only takes one idiot to marr the whole ride and make it seem much less fun.

Phil

[mucRider]

Originally posted by totally_hooked
... right from the start I was having to learn in the public view ... some "regulars" out wallking their dogs, or whatever, were actually giving me friendly support and positive comments as I improved! ... The funny thing was, though, that I wouldn't practice down my own street for ages in case the neighbours saw me! I guess that I have my own self-conscious streak too.
d

Sounds exactly like me.

Right now, I am struggling with my 29". I can free mount and ride and turn and get around where I want to go but I am so stressed I just cannot relax. UPD's are minimal and I always land on my feet. I just cannot relax.

[maestro8]

Originally posted by phil
but it only takes one idiot to marr the whole ride and make it seem much less fun

Look at the other side of the coin... wouldn't it take just one soul to make an inspiring comment and make your whole day? Don't focus on the "idiots," they're just unenlightened, confused, depressed, etc.

Just yesterday I was doing some trials around town and a couple kids had stopped to watch my friend and I... the smaller of the two said "you guys are doing a really good job!" That made the whole ride!

[Diznei]

You're a step ahead of me gkmac. When I'm at College its easy for me to go riding anywhere because people are used to seeing unicyclists there. Its nothing terribly new to them, at least not the sophmores and up. But right now, I'm back at home, where no one has ever seen anyone on a unicycle. I'd really like to go to the local park and practice my trials, but I don't want to face the possible ridicule and inevitable questions that follow with the riding of a unicycle. I've answered those questions far too many times this summer and I don't feel the urge to answer them again.

I actually had a chance yesterday to bring my unicycle out at the Relay For Life. An all night cancer walk-a-thon in which one member of your team has to be walking on the track at all times. I was planning on bringing out the uni, but then I realized that there would be a lot of people there asking me questions, looking at me, and I wouldn't actually get to do everything I was hoping to do. So I didn't. Scold me as you wish.

[Tim]

People will always make dumb remarks and say mean things but it really doesnt make a difference. I was riding my coker and some one said "Hey what would you do if I threw a stick in your wheel?" I said "Well first I'll fall off then I dont know what I'd do to you." and I looked at him seariosly then laughed. I dont know what he did after that because I was riding quite fast and was quite far away by the time I finished saying that.

I'm not afraid of riding out side at all anymore. Its not like they can really do anything to you. That's great to hear you're getting out.

[onewheeldave]

Originally posted by gkmac
Hi all, bit of a long one coming up...

... now this may seem surprising for someone who rides a unicycle, but I'm not a showoff. In fact I'm the complete opposite, an introvert who when walking or taking the train, just wants to be quiet and mind their own business with little interference from strangers.

I think a good portion of unicyclists are non-showoff/introverts; I, for one, ride purely cos riding unis outdoors is excellent fun, and, initially did resent some of the attention it attracts.

Now I've ridden hundreds of hours outdoors, in the streets etc and attention is no problem; plus ,the more you do, the less overt comments you get.

Originally posted by gkmac


I knew I had to get over this sometime, that's why a bought a muni. I think the muni helped a lot, since it looks a lot less "circussy" than my freestyle and I could actually cruise along at a decent speed.

I agree; a chunky tyred muni, along with appropriate safety gear (helmet, wrist guards etc), and the balance and speed that come with a lot of riding, really cuts down the 'circus' associations and comments- you come across more as a cyclist than a clown.

Well done for getting out there, i'm sure you'll continue.

For me, outdoor riding is the essence of uni- if I didn't ride outdoors I'd not ride unis at all.

Originally posted by gkmac

We're currently having a heatwave in the UK

Too right!!!

I was out this afternoon and it almost killed me- I think this is the first time I've ever been out on the uni and seriously thought that it was too hot to be on one wheel.

Gkmac, thank you for a cool post! I don't have the problem of
intravertness on a unicycle right now (I actually onjoy the comments,
virtually all of them are positive). But I used to be unusually
intravert when I was younger so I can still relate to your story.
Enjoy your new being!

Klaas Bil - Newsgroup Addict
--
"As with all great social movements, the origins of mountain unicycling are unclear. - Hannah Nordhaus (Los Angeles Times)"

[joemarshall]

Good one.

Once you've ridden outside a bit more and had a few comments, you'll find that whilst the whole comments thing is a bit weird to start with, once you've done it a bit you can just tune them out.

I had the advantage of learning to unicycle at a point when I was wearing a lot of very odd clothes and had various different and unnatural looking hair colours. That meant that I was used to people looking at me and didn't really notice it as much as a lot of people do. Oh and that I don't notice or care if people say stuff about me.

Joe

[unicus]

Well done on getting out there, keep at it.

I'm not that bothered about what people think or say but whilst riding in some local woods this morning I rode past where a school field meets the woods and it was break time so the field was full of kids. I would be really surprised if some of the kids didn't shout something (good or bad) but as I had my earphones on all I heard was Colplay's X&Y album (Fathers day present, kids can be good)

So if you don't want to here the comments then listen to some music, sorted. (I wouldn't advice having it loud near traffic though)