Tell me what I'm doing wrong...

[unclemurdoch]

Okay, so I'm learning on a 20" wheel and no matter how firmly sit on the saddle, the wheel still waggles as I ride. Is this normal from the size of the wheel or my pressure on the pedals or the speed at which I'm riding or what?
Anyone got a tips for a noob who's REALLY wanting to hone newly found ability into controlled skill?
(no sarcastic newbie comments need respond, please. thanks)

[koebwil]

just keep riding, you'll learn control. Also everyone is going to tell you about the search feature, and to post stuff like this in Rec.Sport.Unicycling

[harper]

What's a sarcastic newbie comment? What does waggle mean? How long have you been riding? How far can you go? What kind of surface are you riding on? How big are you? How is your seat height set? Are you looking ahead or at the wheel? You may be making normal progress and just need practice as mentioned before.

We don't know how fast you're riding. We also don't know how much pressure you're putting on the pedals. The tendency is to start with your weight on the seat and then slowly start to put more and more on the pedals subconsciously as you correct. That's why it's important to continue to repeat to yourself that you must keep your weight on the seat and return it to the seat after every correction.

[unclemurdoch]

sorry 'bout the misposting, everyone.

[weeble]

The pressure on the pedals forces the frame to twist from side to side. Beginners tend to waggle a lot more than more experienced riders do, and it will probably lessen as you become more skilled, but it will always be there. I suppose a straight track would be possible if you clenched your thighs and threw your body and arms this way and that to counteract the waggle, but there's no reason to go to that sort of trouble.

[kristine]

Originally Posted by unclemurdoch

sorry 'bout the misposting, everyone.

nothing to be sorry about. You just have to watch out for attackers who will tell you to search first and where to post. But... they dont matter. Its a little known seceret.

So.... I dont know the answer to your problem... but, I did experiance a similar thing when I first started. Also I had one direction I went in easier. I thought I was never going to ride without looking spastic.

For me, it just went away in practice..... But... harper is more knowledgable-so if you answer all his questions, he may beable to help you some more.

[GILD]

Originally Posted by unclemurdoch

Okay, so I'm learning on a 20" wheel

That's one more of us and one less of them.

Welcome to the fora.
Like Harper pointed out, we need a bit more info about your riding before we can really make some sensible comments (a rare occurence in this neck of the woods at the best of times) and help you on the path to total one-wheeled freedom.
Run thru the questions he asked in his post and post the info and let's take it from there.