She's only gone and bought me a.....

[david k]

Unicycle! Yes Father Christmas brought me a unicycle

Posted on the beginners section as I am a beginner at unicycling, any others post on here, any tips?

I've tried a few times but it's tricky, really tricky. One wheel short of my usual cycling!

 

[Fonze]

Start off with some stabilisers ?

 

[Julia9054]

Get some knee and elbow pads.

Shin pads actually. I spent some time many years ago trying to ride one. The pedal used to whack me on the shin. I eventually gave it up as beyond me. Have fun!

 

[pawl]

Check your life insurance.

 

[Katherine]

Sounds great fun!

I wanted to try unicycling before my last big birthday and my colleagues sent me to a group in Rochdale that teach circus skills. I had one lesson and said I was going to go back but I didn't because it took me so long to get there.
Anyway, I managed to get across the room by the end of the session but still stayed close to the handrail they had against the wall. I remember that I was told to forget everything I'd learnt about balancing on a bike with 2 wheels. Instead, look straight ahead and imagine that I was walking.
So find a smooth bit of path somewhwere where there is a wall or fence that you can put one hand on. It might be a while before you can stay upright, let alone move forwards, but you will suddenly find yourself actually moving.
Making me want another go!

https://www.wikihow.com/Ride-and-Mount-a-Unicycle

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Make sure you carry a spare wheel

 

[simon the viking]

I interviewed One of the UK s top unicyclists for veloballs.com if you want to check out his youtube channel there's a link on there...

https://veloballs.com/ben-scott-big-street-unicyclist/

 

[simongt]

And of course, with unicycles being 'fixies' by the very nature of their design, makes control a whole new thinking level.

 

[david k]

Thanks for all the replies

Yes it sooo different, I keep wacking my ankle! I'm tall and I think the seat is too low, I may try to get some kind of extension, or take a few inches of my legs

Being a fixie feels odd, my brain isn't sending the right signals yet, I did read it would take at least 15 hours of riding before you get anything like the hang of it, and you should do it in small chunks, that's my thoughts at the moment

 

[PeteXXX]

I can fall of a two wheel bike... Good luck fella!

 

[xzenonuk]

congrats please please give us a video of your first attempt to ride it

 

[screenman]

Has it got a front of fear brake?

 

[david k]

Still looking for the brakes, I'm currently using my shoulder and head along the floor to stop me

 

[vickster]

Check your life insurance.

She probably already has

 

[Gravity Aided]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P9YKBETRkY

Old skool, mad skilz.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j2j8xVMI6A

For when you feel like some two-wheeled action again. Pretty tame stuff, compared to what I saw some mates do with these back in the day...