Ride and Mount a Unicycle

Learning to ride a unicycle is easier than it might seem. (Of course, it looks impossible!) Few people learn to ride one in 24 hours. Sixty-somethings have learned to ride. Unicycles are relatively inexpensive, are good exercise, and are compact and can be taken just about anywhere. And, of course, there's always the WOW factor! So, here's how to get started.

Steps

  1. Buy a good quality unicycle. There are a lot of cheap unicycles that make learning to ride difficult, the seats are poorly designed, and will they break quickly.
  2. Get the right Wheel size. You will almost surely start with a 20" or a 24" wheel.
  3. Get your unicycle set up properly. The seat height is critical: you should be able to reach the bottom pedal, with just a small crook in your knee. Get an extension on the post if needed. The post itself should be easily adjustable. Make sure the pedals are rubber (and not metal). It's hard enough to learn, without doing it on a cheap, poorly-setup unicycle!
  4. Buy (and use) safety equipment. Heavy duty hand pads are a must! Knee pads are an option, but, you don’t want to restrict your movements either. Very well padded shorts are highly recommended: you are going to land on the pavement a lot at first! Depending on your athleticism, you may want to consider a helmet.
  5. Find a suitable site for learning to ride. Someplace you can hold on to, but, won’t get hurt (and won’t hurt someone else). Tennis nets, a wall, or a smooth fence, are good: you want a barrier where you can ride along and hold on to something safely. Holding on to a friend or a post, is a very poor substitute, and not recommended (unless the friend enjoys getting his shins hit with your pedals).
  6. Practice for 15 minutes or so, once or twice a day. There’s little point in practicing for hours on end immediately: your body seems to learn between your work-outs.
  7. To mount a uni for a beginner, align the pedal cranks vertically to the ground (one pedal will be as close to the ground as is possible, while the uni is upright). Step on that pedal with the foot of your weaker leg. Then, throw your leg over the seat, and sit on the uni. Then, step on the other pedal (pulling yourself up while holding onto something for support).
  8. The first time you get up on your uni, just concentrate on sitting on it while holding on to something. Rotate the wheels ½ turn forward and backward. All your weight should be, on the floor of your pelvis (and not on your thighs or calves). Trust me, you’re not going to ride off anywhere immediately! Just concentrate on getting the feel of your vehicle.
  9. When you are comfortable with sitting on the uni, begin to try to ride forward. Expect that you will fall off. At first, you will hardly go a full revolution of the wheel, actually. But, with practice, will come perfection (or at least, a few revolutions!)
  10. Don’t give up! You will advance from, a few revolutions, to, riding off into the sunset, quite quickly. One day, it will just…suddenly happen! You'll be riding a unicycle!
  11. Finished.

Tips

  • Focus a majority of your weight on the seat of the unicycle.
  • Set a course to practice about five feet apart from each object to hold on to.
  • Wearing padded cycling shorts is a good idea.
  • Try to get good balance before riding. Learning to jump on a pogo stick may help.
  • Do this course over and over.
  • It is better to use a friend as a support because he/she can move with you in turns and you do not have to move your hands.
  • Don't go too fast. You will only fall and that does not help at all.
  • Always leave some speed in reserve, because to slow down, first you need to speed up to move the wheel in front of your centre of balance.
  • You need to be prepared for falling off and you need patience.

Warnings

  • Don't give up! Most children (over 7) and teenagers learn to ride quite quickly. For adults, learning can take much longer, possibly weeks. However, anyone who can walk, can usually ride a unicycle (because both depend on shifting your weight from side to side).
  • Injury: Depending on your age, and the size of your unicycle, injury is always a possibility. If you are about to take a long trip, start an important job, or similar, this is probably not the time to learn to ride.
  • Don't practice in an isolated area. If you fall, you may be unable to get help.

Things You'll Need

  • Unicycle
  • Brake set, but this is purely optional.
  • Helmet
  • Pads
  • Sturdy objects to hold on to (or)
  • Friends to spot you

Related Articles

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Ride_and_Mount_a_Unicycle&oldid=294371"