Does anyone on this forum have a unicyle?
Do you know how to ride one (whether you have one or not) (no clever answers, like sit on the seat and pedal like hell, please)
I got one for Xmas a few years ago, but have only managed maximum 5 pedal strokes so far, so I answer “yes” to 1. and “no” to 2,
Is there a particular trick? Or do I just have to keep practicing till I get it right? Or maybe, at 48 years old, I’m too old to learn?
Expert Village has a lot of good videos on YouTube that break it down into simple steps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ohxqJXGvto&feature=PlayList&p=BB568555554E3C14&index=0&playnext=1
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I grew up riding one. I rode it everywhere. I still own one, but I never ride it. (I’m 53 and “the boys” don’t hang with it as well as they used to.) I CAN ride it. Every time I walk into a bike shop and they have one, I have to give it a go.
I found the best place to learn was on a friend’s driveway that had a slight downhill grade. I could hang onto the garage door frame to mount up, then the momentum of the slight downhill helped me get the pedals going. Gradually I learned to control it and got farther and farther down the driveway. After about a week of trying that (and bashing my shins to oblivion), one day I made the turn onto the sidewalk at the bottom of the driveway and didn’t stop until I’d gone all the way around the block. Back in the late 1960s I did 30 miles on a unicycle in a hunger walk. (Those were popular back then.) When I was 12, I could do a lot of tricks, but nothing like I see the Muni guys (mountain unicycle) doing now.
I found it was just like learning to do flip turns. You keep trying and trying and, on one try, you finally get it right. When you do, you never forget it.
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Thanks for the tips!
I’ve always wanted to get one and learn. It’s not something that I to do, but it would make a fun diversion in the off season or on rest days.
If anybody has one that they want to sell cheap, PM me. Thanks.
Mark
They are so cheap, no need to get a used one. There’s FK all to them so very little cost. NO brakes, NO handlebars, NO gears, NO etc etc. hehehe
I was just on mine today. I rode one when I was a kid and my folks bought me one last Christmas. I’m now 42, and yes, the “boys” seem less comfortable than I remember. I got off the unicycle today winded - after just a few minutes.
As a kid, I remember riding it around our pool table then eventually getting further and further away. It’s kinda like a Pogo stick, it eventually just clicks. I guess you could do the same with a car or truck. Get on the unicycle and ride holding the truck until you don’t need it.
I got one about about 12 years ago and I’m still trying to figure it out.
I’ve used the help of walls, a person holding my hand, crutches and walkers. I worked at a nursing home and propelled wheelchairs through the halls riding it while holding on to the wheelchair handles, until I got in trouble for doing it. Each year the nursing home hosted a “pet and bike parade” in which kids from the neighborhood decorated their bikes and pets. My job was to dress up as a clown and goof around. I really wanted to go as an elderly clown and ride the uni with a walker. Instead, I circled the police cruiser that led the parade, riding my Cannondale Super V, dressed as an “Evil Slash” with a top hat, coat tails and evil clown makeup. I made a few kids cry.
LOL
Always good to make kids cry!, just not all the time.
I own/ride one. I spent a lot of time riding along walls, but I feel like the most helpful thing was with a person holding your hand. Just have them hold out their hand and keep your hand on theirs but don’t use it unless you need to. Chances are at the start you’ll put a ton of your weight on their arm, but after a while you’ll barely use it except for the occasional fix. It’s a good way to gradually work on your balance.
Also focus on looking straight ahead at a fixed object. Most people look at the ground, but the ground moves relative to you, which does not help you balance. Focus on something far away and still.
My son and I took joined a unicycle club a few years ago.
I gave up after one too many clumsy falls. 
But…
My son now has mad unicycle skills. He can ride on a 2x4, jump curbs, pedal with one leg, pedal with a foot on the tire instead of the pedal – lots of crazy stuff.
Anyway, the club taught newbies to ride by using a geriatric-style walkers they acquired for $10 from Goodwill. You use the walker to get started, then pick it up off the floor when you’re brave enough.
I had one as a kid (maybe 20 yrs ago?) Crap - am i that old already?
Learned to ride it in my a hallway at my parents house, walls on both side probably 15 ft long, then tried outside. Would use a parked car or telephone pole to assist getting on and tried to go further and further. Eventually I could ride it pretty far. Definitely not 30 miles.
Hardest thing for me was learning to mount it without having to hold on to something.
It’s still in my parents basement. Has had a flat for probably 15 yrs. I guess I’ll give it another go and see if I remember still - I"d guess it’s like riding a… unicycle.
Maybe I’ll put on my tri gear and aero helmet and take it for a spin. I’m sure my seat is too high though.
I think I got one when I was 12 or so. I rode it around the basement holding onto the wall for about a month, then all of a sudden could ride on my own. I rode around the block with the dog. I can still ride it pretty well, but I couldn’t ever get the hang of rocking back in forth in place.
I have had one since I was about 13 (37 now). I have taught several people to ride one. The way I did it was to have them hold on to the the side of the garage on a very slightly downhill driveway…and have the pedal in the 2-3 o’clock position of your favored leg. ONce you can get to the point where you can do a full rotation or 2 of the pedals, you are on your way and it is just repetition at that point.
I have (2). A Torker 26" and a POS 20".
The smaller the wheel…the easier it is to learn. But, as you get moving…a larger wheel is more stable/faster.
In my case, I just picked a day and said I’m gong to learn. Put on all my skateboard pads (helmet, wrist, elbow, knee) and was determined to not go back inside until I learned. After about an hour of being frustrated…it clicked. Pretty much like your first time on rollers.
Never too old to learn!
I picked one up a few years ago but it was never “a good time” to learn - always worried about blowing my build for something…
I’ll get a round to it one of these years…
I got one in 4th grade because my teacher once won the unicycling world championships and I wanted to be like him. Try using two chairs to hold on to while getting on and then make sure you keep your hips above the axle when you start to pedal. keep your arms out like an airplane and look where you want to go at all times. Everyone I’ve seen learn to ride started out leaning against a wall or holding chairs and then seeing how many pedals they can get. It took me 2 months to get across a gym but now I can ride whenever, I’ve even ridden a 10 footer.