rusty> Does anyone have some good tips for learning to Walk the
rusty> Wheel,i.e. feet directly on the tire?
rusty> I haven't spent much time with this trick, but thought I would
rusty> seek some net advice. --
I'll bite. I have been working on this occasionally for the last six
months or so. I have gone about 15 feet (5m) at best.
One word of warning is that this is a bad trick to attempt before you
are ready. It's a bit hard to tell if you're ready, but finding out
the hard way can be very painful. Twice when I fell off backwards I
was unable to get my feet off the wheel to catch myself and landed
heavily on my back/elbows/head. It hurt a lot.
There is a tip on the uni video that the IUF put out. I can't remember
who it is, maybe John Foss, but he says that he finds it easier when
he leaves a space between his feet. The space looks like maybe an inch
or two. This is perhaps easier on a 24" wheel as then there's more
space to begin with.
My current method of practice is to get two portable ballet barres in
the gym and walk the wheel between them with a hand on each (or just
above each). When I get to the end I try to go out on my own. This
sort of equipment is probably not available to everyone. Previously I
also would try to go up and down a wall with one hand on the wall.
Head up, sit up straight. I find it is easier if I try to imagine that
I am riding the unicycle normally, so I lean forward a bit and move
the wheel quickly.
One thing I tried was to raise the seat a lot. I raised it so much
that I couldn't have ridden normally. That way my feet seemed more
comfortable on the wheel. I thought that if this seemed easier, I'd
learn it that way and gradually bring the seat down. It didn't seem
any easier :-)
To me this trick is the biggest step in getting from level 5 to level
6. I don't think anyone will dispute that. It also seems to be one of
the bigger steps that need to be made at any level - but that's just
from speculating about the higher levels. I wonder what juggling trick
it could be compared to. Maybe 5 balls.
Is anyone out there planning on attending the National Unicycling
Meeting (NUM) in Adrian (Michigan) from July 30th to Aug 1st? If
people want details, I can type them in.
Terry.