paul> I am currently trying to learn to ride with one foot. I get the
paul> basic idea of applying less pressure with one foot until the
paul> other is doing everything but my progress has been very slow.
paul> Is this just a big step to make or are there some tricks to
paul> learning this trick? I have both 20" and 24" unis and have
paul> mostly been using the latter; should one of these be easier than
paul> the other?
paul> paul bunson
Someone else was going to reply to this, but his mail apparently
bounced. I can tell you some things. This took me a while to get. The
"make one foot do everything" approach is good, though it is hard to
get the foot off and put it on the frame (if that's what you're going
to do) once you reach the point where you can almost take it off. Some
people down here ride with the spare leg just stuck out the front. I
put it on the frame. Another way to start is by idling one footed and
then going into it, but the push you need to get going this way is
bigger than the subsequent pushes you need to keep the thing going.
There is a very definite feel to this trick. I tend to say "push" to
myself each time the footed pedal comes over the top. I find it a bit
easier to go faster rather than slower. Getting that first revolution
is probably the hardest thing.
One piece of advice I would offer is to keep in mind that what you are
really trying to do is, after all, just ride a unicycle. Think of the
principles that applied when you were learning - they're all still
true. Lean forward, sit up straight etc. Try to make believe that
you're just riding normally and you might find things easier. This
also applies (as I think I mentioned) to walking the wheel.
As regards 20 vs 24", I am fairly sure that the 20" will be easier. I
have never ridden one footed on a 24, but I have done on a 26 and it
is much harder. You have to put a lot more energy into each pedal to
get the cranks to go the whole way around.
arthur> does anyone out there ride a BC (Also Called Impossible) Wheel?
arthur> Any tips?
arthur> We bought a 16 inch Impossible. It's impossible, all right. Would a 20"
arthur> or 24 " be easier? Thicker tires? Psychiatric help? <:)
Perhaps psychiatric help would be a good start. I don't know how to
ride one but I have seen it done (at the juggling festival in st.
louis last year). The people rolled it along the ground and then ran
after it and jumped on. It looked pretty wild.
Also,
does anyone else out there ride down stairs? A friend and I were just
taught how by some uni-guerillas in Albuquerque. It's lots of fun. If
people are interested I (we) could post some hints etc.
What about jumping off things?
Terry.