I'll just add a few comments.
Jack Halpern <jhalpern@cc.win.or.jp> writes:
>As far as I know, I am the first person to ever build and ride a two-
>wheel unicycle. If I am wrong, please correct me. I got the idea from
>an old USA newsletter. There was a diagram, but apparently no one had
>ever built one.
I was very impressed seeing Jack ride his two wheeler back in 1980!
>pbennett@lssec.bt.co.uk wrote:
>
>|> > I thought that I would mess up my balance when I returned to a 'normal'
>|> > unicycle.
>
>No, I don't think so. It just feels a little strange when you switch, but
>worry not.
It will just take a little time to get used to it. With enough
practice one can switch without any problems. For example, Constance
Cotter has switched (mounted) from a standard to two wheeler in mid
air in two of her three world champion freestyle routines! That is
she rides the standard, picks the two wheeler off the floor, positions
it for a mount and mounts it all without touching the floor. There
aren't many unicyclists that can even mount a giraffe from a standard.
>|> Now I don't know cause I've never met the guy, but I get the feeling
>|> Andy's not such a bad unicyclist. So, just how easy are two-wheelers
>|> to learn? (Yes I've *almost* made up my mind to get one, only I want
>|> to hear anyway.)
Andy is an excellent unicyclist! I sure he has decided to spend his
time on other skills. Riding a two wheeler appears to be just as easy
as riding a standard, although it is far more difficult. Riding a two
wheeler is not a good investment of time for performance value, unless
the audience appreciates the difficulty of riding one.
>I learned in 1979/1980, I think it was was. It was *very* difficult,
>but in those days in Japan riding one-foot was considered difficult and
>walking the wheel an act of magic. I was accused by my friends that the
>reason I can do these stunts was because I am "different" -- that I know
>doubt "eat meteors for breakfast" was the expressions they used (:->...
Learning to ride a two wheeler, clearly without knowledge of anyone
having done it before, must have been a real test of character!
>When you practice, you must concentrate on moving your upper body forward
>along with the frame as you pedal backwards. It feels extremely weird at
>first, but once you get the hang of it it will almost feel natural.
It's best to put almost all of one's weight on the seat when riding a
two wheeler. Also, while riding, one's balance reactions on the two
wheeler must be exactly the opposite of one's balance reactions on a
standard (This is half of the difficulty). The other half relates to
how riding a standard is like normal walking. Riding a two wheeler is
like walking in an inverted gravity field; to avoid a fall forward,
one's feet must be moved backward (rather than forward) and visa versa!
(It's not as simple as pedaling forward to go backward!)
>|> Another thought: would it be possible to build (or buy) and "extendible"
>|> multi-wheeler, that starts of as a normal uni, but can be extended by
>|> bolting extra wheels on underneath? That way if I never got the hang
>|> of the two-wheeler, I could extend it to a three-wheeling mean giraffe.
>|> I guess the main problem with this would be the make robust joints so
>|> that the extended frame was *nearly* as strong as a solid pole.
>|> So, who builds these things? DM? Siegmon? Sem? Where's my best bet?
>|> Does anyone have one? Has anyone ridden one? Does it really hot-up your
>|> backwards pedaling as Andy suggested? Advice?
Semcycle sells an two wheeler extension for their (tubular framed) LX
standard. (It may be intended more for someone to inexpensively try
out a two wheeler. For example, riding with the seat in front may put
too much stress on the frame.)
What does "hot-up your backwards pedaling" means? I'm convinced that
two wheel riding is a skill that complements standard riding. Effort
divided between these two cycles will result in overall improvement
greater than if all effort were concentrated on one cycle or the
other. (You'll get a better return on your investment if you
diversify!)
>The best two wheel riders are probably in Japan, though Ken Fuchs is highly
>skilled. Here are some skills that I can do or have seen done on two-
>wheelers.
>
> 1. Riding forward 6. Free-mounting (two or three ways)
> 2. Riding backwards 7. Switching from riding to idling
> 3. Idling 8. Switching from idling to riding
> 4. Idling one-foot 9. Hopping
> 5. Spinning 10. One-foot forward
>
>I'm sure there is much more not in the above list.
Try: seat in front, seat in front backwards, seat in back, seat at
side, wheel walk forward, wheel walk backward. There are many others!
I don't know much about Japanese two wheel riders, but I'm certain,
Constance Cotter is the best female rider and quite possibly the best
two wheel rider of all time! Who can walk the wheel backwards on a
two wheeler?
>I know that Ken Fuchs once wanted to start a special-interest group
>on two-wheelers. I'll let him take over from here, if there are to
>be follow-up discussions, as I am busy on my *third* dictionary this
>year...
If anyone is interested, I'm willing to discuss two wheelers with you!
Stay on Top,
Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com>