Re: Kids learning to ride
CARL ROTH (ROTH@BrandonU.CA)
Tue, 23 May 1995 18:28:53 -0600 (CST)
You asked about other peoples experience learing to ride, well here is mine:
I always wanted a uni so when I saw a used one for sale recently I bought it.
Unfortunately I did not know what I do now, from reading the list and the home
page, but I bought the used Norco anyway - for $35 CA! Well as you probably
know it has a terrible seat and is to small for my 5'10 frame but that was not
going to stop me! Without any idea where to start I tried riding it in my back
yard using two parallel clothes lines for support. Well not a good idea - as
the grass is too soft or lumpy and I had to shorten my clothes lines as I
managed to stretch them (oddley enough). Next is was to the driveway and
with only a helmet for protection I managed to rip the skin of both my knees!
So I got nee pads, elbow pads and gloves. So how did I do? Well I'll be 34 on
June 2, and after about 30 hrs I could ride down the street with some minor
control over my direction. I still needed a wall to start and was still subject
to random dismounts. At about 40 hrs I can free start on the first attempt about
85% of the time, can turn much better, have much less random dismounts and when
I do I can almost always land on my feet and catch the uni. As I am a juggler
as well I plan to be able to juggle on the uni. Now the Norco is a pretty
brutal uni so I have contacted the Canadian dealer in Toronto and with any
luch I should be riding a new Semcycle in about 3 weeks! I love riding the
Norco even though it is small, painful and exhausting and from what I've
been reading I will be on cloud nine on the Semcycle. Well thats my story,
I have left out the part when I tried to ride in my basement using ski poles
as although funny, didn't really help! I enjoy this list and hope my vote
helps to form the rec.unicyling group.
I hope this did'nt bore anyone as I intend to keep you all posted with my
progress.
Carl.
(Mime mail should be sent to caroth@ibm.net)
Carl from Sunny Shilo Manitoba Canada
roth@brandonu.ca
H: (204) 765-4409 W: (204) 765-3731 Fax: (204) 765-3803