Mounting a Giraffe Unicycle

Method #1

Have the pedal on your strong side set at just off its lowest position, slightly forward, when the uni is also pointing forward slightly (10 degrees?). This causes the uni wheel to move forward, and align itself vertically when pressure is applied to the bottom pedal.
Now place the 'weak' foot as high up the tyre as possible, half wedging it between the frame struts. Hold the seat at the front/side. (I held it with my weak side hand and never got round to trying it with the other.) This is the 'launch' position from which unfortunately it's a series of fluid movements that all happen rather quickly, so you'll just have to go for it.
Now's the time to visualise the rest of the moves. Think about climbing stairs fast. Your aim is to put your weight first on the tyre foot, quickly placing the other foot on the bottom pedal. As soon as you've got this foot on, all the weight goes on to it and you push up. Imagine your body moving in a straight line up, as though you had jets on your feet. The idea is to keep the uni straight up and not bend forward. As you push up on the pedal foot, it's surprisingly stable. That's not to say it _is_ stable, just it's not as scary as it'd seem. Nearing the end of the push up, as with normal mounts, make sure the other foot gets on to the high pedal quickly. With the hand holding the seat, stuff it in and sit down as fast as possible. Give the pedals a kick and idle.
So the motion is: left foot on tyre (if you're that way round), right on the pedal, left on the pedal, seat in. Imagine this all happening, and you just being propelled upwards (straight back, uni vertical(ish)). It's important to look forward and not let the uni lean forward. Imagine how the weight is transferred. The weight transfers need to be more or less complete, not sharing. *left* *right* *backside*.
It really is quick, step-step-step-sit-idle, all in a half second. I found it very useful imagining I was climbing up a ladder with rungs set far apart.

Method #2

Put your strongest foot on the pedal then both hands on the sadle in the opposite twist direction to the way the unicycle would rotate with downward pressure from your foot, then just straighten your leg, springing with the foot still on the ground, I tend to go bottom-> other foot VERY closely timed together, but other than starting that way follow all other instructions from the posting before me, including the starting position if the uni.

This is FAR easier for tall ppl

Notes and Hints

It will be helpful to lower the seat. If your seat is high, its hard to get your second leg over and you end up riding seat out front.

One annoying thing is when you have two feet on the pedals and the free hand to comes along and offer its assistance by gripping the seat. Use one hand to hold the front of the seat, and the other hand for balance.

You may wish to start out with the wheel against the curb so it could only roll forward until you feel more comfortable with the start.

Speed is definately a key factor. Too slow and you're down before you're up.

Pictures

Here is Wolfgang Strößner mounting a 9½ foot (2.85m) giraffe unicycle, showing the principles described above.

Full size strip of pictures

Edited by