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#11
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New Torker: My first attempts trying to ride...
Carl Barrentine wrote: *As a cyclist, I 'clip-in' to my heel-less shoes near the 'ball' of the foot. But fiddlin' with this uni, I feel that I have more control on the unicycle when I wear a heeled shoe and make contact with the pedal in the arch portion of my foot. Here's the question: Is there a preferred or recommended way that I should place my feet on the pedals to maximize balance, control, and smooth cadence? * I must agree with you, in my experience i have noticed that when the contact is in the arch of the foot you become more in control, i know have pinned pedals, and those don`t allow foot movement once placed, so unless the arch of my foot lands on the pedal, i dismount or try to correct this, i have also noticed it when teaching how to ride to others that the rides become somewhat smother. if you check some of the threads about shoes you may also notice that most of us prefer the ones with flat soles, i belive this is directly related to the topic. -- unarueda - teaching the dark art of unicycling ------------------------------------------------------------------------ unarueda's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/4324 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/28090 |
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#12
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New Torker: My first attempts trying to ride...
On Sun, 5 Oct 2003 09:15:28 -0500, MUNIYETI
wrote: I know that lots of the others here won't agree with all this (especially the saddle weight part) but everyone learns in different ways. I for one DO agree. There are a few advices that are often given by experienced riders to newbies. Weight on seat is one of them, look into the distance is another. Adhering to these advices usually make riding easier once you can do it, which makes people assume that it will hold for a beginner as well. But I remember that at least for me it didn't, and I won't stress these issues when teaching someone. I've learned at age 47 which was 3 years ago. Klaas Bil - Newsgroup Addict -- If the crank is moving then it really sounds as if it's loose. - onewheeldave trying to pinpoint the cause of a clicking crank |
#13
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New Torker: My first attempts trying to ride...
Congrats! Sounds like you are making great progress. Already mentioned: - Eyes out (not looking down). - Weight on seat Not yet mentioned (and, my opinion, more important than weight on seat): - both arms out for balance I concur with other feedback: once you've gone a few revolutions, it's time to quit using support for riding, and only use it to get started. Note: when using support it does help if you you can switch sides to prevent lop-sided learning; that is, ride with fence on your right, then ride back with fence on your left. I have a friend who just learned using a curved fence, he'd ride with it on his right curving right, then on his left curving left. What I found interesting: as soon as he got his balance figured out and only needed support for the mount, he had exceptional direction control (for a beginner). duaner. -- duaner - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ duaner's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/4297 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/28090 |
#14
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New Torker: My first attempts trying to ride...
Carl Barrentine wrote: *making some progress, though I have to concentrate pretty hard--so much that I was pretty perspirey after each session--* As with any new physical skill, especially when it involves moving your whole body, it takes a while for you to figure out which muscles you need, and how much you need of each. As you get better, you'll be able to focus down and have a nice, relaxing ride. But it will always take a little more (physical + mental) effort on the unicycle, because you have to cover everything that's not covered when you have two wheels and the ability to coast. *Here's the question: Is there a preferred or recommended way that I should place my feet on the pedals to maximize balance, control, and smooth cadence?* All the best riders use the balls of their feet over the pedal axle, except for in some specialized situations, such as extreme hills. But for the beginner, this doesn't really matter. Until you get where you can toddle around, put your feet wherever they are comfortable. *My sense is that riding this contraption is heaps harder than riding my track bike--* I assume your track bike has two wheels? Riding a track bike gets you used to the concept of a fixed gear, but the gearing is miles away from the leverage you have on a unicycle. Plus that whole one-wheeled thing... Sounds like you're doing just fine. For "a youth of 51," I think you're way ahead of the learning curve! Adults tend to analyze too much, when all you really need to do is keep trial-and-erroring. -- johnfoss - Now riding to work John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone "jfoss" at "unicycling.com" www.unicycling.com "In three months or so, he won't be doing that any more." -- Kris Holm's cousin Derek, 13, on Kris' unicycling now that he's married ------------------------------------------------------------------------ johnfoss's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/832 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/28090 |
#15
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New Torker: My first attempts trying to ride...
I use the balls of my feet to pedal.
When I was a beginner, I used the arch. I didn't really make the transistion until I could take my foot off the pedal entirely. I think the reason the arches feels better is the foot is less likely to slip off, but you get better control with the ball, and more power to the stroke, just like a bicycle. It's just a beginner thing. You don't have to sit on the seat to ride, and should be able to transfer your weight from seat to pedal, just like you do on a bike. You just have to keep in mind, with a unicycle, your skeleton and muscles complete the structure, with a bike the structure is complete (read stable) without you. So you have to feel things more than with a bike. Have fun! "Carl Barrentine" wrote in message om... daino149 wrote in message ... Black (Stealth) Torker all the way! I just rode 40 miles on mine! Daniel Daniel et al. -- Thanks to all who responded to my inquiry about purchasing a used 24-26" unicycle. I bought a 24" Black Torker whilst I was in Fargo yesterday, and have been beaverin' about the task of learning to ride the thing. So far I've invested 'bout an hour attempting to ride with my left hand on the railing of the patio deck last evening, and spent another hour this morning trying to ride the inside perimeter of a local tennis court. I get the feeling that I'm making some progress, though I have to concentrate pretty hard--so much that I was pretty perspirey after each session--to (1) keep my back straight and (2) put my weight on the saddle, not on the pedals. (Thousands of hours bicycling has probably ruined me for unicycling!) After a couple of hours practicing, I've a comment and then a quick question about leg extension and placement of the foot on the pedals. As a cyclist, I 'clip-in' to my heel-less shoes near the 'ball' of the foot. But fiddlin' with this uni, I feel that I have more control on the unicycle when I wear a heeled shoe and make contact with the pedal in the arch portion of my foot. Here's the question: Is there a preferred or recommended way that I should place my feet on the pedals to maximize balance, control, and smooth cadence? My sense is that riding this contraption is heaps harder than riding my track bike--my hard-learned cyclin' skills don't seem to transfer well in the process of learning how to master this unicycle. For example, after over two hours pedaling, I can sometimes go about 2-3 crank revolutions before I feel the need to prevent a fall. Is this pretty typical? Candidly, I'm feelin' like a six year old, even though I'm 51 and have been bicycling since I was six. Thanks for any hints you'd care to share! --carl (A new uni from North Dakota) |
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