idle?

So you searched, found this and IT DIDN'T HELP? Have you tried
unicyclist.org and find some videos? Here's something that popped up in
two seconds when I searched for it.

Idling – Idling is riding half revolutions forward and backwards
repeatedly, effectively staying on the spot. Learning to idle may take
quite a while and can be very frustrating, however it is an extremely
important skill. Firstly, you will often find yourself in a situation
where you’re riding and need to stop for some reason but want to stay on
the unicycle. This is where idling is very useful. Secondly and
possibly even more importantly, the coordination you develop in learning
to idle is needed for many more advanced skills and will give you a much
greater control of the unicycle.
In the "Learning the basics" chapter we have described "Rocking on the
spot" while holding onto a support. In it, the cranks oscillate around
the horizontal position. If this is done without support it is called
"Horizontal Idling". This is more difficult than normal idling, which
involves oscillating the cranks around the vertical position.
To start learning (normal) idling, sit on the unicycle beside a support
with the cranks horizontal. Hold on to your support with one or both
hands. Lean slightly forward while keeping the wheel stationary for a
little while. Then pedal forward for half a rotation, at the end of
which you should be leaning slightly backward. Immediately after the
forward half rotation, pedal a half rotation backwards, at the end of
which you should be slightly leaning forward again, so you can rightaway
start the next idling cycle.
Focus on using a pendulum motion as opposed to moving your whole body
back and forth. That is, your body should ideally stay more or less in
the same place, while the wheel "swings" forward and backward under you.
Remember to keep your upper body straight and upright and to keep your
weight on the seat. Your leading (or "strong"😉 foot should be on the
bottom and move back and forth past the 6 o’clock position.
Try to maintain forwards/backwards balance by adjusting the timing and
power of your pedal strokes, as opposed to pushing the support. It is OK
to use the support for sideways balance for now, but try to push and
pull as lightly as possible.
If you idle too slowly it will be more difficult to maintain balance. On
a 20" wheel the idling frequency should be about 1 per second, on a 24"
wheel it is usually somewhat less.
Now it's time to leave your support. Ride forwards in the open, not too
fast. Slow down while leaning back, throw in one half revolution
backwards, during which you should regain your forward lean. Then
continue riding forward. Repeat.
If you are somewhat solid at throwing in single idles, try inserting two
idling cycles at once, then three, etc.
The greatest difficulty is usually found in controlling the side to side
balance. Focus on keeping the unicycle under you rather than you
staying on top of the uni. If you find yourself leaning too far to the
right, you must move the wheel to the right to keep it underneath you.
To do this, twist your lower body to the right as the wheel rolls
forward and to the left as the wheel rolls backwards. That way, you
turn the whole unicycle by the seat.

If this doesn't help, sorry.......just practice. You might learn
something cool you weren't even trying to learn. Good Luck!

--unidaddy

--
unidaddy - head over wheel
------------------------------------------------------------------------
unidaddy's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7879
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/42143

So you searched, found this and IT DIDN'T HELP? Have you tried
unicyclist.org and find some videos? Here's something that popped up in
two seconds when I searched for it.

Idling – Idling is riding half revolutions forward and backwards
repeatedly, effectively staying on the spot. Learning to idle may take
quite a while and can be very frustrating, however it is an extremely
important skill. Firstly, you will often find yourself in a situation
where you’re riding and need to stop for some reason but want to stay on
the unicycle. This is where idling is very useful. Secondly and
possibly even more importantly, the coordination you develop in learning
to idle is needed for many more advanced skills and will give you a much
greater control of the unicycle.
In the "Learning the basics" chapter we have described "Rocking on the
spot" while holding onto a support. In it, the cranks oscillate around
the horizontal position. If this is done without support it is called
"Horizontal Idling". This is more difficult than normal idling, which
involves oscillating the cranks around the vertical position.
To start learning (normal) idling, sit on the unicycle beside a support
with the cranks horizontal. Hold on to your support with one or both
hands. Lean slightly forward while keeping the wheel stationary for a
little while. Then pedal forward for half a rotation, at the end of
which you should be leaning slightly backward. Immediately after the
forward half rotation, pedal a half rotation backwards, at the end of
which you should be slightly leaning forward again, so you can rightaway
start the next idling cycle.
Focus on using a pendulum motion as opposed to moving your whole body
back and forth. That is, your body should ideally stay more or less in
the same place, while the wheel "swings" forward and backward under you.
Remember to keep your upper body straight and upright and to keep your
weight on the seat. Your leading (or "strong"😉 foot should be on the
bottom and move back and forth past the 6 o’clock position.
Try to maintain forwards/backwards balance by adjusting the timing and
power of your pedal strokes, as opposed to pushing the support. It is OK
to use the support for sideways balance for now, but try to push and
pull as lightly as possible.
If you idle too slowly it will be more difficult to maintain balance. On
a 20" wheel the idling frequency should be about 1 per second, on a 24"
wheel it is usually somewhat less.
Now it's time to leave your support. Ride forwards in the open, not too
fast. Slow down while leaning back, throw in one half revolution
backwards, during which you should regain your forward lean. Then
continue riding forward. Repeat.
If you are somewhat solid at throwing in single idles, try inserting two
idling cycles at once, then three, etc.
The greatest difficulty is usually found in controlling the side to side
balance. Focus on keeping the unicycle under you rather than you
staying on top of the uni. If you find yourself leaning too far to the
right, you must move the wheel to the right to keep it underneath you.
To do this, twist your lower body to the right as the wheel rolls
forward and to the left as the wheel rolls backwards. That way, you
turn the whole unicycle by the seat.

If this doesn't help, sorry.......just practice. You might learn
something cool you weren't even trying to learn. Good Luck!

--unidaddy

--
unidaddy - head over wheel
------------------------------------------------------------------------
unidaddy's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7879
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/42143