I have really enjoyed reading the write-ups people have posted here, and
have been pretty impressed with all the positive response to people
learning to ride.
So, here's mine. Maybe this will bring back fond memories to the long
time veterans. Maybe it will encourage people just starting out. Or
maybe no one will care and it will just slide out of view over the next
couple days. 🙂
It all started when Jason posted here if there were any unicyclers in
the area that he could learn with. I gave him my phone number, we
talked, and then last Saturday, my son Brandon (age 12) and I went up
to his house for some riding.
We meet the family, talk a little bit, and then head over to a park
near his house to try some riding. It had snowed a couple days before,
so we were hoping to find someplace dry and flat with something to hold
on to while we get on.
We show up at the park. We find a little covered picnic area with 4
tables and a patio that was maybe 50 feet long mostly clear of snow,
and decide to give it a try. My son, by far the best out of all of us,
hops on and starts heading down the sidewalk and around the park. He
makes it about 70% around before his first UPD.
Jason and I on the other hand usually don't make the end of the patio
before we fall. I was delighted to see that we were both pretty even
in ability.
After a while, we get to the point where we get to the end of the patio
and can turn to go down the sidewalk about half the time. My son,
bored with us, has decided to take his unicycle thru the little kids
play area. He's not really riding, but holding on to the hand rails
while peddling over the little bridges and different things that were
there.
After about 2 hours, Jason and I are feeling like we are actually
riding. Maybe going 50-100 meters, and finding ourselves able to ride
down the sidewalk without veering wildly into the grass or bushes.
Brandon decides he wants to learn how to go down curbs. So he takes
off, and rides off one on his first try. He comes back and has me come
watch. Take two wasn't so successful, and he bangs his knee and elbow
pretty good. He decides to take a break for a while, and after a few
minutes starts playing some cute dogs that someone brought out for a
walk.
(Time to get that boy some pads I guess.)
After about 3 hours, saddle soreness, tiredness, and hunger were
getting the better of us. We end the day sort of chasing each other
around a small turn around, and call it a day.
Neither Jason or I got as far as my son did on his first ride... but it
was the first time either of us really felt like we were actually
riding. It was a heck of a lot of fun, and we are looking forward to
the next time we can get together.
--
Keldridge
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Keldridge's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14019
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56832