Issues...

I'm not an expert rider by any means but can ride so want to add my 2
cents... ok maybe 5 cents... 🙂

I can't give much advice on the freemount because it appears as if you
are trying the static mount.. I've not been very successful with that.
But for myself when I was learning to freemount I made sure I had
someplace to go once I got up. I preferred smooth open spaces. Being
on the walk like you are facing the grass only inches away would have
made me bail so quickly even on successful tries.

On the wall. I've heard a lot of people recommend using a wooden
railing on a wooden walkway. But wooden surfaces are bumpy and filled
with other irregularities.. again.. I prefered smooth spots. Also I
notice you are grabbing the rail with both hands. My advice would be
to find a rail located on a smooth surface then just hold it with one
hand. Rock back and forth to get the feel then go forward.. but don't
try to twist your body to grasp it with both hands. Your shoulders
need to be straight and you should be looking forward.

I think you will be riding soon..
Just gotta make the conditions a little better.

I'm going to watch your videos again. Hopefully there will be
responses more helpful than mine.

Unibugg

--
Unibugg

johnfoss said:

If riding the unicycle seems impossible at first, that only proves
you're human. 🙂

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unibugg's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14480
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/66568

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

I do have a better place to ride, but my digital camera that had video
capibilities doesn't have the USB. I have to buy another and I'll post
more at a better place... I usually do ride with 1 hand, though...

--
Divebomber

'Myspace.' (http://tinyurl.com/36bgea)

I Cor. 10:31 -"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God."-
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Divebomber's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14991
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/66568

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

when free mounting put the pedal more to the 8 to 9 o'clock position.
When you bring your top foot up just push down and start pedaling. The
commitment spoken of in the other thread was right. Go for it. As for
the wall riding, start trying with only one hand on the wall for a bit.
Keep trying and you will be riding in no time. Keep us posted!

--
rem48
------------------------------------------------------------------------
rem48's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15538
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/66568

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

It looks like your legs are kinda short, so I would lower your seat
another inch.

When your riding along the wall, it looks like your grabbing ahead of
yourself, then pedaling to your hands, so this makes you hunched over a
bit.

I also noticed the same thing when you're free mounting. You hunch way
forward and cause the unicycle frame to tilt far back, making you look
like this < .

So next time you are on the wall, stay straight with your back and
hips. Keep only one hand on the railing, so your are not twisting too
get both hands on there. Also, with your free hand, keep this flailing
around for balance, not purposely flailing it, but you will flail it
around when you need to. With the hand on the wall, don't keep it in
front of you, and let it slide along beside you.

When you notice yourself tipping, then grab onto the wall to re-balance
yourself. Don't rely heavily on the wall, just use it to catch yourself
every now and then.

For your regular mounting, it seems like you're doing a rollback mount,
which is ok, cause lots of people learn that way, and you can learn the
other mounts later. But you are leaning forward way too much. Step onto
your uni, and keep your back straight. You will lean a little bit when
you are riding, but not as much as you are doing.

You should be able to get it very soon now, specially once you start
riding away from the wall, and not with it.

--
Jerrick

-i am christian, and i ride for christ.
check out my 'gallery' (http://tinyurl.com/2zfklh).
member of the 'mris' (http://tinyurl.com/jjjnz).
just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. where
there's love and inspiration, i don't think you can go wrong.
~jerrick-
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jerrick's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/11632
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/66568

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

I had the seat up in the videos. I lowered it a little. Should I get it
cut?

[image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/isnt_anything/Myself%20included/688WGV395.jpg]

--
Divebomber

'Myspace.' (http://tinyurl.com/36bgea)

I Cor. 10:31 -"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God."-
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Divebomber's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14991
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/66568

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

[image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/isnt_anything/Myself%20included/688WGV411.jpg]

--
Divebomber

'Myspace.' (http://tinyurl.com/36bgea)

I Cor. 10:31 -"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God."-
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Divebomber's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14991
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/66568

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

How tall are you im twelve years old and im 5feet 5inches my legs are 31
inches and i ride a 20in. When i got it 2 weeks ago... i had to get it
cut 1 inch from the seat. ive on rode it 4 times and i can almost free
mount but i can ride when i get on otherwise i can only pedal 4 about
15 feet so dont be so DOWN dont worry be happy you will get it...😄 😄
😄

-Kokomo

(\_/)
O 0
(><😉 THE BUNNY WILL DOMINATE THE UNICYCLE FORUMS BUT ITS UP TO YOU

--
kokomo
------------------------------------------------------------------------
kokomo's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/16180
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/66568

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

Also you mite not wanna were such tight clothes, i used to but i couldnt
mount ride nothin! so now i were running pants because its cold but in
summer i were shorts i also were shorts 4 footbagging!!!DONT SWEAT IT!

-Kokomo

(\_/)
O 0
(><😉 THE BUNNY WILL DOMINATE THE UNICYCLE FORUMS BUT ITS UP TO YOU
"-The way to change the world is one random act of kindness at a time-"

--
kokomo
------------------------------------------------------------------------
kokomo's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/16180
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/66568

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

IMO the seat doesn't look too low. Your leg is just bent a little in
the 6 o'clock position. For learning I think the seat should be
comfortably high as it will give you better balance that is if you are
learning to ride on a smooth surface. Later when you are comfortable
riding you could lower it to try riding off road or small drops. But
I'd like to hear what othes think.

I do agree with Kokomo about the tight clothes. I don't wear tight
pants while unicycling as they don't give me enough room and pinch my
thighs. Your jeans appear to have that thick double seam which can
also be uncomfortable.

That porch looks like so much fun to ride on. I love riding on wooden
walkways. (Not as a learner... but now.)

By the way, do you practice a little each day? I think that is
important. Several smaller practice sessions over a regular period of
time rather than a few long practice sessions sporadically.

Keep at it and Happy New Year,

Unibugg

--
Unibugg

johnfoss said:

If riding the unicycle seems impossible at first, that only proves
you're human. 🙂

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unibugg's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14480
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/66568

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

Unibugg said:

IMO the seat doesn't look too low.

I meant to say it doesn't look too high.

--
Unibugg

johnfoss said:

If riding the unicycle seems impossible at first, that only proves
you're human. 🙂

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unibugg's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14480
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/66568

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

Thanks for the video, I hope this helps.

From what I see, you must get unicycle frame closer to vertical. The
frame and your back will align to become nearly straight above the
center of the wheel. This allows for all your weight to be put onto the
seat. It feels more precarious at first, requires less strength and
then you will be able to balance on that wheel.

--
Chrashing

Regards,
Ken

I've been flying.......
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chrashing's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7501
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/66568

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

Divebomber said:

I've been trying to ride since November and I'm not even able to take 2
rotations away from a wall...I feel like it's taking too long...

This early stage of trying to muster more than one revolution is
probably the slowest one, once you start going 10, 20, 50 and more feet
the progress will be much faster. Keep at it!

I bought a unicycle in summer 2005 and spent most of that summer trying
to teach myself. I had the same slow frustrating experience you are
talking about. What sped my progress up was finding people who would
walk alongside me and let me lean on their shoulders as I worked on it.
This way I could cover some ground without the repeated frustrations
of falling off every two seconds.

With the helpers, doing it for only an hour each Saturday morning, I
was riding a block or more on my own in less than two months. (but I
was 45 and learn things a bit slow, younger kids doing the same thing
got it a lot faster).

--
idiorythmic
------------------------------------------------------------------------
idiorythmic's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/12653
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/66568

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

Speaking as a guy who only started learning to ride a unicycle 6 weeks
ago, I also suggest that you hold off learning freemounting until you
can ride somewhat. I'm still learning freemounting (but making pretty
good progress) and it seems to me that it has several stages -

1. getting up onto the unicycle with both feet on the pedals, somewhat
in balance, slightly rolling
2. keeping balanced while you transition to moving forward, riding
normally

so if you aren't yet able to ride, you can't really do the second step,
so there's no point in even trying the freemount at all.

Maybe this will sound impossible, but here's my suggestion. Keep on
with rail practice to build leg strength and to get the feel of riding,
but eventually I think you ought to go for the freestanding ride.

Put on a bike helmet and a pair of gloves, go out to the open driveway
or walk, set up a couple of lawn chairs back to back a few feet apart
so as you sit on the cycle you can hold onto the backs of them, and
launch yourself!

The first thing I suggest you work on is to learn how to fall off onto
your feet. Fall either in front or off the back, let the unicycle
clatter to the ground if you need to, but practice landing on your feet
when you fall off. Maybe lower the seat for this; I'm not sure. I
learned this way with the seat much too low, because I didn't know any
better, but since this method worked for me, maybe a low seat helped.
I've never seen this advice in any of the how-to-learn tutorials, but
being able to fall off without getting hurt will really help,
especially as you'll be falling off quite a few times at first. And
this wasn't hard, either; it's just a matter of stepping a foot down as
soon as you realize you've lost balance.

What I found is that during many, many dozens of really short (5 or 10
minute) sessions, I was able to see progress just about every time;
even if it was just being able to stay on another foot before falling.
But that tiny bit of visible progress was really helpful in keeping my
motivation up.

I hope this helps,

David

--
davidb
------------------------------------------------------------------------
davidb's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/16255
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/66568

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com