By Chris Taylor
If you can talk a couple of friends into helping you learn to unicycle it will be easier as well as more fun.
Learning with friends:
- Get two friends and stand between them with one on each side of you. Put your arms around their shoulders then get up on your unicycle.
- Sit straight up with your weight on the seat, trying not to hang off of your friend's shoulders.
- Rock the wheel back and forth to get a feel of your balance on the unicycle. Keep the wheel below your center of gravity so you alternate leaning slightly forward and backward.
- You will have more control when your pedals are vertical (up & down). Plant one foot down then use the top foot to push the top pedal back, then let your bottom foot push the bottom pedal back down.
- Keep the wheel moving in a rhythmic type of a rocking motion.
- Once you start feeling comfortable with the unicycle move on to the next step
- Pedal half a rotation then stop. Then start doing a full rotation, two or three rotations... always stop with the pedals in a vertical position (up & down) rocking back & forth for stability.
- Try riding forward one rotation then backward one rotation. It is easier to learn riding backward at the same time you are learning to ride forward. If you wait until you are good at riding forward it is like learning to write with your left hand.
- Once you start to get the hang of it, just hold a hand of each friend. Soon you will only need to hold one friend's hand, then try letting go when you are in control.
- Try starting against a wall or a railing by your self then when you get going try to venture away from the wall.
Return the favor & help your friend's to learn to unicycle.
Remember, don't have too much fun.
Chris Taylor
Created on: Jul. 26, 2004
Last updated on: Jul. 26, 2004