I'm starting to standardise on rolling out of anything above about 13
mph. Sure, I *could* run out some of the falls that I have, but quite
often I'm going too fast to do so. I'm getting the hang of rolling so
that I don't damage myself too badly (although I don't always succeed).
My hope is that the risk of severe damage will be lower, even if I
sometimes hit the asphalt when I didn't strictly need to.
However, here's an interesting thought: I think it does matter whether
you fall off forwards or backwards. Overbalancing forwards (which, for
me, tends to be the most common form of high speed UPD) feels like I'm
more likely to hit the ground fast and hard - but it does stop the uni
bouncing about so much or travelling so far... Overbalancing backwards
whilst riding a decent pace can shoot the uni out miles ahead, but
almost without exception I land on my feet.
Why is this? I have a theory that may account for part of it: if you
fall off the front of the uni at 20mph you're tipping forwards. You
don't just have to run at 20mph - you actually have to run faster than
that, accelerating to get your legs back under your body. If you fall
off the back, you're already in a position that's leaning backwards
ready to decelerate yourself so you don't have to sustain the high
speed run out for very long. The deceleration naturally brings you
back to an upright balance in the process, so you're left standing.
Since I find high speeds exactly the kind of situation where falling
off the front is likely, I try to be VERY careful since it's exactly
the kind of fall that's hardest to survive unharmed.
--
mark williamson
Dave: Just a question. What use is a unicyle with no seat? And no
pedals!
Mark: To answer a question with a question: What use is a skateboard?
Dave: Skateboards have wheels.
Mark: My wheel has a wheel!
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