Help transitioning to 29

Hi. Sorry to hear about your frustrations. Make sure that your tire
pressure is correct. Do you ride on roads that have road crown? With
tire pressure too low the slope of the road grabs your wheel and makes
it a struggle to ride. I have the Yuni 29" with a Kenda Klaw. When I
really pumped up the tire pressure it got a lot easier to ride
especially on road crown. Originally I had a Big Apple so I have never
used a Nanoraptor. Anyway, I hope this helps. Good luck.

--
Beck
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Sounds like 9/10 of the problem is in your head.

A 29 is 29/24 as big as a 24 - that is only 20% bigger - and less than
20% if your 24 had a fat tyre.

20% is about equivalent to two gears on a derailleur-equipped bicycle -
that's not much.

If your cranks are the same size, then your seat will be (29-24)/2
inches higher off the ground - a mere 5/2 - 2.5 inches higher.

I am not quoting these figures to belittle you or the 29er, but to
reinforce in your mind that the differences are not that great.

Yes, the 29er will take a big more starting and stopping - but that
counts for accidental stops too. Ride it smoothly at a steady pace,
and it will cope with minor bumps and changes in gradient that would
require more care on the 24.

Yes, it will take a bit more turning and manoeuvring - but that is
because it has better directional stability.

The best thing you can do is go to a big empty car park or similar open
area, and ride it. Never mind freemounting - mount against a post if
you haveto - just ride it. Steadily, smoothly, not too fast, not too
slow. don't try to be clever on it, just ride it.

As you get bored with that, you will start trying stuff - and will
suddenly realise you are no longer frightened of it.

I am going though a similar process with an 800cc motorbike, after
spending the last 3 or 4 years on a tiny twist 'n' go scooter. Lots
of other people ride 800cc bikes, but right now I need to persuade
myself that I am in charge of the bike, and not the other way round.

--
Mikefule

All the world's a stage... and some of us are the horses pulling it, and
there are far too many passengers.
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I agree with Mikefule: "Ride it".
I made the move three weeks ago from a 24 I've been riding, on which I
could freemount (75% of the time), make reasonably tight 180's and
figure "8"s, and now on the 29 the freemounting has gone to less than
2%, and the 180's and figure 8's take lots of space. So I just get on
(with some kind of assistance) and ride. The 29 is loads smoother over
bumps and things, and I'm working on keeping the speed and balancing as
smooth as possible.
Just get on and ride. It will get better.

--
mhall9150
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Just 2 days ago I got my coker. I went from a trials uni to a massive
36" coker.

My first mount I got up but then hopped off, the 2nd mount I was up and
riding. It is way different and I had to relearn to sharpen my turns
and to idle and going backwards. Keep working on the new uni, it will
fel weird at first, but with time, youll get it.

--
Jerrick

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Don't be discouraged! I rode a 20" with long cranks for 3-4 months,
then got my first big wheel (Nimbus 29er). It took me another 1-2
months to really find it a comfortable ride, but I found that when I
started riding it more I found it much easier to ride - the more
distance I did, the better it got.

The weirdness is due to not being used to it - once you're used to the
extra mass / higher gear / extra height, you'll be fine. 29ers are
really nice unis (and good offroad too) and if you persist you'll start
feeling comfortable and safe on it.

I found that moving from my 29er to a Coker with a similar "gear" was
much much easier than from the 20" to the 29".

Good luck!

--
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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I too recently made the 24-29er transition and found it difficult at
first. Freemounting was totally different because the seat was just
that much taller than before.

I started out leaning on stuff to get going again so I could ride with
my feet comfortably placed on the pedals rather than ride away from a
poor freemount with wonky foot placement. That helped a bit.

I fought road crown issues for the first couple of weeks but have felt
fine for the last two. I go further without a UPD now every time and
clean steeper hills and stuff as well.

Its a steep learning curve at first, but it all comes back. Practice
for no more than a half hour, every day. Clear your mind, take deep
breaths, and if freemounting is tough and is resulting in bad foot
placement that you aren't comfortable readjusting underway, just put
off freemounting for awhile.

Hope this helps.

--
mboulanger
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would a geared up 24" to 36" speed be really ahrd to control?

--
mornish

Quoted message said:

<>UNICYCLING FOR MYSLELF TOO<><

trials_uni said:

Where did you hear that Bedford unis are not strong? They are the best
thing since sliced bread!!

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Do you all agree that riding should come first? Why?

Reason I ask is, I tried some parking lot riding on my 29er so I could
go back to my car to mount, but got bored with riding in circles.
Riding on a straightaway, like a bike path, meant that I'd have to walk
back to my car to get on again after a UPD.

So, I've given up riding and am strictly practicing freemounting in my
driveway. I've gotten to about 5% success rate. When I do succeed, I
ride to the end of the driveway but then hop off, turn around, and
attempt freemounting again. I figure I have a lot of freemounting
practice yet to go before I'm consistent enough to ride.

--
digigal1

Raphael never stopped being my hero.
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digigal1 said:

Do you all agree that riding should come first? Why?

Reason I ask is, I tried some parking lot riding on my 29er so I could
go back to my car to mount, but got bored with riding in circles.
Riding on a straightaway, like a bike path, meant that I'd have to walk
back to my car to get on again after a UPD.

So, I've given up riding and am strictly practicing freemounting in my
driveway. I've gotten to about 5% success rate. When I do succeed, I
ride to the end of the driveway but then hop off, turn around, and
attempt freemounting again. I figure I have a lot of freemounting
practice yet to go before I'm consistent enough to ride.

umm ... wouldn't it be MUCH easier to get consistent at learning to
freemount on a flat surface (unless your driveway is not angled) on a
smaller unicycle ??
then make the transition

--
skrobo

Quoted message said:

<> Unicycle For Christ <>< PM me if you would like to join!!!RIDE

UNICYCLES WITH BANANNA SEATS FOR CHRIST!
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sorta hardcore for 4 months

-stephen-
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digigal1 said:

Do you all agree that riding should come first? Why?

Yes, because it's more fun. 😄 But also, riding gets your legs used
to the feel of the larger wheel, which hopefully will help with
mounting.

I don't think anyone mentioned what kind of freemount to try. I
suggest the static mount. The key is to start with the pedal in the
right place and learn to launch yourself up into the right position.
It's more of a jump than the step-up for a 24.

--
phlegm
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I too, was really frustrated with the transition from my 24 to my 29. I
had a very difficult time learning to free mount the thing even though
I had my mounts at better than 75% on my 24. I now mount 95%+ on my 24
and probably 80%+ on my 29. I've still got some real road crown issues
with the Big Apple tire but as my balance improves, the issue seems to
be not as significant. Riding is a breeze if I can stay right in the
middle of the road but I lean one way if I'm on the right and the other
way if I'm on the left. I'm gonna hafta try higher pressure. I use a
standard static mount. It takes a bit more oomph to get on top of it
compared to the 24 but with a little practice, I finally got the feel
for it. Early on, I had several suggestion to try a rollback mount but
I found the added inertia of the bigger wheel was a little difficult to
overcome. I try to mix up my riding. I'll go goof around in a nearby
parking lot on the 24, working on idling, hopping and riding backwards
one day, then, on the next day, I take the 29 out for a long road ride
just to get more comfortable with that. The more I ride it the better
I get. I used to be exhausted after 15 minutes of riding and now can
stay on it for over an hour. Hey look! It's time to get off work and
go home for a ride.🙂

--
underdog

'I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody
tell you different' - Kurt Vonnegut
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The problem I had freemounting my 29er was due to the short cranks
(127mm). Short for me anyway. I can freemount almost 100% of the time.
In fact, this evening I missed a mount. I cannot remember when I have
missed a mount.

I enjoy riding my 29er around the neighborhood but I have to stay on
relatively smooth surfaces like roads or sidewalks. I cannot imagine
being able to ride this unicycle off-road. I guess I just need to make
more effort but that extra 2.5 inches in height is sure intimidating.

All things unicycle get better the more time you spend riding.

--
Wheel Rider

A man can fail many times but he isn't a failure until he begins to
blame someone else. - Waite Phillips
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mornish said:

would a geared up 24" to 36" speed be really ahrd to control?

Nope, it's easier than a coker or 29er because it has long cranks*,
thus, more control and stability.

*at least the one I rode did.

--
forrestunifreak

Forrest Rowell, Mr Addict.
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gallery-NAUCC 2006!'
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Maybe experiment a little with your seat hight, cranks and tyre
pressures. But mostly practice.

I don't remeber the transition to me first 29er being particularly
difficult. However, over a year later I can only consistently freemount
downhill. I didn't worry about it, only found routes with things to
help mounting (eg cycle paths round here have lots of signs to say that
they're cycle paths all the way along them, or use a friend). There are
things that I would like to do but can't until I can freemount more
successfully - like riding on the beach. But it will be something new
and exciting to do when I can do it. I'm getting better all the time
with practicing now and then. Same with freemounting the semi-coker.

One thing that is a bit ideosyncratic with the 29er (whichever
tyre/pressure/etc I've had) is the shoulder lean. When I'm riding the
29er I kind of twist to the left, especially if there is a crown on the
road. Doesn't happen on the semi-coker. Wierd.

But keep at it. The big wheels are wonderful.

Cathy

--
cathwood

Say no to unicycle genre discrimination! - MrBoogiejuice

http://www.chuckingandtwirling.co.uk
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skrobo said:

umm ... wouldn't it be MUCH easier to get consistent at learning to
freemount on a flat surface (unless your driveway is not angled) on a
smaller unicycle ??
then make the transition

MY driveway is flat and I can freemount my 20" Torker just fine.

I'm having more success with the rolling mount than the static. I
barely even try to static mount anymore. I was at like, less than 1%.
My 5% success rate doing rolling mounts seems like nothing but when you
compare it to my 1 mount for every 200 tries the other way...

--
digigal1

Raphael never stopped being my hero.
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Wheel Rider said:

I cannot imagine being able to ride this unicycle off-road. I guess I
just need to make more effort but that extra 2.5 inches in height is
sure intimidating.

All things unicycle get better the more time you spend riding.

That last bit is going in my signature, I think.

You've got to get off-road on the thing, even if it is just on to a
gravel path. The 29er wheel just shines on minor bumpy stuff. I got
out for a couple miles tonight and by far the most fun part of the ride
was to come flying down a paved hill, bump up on to the grass, and
follow this little singletrackish hardpacked path the college students
wore into the field over to a gravel bike path. The 29er has momentum
all over a 24, and as soon as you learn how to use it, as I recently
did a little bit, the riding gets incredibly fun.

--
mboulanger
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kweiss, please report back. Have the suggestions here helped you?

What was the crank length on your 24" and what is it on your 29"? The
reason I'm asking is, a few years ago, I transitioned from a 24" with
125 mm cranks to a 29'er (actually 28'er at the time). To make the
transition smoother, I started with 150 mm cranks on the bigger wheel.
That way, the "feel" is more or less the same. After some getting used
to, I changed to 125 mm.

Klaas Bil - Newsgroup Addict
--
"I'm slowly but surely stealing Wales and bringing it back to my house on the wheel, frame and cranks of my muni. - phil"

Klaas Bil said:

kweiss, please report back. Have the suggestions here helped you?

What was the crank length on your 24" and what is it on your 29"? The
reason I'm asking is, a few years ago, I transitioned from a 24" with
125 mm cranks to a 29'er (actually 28'er at the time). To make the
transition smoother, I started with 150 mm cranks on the bigger wheel.
That way, the "feel" is more or less the same. After some getting used
to, I changed to 125 mm.

Klaas Bil - Newsgroup Addict
--
"I'm slowly but surely stealing Wales and bringing it back to my house
on the wheel, frame and cranks of my muni. - phil"

Me too, me too. 🙂

Cathy

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cathwood

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