Left Drift

In the past I've also had problems with "drift". Assuming nothing is
damaged on the uni (bent crank or frame), then a mechanical explanation
may be tire pressure or the saddle. I've found that lower tire pressure
can cause some wondering- on 'paved' surfaces anyway. If the saddle is
not straight (aligned with the wheel) you may experience some wondering
as well. Otherwise, if you're a new rider, your hips may not be settled
straight on the the saddle or you may be, subconsciously, applying more
pedal pressure with your dominant leg. Good luck!

Cheers,
Jason

--
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Depending on what type of unicycle you have, it's possible that your
wheel is tilted to one side. What type of unicycle is it?

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johnfoss - Walkin' on the edge

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com"
www.unicycling.com

"Beer me." -- Scot Cooper, at the end of a group ride all the way up and
all the way down Mt. Diablo (3300'😉, a 20 mile round trip of road and
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johnfoss said:

*Depending on what type of unicycle you have, it's possible that your
wheel is tilted to one side. What type of unicycle is it? *

It's a 20" unicyle from hadibe. I bought it directly in a "unicycle
store" so I can't tell you any further details. It's a beginner uni and
maybe it has not such good quality!? (105 Euro)

--
michael7
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I used to have the exact same problem uniing. However, as I've got
better, the problem has decreased. I believe its caused by subcontiously
tilting your body one way so your unicycle tilts that way so you turn.
When your riding try bending to your right at the waist 🙂

Thats just a guess. It might be the unicycle to (since I was using a
savage 😉 )

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ethilien - Unicycling DCC
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jason said:

*In the past I've also had problems with "drift". Assuming nothing is
damaged on the uni (bent crank or frame), then a mechanical
explanation may be tire pressure or the saddle.
*

I started with low tire pressure (I'm a beginner, this is my 5th day)
but today I inflated more air. But still I notice this left drift. I
think that the tire is not properly aligned (and if the tire is
vertically aligned and I sit on the uni, the frame tends to the left).
Is it possible to correct this misalignment myself, in general? Or isn't
it possible to repair such a misalignment?

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Unicycles with main cap-type bearing attachments can be corrected
relatively easily for wheel tilt. Find a picture of a unicycle like
yours, that shows the wheel attachment type; the area around the wheel
bearings. Or just tell us a common brand (like something found at
Unicycle.com) that looks the same.

But if you've only been riding 5 days, the problem may not be
mechanical. Many Americans find their unicycles drift to the right, but
only later figure out it's because they always ride on the right side of
the road, on the crowned surface. If you're in the UK, for instance, you
might be getting a left drift from the left side. It could be riding
surface, or just body position. Keep practicing your riding as well, and
have fun!

--
johnfoss - Walkin' on the edge

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com"
www.unicycling.com

"Beer me." -- Scot Cooper, at the end of a group ride all the way up and
all the way down Mt. Diablo (3300'😉, a 20 mile round trip of road and
trail.
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Hi Micheal. It seems that your tire, rim, hub may not be aligned
properly. Although I have never used this fix myself, I have heard it
described on these pages many times.

Go get you a small shim. You can make this out of a long skinny piece
of Pop can. The shim should be the width of your bearing and long
enough to go around the top half of the bearing. Maybe go ahead and
make several of these, so you can just keep slipping more in until you
get the wheel 100% vertical.

In your case, this shim will be placed on the top of the LEFT bearing
and then re-assemble the hearing holders. Check your wheels new
alignment. Repeat until perfectly straigtht.

I hope this corrects your problem. I'm sure some others on this forum
will give you more detailed instructions. NOTE: Shims cut from Pop
cans are extremely sharp. BE CAREFUL!!! --chirokid--

--
chirokid - Wolfman 2004: Unicycle Catagory

"Other than that, the best maintenance is to keep riding it as this
helps to keep the eccentric nut on the saddle in optimal condition."
quote by Mikefule

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chirokid said:

*\ NOTE: Shims cut from Pop cans are extremely sharp. BE CAREFUL!!!
--chirokid-- *

What's a "Pop can"? Is that anything like a Coke can? What kind of
Southerner are you?😉

--
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I think I may have made a thread on this 'drifting' (when it's not the
unicycle's fault) but I can't quite remember. It's interesting isn't
it. I found that often when I'm riding a new unicycle I experience
drifting for about 2 hours of riding, then it's completely fine. But no
matter how hard I try to correct it and ride normally without being
uncomfortable, or how deeply I try to analyse what's going on I never
have any control over it. It just fixes itself. I don't understand.

Andrew

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HTTP://WWW.UNICYCLIST.COM/GALLERY/ANDREW
andrew_carter (at) mail (dot) com
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johnfoss said:

*Unicycles with main cap-type bearing attachments can be corrected
relatively easily for wheel tilt. Find a picture of a unicycle like
yours, that shows the wheel attachment type; the area around the wheel
bearings. Or just tell us a common brand (like something found at
Unicycle.com) that looks the same.*

I looked at all models at unicycling.org and my uni looks pretty much
like the first one listed there (same fork crown, same bearing
attachment): http://tinyurl.com/2c9dr

Quoted message said:

*
But if you've only been riding 5 days, the problem may not be
mechanical. Many Americans find their unicycles drift to the right,
but only later figure out it's because they always ride on the right
side of the road, on the crowned surface. If you're in the UK, for
instance, you might be getting a left drift from the left side. It
could be riding surface, or just body position. Keep practicing your
riding as well, and have fun! *

I'm from Germany and I was riding the same way in both directions but I
always drifted to the left. So I guess that's not the problem in my
case. Of course, it could be a bad posture since I'm very new to
unicycling. But I assume it's (also?) a mechanical issue.

I hope you/someone can give me some further information (or some URL) on
how to fix this with the link to that similar unicycle I pasted above.

Thanks very much to you all so far!

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johnfoss said:

*Unicycles with main cap-type bearing attachments can be corrected
relatively easily for wheel tilt. Find a picture of a unicycle like
yours, that shows the wheel attachment type; the area around the wheel
bearings. Or just tell us a common brand (like something found at
Unicycle.com) that looks the same.*

I looked at all models at unicycling.org and my uni looks pretty much
like the first one listed there (same fork crown, same bearing
attachment): http://tinyurl.com/2c9dr

Quoted message said:

*
But if you've only been riding 5 days, the problem may not be
mechanical. Many Americans find their unicycles drift to the right,
but only later figure out it's because they always ride on the right
side of the road, on the crowned surface. If you're in the UK, for
instance, you might be getting a left drift from the left side. It
could be riding surface, or just body position. Keep practicing your
riding as well, and have fun! *

I'm from Germany and I was riding the same way in both directions but I
always drifted to the left. So I guess that's not the problem in my
case. Of course, it could be a bad posture since I'm very new to
unicycling. But I assume it's (also?) a mechanical issue.

I hope you/someone can give me some further information (or some URL) on
how to fix this with the link to that similar unicycle I pasted above.

Thanks very much to you all so far!

--
michael7
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michael7 said:

I'm from Germany and I was riding the same way in both directions but I
always drifted to the left. So I guess that's not the problem in my
case. Of course, it could be a bad posture since I'm very new to
unicycling. But I assume it's (also?) a mechanical issue.

One cause of drifting that hasn't been mentioned is unequal pedalling.
If you push harder with your left leg than your right, you will drift
in that direction. My right leg is stronger, so I find myself
drifting to the right when I get tired after a long, hard ride.

Ken

The entire world is pretty much drifting to the left. Just don't watch
any more Michael Moore films and you may be able to correct this
problem.

--
harper - Statuesque

-Greg Harper

B L U E S H I F T

"You go through life and you choose." - Greg Harper

"Find weak people and take stuff from them" - Greg Harper
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Lol! :p

I couldn't agree with you more (even though that was completely off
topic) 😉

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