Muni 101

I'm sure it'll help me.
I too ride alone, and though still a bit of a novice, I'm desperate to
get into muni. I've only just found a set of stairs that will be
suitable for me to learn to ride down multiple drops (and they'll be
getting my full attention tomorrow morning). I'm okay with curbs, but
haven't wanted to get into rough terrain descents until I can manage
steps and stuff. I can't say I'd really thought about hanging on to the
saddle so please keep posting good tips like that. I'm just guessing
here but it sounds like the same principle will apply.
Sometimes the more experienced riders think we know this stuff
instinctively.

--
mattsmith
------------------------------------------------------------------------
mattsmith's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14586
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

Great explanation and great tip.
I had been trying to figure out the best way to ride over roots and
rocky terrain. Should I ride standing up on the pedals or sitting down
on the saddle. Sitting down I had more control, my legs didn't get as
tired, but it also hurt more. Standing up, solved the hurt problem,
this would absorb the bumps better, but my legs got tired a lot quicker
and balance was a little tougher.

I finally learned a technique where I am kind of hovering above the
seat. Just high enough that I'm not getting wacked by the saddle, but
low enough that my balance was better and my legs didn't get as tired.

I am able to sit when the trail is smooth and unweight just enough when
it gets bumpy. This has worked really well for me.

--
One on one

"That's going to end up in somebody's sig." - rob.northcott
------------------------------------------------------------------------
One on one's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/5740
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

Great tips. I'll have to give that a try. I'm a REALLY slow learner.
Almost 3 years now and I still mostly suck. I've really gotten to love
trail riding but it's still gotta be a pretty smooth gravel path or I
end up UPDing every few feet. It usually is because my feet come off
the pedals. The other thing I'm not any good at is doing an accurate
forward hop from rock to rock. My side hops are getting better but the
forward hop needs a lot of work. Anyway, I'll try the more wieght on
the pedals thing the next time I go out.

--
underdog

'I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody
tell you different' - Kurt Vonnegut
------------------------------------------------------------------------
underdog's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/6197
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

Until I read a tire pressure thread, and lowered my tires to < 20 psi.

--
feel the light
------------------------------------------------------------------------
feel the light's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14551
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

Just get clipless pedals. Problem solved.

--
headstone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
headstone's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/13637
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

I learned this one a while ago from instinct just like you. It also
helps for controlling speed as you descent, as it is easier to apply
back pressure, of course that really only applies to those of us who
are without magura's.

--
muzzle

my videos: 'muzzle!videos' (http://www.muzzle.co.nr/unicycle/)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
muzzle's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/11458
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

if you watch into the thunder dragon, in the special bit, kris holm
explains it pretty well. look ahed for your line, and hopp the rest.
i forget what he called it, rollign hopp??😕

--
tibluni
------------------------------------------------------------------------
tibluni's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14393
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

pdc said:

The secret is simply pulling firmly on the seat handle (I prefer the
Reeder) and keeping your feet solidly engaged on the pedals. If your
pulling hard enough, taking most of your weight off the seat so that no
matter how rough the terrain your feet will not bounce off the pedals,
you will be able to navigate most steep rocky decents.

Or you just use clipless pedals like I am now. And your feet never come
off, until you fall. And as soon as you fall, they unclip just like
they were never clipped in at all...

They really are the best change I've done to my unicycling, and I'm
pretty sure I'll never go back.

--
AscenXion

*\ /*
*/ \*

*µニ Rider*
*SingleTrak'n*
*Order Of One [O³]*

Quoted message said:

*You've shown your true face, AscenXion, and revealed that only an
exclusive order of people can exist in your world where you are an
intolerant god.*

------------------------------------------------------------------------
AscenXion's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/12303
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

Pulling up hard on the seat does help a lot. Here are two things that
gave me breakthouhgs in my riding.

1) Riding Backwards. Learning to ride backwards was so much harder than
frontwards. It took me over two month to master. As I got better riding
backwards I developed new improved balance and have since been falling
much less. Riding backwards has also led to Idling.

2) Riding One Footed. I am still working on this one. I am close to
mastering one footed pedaling. Sometimes I get a couple of revolutions
in before needing to put my foot back on. Now when I am going over
rough terrain or drops and one of my feet falls off the pedal or moves
to off center I just cooly replace it to the corect position. this can
usually be accomplished in less than half a crank revolution. One time
my foot fell completely off the pedal when I was coming off an exposed
boulder. I started to fall with my right foot extended outwards in
order to catch myself. However I was still pedaling with my left foot
and just didn't fall! After two or three revolutions I bent my right
leg and got it back on the pedal! One of my fellow riders who was on a
mountain bike behind me shouted "I saw that!" It was awesome!

Unicorn

--
Unicorn

Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the pedals, and you will
accomplish great feats!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unicorn's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/12801
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

Unicorn said:

Pulling up hard on the seat does help a lot. Here are two things that
gave me breakthouhgs in my riding.

1) Riding Backwards. Learning to ride backwards was so much harder than
frontwards. It took me over two month to master. As I got better riding
backwards I developed new improved balance and have since been falling
much less. Riding backwards has also led to Idling.

2) Riding One Footed. I am still working on this one. I am close to
mastering one footed pedaling. Sometimes I get a couple of revolutions
in before needing to put my foot back on. Now when I am going over
rough terrain or drops and one of my feet falls off the pedal or moves
to off center I just cooly replace it to the corect position. this can
usually be accomplished in less than half a crank revolution. One time
my foot fell completely off the pedal when I was coming off an exposed
boulder. I started to fall with my right foot extended outwards in
order to catch myself. However I was still pedaling with my left foot
and just didn't fall! After two or three revolutions I bent my right
leg and got it back on the pedal! One of my fellow riders who was on a
mountain bike behind me shouted "I saw that!" It was awesome!

Unicorn

these things helped me alot too!..especially riding backwards!

--
parky07

A Good Friend Bails You Out Of Jail, A True Friend Is Sitting Beside You
Saying "Man, We Screwed Up!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
parky07's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14947
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

parky07 said:

these things helped me alot too!..especially riding backwards!

That's it! I've been trying to learn backwards riding for a long time
now...although I'll admit that I've really been giving it a half-assed
attempt...but now I'm really going to work at it. I wish I had a 20"
for this kind of stuff, but my 26er will have to do. Anything to
improve my skill at muni!

--
jmando

Starving in the belly, starving in the belly, starving in the belly of a
whale
------------------------------------------------------------------------
jmando's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14821
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

I did not work as hard on riding backwards as I did riding forwards. I
would skipp days of practice. Same thing with riding one footed. Both
have opened whole new worlds to me while riding as you can se in my
above post. They are well worth the effort.

Unicorn

--
Unicorn

Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the pedals, and you will
accomplish great feats!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unicorn's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/12801
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

One on one said:

... I finally learned a technique where I am kind of hovering above the
seat. Just high enough that I'm not getting wacked by the saddle, but
low enough that my balance was better and my legs didn't get as tired.

I am able to sit when the trail is smooth and unweight just enough when
it gets bumpy. This has worked really well for me.

I agree. To get over the bumps, you have to lift yourself off the seat
a bit just before you hit the bump. Lift yourself higher for bigger
bumps.

--
Wheel Rider

A man can fail many times but he isn't a failure until he begins to
blame someone else. - Waite Phillips
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wheel Rider's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/10656
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

I have never lifted myself off my seat in order to go over bumps. I pull
up on the seat and move my hips back a bit. I stand up when doing drops
and jumps. There is no reasonn to stand up or jump when rolling over
bumps. Now if you want to completely jump over a bump that is a
different story. however just rolling over bumps that are even up to a
foot high is much more energy conserving than jumping over them. I
started a whole thread about a week ago about riding up curbs. it has a
lot of usefull information on curbs or bumps, same thing. Bumps are
actually easier because they are usually sloped where as a curb is a 90
degree rise.

Unicorn

--
Unicorn

Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the pedals, and you will
accomplish great feats!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unicorn's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/12801
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

Unicorn said:

I have never lifted myself off my seat in order to go over bumps. I pull
up on the seat and move my hips back a bit. I stand up when doing drops
and jumps. There is no reasonn to stand up or jump when rolling over
bumps. Now if you want to completely jump over a bump that is a
different story. however just rolling over bumps that are even up to a
foot high is much more energy conserving than jumping over them. I
started a whole thread about a week ago about riding up curbs. it has a
lot of usefull information on curbs or bumps, same thing. Bumps are
actually easier because they are usually sloped where as a curb is a 90
degree rise.

If you stand slightly, you lose less speed over bumps and drops. Don't
stand up too much of the time as generally it's less efficient, but
over bumps and drops etc., it becomes more efficient, cos only the
unicycle has to roll over the bump, your legs absorb the bump, and you
don't need to power your body over it.

As for pulling up on the seat, I hold onto the seat 100% of the time,
but generally not too tight. If you have a hold on it, when the uni
starts dropping, you keep hold, then you are pulling harder. If you
pull too hard, you can give yourself achey wrists/arms.

I know of one rider, Tue, from Cornwall, UK, who hardly uses the seat
handle, yet is one of the best technical riders out there, goes down
rocky descents, arms out to the sides. I still haven't figured out how
he does it.

Joe

--
joemarshall

my pics http://gallery.unicyclist.com/albuq44
------------------------------------------------------------------------
joemarshall's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/1545
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

I am always juggling between holding onto the saddle handle and having
arms out to the side. It is harder to balance when you are holding on
to the saddle handle. This is illustrated by all the riders who have
their hand way out to the sides when riding skinnies and railings.
However when going over very technical stuff you need to hold the
unicycle in close to you. Unless the bumps and drops are more than 6
inches I usually don't hold onto the saddle handle any more. When going
up steep hills I will always pull up hard on the saddle in order to get
more muscle into my pedaling. I weigh about 62kg and if I pull up on
the saddle I gan definitely get more force than that into my pedaling.
Also a good skill builder is to try and ride with both of your hands
holding onto the saddle cup. It teaches you balance with your torso
rather than your arms.

Unicorn

--
Unicorn

Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the pedals, and you will
accomplish great feats!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unicorn's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/12801
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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

Unicorn said:

I weigh about 62kg
Unicorn

Well, that's why you don't have to lift your weight off the seat,
you're a featherweight. 🙂 Gain 30 kilos, then come back and talk to
us. 🙂

--
AscenXion

*\ /*
*/ \*

*µニ Rider*
*SingleTrak'n*
*Order Of One [O³]*

Quoted message said:

*You've shown your true face, AscenXion, and revealed that only an
exclusive order of people can exist in your world where you are an
intolerant god.*

------------------------------------------------------------------------
AscenXion's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/12303
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61061

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