I know a lot of people have mentioned a lot of good tips, but here is my
shpeal.
First off I really think it's better to learn to ride before
fremounting (unless you live in the middle of nowhere, you can use a
post, boulder, or tree if you have too). Also your preasant set up is
fine, maybee a longer seat post as you mentioned, but keep a slight
bend in your knee.
I've found the best place to learn is along a long rail that is about
waist to chest height while sitting on the uni on super smooth pavement
(you can pull/push yourself from the rail depending if you are falling
towards or away from it). It's also great for learning some more
advanced skills like riding SIF, SIB, riding backwards, and ww. If
there isn't a rail close by, a fence or wall works but not as good. I
found one 85 ft. long in the parking lot at a school two blocks from my
house.
Falling is less scarry and progress is faster (grabing the rail, then
continuing is faster than a UPD and remounting).
Keep high air pressure, like 60 psi on smooth pavement, or lower 30-40
if on gravel.
If your legs are getting tired you prob don't have enough weight on the
seat (should be like 80-90%). If your abs/obliques get sore, or you or
the uni wiggles around a lot you need to pedal more smoothly and prob
also w/ more weight on the seat.
For riding comfort I've found cycling shorts or boxer-briefs under
light pants best.
When you can ride the length of the rail/wall, aim for 5 round trips
(grabbing on to turn around) and then learn to dismount gracefully w/
uni in front w/ left and feet and either hand (4 combos) w/in a 2-3 m.
area, also 5 times consecutively each.
Then get some wrist guards and find a large open area w/ objects to
grab onto for mounting and do large circles in each direction,
gradually getting smaller, and then work towards doing figure eights w/
diameters less than 3 m.
I calculated that I could ride the 2.5 miles to my college in 54 min.
if I road non stop averaging 50 rpm. So I started riding along the
local sidewalks and wheelchair ramps. When I could do that for an hour
w/ only a few UPD's or short breaks and not be exhausted at the end I
started commuting. My first day I gave myself 2 hrs, just in case, and
it took me 1:05. Then tried to commute every day (until then it was
hard to find practice time). Now I can do it in a little under 30 min.
but I usually challenge myself along the way and take 45-50, w/ several
UPD's.
--
skilewis74
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