JUGGLINGJOE.co.uk : Unicycling

Types of Unicycle

The different sizes are classified mainly by their wheel diameter. I own a 24 inch unicycle. I started to learn on a 20 inch. 16 to 20 inch diameter unicycles are very good for doing tricks and performing on. 26 to 30 and above diameter unicycles are good for travelling, mountain unicycling and carnivals where you will travel around a lot. I chose a 24 inch because I wanted it for both reasons.

You can get more unique varieties of unicycles. A 'Giraffe' is a taller variety of unicycle that can be 5 or 6 feet or even higher! They have a chain from where you pedal down to the actual wheel. One variety has three wheels on top of each other that all turn round and look mighty impressive. When you can use a normal unicycle well, you can use a giraffe with little problems...except the issue with your brain of being so far up and feeling as though it should be more difficult.

You can even purchase very small unicycles, which look hilarious! If you can ride a regular unicycle, you should be able to ride one of these too no problem.

To purchase a unicycle remember to check out bike shops as well as juggling shops and the Internet. I found that through a bike shop I could get what type of tyre I wanted for free, including the original tyre on the bike. If I had purchased a smaller unicycle I could have got tyres with mini feet as the tread, causing funky tyre tracks!

Maintaining Your Unicycle

Unicycle seats can be so uncomfortable that it limits your effectiveness on the unicycle. An effective way to overcome this is to buy a couple of large sponges and then liberally apply gaffertape around the seat to keep it in place. This also protects the seat from damage and thus extends it's life too. I found that the dip in the seat of a unicycle is very uncomfortable and so raising the middle of the seat to make it flat helps a lot!

The underside of new unicycles are sharp. It may be wise to file the edge off the underside metal rim, for when you catch the unicycle when you are falling off (Deliberately or not) you can slice yourself. I did this while unicycling to work once and caused a painful gash in my palm. I then extended the seat cover tape round the underside to help cover the sharper edge.

Starting to learn

The initial attempt to sit on a unicycle can make you feel that to ride it unaided is an impossible task. Take a while to get used to sitting on it while holding onto anything you can and not attempt to ride unaided yet. Hold onto a doorframe and rock gently forwards and backwards, just getting your mind and body used to being on top of one wheel.

The first attempts at moving are best done with some help. Preferably two people at first, by both sides as you learn to peddle forwards and stay ontop of the unicycle. It is useful doing this for maybe even 2 hours in total (Not all at once), until you have got used to the motion. Long parallel bars or even a very taught rope tied between two trees or door handles can aid as a substitute to give you something to grab and halt your fall. However this is harder than having human help.

Now is the practice and falling down phase, where you will need to keep 'pushing the boat out' and just going for it. Get yourself comfortable and balanced on the uniycle, then push off without any aid and try and go as far as you can before you fall down. Since you are prepared for falling, you'll usually not hurt yourself and bit by bit you will get further and further. Then after around 6 to 10 metres distance you sometime just take off and go for 20 or more metres.

Technique

You don't want to be completely upright when travelling forward, but leaning very slightly forward. Otherwise the unicycle will go forwards and you will fall backwards. If you lean too far forward you will either have to pedal fast and catch up, or you will fall forwards and the unicycle may go flying backwards.