Have you ever considered riding a unicycle? Believe it or not riding one is not just for clowns and parades. Learning to master the unicycle can be one of the most challenging fitness activities you can attempt. It takes coordination and perseverance to peddle that one wheel, but when you accomplish it you find that it can be very enjoyable.
Unicycles are not usually that expensive. Sure you can get a tricked out carbon fiber model if you want, but that is really not necessary. Just head down to the local bike shop and see what they offer. You will usually find what you need between $50-100. Or try eBay, but you’ve already thought of that.
When purchasing your unicycle the main thing you want to make sure is that it fits. You want to be able to extend your leg almost straight out at the bottom of the pedal stroke, much like you would on a regular bicycle. If the seat post cannot be raised high enough you will find learning to ride will be much more difficult.
So now that you have your unicycle, how do you learn to ride? One of the best ways to learn is to mount the unicycle while holding on to the side of something like your garage. You will want to throw your leg over the saddle and put your foot on the pedal. Leaning against, and even holding onto your prop, put your other foot on the other pedal and get your balance. Once you have your balance simply push off and begin pedaling forward.
Once movement has begun you will want to lean forward ever so slightly. The first couple of tries you may find yourself slipping backward. You will have to be quick to get your feet back under you in the event you start to fall back off the unicycle. Just grab the nose of the unicycle as you dismount and stand up normally on the ground, and go have another try.
One thing that could help your balance is to mount and dismount the unicycle inside of a doorway. If you have room just push off and try a few pedal strokes to get the hang of it. Riding a unicycle can be frustrating the first few tries but as your balance improves you will find yourself pedaling further and further away.
Once you start getting the hang of pedaling relatively long distances you will want to learn how to turn. Turning is simply a matter of body English. If you want to go right you slightly twist your upper body to the right. The same for going left. Talk about a core workout.
Learning to ride a unicycle is certainly a challenge. But it can be a lot of fun. With a little practice and determination you too can learn to master the one-wheeled cycle.
I’ve had the unenviable task of rearranging all of my bookshelves recently. It’s a biannual event, trashing the out of date books, donating the good ones to the library, and holding on to the keepers. But the stacks keep growing!
