Whilst most people think of unicycling in the context of parades or the circus ring, growing sales at Unicycle.com, the US market leader, proves that one wheel cycling is on the increase. Young and old alike are taking up a sport, which has many different forms including street, touring, racing, team events like hockey and basketball and even off road unicycling known as MUnicycling (mountain unicycling).
Learning to Ride a Unicycle
- First, make sure the unicycle is the right way round. The saddle is narrower at the front and the pedals are usually marked R and L so keep the “right” pedal on the right!
- Next find an area with a smooth surface and something to hold onto like a wall or fence. The ideal area is a narrow corridor with handrails but most people don’t have parallel bars in their hallway so a flat driveway or schoolyard is a good second best.
- Tilt the unicycle and half sit on the saddle.
- Spin the wheel so that the right pedal is positioned at four o’clock (or the left pedal at eight o'clock).
- Hold onto the wall or rail with both hands and step onto the right pedal.
- The pedal will move downward pulling the saddle upward.
- Pedal backwards for a ¼ turn then sit on the unicycle with both feet in the horizontal position.
- Practice this simple yet impossible first step for several hours.
- Once confident, hold tightly onto the rail, lean forwards slightly and pedal slowly forwards.
- The unicycle will inevitably fall so simply let it fall and start again.
- Keep practicing until confident to move forward and balance without holding onto the rail.
- At this point, usually after 10 to 15 hours of practice, the basics of riding a unicycle are learned.
Tips for Learning to Unicycle
- Wear a helmet and wrist guards as most novices fall onto their hands when learning.
- Knee pads and/or shin guards are also advised for frequent fallers.
- Try to solicit help from two friends when learning. Hold onto them for perfect balance when mounting the unicycle but make sure they are the same height.
- Alternatively, use long poles or walking sticks (see picture below) to provide additional balance.
Buying a First Unicycle
Unicycling is not easy so buy a cheap starter model whilst learning the ropes.
The correct size for most adult novices is a 20” wheel. Children normally learn on a 16” unicycle. Seat posts are available in a number of heights so ensure the correct length is chosen to fit the rider’s inside leg perfectly.
Popular starter brands in the US are Torker and Nimbus, which offer affordable learner unicycles costing between $150 and $300.
Unicycling is a Diverse Sport
Whilst many people learn to unicycle for fun or to perform in parades, others play unicycle hockey or basketball. There is a growing trend for freestyle unicycling where riders perform jumps and other tricks and then there are more extreme forms like MUnicycling where riders tackle the rockiest terrain imaginable both up and downhill.
Unicycling for Beginners
Whilst MUnicycling legends like Kris Holm push unicycling to extremes, novices feel a huge sense of achievement mastering the basics of how to ride a one wheel bike. Free mounting (without assistance) and turning come next.
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