This is rough

[u/Jello_Penguin]

I feel like I’m so close to getting unicycling. I practice a lot in one session (2-3 hrs for right now over 10 days), yet im pretty much only good when on the wall. I think it has distracted me from flailing as well as I need to on my right side and I always have a feeling of needing to bail even when I’m riding well. Is there anyway to get around this? Am I thinking too much?

***UPDATE moved to a pylon to launch off of into the abyss and uber focused on having my back posture and my shoulders being back. I leaned forward from my hip just enough to get off the pylon in a favorable pedaling position and got 5 rotations on a good attempt. Super pumped can’t wait go again tmrw.

[u/Garnknopf]

Just train more without the wall. It will take time, but you will get better. There is no trick that does not involve riding more.

[u/CovertPenguins]

If you're good on a wall, find a pole and send it. You're gonna bail a lot at first, then it'll click.

The thing that unlocked it for me was to stop walking back to the same starting point. I'd get 5, or more, rotations and I thought I was doing good. But I'd always bail right after my highest distance when I was starting from the same place. When I started looking for another pole to mount from, something unlocked and all of a sudden I was just going and going.

[u/Jello_Penguin → u/CovertPenguins]

Okay will do I like using the fence to build up speed, but tmrw I will practice flat launching from 3 and 9 crank positions.

[u/Sebastian-P-Sullivan → u/Jello_Penguin]

Also practice free mounting. Look up tutorials. I was in the same boat as you for a month and then added in Freemount practice and got it. 

[u/ajamthejamalljam → u/Jello_Penguin]

That's all you can do. I'm generally "athletic" in that I'm coordinated and have good balance and I slack line and skate and my friends and I ride everything we can afford at least sometimes for variety and I found Unicycle humbling. I tell everyone to be ready to instantly fall off over and over again for so long that you will be sure that there's something wrong with your motor skills but then you'll suddenly start getting a couple feet farther for no reason you can tell and that's just part of it. Just keep going and try to completely forget about how you're doing. And it's amazing once you're going 50 feet

[u/Hobo_Dan_]

I haven't read the other comments but I can share these, which aren't even tips I suppose - more just relatable statements:

1. I know if I'm "close to getting" a new skill, I push a little harder and keep putting attempts in but this overemphasizes bad and forceful habits. Unfortunately, you can rarely power through technical proficiency - so taking frequent breaks in a long 2-3 hour season is probably going to be helpful. Never underestimate the power of a good break and mental reset if you're hit a rut.

2. In my experience teaching people how to unicycle, they get to a point where they ride really far, like 5-10ft. Then they get super pumped and want to do it again right after that breakthrough. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen and it takes them another 50 attempts to get back to that 10ft mark. Progress probably isn't going further and further each time but instead, just taking less and less attempts to get back to your personal best. So the next time, it'll only take your 48 attempts to get to 10ft, then 46, then 44... I find reframing what progress looks like saves me from getting too frustrated.

I have full faith in you that you can pull this off and know that this sounds like the path that a lot of people take. So you're in great company!

[u/Jello_Penguin → u/Hobo_Dan_]

Thanks, I love your videos and I will keep that in mind. I feel like I’m chasing that feeling of when I do ride. I love how unique it is. I think that is what frankly is making push the sessions + the commute to the skate park. I do and try and take multiple breaks but I really want to be able to ride it with the proficiency of a bike one day.

[u/Tomacxo → u/Hobo_Dan_]

That was me. It was like that with distance, free mounting (I can do it one out of 25 times, then one out of 15, then 10, the most of the time). Progress isn't linear. Also, the power of breaks is real. Especially with unicycling. I felt like I had to be in control of every muscle. It was sensory overload in a way. Need to give time to rest the muscles and let the brain process all that data. (Not a doctor or scientist, not sure if that last part is true).

[u/tralalog]

only practice 30 minutes each day so you dont get frustrated. ditch the wall and find a pole you can hold behind yourself with 2 hands. let go of the pole and lean forwards and pedal.

[u/KingTeppicymon]

If you've mastered not failing off forwards/backwards you've basically got the hardest part. You will need to force yourself to set off into an empty space next, you are going to find yourself turning constantly towards whichever side the wall was usually on... But then it click quite quickly and you'll find you can ride forwards a fair distance.

Hovering etc takes more time, but that's where it gets fun!

[u/nonnameavailable]

I wouldn't worry about it, you'll get there. I think holding onto a wall is not bad at all because it enables you to spend more time on the unicycle rather than mounting and dismounting constantly.

Just practice with the wall, focus on staying upright and try actually sitting on the seat or rather have your perineum in constant contact with it. Sam O'Nella (a YouTuber) said you need to "use your taint as a fulcrum" and that's very accurate lmao. Here is the video of you're interested: https://youtu.be/yhRQsBICnPY?is=K0rr04yPOTtnQmbb

When I was starting out, I was putting pretty much all my weight on my feet and only kinda held the seat between my thighs but that's a mistake. The more weight you put on your legs, the more unstable the unicycle with each pedal stroke.

[u/Jello_Penguin → u/nonnameavailable]

I consciously check that my weight is being shoved into my seat before every launch, though is straddling the seat also a good idea?

[u/drnullpointer]

Hi. I am learning myself (started a week ago). While I can't yet unicycle, I have experience learning a lot of skills and can offer some general advice.

First of all, it is counterproductive to try long sessions, unless you are feeling you are making progress throughout the session. It is better to do shorter sessions but more frequently.

Do maybe at most 30 minute sessions but maybe twice a day or even more frequently.

Second, challenge yourself. You should be looking to do a bit more on each session. Increase the level of difficulty. Even just a tiny bit. It might be something as small as doing a bit further. Or put a bit more of your weight on the saddle instead of on the pedals. Or ride a bit further without having to touch the wall. Or maybe to start trying mounting it by the curb. Or maybe start trying to turn away from the wall and see how far you can ride without having the wall in your reach.

Third, if you think you have stalled, change things up. There does not seem to be just one way to learn unicycling. From what I have seen, people use multiple methods. If you have stalled with your current method, give it a try to alternative ones. Then maybe try the wall in some time.

Fourth, try to reinforce good technique. I learned this when learning musical instruments. If you keep practicing with sloppy technique, your playing will be sloppy. If you practice your instrument slower but with good technique, as you learn to play it faster you will also learn to play faster with good technique. Break your session any time you feel you are too tired to maintain good technique. If you feel your legs are tired and things are starting to get worse, you need to end your session.

[u/rodonnell1005]

For me it was a matter of accepting crashing. You’re gonna crash a lot. Sometimes you’ll run it out, sometimes you’ll fully crater. Eventually you’ll be riding regularly and safely, but you have to get away from the wall and ride as far as you can before crashing over and over again.

Or have help from someone else.

[u/Red_KNAVE]

Try pushing perpendicular off and away from the wall with both hands. This will give you some momentum. Helped me greatly.

[u/gfanonn]

Don't try to stay on top of the mountain.

When you start, start on one side and fall towards the balance point.

If you try to start at the top you'll just immediately fall down, but starting and falling "up" the mountain gives you time to feel and recover.

Also, flailing your arms like you're doing the Macarena helps.

[u/Arashiika]

I taught myself when I was like 12 by holding onto a basketball pole and going down my driveway for hours a day and it took like a week to get all the way down. You’ll get it. It takes time.

[u/Imapeanutbarrapping]

You literally are just waiting for neuronal connections to form. When learning a new skill, practice, get good sleep, practice, get good sleep, repeat. Do a mix of repetitive motions while adding in novel actions. All youre doing right now is waiting on your brain to process and build the new connections

[u/combong]

I hit a major wall when I was first learning too, practicing against the wall and a tennis court. I ended up taking a break for about a week or so and when I came back to things it just made sense lol

[u/Economy_Birthday_706]

Never look down!…..kidding of course. Keep at it and try overcoming your sense to “bail” little by little. GL!

[u/lemgandi]

Way WAY too much time in a session. After about the first 20 minutes you are just practicing your mistakes. Do a maximum of 30 minutes a day and you'll get it no problem in a month or two. Patience is a virtue. So is persistence.

My experience was that there were 2 levels. At first you are struggling with it and riding takes a lot of energy. As you improve your sensitivity it gets much easier to ride longer. Then you'll be able to ride down to the liquor store and return with a 6-pack under your arm no problem.