Beginner Unicycling - UNIQUEST - Level 1
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.ค. 2024
- ★Support ➞ / uniquest
Assisted Mount: 1:55
Assisted Ride 3:26
Assisted Idle 5:06
Unassisted Ride 1+ rev 6:11
★Welcome to Uniquest! This is the introduction level, if you've never tried unicycling before, you've found the right video. This will be the ultimate unicycle tutorial series! Chris Huriwai will be breaking down the stages of learning to ride and individual unicycle tricks, going as in-depth as possible!
★Leave your feedback below, share your stories about how you've learnt to ride, share your tips and help support each other.
★We're aiming for a new episode every two weeks! So, challenge yourself, with every new video you'll have 2 weeks to prepare for the next one!
★Previous episodes/full beginner playlist:
• UniQuest
/ hippounicycles
/ greennsteezy - กีฬา
Hey everyone,
The most frequent question here is what type of unicycle I'd recommend. How about you all (yes I'm talking to you) tell us what kind of unicycle you have, to give everyone an idea of popular brands/sizes.
I'll go first, I have what is typically classed as a 'Trials unicycle', it's 19'', built for street and flatland unicycling, the brands are a mix of Kris Holm, Mad4one, Impact and Nimbus.
If you're looking for a unicycle, I'd recommend www.unicycle.com
CH.
I kind of went whole hog with this, even though I cannot ride that well. I have 8 20" clubs, a 20" Bedford, a 26"Nimbus muni , a 24" and a few random others. I have had the most success assisted mounting and riding the 24" the longest distance. The pure joy I get watching someone ride down the street on a unicycle is the reason I have so many. I have been trying to teach the kids at school with them. They pick it up so fast!
I have a 24" trainer freestyle unicycle comprised of mainly UDC parts www.municycle.com.au/catalogue/UNI-UDC-T24_item.html?ref_cat_id=Learner24. Which is what I primarily ride to practice the techniques shown here but I've also got a 36 Nimbus Night Rider Pro which I plan to ride to work on (pending me getting confident enough to not get killed).
I feel like as my skills are improving I'm probably going to have to move to a trials/street uni pretty soon. Probably with a smaller wheel haha.
I bought a club 20 from unicycle.com . I changed the tire to a smooth tire. It seems to ride turn easier now. I also changed the seat to a smaller u shaded seat that was more comfortable.
From experiance I would say, under 12 years use a 16 inch wheel uni, otherwise the best one to learn on is a 20 inch wheel, if you are looking at long distance 26 inch minimum, for tricks / stunts (forward roll off a stage and continue riding for example) and off road I've always used 20 inch with double spoked rim and square block tyres. BUT I am old skool I started in 1989 and haven't bought a new uni since about 1999 so have no idea what's available these days, it's probably all high tech lighweight stuff so have no helpful suggestions on makes or models 🤣 ive got a few still and ride down the towpath by the canal to my boat.
I am 6'1 and about 176 lbs. I was 31 and I bought a used 20-inch Japanese unicycle to start learning on, (post-surgery on my right big toe.)
The tire constantly de-flated and I wanted something that would give me more distance, after a couple of weeks, using the 20-inch daily, next to a hand rail on some pavement at Grandma's apartment complex. (using techniques that I had learned from the Unicycle & Juggling instructor at the St. Louis Children's Museum Circus, the summer prior, where I would use their unicycles, in-class)
I was frustrated and decided I needed something bigger, so I got a 26-inch Sun Muni from the local bike shop.
I attempted to ride the 26-inch once or twice, then, scared of jumping and pounding my toe joints and further "wearing-down" the 15% remaining cartilaige in my big toes, I decided to rest my unicycles and concentrate only on juggling and handstands until my upcoming surgeries.
Recovering from surgeries, I bought a walking globe, and learned that to the point I now juggle clubs on top of it.
Last year I got to the point where I felt "recovered" enough in my toes to start learning Unicycle again. I would ride my 26-inch across a bridge, back and forth, to use the rails like bumpers in a beginner's bowling-lane. 1 to 3 times a week, I would have done more, but I was training Globe-walking and Juggling and also Karate.
I am 35 now, and two-and-a-half weeks ago I started Chris Huriwai's videos on youtube.
I have been hopping on, every-day, no matter what, and every session, I practice the exact techniques from C.H.'s Beginner level 1, and beginner level 2 videos. I re-watch them often, sometimes even while I am resting in the middle of a session.
I bought a 20-inch QU-AX Trials Muni, which I assembled yesterday, and rode for 3 different sessions, switching between it and the 26-inch Sun Muni.
And yesterday, at 10:50pm, I took flight, on the 26-inch, for the very first time. I departed, free-ride, from the lamp post, after 2 assisted idles and 1 or 2 tries of an unassisted idle (my regular routine, I like to aim to complete 11 of these daily, each arm, each side). This attempt, last night, I went a full circle around half the court, spiraled in, and switched to make it into a figure-8, bailing after some 3 or 4 revs in the opposite turning-direction.
On my 26inch I feel light and free.
On my 20-inch I still feel like I am doing a lot of work for not much pay-off, but I am sure that this will change, once my body adapts to the motion, say 2-ish weeks from now, as I continue to do twice-daily sessions, with each drill that Chris has lain out for us in his Beginner Level 1 and Beginner Level 2 videos.
(I now, do not believe, so much, in the "wear-and-tear argument" that the Doctors of Western Medicine explained to me along with x-rays, range-of-motion and pain level tests, as to why I should get the 3 total surgeries that I have had now, across my two big toes, including a titanium cartilage implant in the right one.)
If I could have learned the principles in Chris's videos 5 years ago, or even 15 years ago, I would have known immediately that I was born to Unicycle, and that I could safely practice it by myself. (My toes still give me pain, every walking-step that I take.) The freedom that I now feel on my 26-inch Muni, I know that I will have for the rest of my life!
I am going outside, right now to get back to my new self.
Thank you, Chris Huriwai for your awesome vids!!!!
These vids are so good, that I would say, if anyone wanted to watch only one person's videos in order to learn Unicycle; then that person should be Chris Huriwai!
1000 cheers for Uniquest.
I am 84-years old. I have been practicing for 10 years/ Thanks for the tips. I will use them.
Good for you Gerald. If you felt inclined to upload some videos of your progress you would be surprised how many people would be interested in watching them
I second Nathaniel!
@@SomeTH-camGuy You can watch mine!
@Jeremy Bailey You can watch mine also!!
That is freaking awesome! I’m always afraid I won’t be able to keep learning things with age, but it sounds like anyone can keep picking up new skills for as long as you like. I would appreciate a video too, if you upload one :D
I only got a unicycle yesterday, and used my own practicing methods. I started moving but not far. After watching this, i'm shocked how far i've moved. Great video, very detailed and instructive.
Woke up on my 80th birthday wanting to ride a unicycle. This video helpful. Thighs burn. But intent on doing this. Mainly because I won't need a bike rack on the car. And very little mechanically to go wrong. Want to hit the bike trails with the unicycle.
Hey Phil, did you nail unicycling?
Old guy here (69 years old). When I was in high school, a friend loaned me his unicycle, and it took me about 15 minutes to learn assisted start, unassisted ride, but my turns were mostly done using extended arms to twist into the direction I wanted to go, somewhat jerky motion. There were two key issues for me, keeping my weight in the seat, and using light pressure on the pedals. Initially, I was using too much pedal pressure and over-correcting. I only had it for 2 days before I had to return it, didn't learn how to free mount, but I could ride up and down the street after an assisted start and the turns were a bit smoother, but still using extended arms to generate steering torque. I was an experienced skateboarder at the time, but don't know if that helped. However, when I was in 8th grade, I learned how to ride what was essentially a segway with pedals instead of a motor. Two small wheels (about 10 inch diameter) connected by a bent solid bar with bearing mounted pedals on the bent bar, and that probably helped me with front back balance needed for the unicycle.
Great video.. I'm starting to learn while in lockdown
I bought one so I could learn stuff and have fun on my lunch breaks to relax from all the customers annoyed at the business closures
Same, mine comes in the mail today.
Me too, picked one up for free in the street 😀
Me too!
Just got mine today
Keep your head up and look forward....don't look down at your feet and pedals!
I wish I had found this series when I first started. Trying to free mount now has been difficult ( I have been assisted mounting in the "dead zone") Also, I still seem to put too much pressure on the first pedal, rather than pushing my body into the seat to counter the push.
Your tip at 7:42 is what eventually allowed me to learn
I finally stopped pushing UP off the pedals... and just sank down HEAVY in my seat.
The one thing I do struggle with is UniJuggling in Idle... but NOT in the crawl.
I appreciate this video and this channel very much... Your skill level is Jedi to me
Excellent, thorough instruction, thank you. I've wanted to try this my whole life. (and Yay Vegan!)
i wish i knew about the plastic pedals.... my shins wouldve thanked you XD
My foot keeps slipping trying to pedal out of dead zone, I was just considering metal spiky pedals.... Thanks for reminding me I have shins!!
If you want some really cool pedals I suggest the mks runber-x freestyle pedals (of you have a freestyle uni)! They’re pretty soft and have rubber on the edges, but also small spike/bump things so your feet don’t slip off. I can literally ride barefoot with those things 😂
Sin is a continuous function, so keep rhythm and steady power; most of your balance comes from the tire rotating. You need enough power to launch or increase speed, but not so much acceleration that you lose center. Keep your nose up, something that helped me learn to use my arms to balance; was rapidly tapping my fingers and thumbs to increase consciousness. Pedaling pushes you around a bit, and the force can be used to reposition on launches and later increase your height if you have to launch from slouch.
Started to learn today managed 3 revs unassisted before falling off back to it tomorrow morning full day at it with the loverly weather we are having in the uk
I can already unicycle but I am going to share this series with my friend! She is also learning it.
Cant wait for the next episode!!🔥🔥
The day I've been waiting for has finally arrived. For so long I didn't know what to do next like what trick to learn or how to learn them properly; now those days are over I can progress.
Even some of the simple stuff in that video I didn't know until now
Great timing! Had the urge to try and unicycle for about a year, finally broke down to kill the urge and got my KH20 4 days ago. I can’t get away from it! I was riding forward in about 3-4 hours and am now working on free-mounting. I got about 10-12 hours down, a sore butt, I have gutted my shins, and crushing my balls is happening a bit less now. Any bit of free time I got I’m ripping around the yard and having a blast despite beating myself with a unicycle. Thanks man! Excited for the next episode of Uniquest!
I remember being at that stage! The addiction!
-Chris H
Seriously, I took 70hr and a trashed $50 unicycle(24"). You are way ahead of the curve. So throw on some more pads and get some bike shorts, too. Go for it and make sure you work both sides(left and right) you will go very far. Keep on.
trexinvert For sure, bike shorts are a god send. Wish I bought some a long time ago. Not sure if I learned quick from other balance sports, or relentlessly watching youtubers unicycle. Starting to pick up reverse, I can idle for a little bit, and free mount, but all of that is taking much longer than riding around the yard.
I recommend you focus on learning to free mount with feet on 6/12 o'clock. Otherwise, known as the rock back mounting. Then when you master that(both feet), guess what you just learned to do a 1/2 idle. That's it you are idling. Later, take on idling with a "full-rev", and guess what you will be doing? Taking one step backwards. So that's the start of your backwards riding progression.
For added challenge(less body damage) you might want to practice on short grass/firm ground with low tire pressure(18psi). You develop more leg power in stroke and speed to deal with bumps and slower unicycle response.
trexinvert I was trying both 6/12 o’clock and the 9/3 positions, still not super sure which mount I like best, I can do both but still sloppy. I got the best practice on a slightly declining grassy hill with about 20 psi and what mount I do kinda depends on the turf grass/pavement, wasn’t sure if jostling between crank/pedal position helped but I can mount either 117/137 pedal position about the same. I would say pavement is easier I think for free mount, but sometimes I think the lumpiness of the lawn can be even easier or much worse. Def know that shorter pedal position (117) on grassy turf is more of a workout, but faster on pavement.
Love it, cheers guys
Can't wait for the next one! See u in two weeks 😉
This video is very well done! I really appreciate the clear instructions. I look forward to giving this a try and will let you know how it goes. ~Roger
Please do! Love hearing how people learn, and if you find any useful tips while practicing, share them with us! :D
CH.
Great videos, clear and full of useful hints.
nice vid, continue this series
Thank you.Excellent video.
Extremely useful content, thank you so much!
Thanks man. Very nice
Simple, important yet god level tips. Thanks a ton.
Thanks so much, Chris! I’m 53 and decided to learn while corona-confined. I’ve watched you so many times that I’m starting to speak with your AMAZING accent! I am an American who was inspired by a pastor in Taiwan, trained by a TH-camr from down under. Yesterday I rode a quarter km, but am still having a terrible time with mounting. Both methods are tough for me, so I’ve used a brick to prop and prevent rolling backward. I need to break this bad habit, because i’m tired of having to walk back to my brick. Any more mounting tips?
Just been out for my first go, good tips, thanks
Great practice tips 🙌🏼
Great tutorial! Thanks
Lean wit it ROCK with it!!! Perfect song for the UNICYCLE!
Awesome dude. Great tutorial! Working on free mounting which has proved very challenging. Please keep the pointers coming. Thanks
your beginners Tutorial has been the most HELPFUL & EEFFECTIVE.......Thanx so much ;-P
Thanks!
I learned how to ride on this very uni and two years later it’s my goto wheel! KH20 💪 👍🏼
Can't wait to see this series progress! I stopped unicycling a couple years ago because I plateaued, but this is getting me excited all over again.
Nice to hear! The progression of these videos will be slooooow, but once we make it to your level, it will give you LOTS to learn!
-Chris H
Great stuff.
Thanks for this, gonna help my son learn!
thanks for your great presentation
this dude is legit cool!
Buenísimo!
Very helpful
Great video. Thank you. I received a unicycle as a birthday gift this week. You've shared some great tips.
Seems nicely made
Great! thanks for the tips! No one told me I should relax :) I will now.
That was amazing!!!!!
Thanks brother
Just got mine....lockdown skill number 2 to learn....Great video...ill give it a go!
I think I will go for the full pad method and just dive into the deep going backwards down some steep hills. Thanks for video. Much appreciated.
Thank you very much, I will do my best.
Thanks for the tips
Thanks for the comment :)
I found this video very helpful I got a unicycle for my birthday and it is a training one.
Cool video!!
This was really cool and informative. I just got a unicycle yesterday and want to master it while I'm in lockdown. Thanks for making this video, it was great.
This is really help full I got a unicycle for my bday and I learning and this will help
Hi! Thanks for this tutorial I already could unicycle pretty okay and with only one leg and stuff but the simple tips really helped
This is a pretty good channel
This is a pretty good Chanel
Thank you so much
Thanks for the comment :D
CH.
You are excellent Unicycler,
Thank You very much. I've learned a lot of unicycling that9 you shared.
Mines comes from Amazon Tues, can wait to learn ! Thanks !
Enjoyed the video! Keep it up :)
I just got a unicycle for Christmas and I think this video is going to help
Short crank discrimination: 110mm is not a bad length for narrow tire 20" unicycles, but admitedly 125 is also good. When riding away from the wall, graceful dismount (slowing down, stepping off the back and catching the seat) is a good way to end, rather than spectacular faceplant. Nice video Christian.
thanks for the tips! I'm 57 years old and am going to try to learn to ride, using your video. We'll see how it goes!
Best tips
I'm starting to learn while COVID 19 epidemic. Thank for you.
Okay I got that down!
On to level two!
Nice vid
Thanks for the video! I'm 45 years old, and I got my Uni a week and a half ago, it was in rough shape, I had to true the rim and straighten the one crank arm. My first 15 minutes with it I got 3 full rotations out of it before I quit from exhaustion. Now that I've taken your advice and learned to relax a bit on my second 15 minutes with it yesterday I was able to crank out about 20 full rotations. I started on my driveway with a slight decline and held onto the side of my pickup truck as my assist. Thanks for the tutorial, try and try and try...on to the next one...having a blast!
Returning here 2 years later because this video taught me how to ride
Grazie veramente utile per imparare
Ngā mihi e hoa :)
CH
Very nice ! I can't wait the next vedio. I hope you take turns to film easy and hard skills tutorials for different level riders. Thank you very much.
For now I'll be focusing on beginners, as I think they probably need the most help... It's the beginner-intermediate level tutorials that are lacking on youtube
-Chris H
Thanks very much for this very usefull video ;-)
Farrrr bro you're a cool cat haha thanks for the clip - super well explained!
Flail your arms in all directions! 🤣🤣🤣
Great video thanks for this😄
Thank you so much Chris. I had bought the unicycle a year ago and now with this guide of your video I’ll engage finally into the learning venture. This is an excellent work out to lose some weight and a great personal skill.
Awesome! I'll respond to your comment above.
The method I used was to start in the corner. with my hands in front on walls for support instead of behind like you show, and push off.
I just chose your video, having access to a unicycle, and am curious to try it. I don't know if I'll be successful at it, but I enjoy your presentation, and your instruction makes sense, so, I'll see! Going to give it a go! And, I'm not anywhere as cool as 84 year old Gerald, but I am 63, so, age is always mind over matter!
finally, so psyched for later ones
Thank you so much! This process has made me so happy over the past few days.
I borrowed a unicycle from a friend to learn to ride. He kinda told me how it goes. About 10min in, I bashed my nuts hard. That was 2yrs ago, and the unicycle has been sitting in the basement since. I stumbled on this video about four days ago and I've been practicing 30min every day. I can already get 2 revs unassisted! But, the assisted idle has me stumped.
Two things that helped me immensely that I don't think you mentioned. 1 - Get the non-wall hand off the saddle as soon as you can. Made balance way easier. 2 - Eyes up! Look at something on the horizon.
Those are great tips! Not sure if I included them or not, they may be in the following episode as the tips for learning to ride continue! For the idle, it's a really difficult maneuver, that's why I've included it early on in these levels for people to start practicing, the sooner the better! Glad you're enjoying unicycling :)
CH.
Two unicycle tutorials from hippo and Eli in one day
I have really benefited from these series of videos and am now able to unicycle. I had gotten my unicycle beginning of 2020 but these videos helped me a lot to speed up the progress. But there's lots of glass around when he was teaching the assisted stuff. :D Not a good idea for beginners to practise around all that glass. haha.
Who disliked this vdo??
Very helpfull to biginers like me thanks mate.
I like your shirt!
Sick
Im 54 and what i was looking at was a QU-AX LUXUS 20" to learn on.
Watched several of your videos and must say these are more comprehensive than any other Uni tutorial i have been looking at.
Well done bro on an awesome channel.
I have my first uni, a QU-AX Luxus 26". I'm 5'7 and the short seat post is fine.
I guess I am ready to try after this good lesson
We believe in you! Send us questions if you're needing tips :)
CH.
I have started to watch lesson two, so maybe tomorrow I go outside and try to practice what I’ve learned so far.
Uniquest is such a clever name omg
Thanks for making such a good video on this. I'll be heading out with my unicycle for the second time today and this will be my guide. I'm posting my own videos on how the learning is coming along. My unicycle is a used one I got for 20 bucks. Not sure it's the best fit, but we'll see 🥴
Awesome, I'll try to check them out and give some tips!
OK , I bought all the equipment a few days ago. Try to ride with a wall today.. quite difficult, but I am more than 45 yo, it may be a bit longer for me. I keep on training every day. I recommend to use some protective equipments ( gloves, knee-pads and helmet ) to start . Thank you for your lesson I have watched it many times. Loïc
Only learning how to ride one because I wanna brag too my friends and to ride round the entrance of the school
Awesome video! Very helpful! A friend of mine on facebook was getting rid of her brand new unicycle for mad cheap because she couldn't get the hang of it. I always wanted to learn so I swooped it up and thought my nephews and nieces could learn with me. I love your shirt! I have one of their hoodies! Go vegan! For the animals!
Haha thanks, always love making unicycle content and finding vegans!
CH.
One thing I’ve never seen a tutorial mention (which probably means it was just a me problem lmao) is incline. No flat surface is actually perfectly flat, and when I started out trying to move away from the wall, I was unknowingly angling myself to move up a very slight uphill. I couldn’t even make one full rotation with the pedals and was getting incredibly frustrated when I realized that the pavement was ever so slightly sloped. I put myself at more of a 45 degree angle from the wall, facing downhill, and was immediately able to do almost two full rotations of the pedals because I wasn’t fighting gravity anymore.
This video is the most useful one I’ve watched, and I thought I’d leave a comment just in case other people run into the same issue :)
Great input!
Been wanting to learn for years, now at age 45 and thanks to Adelaide lockdown got a uni and rode for first time today. Riden almost every kind of bike in my life, skated, bladed, wakeboard and surf. Hopefully get this happening. Up to assisted mount and about 8 revs after an hour or so.
8 revs! You've got it, it'll get too addicting to try and get better and better!
Just picked up a unicycle for free off the side of the road, I guess I’ll give it a try
nice tutorial!
like for the naruto ending :D
Blue bird
Sick vid, I need these tutorials, when can I do mean trix
Slow boy Mike! We need to learn to ride first! Check back after episode 4
You great
I thing the most importand is head. First is relax, but seconda is balance. If you move head to front(a knees) then you move forward. Head is hevy and high. Thing about it