Hello! First time posting here, but am an avid unicycler, photography and videography so expect posts about a strange amalgamation of those.
But today I am going to extol the greatness of learning to Unicycle. Now mind you I think of myself as being pretty good at a lot of things, being able to coast (is this ironic?) through most things without a lot of effort. Which is fine, however I never really feel attached. Its just going through motions. Unicycling on the other hand requires dedication and lots of time.
I have wanted a unicycle since second grade when I was in a PE circus, however I was chosen to be on a mini-bike instead. So I forgot about unicycles, until last year. Last year I attended a conference and there I met a girl who for some reason thought I could ride a unicycle. So she questioned me if I could unicycle, I said no, she said she could. Of course, because this is a good story, there is love interest. So pretty much the day after getting back from the conference I went out in search of a Unicycle in Singapore. Which if your reading this post, you know that it is not impossible, but I thought it was impossible. But I came upon Team-uni and picked myself up a 24″ Qu-ax for my birthday and it had begun! Oh and I have since given up on the girl, she is a horrible unicycler!
From April, when I got it, to October I would go to my school and edge up next to this small concrete wall and cling on to dear life before attempting to mount this seemingly impossible device. Unicycles in the beginning are intimidating, you will probably end up with the unicycle slipping out from under you in a reasonable way, coming to believe that unicycles aren’t meant to be ridden at all. But I stuck with it, until I finally met another unicycle rider, who was a teacher at my school. Once you find someone who can unicycle, expect to be riding with in a week or two. When I finally got it, it was amazing.
I mean sure falling over and over is great fun in its own way, but riding is another beast entirely. Riding isn’t like a bike, you can’t stop paying attention, you have to have control over your body. And once your riding you will feel such a surge and by then you will probably have dealt with enough nay-sayers to feel amazing about accomplishing basic riding skills.
Unicycling does not end with riding, it never ends. The possilbities are near limitless as far as I can see. A unicycle is a replacement for your legs, you can hop, spin, dance, play hockey or even take on some mountains. Sure its great to get it for the first time, pounding your legs to go 30 meters. Its amazing, but it doesn’t end there.
There are so many more tricks and riding styles to learn! But there is no easy trick in unicycling, you have to devote yourself whole-heartedly to a trick and spend hours and hours, probably bruising your legs, to finally get it. But when you get that new trick, you will feel like nothing can stop you. Which is one of the best feelings in life.
But remember, if you learn to unicycle, ride within your limits. Unicycling is really safe most of the time, but not being aware can make it very dangerous as with anything else.
Go get a Unicycle and learn to ride Today!
