Sk8 Park 11-29-2010

Shot this at the local sk8 park. It's got a leg in front free mount, forwards, backwards, and a bit of one-footed (left) before a UPD. Later I did my first baby hops on the MUni, but I don't have that on video. I need to work on being able to do tricks with either foot, tighter smoother turns, and on hops. Then I'll move on to more new stuff and to real off roading. Earlier in the day I rode for some workout distance to get in shape and start losing some baby weight.

Rollin', rollin', rollin'!

After taking a couples days off this weekend (it got cold!), I got back in the saddleagain this morning and rode around (and around and around) the neighborhood, trying to get some beginning distance riding in, even though it's with a MUni on streets and sidewalks. There's no way I would have run or jogged so far as I rode, but on one wheel it's still a great workout without all the pounding. This is going to go a long way in dropping the extra poundage I'm still carrying around after baby #4! But, being the wuss that I am in cold weather, maybe I should talk Habeeb into a trails uni I could learn tricks on in the garage with a space heater!

Actually, he's got the unibug bad enough that he's planning on ordering a freestyle uni for himself later today (cyber monday!). He's gonna get a 20" wheel so Jman can maybe ride it too. Wouldn't that be awesome?!?

Anyway, I'm riding smoothly on the new MUni, and for long enough distances before UPD's (unplanned dismounts). I'm comfortable with most of what I used to do eons ago on my old unis. My most immediate goal was to get back into good enough shape to be able to try some of the harder stuff I used to do (still not terribly complicated) on this bigger tougher MUni, and to get over the initial "saddle soreness" from starting back riding. So, I'm definitely on track so far. And riding again is just flat out FUN! I'm SO glad I'm getting back into riding, and also SO glad that there's a fantastic uni forum online with so many folks to learn from and share with. Check it out at unicyclist.com.

Awesome Video (of someone else--not me!!)

Watch this awesome video when you have a few minutes. So way cool!

Beware the Uni Bug--it's contagious!

So, now that I am unicycling again (sorry I don't have more posts on that yet!), some others in the family are wanting to have some Fun on One also. Habeeb (dh) used to try to ride my old unicycle years ago, and he's trying to get up on and ride The Beast now. I'll have to record his attempts at free mounting and post those! Sly (13yo) isn't so sure he wants to risk his manhood at this time. Jman (11yo) wanted to try The Beast, but quite honestly, it's just too big for him. I'm not sure he has the inseam for my 24" wheels at home either. And so, Habeeb and I are trying to decide on a 20" unicycle to buy, partly for Jman, and partly for our own fun and amusement. The 20" would be better for Jman to learn on (if he really wants to), and would be easier for doing flatland or trials on. Soooo, do we buy a freestyle Nimbus uni, or a trials Nimbus uni, or maybe a KH flatland, or a KH longneck? Honestly, the KH are probably a no-go--more expensive. And I think Habeeb is leaning more towards a freestyle than trials. I'm happy with anything! :)

As for littlest family members, SB3 just LOVES watching uni videos on youtube. Give it a couple more years, and I have a feeling we'll be getting him a 12" wheel to learn on! And of course Iago is a LONG way from riding, but she'll get there someday!

As for me and The Beast, I'm getting the feel for it. I've dropped the seat a smidge, and lowered the pressure in the tire, and I'm liking that much better. I can ride it comfortably forwards, backwards, one footed (right foot out), and idle (either foot). I can free mount with either foot, and can almost do a trick mount wrapping my right leg around the seat front just for fun. Yesterday evening I rode it up to the commissary to pick up a couple things, but that was all street or sidewalk riding. Hopefully this weekend I'll get the chance to ride it a little more, or further, or on some super easy trail while Habeeb is home. Sly and I also learned about a skatepark here in town where we could ride too (which would be a point for getting a trials uni!).

My first MUni ride

Taking The Beast for a spin in the back yard. Since it's technically off road, it counts as MUni in my book! Now I just need to get back in shape, lose 30 pounds, polish up on my skills, and see where The Beast will take me. Too bad I can't lose 20 years too!

Assembling "The Beast!"

I got it--my new MUnicycle! And this thing is a Beast compared to my old unicycles! It's a 24" Nimbus MUni, with standard features (ISIS hub, 150mm Venture cranks, you can read the specs on the website) from unicycle.com. My two previous unicycles were also 24" wheels, which were maybe as large as you could get at the time, but are pretty middle-of-the-road today. The biggest difference though is that they were simply unicycles (very nice unicycles, I might add) and The Beast is a MUnicycle--a Mountain Unicycle built to withstand serious off road venturing. I'm a long way from being able to do some of the crazy rides and tricks you can find videos of on the web (I dare you to do a youtube search for mountain unicycling!), but give me a little time. That's what this blog is gonna be for--recording my re-entry into unicycling, and MUnicycling. But first it begins with assembling the Beast, with some help from a couple of short partners that were almost as excited as I was. Check back later for more info and pix of me riding The Beast on-road, my progress and goals, and history.