Learning to ride in NYC

[Ronin Ryder]

  I started to learn EUC on a Nikola+ (i couldnt bother going through the learning wheel). I watched a lot of tutorial videos. the ones that helped me the most are those from  @evX_Mick and @Mike Sacristan.Thanks to them, their channels are great! 

I tried for 5 days so far , 2 at home and 3 outside.

1st day: The euc is heavy and i have no control at all. I wonder how i can use this and asking myself if i didnt make a mistake to buy such a big wheel. Not progressing at all.

2nd day: Raining outside so  trying mounting dismounting at home, and slightly moving forwards, but i keep being disturbed by things home so i cant really move too much. Very slight progress.

3rd day:  I go outside again, trying to move from a pole and progress. Barely managed to run 5 meters without falling. Exhausted and going back home. No significant progress.

4th day: Learning the basics home again thanks to rain, mounting dismounting. Nothing else much can be done. I think im starting to get it a little bit.

5th day: Back outside, decided to solely focus on mounting and moving forward without any help. Managing to mount and move forward after 1,5 hour. Finally. Body too tired to continue but good progress this time. I'm going too fast (due not handling well forward positioning) and cannot stop yet so i will focus on stopping next time.

 

The number 1 problem in NYC for me is to find a place to train in a safe environment. There are people everywhere all the time. I'm constantly kicked out wherever i go ("you cannot do that here"). Today i woke up at 6am to go to a soccer field and train in peace. By 8am it was full of gym trainers asking me again to move away so that they can use half of the place for their classes. People also constantly ask questions but i have no energy to interact as i'm already out of breathe when i try to control the EUC and no time for chatting considering the difficulty and limited time i have to find a good place to train before people start to be everywhere....I'm also impatient to move out of this learning phase(and the pain to find a training area) and be on my way...

Will update more when i have further news...

Edited August 8, 2020 by Ronin Ryder

[Mike Sacristan]

Nice work! Thanks for sharing your process with us.

It must be crazy frustrating to not be able to find a place to practice in peace.
Just give it time and everything will fall into place. It took me a reaaaaally long time... and I mean weeks.
Others have learned in 30 minutes. I am not one of those haha.

Good job starting on a Nikola it will grow with you pretty much forever!

[Ronin Ryder]

Thank you Mike for your nice comment!

One week later i can now ride the Nikola. My balance is very fragile though. I was training on a turf field and i noticed as soon as i went to asphalte fields i could ride without issues. I accidentaly hit a speed bump that i didnt see ( it was dark)  and immediately lost control. Wow, suspension will be really needed after all. I wonder how experienced riders do with streets in NYC with so many bumps and potholes...

. I unfortunately cant ride everyday. Today i tried to ride nearby and it was too crowded, very uncomfortable, also people looking at you like a monster freak because of the unicycle. Very weird, especially for NYC. To reduce this,  Ill stick to train early in the morning or later at night till i'm comfortable to ride with crowd/obstacles. With all these indrances,  Its going to take some time before i can use the euc as my daily transportation vehicle...

I got some gear (helmet, summer motorcycle jacket, knee pads and flexmeter wrist guards)I can't stand the flexmeter wrist guards. Sure they look efficient but they are so big and hot,  and take some time to wear. i would like to get a set up where i can wear gear easily and not look like robocop. Arethere any other wrist guard out there that is low profile and easy to wear? I ordered motorcycle jeans too so that i can be also low profile on knee protection.

Edited August 15, 2020 by Ronin Ryder