Ambipedal Wheel Launches - Can you do it?

[Hunka Hunka Burning Love]

I've been riding for some time now, and I would say that my riding skills are fairly good although I can't do any tricks on my wheel.  I do find that I need to practice my launches on my non-dominant foot more as I usually take off with my right foot on the Ninebot.  Can you do a launch equally as well on either foot?

I recently tried taking off on my left foot, and I got my right foot onto the pedal way too far forwards so I had to step off and ended up skipping to catch the wheel as I wasn't able to stop it.  In hindsight I should have applied backtilt pressure onto the left pedal I think or leaned back more to come to a complete stop before stepping off.

Also do people practice pivot turning?  I think there are three common ways of turning.  The usual ways are a combination of leaning to one side, bending one knee up slightly, applying more pedal pressure to one side, but lately I have been playing around with pivoting.  That is, I am adding in a sudden twist to the wheel while riding.  You see a few people doing it in their contest entries to make sudden turns on tree stumps and sharp corners while riding on concrete walls.

It's a bit of a jerky or jarring motion like when you are counter steering at low speed to maintain balance, but it gives you a sharp change in direction as if you want to avoid running over a piece of dog doo doo you see at the last moment.  It might come in handy for some situations.  Since you're on one wheel, why not pivot since you can I figure?

[trya]

@HunkaHunkaBurningLove - I believe that all people have a "preferred" leg, but it is to our advantage to train you "other" leg to be almost as good as your main one. You have to force yourself, of course, to use it intentionally in case where you'd normally use your "good" leg. As to the pivot turn - yes, it may be beneficial in some cases, but in "real life" - it is quite rare case. If you want to make a sharp move to avoid some obstacle - you wan't be able to do pivot, because first you have to brek to almost zero speed, - you are better off just to make a sharp turn without breaking in such cases. The real need in pivot turn is only when you have to make a turn on some extremely narrow path.

[Rehab1]

On 10/3/2016 at 11:04 AM, HunkaHunkaBurningLove said:

It's a bit of a jerky or jarring motion like when you are counter steering at low speed to maintain balance, but it gives you a sharp change in direction as if you want to avoid running over a piece of dog doo doo you see at the last moment.

I typically ride on walkways and paths that have 'no poop' signs posted.  Bad enough getting dog poop on my riding lawnmower. 

[Frode]

I can mount on both right and left feet, but not equally well. I think it's a matter of training. I have not been doing pivot turns, but normal turns at very low speed is rather tight anyway.

What I have done to increase my wheel control is to have something in one hand, let's say a handbag about 1-3 kg in my left hand, then, while running at normal speed (~20 kph) swing the handbag with a straight horizontal arm, in this case to the left from straight in front of me to right behind me, catch it with the other arm and continue to swing it forward till it is straight in front of me again. Then I catch it with the first hand again and repeat. I do it say 10 times one way, then 10 times the other way and repeat till i get tired in my arms. to increase the difficulty I can swing it harder forward and backward (trying to accelerate the handbag the way I swing it). Then I do it higher up around my head. It is even more fun on windy days, and I might use a jacket instead of a handbag to let the wind catch it to make the exercise more fun. Don't do this in traffic the first time!

[Rehab1]

2 minutes ago, Frode said:

What I have done to increase my wheel control is to have something in one hand, let's say a handbag about 1-3 kg in my left hand, then, while running at normal speed (~20 kph) swing the handbag with a straight horizontal arm, in this case to the left from straight in front of me to right behind me, catch it with the other arm and continue to swing it forward till it is straight in front of me again

 I do like your idea! I was riding around with a 23 foot long international flag banner last week to commemorate the EUC contest and had tough time balancing while switching hands. It definitely works on your balance!

[Scully]

15 minutes ago, Frode said:

I can mount on both right and left feet, but not equally well. I think it's a matter of training. I have not been doing pivot turns, but normal turns at very low speed is rather tight anyway.

What I have done to increase my wheel control is to have something in one hand, let's say a handbag about 1-3 kg in my left hand, then, while running at normal speed (~20 kph) swing the handbag with a straight horizontal arm, in this case to the left from straight in front of me to right behind me, catch it with the other arm and continue to swing it forward till it is straight in front of me again. Then I catch it with the first hand again and repeat. I do it say 10 times one way, then 10 times the other way and repeat till i get tired in my arms. to increase the difficulty I can swing it harder forward and backward (trying to accelerate the handbag the way I swing it). Then I do it higher up around my head. It is even more fun on windy days, and I might use a jacket instead of a handbag to let the wind catch it to make the exercise more fun. Don't do this in traffic the first time!

I think I need a video.

[Rehab1]

Ok. Give me some time to find it. Actually it was not that good so I never posted it.

[Frode]

11 minutes ago, Scully said:

I think I need a video.

Yes, you can use a video instead of the handbag, but won't it be expensive if you fall and smashes it into the tarmac?

[Rehab1]

2 hours ago, Scully said:

I think I need a video.

Here is the stupid 23 foot banner pull video. Be prepared to waste 30 seconds of your time. Sorry!

 

[Hunka Hunka Burning Love]

Whaaaa?  That's pretty cool actually.  

Regarding little surprises on the pathway, we must have like the highest population of dogs around here, and most people clean up after them.  Still you get the odd present left behind now and then.  Add to that the little critters like deer and other things scurrying around, and it's pretty much a mixed bag of items you find in your way.

[Marty Backe]

I've practice mounting on my non-dominate foot a little bit, but I'm not sure how much I'll pursue this.

Beyond the internal satisfaction gained from becoming ambipedal, I can't think of any practical benefit. There are many other activities where it can be beneficial to use your non-dominate hand/foot. But wheeling?

I'd like to know if there is.

[Hunka Hunka Burning Love]

I would think sometimes stopping at crosswalks where maybe you dismount on the other side and the light turns green so you don't want to lean down to swap feet while holding grocery bags.  I will roll down to the store to get a jug of milk or a bag of groceries, and I don't use a backpack.  Sometimes depending on how I get off, usually it's with the less dominant foot, but now and then it's the other.  Learning launches with both feet might be beneficial for me in those situations.  I think it's always nice to learn something new to keep both sides of your brain working and challenged.  It's usually when you think you got this that there's always something new that you can master or at least try to get under your belt.

For example, I would love to see how it is like driving a manual car on a right hand drive vehicle like in Britain or Japan.  That would be wild.  I guess the clutch is still on the left side, but the left hand would need to shift.  Driving on the left side of the road would also be an interesting challenge!

Regarding the pivot turns I actually don't slow down to a stop or near stop before doing so.  I wouldn't recommend it at full speed, but at slower speeds a little pivot can change your direction slightly.  I'll have to practice it more as it's once of those rarely needed moves.  You certainly don't want to do it too sharply as that will veer the wheel off while you're going forwards leading to a terrible accident.  Maybe it's not even worthwhile doing as the directional change is pretty slight unless you're slow enough.

[Marty Backe]

3 minutes ago, HunkaHunkaBurningLove said:

I would think sometimes stopping at crosswalks where maybe you dismount on the other side and the light turns green so you don't want to lean down to swap feet while holding grocery bags.  <snip>

Well, you just provided me the practical reason. Damn, now I have to put some energy into launching with my right foot.

BTW, most skateboarders use their right foot to push off and kick. Those who start with the left foot are referred to as riding 'goofy'.

I think (am I wrong?) that most wheelers start with the right foot on the wheel. We need to come up with a name for the silly folks who launch with the left foot on the wheel. Unfortunately 'lefties' has other connotations 

[Rehab1]

40 minutes ago, HunkaHunkaBurningLove said:

 

Whaaaa?  That's pretty cool actually

 

Pretty stupid. You won't hurt my feelings. Actually I am pretty stupid. @Scully made a comment "think I need a video"  so I posted it.  My bad. He was actually asking @Frode  sorry

51 minutes ago, HunkaHunkaBurningLove said:

Regarding little surprises on the pathway, we must have like the highest population of dogs around here, and most people clean up after them.

 

Definately polite and considerate Canadians! 

[Hunka Hunka Burning Love]

Stupid awesome!    Trust me I'd tell you straight up if I don't like something.  If there was a position for International Electric Unicycle Ambassador, you'd get my vote.  

Skin studs and subcutaneous horn implants?  Yeah that's stupid stupid.  Just a pathway for infection I think.  Imagine hitting your head against something with a stud in between or snagging it on a loose thread of a pullover.  Just trouble ready to happen.  But hey to each their own - I respect that.  Whatever floats their boat.

And this...

And double combo!  Geez at least laser that 'stache or bleach it I sez!

No really - it's a big thing in Japan.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2208051/Bagel-head-trend-Are-saline-injections-Japans-extreme-beauty-look-yet.html

[Frode]

8 hours ago, Marty Backe said:

We need to come up with a name for the silly folks who launch with the left foot on the wheel

Nonconformist?

[Snurre]

2 hours ago, Frode said:

Nonconformist?

Antipedes!

[johrhoj]

@HunkaHunkaBurningLove

I forced myself to learn to start off with my other leg. Like you, right foot on wheel is natural for me, the other way around isn't and probably never will be, but i can manage it now.

In turning I used to bend left leg to go right and vice versa. On my ninebot that was always good enough (although tight turns are difficult that way). When I started riding my KS 18, I learned to lean in turns properly. It feels awesome to do highspeed turns by just leaning into the turn, no leg-bending what so ever. 

Also tight turns, where I turn my body first and just jerk the wheel under me in the wanted direction, was something I only started doing after many months of riding. It enables controlled sharp turns with low speed and little space to maneuver in. It can also help an emergystop: just force turn the wheel one quarter (be careful to not fall over forward). 

[HEC]

16 hours ago, Rehab1 said:

 I do like your idea! I was riding around with a 23 foot long international flag banner last week to commemorate the EUC contest and had tough time balancing while switching hands. It definitely works on your balance!

Ha ha - I was yesterday carrying home the V8 packaging box on my back (with added straps like backpack) in very strong crosswind causing troubles even during normal ride without unusual "luggage" being carried and it was fun criss-crossing the bicycle lane trying to avoiding being completely blown away. I've received a few weird looks and even a couple of mobile phone snapshots from windows of passing cars. Luckily I had plenty of "pleasure" practising riding in the windy weather so all ended well.

13 hours ago, HunkaHunkaBurningLove said:

Whaaaa?  That's pretty cool actually.  

Regarding little surprises on the pathway, we must have like the highest population of dogs around here, and most people clean up after them.  Still you get the odd present left behind now and then.  Add to that the little critters like deer and other things scurrying around, and it's pretty much a mixed bag of items you find in your way.

Lucky you. Riding TWICE over the same dead rat nearby friendly hot dog stand and avoiding the dead rabbits and birds on the bicycle lanes is my regular "entertainment" around here

[HEC]

12 hours ago, HunkaHunkaBurningLove said:

For example, I would love to see how it is like driving a manual car on a right hand drive vehicle like in Britain or Japan.  That would be wild.  I guess the clutch is still on the left side, but the left hand would need to shift.  Driving on the left side of the road would also be an interesting challenge!

It's really not that challenging. I was driving both left hand and right hand drive vehicles in both type of countries (all 4 combinations including the "wrong" ones) and had no troubles to instantly accommodate. You might try at first couple of shifts open the door or roll down your window instead of grabbing the gearshift stick but you'll "switch" over really quickly. As a interesting fact in some countries some delivery / company vehicles (like post office) have right hand driving while driving on the right side  

[Vik's]

On ‎03‎.‎10‎.‎2016 at 5:04 PM, HunkaHunkaBurningLove said:

...  Can you do a launch equally as well on either foot?

I do. That was first thing I've tried to do when I became comfortable at riding my 9b1. But I am left-handed and I starting with my left foot usually anyway.

[Greg Spalding]

On 10/4/2016 at 4:22 PM, Rehab1 said:

I typically ride on walkways and paths that have 'no poop' signs posted.  Bad enough getting dog poop on my riding lawnmower. 

when i ride on the sidewalks by my home there are thousands of little salamanders running across my path... i hate getting them stuck in the tires (or killing them, because i don't want to do that, either)

[Marty Backe]

10 hours ago, Greg Spalding said:

when i ride on the sidewalks by my home there are thousands of little salamanders running across my path... i hate getting them stuck in the tires (or killing them, because i don't want to do that, either)

Wow, that sounds awful. Every once in awhile I try and dodge a cockroach. I can't imagine riding down a path with your nicely painted image in my head.

Looks like humidity is not the only thing to not envy about riding in Florida 

[Greg Spalding]

Just now, Marty Backe said:

Wow, that sounds awful. Every once in awhile I try and dodge a cockroach. I can't imagine riding down a path with your nicely painted image in my head.

Looks like humidity is not the only thing to not envy about riding in Florida 

let's not even get into the POLITICS of THIS particular area... (that is SUREY off-limits here, as it should be)

[Marty Backe]

1 hour ago, Greg Spalding said:

let's not even get into the POLITICS of THIS particular area... (that is SUREY off-limits here, as it should be)

Yes, best not go there - never ends pretty