Basic skills
One foot riding
When riding one footed, the vast majority of people prefer to place the non-pedaling foot on the crown. However, on larger frames (over 26" or so, especially if the crown is rounded rather than square) it may be easier to bend the knee at a 90 degree angle, and ride with the foot pointing backward, pressing the side of your calf against the frame. It is also possible to ride with the leg out in front (as seen in George Peck's Rough Terrain Unicycling film), however this is generally considered the most difficult.
A 20" wheel is usually preferred for learning, as with most freestyle skills. However, the momentum of a larger wheel will make one-foot riding up hills much easier. The more grip your pedals have, the better for one foot riding, as this will enable you to extend the usuable range of motion. With pinned pedals, you can not only push the wheel pedal down, but also pull it backwards at the bottom of the cycle and forwards at the top. The pedals will frequently scrape your legs while learning, though, so if you use pinned pedals, appropriate protective clothing should be worn.
A smooth hard floor, such as a gym or hallway, will help, but a sidewalk is perfectly fine. When riding, try to be smooth in your pedaling. The instict will be to push down very hard on the pedal to get enough momentum to keep the wheel moving, but you will find it easier to maintain a smooth, even tempo, just as if pedaling with both feet. Use your body to control your balance. Lean backwards and forwards, bending at the waist, to keep your center of gravity over the unicycle when you can't control it with your foot. When you first take one foot off, your wheel will be in front of you, pointing backwards, and you will be bent over at the waist to keep your balance centered over the uni. Whether this is just what naturally happens, or purposefully doing this will actually help your learning, I don't know.
When you first start to get the hang of it, it is normal to run out of momentum after 3 or 4 revolutions. Just keep practicing and you'll slowly start to go farther, but a slight downhill may be helpful.
You may notice a significant wobble from side to side at first, but with a little practice, you should be able to travel in a line as straight as using both feet, especially with a foot on the crown.
There are three ways of learning to ride one-footed. Most people recommend method 2, or a combination of 1 and 2.
1. As you ride along, put one foot on the crown of your unicycle and try to keep riding. Keep practising until you are able to do it. Some say that the transistion is the hardest part, and by the time you get that down smoothly, one foot riding will be pretty easy.
2. Put less and less pressure on the pedal with that foot you plan to remove, until you are eventually not pushing the pedal at all. At this point, you should be able to move that foot to the crown. The disadvantage of this is that unlike having a foot on the crown or pressing your calf to the frame, you have no control with the left leg on the frame, which actually makes it easier.
3. Hold onto a wall, fence or similar object. Place one foot on its pedal, and the other foot on the crown. Do a few exaggerated idles like this, slowly getting the pedal with the foot on it to about the 10 O'Clock position. At this point, push the pedal down and around, and when it gets to the bottom try to stop pushing it so it can come back up. You are now in a position where you can push the pedal around as many times as you like. Remember to keep your weight forward at all times, or your unicycle can shoot out from under you and leave you falling to the ground backside-first.
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