Can You Learn To Ride A Unicycle In A Day?

[@gcn]

Would you like to learn how to ride a unicycle?

[@djpalmer31]

@mredpratt would be impressed.

[@thelandylad1022]

Global Cycling Network Defo

[@grandpalouis818]

I would like you to do a video of the best road bikes in the price range of 1000 to 1500 pounds. Plz

[@gooseymoosey1630]

I do, it's fun

[@sitflyer2661]

No way, but kudos to you for giving it a shot!

[@MrJamesMappin]

Can I start a petition to get James' Dad on the next episode of the GCN show? What are we saying? 100 likes?

[@gcn]

James' dad and brother in law Nigel on at once would break the internet

[@r3cy]

@@gcn both on a tandem. make it so.

[@rexezard4018]

@@r3cy Don't get our hopes up

[@gmbn]

@@gcn DO IT!

[@rexezard4018]

@@mikewood9284 Would it matter?

[@HipposHateWater]

Tips and tricks for picking up the unicycle: 1. When mounting, keep your step-on pedal in a 6-o'clock position. Otherwise when you put your weight on the pedal, it will cause the uni to move. 2. Proper saddle height is the same as a road bike: seat should be high enough so that your leg reaches to about full extension when the pedal is in a 6-o'clock position. (Your legs shouldn't be able to reach and touch the ground when you're riding. (Although it may be okay to try a lower seat height when initially getting your sense of balance, I'd wean away from that as soon as you can ride more than 30-50 feet. At that point you can pretty much go indefinitely, so it's just a matter of getting comfortable, and learning to mount without the aid of a wall or lamp post. Or learning to ride in reverse, if you wanna go back for seconds. :p ) 3. Lower tire pressure is better when first starting out. Lower tire pressures lower the efficiency and make the handling more sluggish. Normally it's the last thing you want, but since your movements will be clumsy and overly-exaggerated when first learning overly sensitive and twitchy handling is the last thing you probably need. You can increase the tire pressure for better efficiency once you got the hang of it. 4. A lot of beginners either hunch forward or unconsciously try and keep the wheel tilted towards the front of them. To successfully maintain balance, you need to keep your spine erect, and the seat post perfectly in-line with it. (It may feel like you are, but chances are you're still not keeping things upright enough.) The best way to describe the sensation is this: If it feels like you're constantly dancing that line of having the unicycle want to shoot out behind you just as much as it wants to go forward, you're doing it right and keeping yourself at the ideal spot on top of that apex/arc. 5. If you need to bail, just run it off (ideally forward) and let the uni fall however it will. They're built to take that sort of beating, and it makes you less likely to eat shit if you try to "save" the unicycle while also trying to keep yourself from falling down.) 6. If you're a dude, perch your balls up and over the front of the saddle so they don't get crushed between the seat and your pelvis. (Not a fun one to learn the hard way.)

[@EdPratt]

Good work James! Planning to upgrade to a larger wheel any time soon?

[@gcn]

Maybe he should get a few more tips!

[@butters6295]

I knew the unicycle god himself would be here

[@evanr1940]

A much larger wheel and then around the track for an hour?

[@marcbradford9455]

I was gonna say, too bad Ed isn't in the UK to help out, haha

[@waltysalamander]

Ed's riding on a one man wheel cart (something here) analog 36" unicycle across the USA. I don't know what the hell I'm gonna get myself into today.

[@r3cy]

So preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should. -Jurassic Park.

[@gcn]

Thankfully nobody died in the filming of this video 😂

[@cheweek-k4w]

@@gcn *this* video

[@andyjchristie]

I learned to unicycle over 30 years ago, then made a career out of it. Over the years I've taught a lot of people to unicycle and this is how the commentary in my head went, "He's set the seat far too low, and the pedal's in completely the wrong position, that's better he's put the seat up, no it's still too low! Ah, that's a lot better he's put the seat up again. He seems to be getting the hang of it now. What! only 4 hours and the length of the deck, that's good going, pretty sure that's quicker than I managed it" So, I'm seriously impressed, fantastic effort, well done! ps. Even after all these years I can still remember the bruises on my shins. .

[@missryanswers]

I don't know if cyclists can relate, but this video reminds me of the 3 months I dedicated to teach myself how to ride a horse bareback, with gleeful success. I started riding mid-life. I saw teens younger than mine doing it & asked "how many years of riding did it take you to be able to do that? 5? 3?". Overall answer "everyone's different". The stopping from a trot was the biggest challenge for me. It was a ton of repetition- "muscle memory" was key (just 2 slow speed falls in sand). A few years later I was diagnosed with a rare nerve disorder. Part of the pain trigger was lifting anything over 5# w/my left arm...like a saddle. Luckily, I never needed a saddle at any pace after those 3 months of dedication.

[@mcorbett01]

I think we need a competition between brother-in-law Nigel and James’ dad 😁 Great effort and very entertaining 👍🏻

[@TWROC96]

Obstacle course on cruiser/beach bikes stopping to do some British things- having a cup of tea, opening and closing an umbrella, having a scone with cream.....

[@billincolumbia]

@Randy Mayfield I believe Lorraine would destroy both lads.

[@samtravis4822]

Next video: Hank going for the unicycle 1 hour record and re-destroying his undercarriage

[@gcn]

Now there is an idea.... we'll see what the unicycle hour record is...

[@TWROC96]

Hank always seems to be putting his package on the line for GCN.

[@PnlBtr]

Have to admire the commitment.

[@panzerveps]

@@gcn Why stop at 1 hour? 24 hour challenge!

[@hadiwinata5779]

Hank's dad laugh is addictive..

[@satrioesar7151]

A worthy opponent for matt's laugh

[@johnandrews3568]

@@satrioesar7151 came to post this... leaving satisfied.

[@tinwhiskerSC]

I gotta say, nobody comes close to James when it comes to potentially sacrificing his body or sanity to do something for the channel.

[@joanneleyva4942]

James takes on the hardest and riskiest challenges. He is carrying the show right now!

[@taufikabidin412]

And money too.

[@UKBROOKLYN]

Gotta say Lasty crying on the way up the Mür Dl Giat is a pretty hard video to beat.. perhaps we can send James up there to compare.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6O9fnx3rbKKqrs

[@seanhannagans]

"Stay on the grass until you can move onto the hard stuff." Kids, that's how you become a grown man talking to yourself on a unicycle for a day. Just say "No"

[@gcn]

Comment of the week

[@_Rafiki.]

🤣

[@bike_rider-k2h]

GCN teaches more than just cycling skills it seems.

[@gooseymoosey1630]

I unicycle! It took me months to learn but I'm 12 so I don't know how that affects it. I did a lot of reaserch and reading beforehand, and then practiced every day. It improved my balance so much. I highly recommend it!

[@Tobyzguy]

Im 15 but i learned when i was twelve and it was a great summer activity!

[@billincolumbia]

Can you wheelie on a bike? Are they similar?

[@Tobyzguy]

No i definetly cant wheelie... And i cant imagine there similar either

[@gooseymoosey1630]

@@billincolumbia I also can't wheelie. I don't think they are that simalar, as balancing on a bike is different to balancing on a unicycle :)

[@AndyVandy516]

Dude! They hate you! That re-creation of a tour stage, the trenching, now this! This is the longest hazing I’ve ever seen...and you keep going! Good on ya mate.🍻

[@innesdunbar]

Well done James! I used to run a Unicycle club at my kid’s school and it was amazing how some kids would manage in no time at all and others would never get it. Job done I would say.

[@gcn]

Thanks Innes!

[@benbrown8258]

I absolutely agree!! Find average it may take someone about 10 to 12 hours to get where he did by himself. I've also seen one gymnast who had never ridden in two tries take off riding. I also know of a man who took a full year to learn how to ride across the gymnasium. I wonder if he learned that a unicycle is related to a bicycle but not the same thing. Definitely he had the look of satisfaction whenever he accomplished a new goal. That is always the case on a unicycle. At least it is for me each time I get on it and I've been riding for a couple years now. Always feel a sense of accomplishment however far I ride.

[@gfooo6112]

I got my unicycle on a bike-to-work scheme. 🤣

[@gcn]

It would be great if universities had a similar scheme for unicycles

[@cartoonasaurus]

I learned to ride a unicycle in a second or two - I was shocked as I thought it would be crazy difficult, and as I got on it I was prepared to utterly fail, but it was just a matter of balance and control - maybe all my years rock climbing without a rope and riding an off-road motorcycle somehow gave me a boost? Unlike my brother, I was never very athletic but I had ridden a bike constantly for years before - all I know is 25 years ago I knew that my brother had mastered (it was his unicycle I tried) and he figured it out around age 12 or so without too much difficulty... So I figured it could not be THAT hard... I guess I am a bit more athletic than I thought... 😅

[@elayned6147]

Impressed 👍

[@gadget5129]

This was the best GCN “learn a new skill” video ever. The most genuine grit-your-teeth-and-keep-going humility I’ve ever seen from one of you guys. He took it like a real sport. And laughed at himself (with a little help from his dad) while doing it. Kudos to James. I think his next challenge should be the slack line. Well, maybe without the unicycle at first though. 😉

[@aronweiss]

Wouldn’t be a proper week in the world of GCN if Hank’s life wasn’t out at risk!!! Tall bike... 24 ride... race to the coast at night... trenching...

[@dunigan3320]

You forgot the fixed gear races

[@joshpeck7381]

Hanks dad is the new brother in law Nigel 😂

[@laf9686]

There is only one brother-in-law Nigel.

[@robertbadgio]

That progress is amazing in 4 hours! I started in March, took me a few weeks to get to where James is! I still can't freemount!

[@ChrisCoolski]

Can you freemount now?

[@robertbadgio]

@@ChrisCoolski I haven’t touched the unicycle this year... work got busy again (both a good and bad thing!)

[@ChrisCoolski]

@@robertbadgio Yeah I guess not a bad thing, get back on the wheel.

[@CosmicNerdStudios]

@@robertbadgio how bout now? (My first uni just showed up in the mail!)

[@robertbadgio]

@@CosmicNerdStudios Work got busy, I need another global pandemic to get some time back on the unicycle! (joking, please no, wasn't actually fun). Must get back on the unicycle this year...

[@evancoleman1164]

I remember the frustration! I’m not a great unicyclist but I learned in my teens and still ride today a few decades later. Good work.

[@idaf5244]

Funniest (and most impressive) thing I've seen all week 😂😂 There better be a revisit for the yearly blooper reel!

[@burnwash8174]

Came for the unicycle content, ended up being fascinated by the stone fencework.

[@NumbersSans]

This was so fun to watch. It reminds me of when I was first learning. It took a total of 14 hours to learn. I still cycle on it around town instead of driving.

[@MelB868]

Where do you put your groceries etc

[@NumbersSans]

@@MelB868 I wear a backpack to carry the groceries.

[@kaamran]

This is the best video of this series

[@ericomarpaboncrespo6005]

brother-in-law Nigel and Hank's dad are the new honorary members of GCN!

[@KingRA23]

James you rock..you are always so inspiring to watch..

[@baymaz9645]

Such a fun thing to do, i'm a slow learner and it took me weeks to ride a 24" unicycle, but even i have more to learn as well, don't give up and see it through, anyone who likes a bicycle can do this with enough practice, i am at a stage of getting more endurance riding it farther and faster, i sometimes challenge myself with cracked sidewalks to really test myself. Get out there and Have fun unicycling

[@nwimpney]

Pretty good for a few hours. Mounting takes most people almost as long to learn as riding, though you can back your tire up against a curb, or any small bump/obstacle to make it easier to mount without the tire rolling away. That'll at least give you the ability to start without a wall, and you can ride around the block, etc, without taking a long walk to find something to get back on when you bail. As far as the wobbles go, they come from pushing the pedals down too hard against the bottom of the stroke. Keep weight on the seat and you can ride much smoother with a lot less effort (This is tough, because people instinctively tense up, and stand on the pedals) Either way.. Good work. Stick with it for a bit, and you could try some fun stuff like mountain unicycling.

[@agasdoc]

Great fun to watch! You did great in one day. It took me a week as a kid to do it. I would say it's nearly impossible to learn on grass and hard to ride across it even when accomplished. So much weight on one wheel hangs you up by the smallest imperfections. But once your brain conquers unicycle riding, you won't forget it. I remember going from age 20 to about 50 without riding one, and one day I saw a lonely unicycle hanging in a bike shop. I asked them to get it down and after a few wobbly pedal strokes it clicked again and I was riding around the parking lot. Great entertainment for the bike shop employees watching an old man ride their unicycle!

[@greg_loper]

I think that I now understand the GCN video formula - anything that can hurt James in the nether regions is a great idea for a video.

[@atfsgeoff]

Dad's encouragement was the key to success. Thanks Dad!

[@Leon-vq7hv]

James, youre just great. And btw your father as well

[@gcn]

Thanks Leon!

[@jamesshields5958]

@GlobalCyclingNetwork You still need the seat a little higher! I've been riding for 10 years. Mostly unicycle hockey (yes...). I may or may not have an ebook out with 'Comprehensive', 'Beginner's' and 'Guide' in the title. You've done so well though!

[@clintnieves]

Hank is always up for a challenge. Your dad is great as usual. Congratulations James on the new skill you learned

[@moi7748]

Imagine going all the way around the world on one like Ed Pratt!! Amazing KZbin channel worth a look!

[@gcn]

Yeah we were lucky enough to do an video with Ed Pratt a few years ago, that guy is incredible!

[@Ulfhednar-o9t]

Thank you for posting this, these are more inspiring than watching pros teachin beginner unicycle

[@chrisbaum998]

Awesome - Fun Video!!! Way to go Hank! Time for Dan to learn how now!

[@paulgibbs4936]

You sir, never disappoint. Is there a challenge you wouldn't accept? Love your content. Keep it up.

[@blaireasdon]

Red Hook crit, penny farthing hour record, unicycling... pain is becoming quite the theme of your videos, James! What is GCN doing to you?!

[@Tabathalynnk]

This might be one of my favorite videos yet 😂

[@FlatSpinMan]

Me, too. Just genuinely fun/funny.

[@1golfpolo]

Well done bro for not giving up

[@scottkempinski5655]

I learned to ride a unicycle on a deck, as well. Took me a few days practicing after school, I was 13 or 14 at the time.

[@markj.a351]

I like to imagine Hank has no part in the discussion process about what he will do next and just recives his marching orders, no questions.

[@FlatSpinMan]

This was absolutely hilarious! I showed it to my daughters, who have both been unicycling since they were about five (turns out it’s a really normal thing for kids to learn in Japan). Thank you, Hank, for putting yourself through this, and especially for the helmet mounted cam which made you look literally like a muppet or something.

[@mattiashager782]

Well done 👍 Still remember my first day in 1980. After eight hours I’ve felt a rock solid seat. The saddle was not looking good, learned on asphalt.

[@robertokeefe101]

Hats off to you James, I tried and got a few meters before I passed out due to the pain in my shins 😂 I felt for you in the video.

[@justinbrown471]

Admire the persistence. Your dad when you said his turn now. Priceless.

[@benbrown8258]

It definitely takes persistence and a disregard for failure. On the other hand each time improvement you make, you feel that you're the first person in the world to have done it! Very self-rewarding. You begin to focus on success ...

[@SamSam-qm7qx]

I have tried to teach friends to unicycle. Usually they do an hour and never touch it again. James did awesome! 💪🏾

[@fisheroldham7707]

I got a unicycle for my birthday, and it’s been a hard couple of hours this video helped a lot

[@brendaharris4472]

That was stinkin' cute! I used to ride almost 40 years ago as a teen. I wonder if I could still do it in my 50's? Your video inspired me!

[@oneninetyseven]

When is the crash compilation coming out? That was entertainment at its finest.

[@MarkeMcCracken]

Dad's laugh at the end is the best!

[@FoxFox-zi8pg]

Buddy great video I’ve been unicycling for around 2 years now and I’m bunny hopping 360 and left right up hills down hills unicycling takes time practice and more practice and more practice

[@johnrisinger3936]

You are one of us now.

[@tquindt1]

Nice jab at your mates, James!

[@Wookey.]

That's pretty good in 4 hours. I've spent quite a few half-hours trying to crack this (a mate has one so I have a go every time there is a party at his place). I can cycle a few metres, but can't really steer reliably enough to stay up further. It's certainly a frustrating game.

[@michaelscalisi4316]

I spent many years riding a unicycle. It took me nearly a month to learn. You have to be physically gifted to learn in a day. The only other person I heard of that could do that was already a bicycle trials rider.

[@reyskidude]

after this... everesting on a unicycle

[@gcn]

People have already done it - cyclists are crazy

[@jakagaber]

@@gcn must be extremly lightweight if made out of some carbon fibre... maybe some deep section wheels 🤔😂😂😂

[@nwimpney]

@@jakagaber there's not too much point, when even an aluminum frame is so light. Deep section wheels would be mostly for looks, since you're really not going to be going very fast on a unicycle that's not geared, 36" wheeled, or both. I've got one unicycle that's on standard road bike tires/wheels, and it's fun to ride, but with direct drive, aero doesn't come into it in any significant way, when 140RPM is only ~17km/h

[@jakagaber]

@@nwimpney you are completly right but it would look really blink

[@dvaneg98]

nwimpney there are unicycles with gears

[@TWROC96]

Hank, Dad's job is moral support, a little bit of filming, and catching some zzz while you put yourself through a GCN challenge.

[@quanchyplimp]

Took me 3 days. Less than 1 day is astounding, nicely done!

[@carlospinho5970]

In stitches bro!!! Freakin hilarious dude!

[@joev1611]

Now that was fun to watch!

[@glennandvirginiamencer9794]

Congratulations. It’s great you learned to ride so quickly. I’m 61. It took me 30-minutes per day EVERYDAY for 2 months. Took another 2 weeks to free-mount my 20”. The key is don’t give up. You haven’t failed until you quit trying.

[@9034833838]

James is hard carrying GCN on his back right now. Putting Russ 2017 stats on board.

[@TWROC96]

James has 2 speeds it seems- full on, or full stop; chill time seems to only happens when he is exhausted.

[@colinmcdonald2499]

Cheers to you and your Dad. Genuinely funny stuff. Thanks!

[@garygary4856]

Nice video. Gave me some genuine laughs. Good progress in a short amount of time.

[@Barrygatuniman]

Well done! With trial and error, you worked out seat height, avoid grass, go for hard flat surface, be persistent! What next? Come and join us in Dalston to play unicycle hockey!

[@ViveSemelBeneVivere]

Well done James! Where there’s a wheel, there’s a way! 😁

[@ravigunslinger]

aww, i love the little cameos from james' dad!

[@ValhallasEJ]

I love how many times Hank says "unicycle" before he proceeds to "pump these bad boys up" in reference to his single tire.

[@richaw6689]

Mate! Well done.. GET IN INDEED.. and the laughing dad!! really entertaining.. not sure I'll be trying it though.. 🚴👍🏻✊🏻👊🏻

[@matthewreich4584]

watching this is a bit dangerous for me considering the unused unicycle in my garage that is now giving me dirty looks... I might have to block out a few hours and give it a go

[@nwbudro9210]

Good job and nice place. It seems all the GCN presenters live in sweet locations.

[@msterdam]

6:53 the dab!😎

[@bravoalley228]

Kudos for trying. I need to get back onto the Ripsurf.

[@Silsis2]

After being Hank's director sportif all night long during the summer solstice ride, he is now his personal cheering fan! Big up to Hank's Dad, next on GCN show please

[@MrArtDV]

Yes you can. fairly easy to do so..if you have no problems with balance in general ..also can go backwards and do some jumps or hops i should say :)

[@richcrompton6891]

Pretty nifty 1:1 ratio on that bad boy. Ever thought of doing a trenching on it up Porlock Hill?🤣 Bloody good effort though mate. The first GCN presenter to actually learn the skill in a day and wheelies and bunny hops are like breathing and walking by comparison!

[@JeffOehlsen]

Nice. This was fun to watch.

[@Metal-Possum]

When riding a unicycle, it's very unlikely you'll hit your head, but you will most certainly hit your shins and go hands first into the ground. Gloves and leg armour is your friend. My advice for anyone who wants to learn, it feels terrifying, but lean the unicycle in the direction you want to go. James has the seatpost tilted backwards on his early attempts, and if you try and pedal forward it's just going to pull itself out from underneath you instead of push itself up under you like it should to keep you up. Also, find yourself a really large open space like a vacant carpark, you'll benefit more from not worrying about hitting something than having something to hold onto, until you learn to steer it too. I made my fair share of mistakes and uninformed decisions learning, and spent a long time persevering and not improving. I spent just a few hours in a carpark down the street from where I was living and everything clicked quickly and I was confident riding around the block soon after. Oh, and lastly... just commit instead of wussing out and bailing prematurely.

[@nancyprier416]

This was hilarious !! I loved every minute!

[@TheUltimateULTRA]

9:00 When your dad turns up your seat is wonky which makes balancing a lot harder. Believe me i’ve made the mistake b4

[@MichaelSnasdell]

Fantastic effort Hank. Kudos for perseverance. Why do you always get the ones with the painful endings?

[@jeskli11]

"I'm confident enough to ride from gate to you." Well done James, if you meant the gate on video. From that gate to me it's about 1,500 kms.

[@HotelPapa100]

I get the impression that the key skill is to balance on the unicycle first. Learn to stand before you drive. That should build your reflexes.

[@dudeonbike800]

Nice job! Way to stick to it. You picked it up very quickly. Grass is good for falling, not learning unicycle. Saddle height WAY too low at start. Parallel bars on nice pavement is the way to learn. I learned in 12 days, spending 45 minutes a day on parallel bars at the park. Day 8 I was riding 20 feet unassisted. Day 12 I was riding 100' and was off and running. At age 50. So anyone with a little cycling fitness can do it!

[@byod]

Great efforts James!

[@Kocan7]

Hank is a top bloke, he got to do most difficult challenges, there was trenching , now unicycle.

[@johnjohannesjuan]

First fing to learn is the exit strategy: Not to fall flat on your face if you fail but to just "walk off" the uniycle forwards and let it fall on the floor well behind you. Therefore when you lose balance which you will, all of the time you won't hurt yourself most of the time. This removes a huge learning barrier and lets you lean forward into the unknown which you have to do to start riding.

[@ForeverLumoz]

Did he actually pick up the uni cycle and say “Let’s pump these bad boys up”.... 😂😂😂😂

[@nickolasdiamond5619]

It seems he did.

[@MarkWilsonUK]

James' Dad is a legend. Right up there with bro-in-law Nigel!

[@s14tat]

Dan, Hank and oppie probably has the best inherited bike handling ability out of the gcn crew. They pick up weird stuff like this or picking up Mountain biking techniques that takes a normal person weeks to achieve in a matter of hours.

[@grandpalouis818]

Can you please do a video of the best bikes in the price range of 1000 to 1500 pounds?

[@lesleyzimmerman5114]

Dad's laugh is the best!

[@jasondeanwilleford8597]

Practice makes permenence

[@PnlBtr]

Always wanted to try one. Some people make it look so easy.

[@toekneewood]

😂. Nice one. How are all the bruisers 🤩

[@stephenmoore7882]

Ahhh my shins! 😅 love it! I could watch James fall off all day