How to balance on a 36 inch unicycle

This video talks you through how I balance holding onto the handlebars on my 36er unicycle.
BONUS POINTS See if you know what bird flies across the road in front of me, comment below.
filmed with a GoPro Hero 6 on a helmet mount while riding my 36 inch Nimbus Nightfox with 125mm cranks.
Total distance 10.1 miles at an average speed of 10.3mph and a maximum speed of 15.7mph

[@attepitkanen7358]

As a beginner, I agree where you mentioned It's easier to stay balanced sideways during higher speeds. But, that's when I personally loose my frontal/back balance, which is probadly due lack of faith on skills at this point perhaps. I hope you accept comments from beginners too :).

[@UniMart_Martin]

Atte Pitkänen of course. I find that trying not to overthink small bumps the 36er helps glide over them. The big wheel can handle it easier than you think

[@leodean3927]

This video really helped me! I took a 30 year hiatus from my 24. Bought a 29" about a year ago. Your info has enabled me to ride now without my hands and arms balancing me. I instinctively do shift my hips. But being fully aware of hip use enables me to balance on straights and turns with both hands just resting on the saddle.

[@UniMart_Martin]

dean flowers glad to be of help. Any other tips you want to know just leave a comment 👍🏻

[@at2step]

I have yet to master two-handed handle bar grip. I shall try your tips.

[@joshstory8054]

I just put some homemade handlebars (idea courtesy of Jim Thode :) on my 29er and I could not hold on with both hands for more than a couple seconds. One hand at a time was no problem. It's helpful to know I'm not alone. It's going to take some time to get used to it. Don't know why I thought I would be able to just pick it up the first time and ride ride ride. Like anything other change, there's a learning curve. I also struggled with free mounting. Not sure if it was the added weight that actually makes a difference or if it's a mental thing. It took at least 3 or 4 tries to get back on after a UPD, whereas normally it's the first try. Thanks for the great video. Your advice is always very helpful!

[@1uniqueislander491]

I always wanted to learn both hands on my 36er touring bar. Thanks for the tip 👍

[@chrisjarrold]

Superb video buddy. 🤙

[@douglasduffus4683]

Great instructional video

[@ChrisCoolski]

Nice video I do this pretty much sometimes on my 36- Oracle. Thanks, bud.

[@jimrussell3476]

The bird looks like a great egret. I'm from Minnesota in the USA but there are similar species on other continents. They are rather common here around ponds and lakes once the ice melts. That doesn't look like a stork, pelican or gull which might be other large white bird candidates.

[@UniMart_Martin]

It was a buzzard. They are quite common here.

[@fogrunr5075]

What I see is the spinal engine working.

[@migueldossantosbico773]

Awsen 😎😁😁😁 many Thanks

[@project182r3]

Yo dude, the event I was talking about earlier is called “Reach Off Road” and raises money for adults with learning difficulties.

[@UniMart_Martin]

Steve Elliott nice one. Thanks for that. I'll look in to doing it. Finished my ride. 42 miles. I'll get my video edited later. Subscribe so ya don't miss it 👍

[@kazparkin1550]

Very useful video, I tired to ride with a handlebar and failed so far. Helpful to realise that more speed helps. How did you learn to mount your 36er?

[@UniMart_Martin]

Kaz Parkin that gets easier over time.

[@jimthode]

Thanks so much for making/posting the video! It has to be the best video on the subject, maybe the only one but still very good and helpful. After watching it a couple times I went out for a few miles on my local bumpy road with my Nimbus 36er. If I add up all the sections, I was able to make about ½ mile with two hands on the handlebar. That is exactly ½ mile more then I have ever managed to do in the past. I assume that you have a Nightrider tire on your uni. They are known to be effected by road camber and reducing the angle the road makes with the wheel will tend to make it turn in the direction of lean. I’m still wondering how much of the ability to ride two hands on is due to the tire (camber thrust) and how much is gyroscopic precession. Since speed is a factor I’m thinking that the gyroscopic precession has a lot to due with it. I do have a Coker with a Coker non-skid tire that I will have to try and compare. They are not affected by road camber at all but the wheel/tire is heavier then the Nightrider tire that I rode today. Thanks again, I’m on my way to touring down the road with no visible means of support.

[@UniMart_Martin]

Glad I could help. Yes it is the original tyre. How much pressure do you run on the road. I find the more pressure I have in the tyre the easier it is on camber.

[@jimthode]

My tire is about 40 psi. I have not tired changing it but am thinking that the more the tire is effected by camber the easier it should be to ride with two hands on the handlebar. That is except where the road has some camber. On my local road there are only a few short sections that have much camber.

[@Funky_Geek]

Great video. I always worry about damaging the handlebar if dropping. Are they pretty robust?

[@UniMart_Martin]

Mine have gone down many times and are still strong. Don’t worry about that

[@migueldossantosbico773]

Hello im Miguel and i begining to Ride a 36 to and for boa o contrato have the handlebars but i Will! My question, how much kilometros per hour u can do in a 36???

[@UniMart_Martin]

Miguel dos Santos Bico I average about 18kmh on ride's up to 25 miles

[@PieceMaker1]

I've ridden for a while now and love spinning my 36er, but only recently decided it's time to get a brake on it. Any tips for unicycle brake usage? I'm mostly getting it to take away the pain of long steep downhills on the road with short cranks, but if you use it for anything else interesting I'd love to hear it! NINJA EDIT: I'm also interested to learn to handle traffic a lot better - I can hop on the spot for a few reps at a red light but any longer than a quick pedestrian crossing and I have to get off and re-mount on green. Any tips for that one?

[@UniMart_Martin]

Piece Maker pretty much the same as me. The brake is only used to even out the down hills. I can't idle the 36er. YET! Free mounting the 36er doesn't bother me so I don't mind getting off at traffic lights.

[@fnybny]

Arch linux and unicycling. Good taste.

[@onecrazywheel]

I was looking at Unicycle.com. They have a lot of choices on crank arm lengths. The standard is a 138mm. Some are 125mm. Kris Holm is 150/127mm. What would be a good size. In your description I read you use the 125. I am 5'11" 30 inch inseam. Would the Kris Holm crank arms be good? Also how did you install the brake on your Nightfox? A local bike shop install it from scratch? Thanks so much.

[@UniMart_Martin]

Yeah I got it done at a local Halfords. I am 5’9 and the 125’s work for me but my mate gets on well with the 110’s

[@onecrazywheel]

@@UniMart_Martin Thanks for the quick response. How about the brake setup? Is that just something a bike shop would build out or did you purchase it as a kit?

[@UniMart_Martin]

You need the bottom bracket which holds the brake from unicycle.com along with the hub that you mount the disc. but the rest was from Halfords

[@onecrazywheel]

@@UniMart_Martin Thanks so much. Halfords must be a neat shop. I'm located just north or Orlando, FL. We have some nice bike shops here locally too who could set it up for me too. Thanks so much for the reply. I have been a unicyclist since 12 and am 37 now. I have wanted a Coker or 36er for years. I was recently going to buy an electric bike for commuting but would rather have my passion which would be another unicycle. I currently ride a 24 inch unicycle with a 3 inch tire. Years ago I could hop up and over a pallet. I also could drop in off a 6 foot quarter pipe at the local skatepark and hop up onto a 16" obstacle while doing trial riding. I need to get into tht sport some more. I will subscribe to your channel. God bless. Jeff - Sunny Central Florida 😎🙏👍☀️🏖️🍊🥭🍍🍋

[@supercanardo]

Nice video! Where about do you live?

[@UniMart_Martin]

Newark on Trent UK

[@bwelther9336]

Im thinking tjat if you attatch the camera to the handlebar on a rod in front of you, it will make for a better viewing experience. Its a bit awkward to watch like this hehe