How To Ride An Electric Unicycle BACKWARDS!!!

Jon gives an Idiot's Guide into how to ride a unicycle backwards. This comprehensive how-to-guide will have you riding backwards in no time, improving your over all riding skill level and allowing you to show off in front of all your mates. If this idiot can do it, then anyone can!

[@harryhalfmoon]

I've been riding for 9 months and one month ago I decided to learn backwards riding. 2 weeks in and I was doing reverse circles and 2 weeks later figure eights and spins and it feels just as natural as going forward. Wonderful feeling. Tip 1: Practice every day, for a half to an one hour. Every, single, day. Tip 2: Learn on a flat, grassy field. Falling will be mostly painless for you and your wheel. Tip 3: Start learning by riding forwards, breaking, and going small bits backwards and then immediately going forward again. Build it out by increasing the duration backwards. Tip 4: Once you can backwards across the field, practice long distances to acclimatize your muscles. Riding backwards uses totally different muscles. Tip 5: Start practicing your reverse starts. After a few days of that, start practicing curves. It will go really fast from then on, as long as you practice every day. Good luck! It feels so freaking awesome once you can do your first reverse figure eights. Hope this helps some one.

[@belkenator]

This pleases me to see this because I learned the same way 2 years prior-- with a grassy field. However, one end of the park I learned on had a gentle slope and that meant I didn't have to worry about speed control at any point. The grass also reduces the twitchy feedback and requires more deliberate movements. I believe you have to sleep after a few sessions for this to really hardwire into our brains. I'm sure I've ridden a couple hundred miles backwards at this point.

[@thefoss721]

Looking back to keep riding backwards to see where your going is the challenging part for me but I’m only on week 1 of the art of reverse! Thanks for the tips!

[@PaleBlueDotCitizen]

Im sure you didn't mean to advise breaking. Braking perhaps. Grammar matters

[@ivanmorales3265]

I've been riding for less than one month and decided to learn backwards I'm on day 5 of 15-20 minutes practice sessions once or twice a day. It's seems impossible at first. I'm gettin it

[@ivanmorales3265]

@@belkenator Agreed. The rest is very important. You build up stress and tension as you practice something difficult. Every single time I take a break/rest/night's sleep everything seems easier afterwards. The progress feels like you practiced another hour.

[@RobHitch]

Never really been interested in learning to ride backwards any distance. BUT would love to learn how to pendulum when at a standstill 😎. Thank you Jonathan! 👍🙏

[@samikinnunen2124]

Thinking like me brother. First I thought Jonathan will never learn backwards riding, but now he got me interested a little bit more.

[@ProminentMedia]

Great vid, mate. Exactly like you, this took me a long time to learn and I'm still in the foothills (although I can now go backwards for a long while in a straight line if I need to). I just found it no fun going back to 'useless beginner' status after I had several thousand miles of riding forwards under my belt. The difference for me was a 'bum backwards' position (kind of like a figure skater, but less pronounced); once I did that I had good control at lower speeds. I then found that my super-low-speed control improved immeasurably - an unexpected bonus!

[@kenspaceman3938]

I think you give really good advice. In my case I just used going forward and then leaning backwards. Exactly like you I found placing my feet very near the side shell of the euc helpful. I recently had a back injury, not from riding though , so at home recovering for some time. Looking 👀 at videos remembering how much fun I had learning to ride backwards. Was real hard for me, but so sweet to learn it…well, nowhere perfect but functional. As you say you’ve never really needed the skill, but love the feeling, that’s so me also.

[@marcweissfood]

Thank you sooooo much for this video!!! Thanks to you I got my self together and started to do what you said. Today was my first time I could go backwards , it felt so strange and at the same time so cool! Thank you Jon , love your videos!! Keep up the good energy and wonderfull work!😊

[@stefanclooneykannika]

Thanks for great vid. Ive been very tardy with learning backwards. Its important skill for idling at traffic lights

[@old_trapper]

"... I mean it in the nicest way possible ... " :-) you made my day. Currently I am in fact trying to go backwards and bouncing back and forth and found good motivation in your clip. But ... I think I owe you that ... the real surprise was the exceptional well balalced audio with good voice quality. Easy on the ear. Great job, kudos.

[@GreenMasterMike]

Love your videos John man keep it updated this helped out a lot of my students

[@ignioushorizon8128]

I been practicing that for four years now. I'll try the post idea. Good advice!

[@gytrash]

Great little tutorial Jonathan! My MO was slightly different, but no better. You make it look easy! 👍😊

[@gabrieleattolico6841]

Thanks for the tips, tomorrow I’ll start the “back training”! All useful and precise instructions! 👍👍👍

[@AndreiPetunin]

Wheelie good! I remember watching your learning videos - must say I wasn’t too confident in your abilities there 😛 well done 👍 I’m still learning that one (or not)!

[@asdf52708]

Thanks Jon! I'm brand new to EUCs, I came from Esk8 and these videos are helping me out quite a bit! I'm on my fifth day riding!

[@wheellifejon]

I am glad they are helping. I have been riding for years and it is still just as much fun as it was in the beginning!

[@WILSONsHobbies]

Thank you, this is my goal for this year. Good video!

[@magpieeuc4846]

Thanks great tips looking forward to trying, only been on my EUC 1 week so will keep trying to go forward for now 🤣

[@michaelbesler7469]

I will definitely give that a try, thanks for the helping video.

[@brucebrookshaw3401]

I've loved ur association with Ian at speedy feet.. you both get along so well. So it's like seeing a band member going solo.. To see u here without him.. lol One point I'd like to mention is: Stepping on the machine forwards or back.. I notice u balance on the one foot or leg.. Something not touched on much.. But balancing on the one foot after u step on? Is also a great confidence booster.

[@bluzta2]

Kool. Ur very informative. Thank. I always tried but you ready gunna get me moon walking on my wheels thanks dewd. , Good teacher.

[@meljen8592]

Useful video Jonathan,thanks.

[@Speedyfeetuk]

Go Jon! What a beast of a rider. Love you xx

[@wheellifejon]

Easy tiger.

[@freeforester1717]

A man who has been going backward for some time now…🤣 nice one John, now a year has passed going forward, I guess it’s time for trying to learn this, so we can all keep up with your ‘many happy returns’ lol!

[@electricunipsycho]

Crashing while riding backwards is surprising. You roll out of it unscathed rather easily most the time. It's almost like we should be riding backwards lol

[@organicparadox]

You rock buddy, great vid

[@freetoflyshawn]

I’m a busker and I have a V11. I’m getting ready to do this while busking! 😁

[@wheellifejon]

Send me a clip of that please!!

[@victor9]

it's not hard per se, more frustrating though. cause you know you can ride, but just can't figure it out. If you are lazy, like me, learn 15 min each day so you don't give up too soon; and your body will calibrate itself. 5 days and I can ride backwards for a long time. just gotta learn tight turns and look where im going.

[@Timemachine69]

Thank you I’ll try your tips.

[@wheellifejon]

Come back and let me know how you get on.

[@alapon77]

I haven't mastered it yet but in the few times that I have briefly borrowed a friend's smaller-diameter EUC, I can go a lot further than I can with larger wheels when attempting backwards motion.

[@Ambrovious]

I was thinking of the same thing. Time to pull out my old V8F that I learned on...glad I kept it around.

[@bernardobuffa2391]

ultimate challenge: backwards + seated + climbing stairs 🤣🤣🤣

[@ajibub3622]

Dear Mr. Whalley, I tried your standstill method, push off from the ground and try to stand erect (I can't idle yet 😄). I can now occasionally get 200 ft. (Running out of road.) I will train some more for consistency. Prior to this, I was carving backwards. I got massive swings and uncontrollable speed. Then I tried to tilt the pedal just so slightly left and right. Basically standing straight and making small corrections made me go backwards straight"ish". Thank you very much for making this video.

[@wheellifejon]

Awesome! Well done!! Sounds like you are really getting the hang of it.

[@Monociclese]

ERECT! : ))) Nice guide! Thx!

[@TimLake]

What is the jacket you show in this? I have a Demon Flexforce which is fine in summer but I want something warmer (without having to layer up) for winter. Thanks

[@ajibub3622]

Took me 20 days to go straight backwards. Next is to turn, then circles and figure 8s. I am training in a covered parking lot. Lots of columns for me to run into 😲. I gotta learn to turn my head backwards to see.

[@wheellifejon]

Awesome

[@Roskellan]

I have been practicing quite a lot to do this, and whey I can - sort of. The bit that is really defeating me at the moment is the transitions from riding forward to backward and even worse the transitions from backward to forward. Practice makes perfect :-)

[@vidadeperros9763]

I think it is impossible for me. Tried it for 3 days solid one hour a day and I always end up falling sideways when going backwards one or other side.

[@ivanmorales3265]

@@vidadeperros9763 I was going to comment and realized you comment is 5 months old. I was going to give a few tips in learning right now as I go. But I'm sure you've mastered it

[@vidadeperros9763]

I gave up trying 😂😂😂 I just use it forwards….

[@vidadeperros9763]

@@ivanmorales3265 Any tips can sure help. I will try again and tell you with feed back if I master it…

[@ivanmorales3265]

@@vidadeperros9763 I'm currently in the process of learning 1.Helmet is number one. I never fell down but rolling on your back is really dangerous. 2. He says in the video. Head up and straight. And don't look down. I kept falling and falling cuz I was looking at the wheel. Once I held my head up I started rolling 3. Just fall. I felt like I was falling every time, when I transitioned from forwards to backwards. It's a weightless feeling and my body automatically corrects it. You have to convince your body and mind that you're ok to roll backwards. I think this is the most difficult part. 3. Let it wobble. Lol. As long as you're in a safe area, just let it go where it wants at first. Do not bail, just commit. 4. Do you best to control speed. I have a lot of issues keeping it going, some times, but others I start rolling way to fast. Fast in reverse with no control equals possible brain injury. 5. Once you can get it moving slowly, and only then, is when you can start thinking about steering and balancing. I couldn't balance at all, until I started to get moving backwards, cuz there's not enough time to think about it. It has to come naturally, thinking about it is too slow. 6. Don't practice to long. The longer you go and are having trouble the more your muscles will tense up and at a certain point you're no longer progressing. Every single time I took a long break or tried again the next day, everything got better and easier. As you tense up, you're losing control, so practicing for an hour, is not really beneficial, unless your stay loose and focused the whole time, which I am not capable of. Hope these help a little. Here is a link to the Facebook group of the electric unicycle . Org forum, where I asked for help and got some good tips m.facebook.com/groups/ElectricUnicycle/permalink/4893933284037929/

[@optimusprime6453]

Normally I only ride forewords, but this can polish my skill a little ! By the way is that Ian and Bruce on your T-shirt?

[@wheellifejon]

Well spotted... yes, that is Ian and Bruce.

[@bernardobuffa2391]

one skill I have as something pending and IMHO its worth to learn is to mount with my dumb limb (in my case the left feet).

[@wheellifejon]

I tried doing this the other day after reading your comment... it is ridiculously difficult at first!!!

[@DardanAirlines]

@jonathan Do you ever encounter overheating issues while changing direction a lot? My Z10 tends to overheat doing this stuff, so I've minimized going backward. I'll try going backward from a dead stop like you suggested.

[@wheellifejon]

I think you could definitely overheat and stress the motors doing this excessively so I agree with you, minimise it. I honestly have never been in a situation where I have needed to go backwards tbh! Just a nice skill to have.

[@GillamtheGreatest]

what jacket is that i really dig it

[@gamingdayshuriken4192]

thx dude ;)

[@NopeNope78]

What was the helmet shown as recommendation at the begining of the video?

[@rdgw_uk]

How did it take you to get to the level of skill? Like you been riding years but never committed the time needed to learn riding backwards.

[@detroitsteeplejack]

That’s a nice jacket. Which one is it?

[@claudioagmfilho]

🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷👏🏻, Thank you for helping us with that!

[@LHLgardenservices]

Nice one Jonathan 👍(always said you were backwards 😉) I've sent you a message on messenger 👍

[@giuseppefurnari]

Non capisco molto l'inglese, ma sei simpatico ed i tuoi video sono utili.. Saluti da Torino

[@electricunipsycho]

I can ride backwards better than most people can ride forwards. Can do 50km/h. I recently learnt to ride backwards seated.

[@pellegrinoernesto]

Thanks for the video. I tried a few months ago but I started to go backward directly with the last exercise you showed. I didn't succeed and never really tried again. I will try starting from your first exercise, hoprfully it will work this time. PS I would suggest you to shorten your intro. :)

[@wheellifejon]

Thanks. I was thinking the same thing. Appreciate the feedback.

[@ozramblue117]

Johnathan “I’m not your mother” Whalley, Thanks you.

[@Ahmaskullz]

My dude, where can I get ur jacket 🧥 , what brand is it?

[@Stefonewheel]

No link for the padded jacket?

[@thefoss721]

Decided to learn how to ride backwards a few days ago and I got it mostly, but now I want to learn how to keep going back and look at where I’m going and that’s very challenging but slowly getting there Any tips for that? It’s so confusing when looking back after looking forward it’s definitely a challenge and a mental shift in reversing all your thoughts ahhhh it’s nuts!! But I’m fully erect so that’s a start ;)

[@jarehelt]

any tips on turning your head so you can see where you're going?

[@wheellifejon]

Sure. Practice and practice! Get the basics right until you have confidence and the start to steadily look left and right while going backwards. It will feel weird. Do that lots and lots until it is easy. When that feels easy, extend the turn of your head as far as you can. To begin with, try to keep your torso fixed in place and only turn your head. Don't twist too much from the waist. Good luck.

[@LetcLove]

When ordered & when coming??

[@wheellifejon]

Who the where the what now?

[@NemoEUC]

Question ⁉️ does your tilt angle need to be 0 to ride backwards?

[@wheellifejon]

I would recommend it. However, if you have a strongly preferred riding angle, stick with that.

[@fazer12779]

You need to look behind you otherwise you’ll crash in to someone. I’ve been riding for 8 years.

[@oh_naur]

2:51 - 2:52 you're so funny 😆

[@ivanmorales3265]

Lol. "totally pointless video, thank you for watching". It could happen, I can think of a couple scenarios where backing up could be the best option. To be fair though we all want to learn so we can be the coolest dork on a toy. Lol. Can't even afford two wheels

[@shanesplanetshane3795]

Step 1, stand on wheel. Step 2, lean backwards. I feel badly for those with the word "never' in their vocabulary. Failure wasnt even a consideration when I first purchased an euc. Ride naked!

[@NemoEUC]

It's the balancing backwards that I just can't get. Ive tried this several times. I've been riding for about 7 months now.

[@wheellifejon]

I know what you mean. Follow the steps in my video and you will get there, but it takes AGES and then it just starts to work. Lower your expectation levels and just go short distances and gradually it will come. Trust me. I felt EXACTLY the same as you do right now. Keep going. You can do this!

[@small-timegarden]

Is that a DJI fullface helmet? Didnt know those exist

[@wheellifejon]

Sadly not. Just a regular helmet to which I put DJI sticker!

[@small-timegarden]

@@wheellifejon hahah

[@FinnBjerke]

Why not use a fence 4 support to begin with?

[@wheellifejon]

Because I had a post! I did say, or fence...

[@FinnBjerke]

@@wheellifejon good on ya mate, thx 4 inspiring video

[@s312a22s]

Smaller than it appeared in the photo

[@EUCXR]

Erect as possible 🤣

[@ajibub3622]

I am trying backwards. I got nothing so far. Maybe 5 days in.

[@wheellifejon]

It took me about five years so dont give up if it is difficult!!!! You've got this!

[@Cons2911]

Wait, why am I here, I can barely ride 3 meters forward.. And it's not even straight

[@wheellifejon]

How are you getting on? Made any progress?

[@Cons2911]

@@wheellifejon yeah. Getting on is not an issue, almost always at least. Of course it doesn’t look as nice as those veteran riders. I can go some good distance without having to bail. Managed to get maybe 100-120m (had to stop bec of the speed bump lol). Still not as stable though, and sometimes i do have to stop and step off. I can turn 90deg but 180 wok not sure yet and I need a wider area. But I’m happy with my progress. Maybe 12hrs in total

[@TedTheAtheist]

Intro should be shorter.

[@Frindleeguy]

Do the world a favor, if you're going to teach folks how to *anything* on a EUC, start with how to wear a helmet 😘

[@jaysons8050]

Your intro is too long

[@wheellifejon]

Thanks Jayson. I received similar feedback, so if you see my more recent videos, that intro has gone.