How Did You Learn To Ride?
Ferlazzo, Tony (tofe@chevron.com)
Tue, 22 Oct 1996 13:01:17 -0700
>>Here's a another perspective of the weekend.
>>
>>The event was both inspiring and eye opening for me. The official events
>>and
>>workshops were, unfortunately, beyond me. I'm just now learning to ride,
>>and
>>still practicing next to a chain link fence. Like Erin and Gary, I also rode
>>my bicycle on the novice trail. Yet I still came away with a feeling that
>>the trip to Auburn was worthwhile. New friendships were established. Great
>>riding tips were learned. And unicycling became a reality for me. Until
>>meeting others on Saturday who could ride, I had never met anyone who could
>>ride. What can I say other than to this point I must have led a sheltered
>>life? Sure, I'd seen circus performers and jugglers who rode on stage, but
>>never anyone who had a unicycle on the street. The event in some way
>>legitimized the act of riding a unicycle in public. And I intend on
>>practicing until I can ride.
>>
>>But enough about me. I watched Dana Schneider practice some tricks:
>>dropping
>>the seat to the ground behind while continuing to pedal, coasting, walking
>>the wheel with her hands, riding "side-saddle." Talented yes, but also
>>modest. To some the tricks may be old hat. To me they were terrific.
>>George Peck was another impressive rider, particularly going up and down
>rocky hills. Our host John Foss (great job putting the ride together,
>>John), Brett Bymaster (without the blood), Craig Rodgers (of Wonderwheels
>>fame), and Andy and Constance Cotter were other names I had come to learn of
>>via the web who suddenly became real people. I also took the opportunity to
>join the USA on Saturday. There was very little arm twisting
>>involved...
>>
>>Ken Estes, who told me he unicycled around Central Park in New York, and
>>Barbie the elementary school teacher, who with her friend and co-teacher
>>(sorry, I can't recall your name) teach 4th and 5th graders to ride, were
>>particularly helpful to me because they were both somewhat new riders who
>>could really relate to where I am currently am in the process of learning to
>>ride. To all the others who I haven't named because I can't remember any
>>other names (I do remember Seth from Palo Alto, Jonathan from San Francisco,
>>and Brian the local youngster who really rode well, and the guy from UC
>>Davis, the brothers from San Jose and Modesto), I hope to see you all again
>>soon. Next time I'll be riding, too. Maybe I'll remember your names, too.
>>My only regret was that I didn't plan on staying all weekend. I missed a
>>chance to learn more and talk to more people who also were at the event.
>>
>>Tony Ferlazzo
I continue on my quest to ride. Many afternoon or evenings I can be
found riding around the chain-link fenced
public tennis courts. A photographer at my local newspaper, The Valley
Times, actually spent about a
half an hour taking pictures of me practicing. I think that's a
training aid for learning to ride I haven't heard before.
I actually rode the best with someone standing about 20 feet in front of
me holding a camera. What a break-through!
I took my hand off the fence and rode for up to 10 feet. I'm sure
that's nothing for many of you, but it made me feel
great Of course, the picture they published in the paper turned out to
be one of me hanging on the fence balancing.
The caption accompanying the photo talked about learning to ride, with a
title "Getting a feel for the wheel."
Still, that's not bad for a person who was told by doctors when I woke
up from a three-week coma after a motorcycle
accident that I'd never walk again. Is it? Yeah, I probably have a
tougher time than most, but that hasn't stopped me
trying new things in the twenty-odd years (yes, they've been odd years,
haven't they?) since my accident.
Tony
>-----------------------------------------
>
>