Warming Up by Steven Ragatz

Visualization and Juggling by Steven Ragatz

Numbers Training by Steven Ragatz

Throw height and rate by Steven Ragatz

Make sure that you put almost all of your weight on the seat and move the pedals with your feet. You don't want to be trying to stand on the pedals. If you do, you will tend to tip to one side while riding. Keep your posture up and face forward. Don't look down at your feet - no worries, they will remain at the end of your legs without you watching them. With your butt tucked under, your weight should transfer straight down the fork to the wheel axle.

For idling, pick your strong foot and keep it down, rocking back and forth about a third of a rotation (120 degrees - or about one radian - or whatever). You can idle with your feet parallel, but I think that learning with one foot down is by far more common. Hang out on the uni for along time. Your body will begin to learn the new balance and discover how to manipulate it. For some, it comes quickly, for others (like myself) it takes a great deal of work.

Also check to see if the seat is high enough. You want the seat to be raised high enough that when the pedal is at it's lowest position your leg is straight if you place your heal on the pedal. That way, when you place the ball of your foot on the pedal to actually ride, there is a slight bend in the knee. Often I see people trying to learn with the seat too low. It forces them to hunch over and pushes the butt back, throwing off the center of balance.

Like any combination trick, juggling and unicycling requires you to keep the two skills isolated. Make sure that you can idle on the uni without moving your shoulders, keeping your back straight and focus up. Also, be able to juggle without having to move your feet to adjust the pattern. With both of these skills in place separately, the juggling should be an easy addition to the unicycle.

When juggling on a unicycle and turning, face your torso towards the center of the turning circle. Not completely, about 10 degrees or so. The juggling pattern follows the shoulder plane, so you will have to pull the juggling pattern towards the center of the turning circle as well. The throws are made to the point in relation to where you will be, so you will have to push the throws ahead for forward riding.

- Steve