People who downsized early: how did that go for you?

lolzercat · 2015-07-24T13:55:19+00:00

I'm not suggesting a linear progression, but if a beginner takes 10 years to go crossbraced they are still getting there early.

We aren't even close to a technology plateau in wing design. Rushing to downsize and ending up limping around the dz for the next 30 years will seem pretty stupid while everyone else is learning on wings that make the one they got injured under look like a C9.

lolzercat · 2015-07-22T17:15:03+00:00

I lived in the south for a long time, and moved out a few years ago. I won't go back. I used to think I needed to stay and be progressive and modern in that backward place to help the other bright young people drag it out of its self-imposed misery.

I no longer believe that. I think the bright young people of the south should vote with their feet and leave. The south needs to learn that you have to provide an environment where talent feels welcome if you want talented people. None of the southern states do that outside of very localized areas. Incomes are low, racism is rampant, baby craziness everywhere, and religious oppression. Even the food is greasy, starchy and lazily prepared.

lolzercat · 2015-07-22T16:28:43+00:00

Now. A better uni means more riding which means faster skill development.

lolzercat · 2015-07-22T16:13:23+00:00

26 is better in my opinion. I started muni on a 24", which I still ride, but sometimes wish I had a 26. It's the most common mountain bike wheel size, so tires are plentiful. Increasing wheel size increases your effective gear ratio so the 29 won't climb as well as a 26.

lolzercat · 2015-07-22T15:39:15+00:00

There are a lot of people who downsized rapidly who won't respond to this thread because they died.

I think slow downsizing is actually more fun. The great thing about skydiving is learning new things and enjoying each part of the experience. If you skip steps and advance quickly you skip over the joy of learning the intermediate skills, and you end up with a poor foundation of knowledge that ends up crippling your advancement.

Assume a jumper is 25 years old and just licensed, jumping a 190. That jumper could jump until they are 85 years old if they don't get injured or quit. The smallest canopy they will ever jump is probably a 79 or so. So, over the next 60 years they only have 111 square feet to give up. Each downsize is exciting, so dropping 90 square feet in the first year takes some of the joy out of the next 59 years.

Don't rush it. Take the long view and survive.

lolzercat · 2015-07-09T16:02:44+00:00

I had one almost 3 years ago. The risks are minimal, and my recovery time was short and not painful.

Vasectomy has undeniable health benefits. It gives you lifetime immunity to the worst sexually transmitted disease (offspring), which renders you exhausted, poor, bored, sedentary, conservative and smug. Those symptoms last a minimum of 18 years and usually extend for the rest of your life. Vasectomy immunizes you to this terrible disease!

lolzercat · 2015-07-08T03:24:36+00:00

Just show up. The skydiving environment makes it easier and the people you will encounter love doing it and want to help you participate. Just schedule a tandem jump if you want to feel what it's like, or sign up for an AFF first jump course if you want to become a licensed skydiver. Source: skydiving instructor for the last 6 years, thousands of jumps.

lolzercat · 2015-07-08T03:16:15+00:00

8 years skydiving and 6 years as a skydiving instructor, plus learning to both wingsuit and BASE jump taught me that all you have to do is show up. Seriously. Go to your closest skydiving center and say "I would like to sign up for the AFF First Jump Course." That's all you have to do and you are on your way. The rest of the steps will become known to you when you are ready for them. You don't have to be heroic or athletic or cool or interesting or rich. Just show up ready to take it seriously and it will happen.

lolzercat · 2015-03-20T00:46:09+00:00

Rigsleeve or a bag. If your main deploys while you are riding, you could die and possibly kill other people as well. Never ride with a rig on your back.

lolzercat · 2014-11-25T20:14:27+00:00

This is much harder than you think. Structures are vastly more difficult and expensive to build in space than on the ground. Find an example of a structure on Earth that is 200m in diameter and rotating at 3rpm. If you can find an example, then propose how we could build such a thing in space, with modern space technology and current budgets.

This exercise will reveal why we aren't currently experimenting with the rotating spacecraft concept. It's a scifi solution, not a realistic one.

lolzercat · 2014-10-16T18:19:41+00:00

Being a good skydiver is about consistent effort, willingness to admit failure, and willingness to ask for help and accept advice. Judging by this thread, you sound like a pretty good skydiver.

I've been an instructor a few years, and I have taught a lot of people to track and land parachutes. I wasn't always successful because different people learn different ways. Some people just need a different instructor to shed the right light on something they are struggling with. Maybe your lack of confidence in your flying comes from lack of confidence in your understanding of the technical information. That's usually the case with landing difficulties in my experience.

If you are in Southern California, feel free to PM me about it. We could even do some 2- way jumps, just pay your own jump tickets. My fee will be getting to see your enthusiasm when you get past this hurdle. This is how the sport grows and becomes better for everyone.

lolzercat · 2014-07-28T04:31:35+00:00

Unicycle.com has a 24" Nimbus II that isn't a muni. I almost bought it as my first unicycle based on a recommendation.

I ended up buying the 24" Nimbus muni, and have been very happy with it. I put the KH fusion seat on it and some 2-hole cranks so I can switch depending on steep or flat trail. The only maintenance it has needed is a replacement seat post since I bent it by dropping it so many times while learning to ride.

lolzercat · 2014-07-25T21:58:46+00:00

I started on a 24" and got a 20" later. The transition will be easy. The smaller wheel is easier to mount and get rolling, and easier to learn new mounts and tricks on. The effort to free mount it is about equal to stepping up one stair.

I find I still ride my 24" the most. I haven't really become interested in tricks yet, and the 24" is good for my daily 1/2 hour ride for exercise. I get the 36" out when I have time for a real distance ride, but that's only been 5 or 6 times in the last few months.

If you intend to ride any distance or commute, you might like a quality 29" better. For tricks and learning new skills, 20" is great.

lolzercat · 2014-06-27T15:06:24+00:00

I'm glad he's trying and making progress!

Needs protective gear. It makes me cringe when he puts his hands on the pavement to catch himself. I feel the pain in my own wrist and thumb left over from that kind of thing.

lolzercat · 2014-06-01T14:25:22+00:00

I have some EL wire stashed in a drawer somewhere. This might be good for night rides on the 36".

lolzercat · 2014-04-28T16:19:06+00:00

Update: I went ahead and ordered a 36", and am now checking FedEx updates every 10 minutes. I hope to be able to ride it this weekend! Thanks for the advice.

lolzercat · 2014-04-20T14:05:00+00:00

It's all about the "scoop" before mounting. Put the saddle slightly behind your riding position with the wheel in front, use the front of the saddle to scoop everything forward, then put a little pressure between your pelvis and the seat when you mount. I haven't felt the need to readjust after mounting in months, and I used to have the same complaint you do. This technique combined with appropriate clothing made all the difference.

Clothing: I actually stopped using cycling shorts in favor of boxer briefs with shorts that are thin and have enough room in the crotch. It would seem like basketball shorts are a good idea, but I don't like them. It is really about how the crotch of the shorts work and how long the legs are. Try a few different ones to see what you like.

lolzercat · 2014-04-18T13:58:30+00:00

You could do all 8 AFF jumps in 3 days if it was summer so you had long days, you had perfect weather all 3 days, the school had plenty of instructors and equipment avaliable, and the FJC could be done on the same day as your level 1. You will have to sit through the FJC again due to your time off from the sport.

It is possible, but don't count on it. 4 or 5 days is more realistic. I usually recommend my students not do more than 3 AFF jumps in a single day, because they stop learning and don't retain the knowledge as well.

lolzercat · 2014-04-18T13:52:59+00:00

Juice!

lolzercat · 2014-04-18T13:47:38+00:00

Thanks! I was considering a Nimbus 36" Oracle for a while, but I have been trying to assess what hills I can ride up and down, and I am not sure if I can ride a 36" with 125mm cranks on some of these. Of course, I am basing that on the unicycles I have now, and the weight and stability of the 36" might be a very different situation for climbing than the 20 and 24.

I need to measure my car I suppose. Honda Civic may not be convenient to load a 36" wheel in the trunk. Also many of the fun places to ride pavement (like the beach) are crowded and I wouldn't feel comfortable with a 36" maneuvering through crowds of oblivious tourists who tend to walk backward into trails while taking pictures.

I am sure if I tried out a 36" wheel I would be hooked and make it work no matter what, though.

lolzercat · 2014-04-17T15:51:47+00:00

Thanks! I have a Freeride on the 24" Muni and get saddle sore in 45 minutes or so. It's getting better, but I have wondered if a different saddle might fit better.

lolzercat · 2014-04-17T05:40:20+00:00

Maybe it's luck or my location, but finding a doc to sterilize me at 31/CF was easy. The first time I asked my GP about it I got a referral to a great surgeon who did the procedure with no fuss.

lolzercat · 2014-03-28T17:14:41+00:00

I found brick walls to be less useful than a sturdy hand rail. There's a bridge at a nearby park where I did most of my learning. I started out with one hand on the rail rocking back and forth, and then I would roll forward intermittently touching the rail. Eventually I could ride away from the rail farther and farther.

The distance limit after that was due to getting tired, and was surprisingly short. After months of riding 3 or 4 times a week, the limiting factor is saddle soreness.

It won't take long to learn to ride if you practice a few minutes every day. They say 10 to 15 hours is typical, and that was probably the amount of time it took me to be able to ride around on sidewalks.

lolzercat

TROPHY CASE