To Ride Or not To Ride, That is the question [Archive]

cheetor

17th July 2004, 04:31

6Chris6

17th July 2004, 07:22

SPman

17th July 2004, 07:49

As Chris said - your call.
Only you can decide what is right for you - it all comes down to how you feel inside, about it - not pressure from somebody else.

Personally, I've only ever had one off I couldn't ride the wreck home....and giving up because I might get hurt has never really been a considered option.

maybe

17th July 2004, 07:54

I had a van do u turn in front of me last october and hit him hard got minor injuries enough for ten days off work as they would not pay for the damage to the bike and it was going to court I never had the bike repaired instead spent $1800 on another so I could ride again.

DEATH_INC.

17th July 2004, 07:57

I've had a couple of good one's,but never seriously injured though.
My girlfreind,Draco,would be the one to talk to,she had a serious crash about a year and a half ago,put her in hospital for ages and she's still recovering.....
I reckon if you borrow a bike and go for a ride you'll know straight away if it's still for you.
I still shit myself everytime a cage looks like it's gonna pull out in front of me....

riffer

17th July 2004, 09:05

Good luck in whatever decision you make cheetor.

I finish off the work on my bike today (hopefully) and will be taking it out immediately for a wee test.

I lowsided my bike avoiding a car and boat trailer who pulled out in front of me and slid under the bike at about 80km/h before getting flipped up and landing on my back - all through three lanes of motorway rush hour traffic.

I walked away (as I have with all my accidents except one) with nothing more than a badly sprained ankle (slight ligament tear) and general soreness for about a week.

Rather than see it as a warning call to get off the bike, I have taken it as validation that I am doing the right thing, and its simply a wake up call. I was getting far too cocky with my lanesplitting and general riding.

moko

17th July 2004, 14:31

I used to have minor offs all the time,had 2 biggies,including one shortly after starting out when I was told that by rights I should have died and another that saw me hit the corner of a house after a learner driver sent me clean over the top of his car(wonderful to watch no doubt).Every time I got back on as soon as possible.Last accident(the house one)was in 1979 and I`ve had some great times on bikes since.In fact I still get a buzz every time I`m out for a ride,even take the long way home from work every morning,that`s a whole lot of good times I`d have missed if I`d given up all those years ago.As others have said it`s your choice entirely but if I`d stopped riding I`d be behind the wheel of some tin box feeling the pain every time I saw some guy out enjoying himself on 2 wheels.

jimbo600

17th July 2004, 14:55

Fox-In-Sox

17th July 2004, 15:16

How many people win lotto Twice? Odds of two crashes are pretty slim...
Ive lost count of the amount of what i term near deaths (Times that only my experience on a bike have saved me from a nasty off).

They scare my other half more than me these days. Without knowing the details of your accident (Your fault or theres etc...)

A choice such is this is really yours and yours alone, hey look on the briteside, now that youve survived one 100kph crash, next time you may not have to make this decision again.

Health is merely the slowest possible way in which we can die. (Seemed appropriate...)

KATWYN

17th July 2004, 16:26

Well after my acadent, I'm getting closer and close to being able to ride again
and I gave 2 options
Ride or dont ride
Ever since my accadent, as acared as some people may be
I've been itching to ride again, But
My afamily would rather I satyed in a car (after all my car is a road legal rally car with 5 point seatbelts and a rollcage) But nothing can beat the freedom of a motorcycle
I'm at a loss as to waht I whould do, mabye me living after a 100kph crash was a omen to never bike again,. or should I stand and ride again?
Good to hear you are getting better Cheetor.

Ahh the choices we have to make! only you can answer this one. Although
you have now been primed on how easy it is to have a crash - it may be that you are now going to be less likely to become complacent in the future.
and your odds are somewhat lowered statistically now.

Speaking of omens.... all in a space of 2 years - a guy I knew had a fairly major off (broken coller bone ,spent a couple of nights in hospital)....got back into riding then witnessed a motorcycle accident and ummed and arrred whether to give up then....got back in the saddle again only to have a near miss....ummmed and arrred again.....got back in the saddle then a couple of months later was killed on his bike.

Its all time and unforeseen circumstance. We are all going to the same place
only some of us get there quicker than others ....Cancer is just around the corner as well! or getting hit by a bus!

Bottom line is, bikes are dangerous and there is a higher risk element to it
but so is sitting in a boat leisurely fishing (that is very high risk!)

DO YOU OR DON'T YOU ? You need to weigh up the costs and the rewards to you personally and base your decision on that. (if there are more costs to you, then don't if there are more rewards to you then do!)

Posh Tourer :P

17th July 2004, 20:10

and your odds are somewhat lowered statistically now.

What twaddle!! your odds are exactly the same as they were before... very low, but still present. Statistics doesnt work like that... unless the accident has made you more careful, in which case its not statistics lowering your odds, its you!
The chances of you having three accidents close together are a lot lower than that of having only one accident, but just having the first one doesnt reduce the chance of another accident. Its like not winning lotto... if you buy 30,000 tickets one week and dont win the big one, it doesnt increase your odds of winning the big one the next week....

Its all time and unforeseen circumstance. We are all going to the same place
only some of us get there quicker than others ....Cancer is just around the corner as well! or getting hit by a bus!
Bottom line is, bikes are dangerous and there is a higher risk element to it
but so is sitting in a boat leisurely fishing (that is very high risk!)

Very true..... Its all up to you cheetor. Do you think you can make yourself ride safely/choose when to hoon? How much risk are you prepared to take? The fact that you got a bike in the first place indicates you are prepared to take some risk. If you believe you wont be able to control yourself on the road buy a racebike and get into SS150 or buckets or something. You can try again and see what happens. If you think its too much to risk, give it up. If you are enjoying it enough to outweigh the risks, dont....

KATWYN

17th July 2004, 20:51

What twaddle!! your odds are exactly the same as they were before... very low, but still present. Statistics doesnt work like that... unless the accident has made you more careful, in which case its not statistics lowering your odds, its you!
....

Thanks for the lesson Posh....go easy on me i'm sensitive. My thinking up
until your sharp lesson a moment ago (ie) what twaddle! ouch... was based on some information I read once and that was, when you (a beginner) start riding a motorcycle you have a 50% chance of crashing your bike within the first 5 years of riding and the % lowers thereafter.....
my thoughts were, now that cheetor has had that 1st crash (as he is a learner) the odds have been lowered........BTW I'm not arguing, im curious if
that is right as well? can you tell me? or is it a load of BS

MikeL

17th July 2004, 20:52

I've been itching to ride again

I think you've answered your own question.
If you stop riding, what will the real reason be?
Fear of another accident? Loss of confidence? Loss of enjoyment? All valid reasons, and only you can determine whether they are compelling. But if you give up in order to please others, I think you're letting yourself in for a lot of unhappiness further down the track...

Posh Tourer :P

17th July 2004, 21:20

Thanks for the lesson Posh....go easy on me i'm sensitive. My thinking up until your sharp lesson a moment ago (ie) what twaddle! ouch... was based on some information I read once and that was, when you (a beginner) start riding a motorcycle you have a 50% chance of crashing your bike within the first 5 years of riding and the % lowers thereafter.....
my thoughts were, now that cheetor has had that 1st crash (as he is a learner) the odds have been lowered........BTW I'm not arguing, im curious if
that is right as well? can you tell me? or is it a load of BS

Ok fair enough.... :calm:

It isnt purely the statistics that are against him crashing again though...

But if you were meaning that there were statistics to back up a trend, then I can agree with you.... :done: I think that your figures sound reasonable. I'm quite happy to accept that he now has a lower chance of crashing, given that he's crashed once and it's taught him a lesson. :niceone:

I thought you were beginning on the situation where if a coin goes heads 5 times in a row it has a greater chance of going tails (which it doesnt)... Its a very common way to misunderstand statistics, and the difference between the above situation and the true action of statistics is subtle and hard to explain... So its often easier to go in and try to dent the confidence first :done: rather than suggest that you are right :P

Note to self... be more polite :mellow:
me ---> :kick: <----me :P

KATWYN

17th July 2004, 21:26

Ok fair enough.... :calm:

It isnt purely the statistics that are against him crashing again though...

But if you were meaning that there were statistics to back up a trend, then I can agree with you.... :done: I think that your figures sound reasonable. I'm quite happy to accept that he now has a lower chance of crashing, given that he's crashed once and it's taught him a lesson. :niceone:

I thought you were beginning on the situation where if a coin goes heads 5 times in a row it has a greater chance of going tails (which it doesnt)... Its a very common way to misunderstand statistics, and the difference between the above situation and the true action of statistics is subtle and hard to explain... So its often easier to go in and try to dent the confidence first :done: rather than suggest that you are right :P

Note to self... be more polite :mellow:
me ---> :kick: <----me :P

:apint: Cheers

riffer

17th July 2004, 21:30

Hey cheetor,

I had my first ride today since the crash, after putting the bike back together again.

I had thought at the back of my mind that there might be a bit of apprehension, and I guess there was a bit, as I had completely rebuilt the front of the bike and, although I was very careful to make sure I had done the job right, there's always that thought at the back of your head, "did I miss something".

I hadn't tightened up my steering head enough and it was a bit wobbly, and I had to fix that as the handlebars wanted to tank slap when I took my hands off the bars, but that was quickly fixed.

What I'm really trying to get at is that it only took a couple of minutes on the bike for me to realise that I wasn't scared at all, even though the tyres were cold, I was rusty after four weeks off, and the back tyre was spinning in the wet.

Sometimes the stuff you make up in your head when you aren't riding is a lot worse than how you actually feel when you are on the bike.

It's always tough, that first crash. Mine was when I was 17, on my IT400, when I tried to jump it on the Hutt Valley Riverbank, and blew the landing, and landed on the tripleclamps, breaking two ribs.

I wondered at that time whether or not to get back on, and did as soon as the tape came off, even though it hurt like hell.

Anyway, my mother kept on about how I was going to kill myself on that bike, and hassled me to get a car. So I got a V8, then another bike, then another V8, a few other cars, then a turbo 4WD, then a twin-turbo 4WD (love those subarus) and now I'm back on the bikes.

The cars are cool, but they never gave me the buzz that the bike does.

I'd hate to see you give up on bikes quickly, but do what you feel best.

Try the bike one more time before you make your decision, though :mellow:

moko

17th July 2004, 22:18

:apint: Cheers

Sorry Katwyn but I agree with PT`s first comment.If you jump back on a bike after an accident thinking "great I`ve got less chance of another one now" you`re dangerously deluded.In fact if it`s rattled your confidence there`s a good chance you`re at more risk as you`ll be riding tensed up and possibly over-reacting.How does the saying go"Theres lies,damn lies and statistics",or something similar.

Skyryder

17th July 2004, 22:47

Never binned the bike but some near misses in cars taught me a few things. As most have said only you know the aswer to your question. But if you did not learn anything from your 'off' then stay off until you have.

Skyryder

dhunt

17th July 2004, 23:09

To Ride or Not To Ride isn't really the question. But why wouldn't you ride? After binning myself about 9 weeks ago now. This is something I've thought about a bit. I got on a bike pretty much as soon as I got out of plaster but that doesn't mean I've forgotten about the binning.

It has made me much more aware of safety issues. I pay much more attention to cars that cross my path and yes I probably ride slower than I use to. I still ride cause I enjoy riding a lot more than I enjoy driving.

About a week or so a go one I found out of the guys I grew up with was killed in a freak accident in which he was electrocuted while out in a little sail boat. It helped make the point pretty much anything we do has some risks. It is just a matter of do these risks out way the benfits.

Well thats how I'm looking at it. But really you have to make up your own mind.

David

Bob

17th July 2004, 23:26

Like most of us it seems, I've had a major 'off' as well (I did the classic flip over the car bonnet trick - ended up with me having a disc removed).

I couldn't wait to get back on the bike once it was repaired.

Oddly enough, I had more problems with a minor off a couple of years earlier - real low speed slippery flagstones lowside. For a couple of weeks after that, I had real problems tipping the bike into corners, as I was convinced it was going to topple over if I leaned too far (no chance of that!)

My wife had a massive accident which resulted in her needing reconstructive surgery on her knee - it was the aim of getting back on the bike that helped her recovery.

Now this isn't meant to be showing you that accidents happen - they do. But if you have the urge to get back on the bike, I think that shows you are ready to do it once again. If you were very dubious about riding, then it might be another issue.

Just a thought, but why not book yourself into a training school? Explain you've had an accident and are looking to build confidence again - that way you can get some practice in with someone else who will be used to hesitance and then get back out there when you are ready.

On Katwyn's 'less chance of an accident' thing - I think you're misinterpreting the figures. It isn't a case of "As you get older", but "As you build experience". More experience - and very importantly more practice - and your observation skills improve, as does your positioning and so forth.

The biggest accident group in the UK are late 30s to mid-40s - lot of people come back to bikes after a long time and don't realise that things have changed.... they genuinely do not seem to realise that nice looking R1 they just bought goes a lot faster and can do things the old rustbucket they had in the 80s couldn't have dreamed about. Or that their skills are so rusty they've practically disappeared.

Back to the point - you feel like you want to get back on, so try it - maybe at a school like I suggested to get your confidence rebuilt. OK, if you try and can't do it, at least you know. Better to try again that give up now and spend the rest of your life looking at bikes and thinking "I wonder what it would have been like to ride again?"

Just my tuppence-worth, but hope it helps.

KATWYN

18th July 2004, 10:24

On Katwyn's 'less chance of an accident' thing - I think you're misinterpreting the figures. It isn't a case of "As you get older", but "As you build experience". More experience - and very importantly more practice - and your observation skills improve, as does your positioning and so forth.

.

I didn't think getting older had anything to do with it?, as you may start riding a motorcycle at 50 or 60 etc . But the 5 year time period is based on experience.

Most likely to have a crash within 5 years due to inexperience
less of a chance thereafter

KATWYN

18th July 2004, 10:28

In fact if it`s rattled your confidence there`s a good chance you`re at more risk as you`ll be riding tensed up and possibly over-reacting..

Hmm good pointMoko. So there could be that window of time where you are
in more danger when you get back in the saddle.... and that window of time
would vary greatly from person to person most probably

Posh Tourer :P

18th July 2004, 10:32

Sorry Katwyn but I agree with PT`s first comment.If you jump back on a bike after an accident thinking "great I`ve got less chance of another one now" you`re dangerously deluded.In fact if it`s rattled your confidence there`s a good chance you`re at more risk as you`ll be riding tensed up and possibly over-reacting.How does the saying go"Theres lies,damn lies and statistics",or something similar.

If you get back on the bike with that attitude, then you are at risk. That attitude is often due to the misunderstanding of statistics that i was referring to earlier. However, if he reacts like the average person and is a bit more cautious, then he will have less chance of an accident. It will have nothing to do with statistics, but with his attitude. The statistics are almost irrelevant for each individual, and only provide a general guide as to what might happen in most cases, given that most cases involve a set of common responses to an accident etc.

moko

18th July 2004, 11:23

Then there`s the "some other idiot" factor".Years back I was in the outside lane waiting for the lights to change.Some cretin came barrelling down the road and just piled into the car next to me sending it clean across the junction(where the traffic was still moving)where it flipped onto it`s side.Victim of this total stupidity was doing nothing wrong,just his bad luck he was in the way of some blind moron.brought me out in a cold sweat thinking about the damage that would have been done to me if he`d piled into my bike at that speed and force of impact.Scariest thing for me on the road is the truly awful standard of car-driving these days,I`ve got every confidence in my own abilities.

Draco

18th July 2004, 15:43

To ride or not???

As Death said, i think you can class my crash in the fairly big catagory. Few days in intensive care, weeks in hospital and nearly a year in bed (5 fractures in my pelvis, destroyed knee, partially wrecked ankle and tried to skin myself like a chicken), and the whole time i rehabed, the next cold kiwi rally was my motivator.

My family bitched at me non stop to quit riding. And the day i told them all that they wouldn't be bitchin at me if i'd injured myself playing rugby or waterskiing, they all shut up.

As everyone has said only you can make that decision. But i think the fact that you are itching to go again sais the decision has already been made. So borrow a small bike, one you cant get yourself in to too much trouble with and go for a ride, then you will know.

Most important of all, if you ride again, learn something from your crash. I will never ride like i used to, but perhaps that is a good thing. I would also never give up the wonderful memories and awesome mates i've made since learning to ride.

KATWYN

18th July 2004, 15:54

As Death said, i think you can class my crash in the fairly big catagory

What happened? where,how, etc etc

Ghost Lemur

18th July 2004, 16:55

As has been mentioned repeatedly already, it very much sounds like you have made your decision, but are getting a bit of pressure for loved ones to change your decision.

Just remember at the end of the day it's you you have to answer to.

A little side story I use to illustrate why something being "dangerous" should not stop someone from doing it if they have the passion and desire.

There was a rock climber a few years back. One of the best in the world by the name of Wolfgang.
This guy could scale his practice wall in his house with just two fingers on each hand and no legs.
He did quite a bit of free climbing, which for those who don't know is climbing without ropes or harness. Obviously it's the most dangerous form of the sport.
Anyway, this guy was called on to do some stunts in Stallone's Cliffhanger film. Incidentally he was the guy who was hanging from the overhang by one hand (no ropes, 1500 feet up).
Well filming finished. He got in his car to drive back to his home in Austria and was killed in a car accident.

I've also known people who have died doing what they loved. My auntie was a skydiver and lost her life to her shute not opening. I don't think she would have, or could have, given up even if she knew that she would go that way.

Doing a bit of rambling here. But all I'm really trying to say is life is fragile and not fair. You can live in a bubble trying to not get hurt and still get struck down early having had no fun. Or you can do things that make you happy and provide purpose to your life, and take educated risks.

Whatever you end up doing remember that you are still alive to make these decision and celebrate that fact.

Bob

18th July 2004, 23:51

Hmm good pointMoko. So there could be that window of time where you are in more danger when you get back in the saddle.... and that window of time
would vary greatly from person to person most probably

That is why I suggested maybe having some time with a training school. Get some practice under the belt to help getting relaxed and in focus once again. Put the pride (not that I'm suggesting pride is in question here, but we're all pretty awful by and large when it comes to asking for a little help when we need it) to one side and let these guys do what they are trained to do.

That said, you can bet the first time something that is similar to your accident occurs (in the case of my 'biggie' someone rolling the car out of a side turning), you will have that mental 'EEK!' moment, but if you've got your confidence back - and you're back in tune with the bike - you'll get through it fine and be able to get on with biking and life in general.

I didn't think getting older had anything to do with it?, as you may start riding a motorcycle at 50 or 60 etc . But the 5 year time period is based on experience.

Most likely to have a crash within 5 years due to inexperience
less of a chance thereafter

I know what you're saying, but I don't personally like the idea of applying statistics to this kind of situation. I've been riding for over a decade now - but I still had a close shave a couple of months ago when some dizzy twit was too busy talking to their friend rather than look at the road... so they just started rolling the car out of a side-turning. Despite it being a clear day, my riding a bright yellow bike, with the headlight on, sounding my horn and shouting abuse at the same time! I still had to brake, then take evasive action to save my own skin.

Admittedly experience and practice (I ride every day of the week) got me out of trouble, but I'd hate myself to adhere to the idea that I've been riding for a long time so I am safer.

It isn't me I worry about (I know my limits and I work hard on my observational skills), it is the other idiot that isn't thinking/is so wrapped up in cotton-wool (figuratively speaking) by all the protective features in their car that they just don't pay attention properly.

Defensive riding (and a little paranoia in the right place - when I am on the road, as far as I am concerned everyone else is a potential danger) is the key to my mind.

riffer

19th July 2004, 07:59

Riding the bike again on Saturday and yesterday, I have discovered that I have become a bit of a chicken turning left.

I guess this is to be expected since I lowsided on the left hand side, but it seems like my ankle and knee are complaining, even though I know they should be okay.

Also, my weight shifting on the left corners is a bit dodgy too. It's almost as if my body is betraying me... making the bike wobble a bit as my body overrides my brain.

Any ideas on how to correct this quickly? I'm picking it will go away with a bit of riding, it's just interesting to notice it, its so involuntary...

moko

19th July 2004, 08:21

Just take it really steady for a while until you feel happier,if you ride around feeling un-safe then you will be.A bit of time will get your confidence back again,ride slowly,no law against that,until you feel happier.As you say it sounds as if you`ve got a bit of a mental block at the moment and tensing up on left-handers,time will cure that one.I had a similar thing a few months back,back end slid out on gravel and I had to lift it up or drop it,got her upright but that meant heading straight for a stone wall and trying to brake on a loose surface.Ended up stopped just short of the wall but wondering how the hell I`d got away with it,very scary moment.Really shook me up and had me rattled for a couple of weeks,and I`ve got nearly 30 years riding behind me.My cure was to go back to the same corner and take it again.No gravel this time but I still got the jitters approaching it,slowed way down and took it at not much over running speed,once I`d cleared it felt loads better,turned around,back a few miles,turned around again and took it at more usual speed,mental block cleared.

Bob

19th July 2004, 20:56

Another idea that might be worth trying - is there something like a supermarket carpark that you can use to practice?

Thinking along the lines of superstores with HUGE carparks here. Everyone tries to get as close to the shop as possible, so normally the park farthest away is completely empty. So use that part to get some practice in.

Ride slowly round the lanes at the top end and build confidence. I've been through exactly the same thing - your brain is throwing you warning signals that just aren't true. It is trying to defend you from a situation you've been in before. Our 'Fight or Flight' instincts aren't keeping pace with technology, so they don't know how to handle situations like lowsiding off a bike!

Other than that, as Moko says, no harm in keeping the pace down and keeping it steady until your confidence increases. As I say, after a lowside I had, for the next couple of weeks I seemed to be taking left-handers in segments, tipping the bike in stages rather than making it a smooth action. So I went off and did just what I've said above, did some practice away from the road and took it easy until my confidence was improied and things got back to normal.

Draco

20th July 2004, 14:09

What happened? where,how, etc etc

Being new to riding, my mechanical knowledge was pretty limited. I had been complaining about my steering, but didn't really know anyone who could look at it for me at the time. Cut a long story short, i had stuffed steering head bearings. I had just overtaken a string of cars and pulled back in, only to hit a really rough patch of road (unsignposted) (crap northland roads) at approx 120k and got in to a massive tank slapper. Tried all the usual stuff to recover, but eventually got spat off. Fractured my pelvis when i hit the deck, as i was sliding along the road i could hear my bike catching up to me, next thing it slammed in to me and sent me spiraling across the road, and shattered my pelvis in 5 places, tore my knee ligament etc, etc. The whole crash was witnessed by an ex speedway racer, who said it looked very impressive. Needless to say it sure didn't feel too impressive.

I suffered major confidence loss when i finally started riding again. I had panic attacks every time i hit rough road. It still makes me nervous, but thanks to my partner i got rid of the bike i crashed because i had no faith in it anymore. I bought a different bike, fitted a steering damper, and never rode over 100k for a while. I concentrated on becoming more relaxed while riding instead, things like polishing up my lines, smooth braking etc. And with time the panic attacks stopped, and when i hit rough stuff unexpectedly, i get a little nervous, but can talk myself through it. I've been told lots, that time helps, and although i didn't think it would, it does. Slowly but surely the confidence in myself and my bike is returning. To what degree it will, who knows? Atleast i'm here to ride again, and even enjoying it again.

riffer

20th July 2004, 14:30

As I say, after a lowside I had, for the next couple of weeks I seemed to be taking left-handers in segments, tipping the bike in stages rather than making it a smooth action. So I went off and did just what I've said above, did some practice away from the road and took it easy until my confidence was improied and things got back to normal.
Sounds like a good idea Bob.

Haven't ridden the bike since Sunday, as there's almost no gas in the tank and even less cash in the bank to pay for it :shifty:

I didn't help my confidence at first by having the steering head bearings too lose - the manual reckons 2ft-lb, but that's bollocks in these bikes - maybe when new, but not now. I have upped it to about 10 ft-lb and this has taken the wobble out when I take my hands off and sorted that little "clunk" when I jab on the brakes.

I was doing a bit of that taking the corner in steps - it seemed to me like the bike was dropping down a little too fast for my liking. I must admit I've lifted the forks up the triples so they stick about 3-5mm out from the top of the triples - in order to quicken up the steering. Maybe its a bit much - I might try dropping them again and see if it makes me feel a bit less nervous.

I think what you mention is a good idea - just practice and practice those lefts again.

One corner in particular I had a problem with (the Wallaceville turn-off up Whakatiki St on River Road going north, for those of you who know the road), is a little tricky, it's a quite tight-ish 90° left corner which is not cambered, and always has gravel on the inside and outside of it, and which goes straight on to some nice little esses before you have to hit 50 km/hr.

Before the accident I was reasonably confident on the corner, but it's always been tricky. I used to be able to take it leaned over and let the back just start to slide a touch, now I just try and go straight up and down and tend to wobble a bit.

I must try the left hander at the bottom of Haywards leading on to the motorway going north as well. That one will let me know if there's a problem.

I have also noticed that my front tyre still has slight gouge marks where it hit the boat trailer (cheap bastard that I am - I haven't replaced it) and these are still scrubbing off - it's on the left side - that could be causing me gip too.

But I think mainly its in the brain because I can feel the weight on the left ankle and knee and that just doesn't happen on the right side at all.

Oh well, put some gas in the bike and get out there and practice, I reckon...:)

vifferman

20th July 2004, 14:54

Like others have said, cheetor, it's your decision to make, and all you can do is weigh up other people's opinions and experiences and then decide what's right for you. Don't let anyone else make the decision for you.

When I wrote off my first bike (many years ago), I never had the slightest doubt I would ride again. However, I remember watching other bikers do silly things while I was bikeless and catching the bus, and it used to give me cold shivers down my spine, and made me feel sick for what might happen. But thinking about getting back on a bike myself didn't worry me at all.

Since then, I've had 5 more bikes, and several more accidents, all fairly minor apart from the last one (a year ago). While lying in pain on the road waiting for the ambulance, I thought "This REALLY sucks", and I had some very hard thinking to do about whether to get another bike or not. In the end I decided I wasn't quite ready to give it up just yet, but it was a close call. I'm still not positive it was the best decision, but I can still quit if I wish to; I'll lose some money, but too bad.

riffer

20th July 2004, 15:13

Interesting crash video here:

http://wtfpeople.com/openlink.php?LID=4840&SID=568475e125e1acbfdad0af2c27033825

Guy has a good attitude about it afterwards though.

Makes my crash look like a walk in the park.

FROSTY

20th July 2004, 16:20

Get ya ass back on a bike ASAP. --Well noone else is saying that.
You will Know if you have your nerve back or not.
I watched 6chris6 as he slowly regained his confidence over a few days.
Initially he was fighting his bike-Totally out of sorts with it. His back musta been sore then he began to relax and enjoy
The only way you will know is being on the seat and riding.

KATWYN

20th July 2004, 16:45

Being new to riding, my mechanical knowledge was pretty limited. I had been complaining about my steering, but didn't really know anyone who could look at it for me at the time. Cut a long story short, i had stuffed steering head bearings. I had just overtaken a string of cars and pulled back in, only to hit a really rough patch of road (unsignposted) (crap northland roads) at approx 120k and got in to a massive tank slapper. Tried all the usual stuff to recover, but eventually got spat off. Fractured my pelvis when i hit the deck, as i was sliding along the road i could hear my bike catching up to me, next thing it slammed in to me and sent me spiraling across the road, and shattered my pelvis in 5 places, tore my knee ligament etc, etc. The whole crash was witnessed by an ex speedway racer, who said it looked very impressive. Needless to say it sure didn't feel too impressive.

I suffered major confidence loss when i finally started riding again. I had panic attacks every time i hit rough road. It still makes me nervous, but thanks to my partner i got rid of the bike i crashed because i had no faith in it anymore. I bought a different bike, fitted a steering damper, and never rode over 100k for a while. I concentrated on becoming more relaxed while riding instead, things like polishing up my lines, smooth braking etc. And with time the panic attacks stopped, and when i hit rough stuff unexpectedly, i get a little nervous, but can talk myself through it. I've been told lots, that time helps, and although i didn't think it would, it does. Slowly but surely the confidence in myself and my bike is returning. To what degree it will, who knows? Atleast i'm here to ride again, and even enjoying it again.

Scary stuff! especially the bit about sliding along the road with a fractured pelvis and hearing your bike catching up to you knowing what was about to
happen.

loosebruce

21st July 2004, 01:05

It's all upto you man, i'd be lost without my bike to ride, i reckon you should get back on it, jus make sure you have the right gear on, i think everyone who rides bikes at some stage in their life will have a crash their fault or not, i'v had a few, one quite serious 120kph+ my own fault, i ended up in tokoroa hospital, ask WT about tokoroa, never again will i crash in that area. In saying that i crashed at just over 130kph sure it was on the track but i had full leathers on etc etc and walked away without a scratch on me, the bike on the other hand well yeah.
Get back on a bike for sure but make sure you spend the $$$ on good gear, so if the worse does happen again and you have an off the chances of getting hurt are that much less, money can fix a bike or buy a new one in some of my case's but not fix the body all that easily.

cheetor

21st July 2004, 16:51

Draco

21st July 2004, 20:25

Get back on a bike for sure but make sure you spend the $$$ on good gear, so if the worse does happen again and you have an off the chances of getting hurt are that much less, money can fix a bike or buy a new one in some of my case's but not fix the body all that easily.

Amen to that! Wearing good gear also helps your confidence return knowing that if you crash, chances are your gear will hopefully reduce the severity of injuries. And before anyone points that statement out, i do not mean that it makes it safer to do stupid stuff, or break the sound barrier, it just helps me relax, and therefore has a positive side effect of improving my riding.

Ghost Lemur

21st July 2004, 20:36

MadDuck

21st July 2004, 20:39

Just DONT do what I did. I put my bike under a bus when I was in my early twenties. The family all said OMG dont ride a bike again its way too dangerous blah blah blah....so lets say just a few years passed (about 15) and I decided to get back on but now I ride very hesitantly - yeah ok like a nana. Is it a bad thing NO. But my damn crash was a stoopid crash which should never had happened.

I walked away but realised that buses are just a little bit bigger than bikes :whistle: 15 years is too much time to miss out on all the fun

Bob

21st July 2004, 22:13

Amen to that! Wearing good gear also helps your confidence return knowing that if you crash, chances are your gear will hopefully reduce the severity of injuries. And before anyone points that statement out, i do not mean that it makes it safer to do stupid stuff, or break the sound barrier, it just helps me relax, and therefore has a positive side effect of improving my riding.

NOT picking you up on this - HONEST!

I am one of those people who thinks you should always wear good protective clothing, no matter how long the ride, the weather or anything. In Winter I wear waterproof, armoured and thermally lined jacket and trousers. In Summer, lightweight Cordura jacket, Hood jeans (like Draggin' - Kevlar lined for fantastic abrasion resistance). All year round? Arai lid, decent gloves and boots.

I've got quite a bit of abuse over the years for voicing this opinion (Most famously from someone who said "I won't let anyone tell me what to wear - and I have the scars to prove it" - like that was showing what he did was clever or right!)

But there was an article in one of the bike mags over here on the subject of 'Does protective clothing make you less safe?' Theory went that you are covered from head to foot in protective clothing, so you take more risks as you think you will be safe in the event of an accident.

To prove the point, they sent out people over the same route in different levels of clothing - the one with the top of the range leathers etc pushed way harder and rode much faster than they did when put into less effective kit. And the person who rode in nothing more than the minimum to cover their embarassment rode very slowly indeed!

But if it helps you to relax, then brilliant. Your mind isn't focused on something else then - so you can concentrate on riding, avoiding every other idiot on the road, potholes and the rest!

I still think - no matter how good your protective kit - a little dose of 'paranoia' is useful. Treat every other road user as a complete moron, always make sure you have an escape route etc and I reckon you'll be a lot safer, no matter what you wear!