How long does it take - to regain confidence after a bin??!!!

[Chickadee]

Hey guys and girls,

Just wondering for those that have binned or had a near miss - how long did it take you to get past the heart in mouth and Nanna riding stage.

Three weeks ago I had a ding with a guy on a roundabout (he didn't think he had to give way) and that didn't seem to dent my confidence, however second doof's definitely had an effect.

I went for a ride today on country roads and felt sick at every corner (came off last weekend after a dodgy tyre didn't bite). Funny - I know it wasn't my riding but my brain's now wired to "OH SHIT" most of the time while riding. I've have to slow right down and can't seem to do corners like I used to. Lost my Mojo man, what a bugger. Hope it comes back or I'm going to have to give up two wheels. Can't enjoy riding this way.

Let me know it gets better than this PLEASE!!!!:shit:

[crashe]

It does get better........ really it does.

Give it time......... maybe go riding with someone.... and not on your own.

It takes time to get it back..... some a little sooner than others, but it will come back.

[RM125king]

i had a bin a few months ago at puke race track where my bike hit the wall at 140 km/h. it took me a good week or two on the road to get my confidence back up. but what i found the works best is to go for a long ride somewhere out the city and concentrate on your riding and dont worry about others around you for now.

[Chickadee]

Thanks guys

Glad to hear there is hope! I'll have to keep riding and try the RRRS course again for a confidence booster. Really want my mojo back

[Blondini]

I have had a couple of scares recently,And thought crickey not really sure about this....But I was encouraged to get out as often as I can and practice even just around the block.I try to get out every day and have improved a lot I can sit at 70:shutup: Easy now ,perhaps you can make it to the wed night practices,they are great and lots of support available.If I can help I am learning and out west,just ask and if I can help I will:love:

[Kickaha]

Depends on the person, it takes me about 30 seconds :yes:

[T.W.R]

It's dependant on the make up of the person, but it's part of the learning curve ( well no-one ever stops learning :yes: )
After the biggest prang I had that resulted in 11days in hospital with a compounded fracture & dislocation of my left ulna, the 1st post operation check-up back at the hospital I rode 40kms to the hospital & back home with my arm in a cast :innocent:

[Crasherfromwayback]

Depends on the person, it takes me about 30 seconds :yes:

Love your work!
Mind you...after some of my biggest race 'biffs'..it's taken me longer than that to find my fucking bike!:innocent:

[Big Dog]

I went for a ride today on country roads and felt sick at every corner (came off last weekend after a dodgy tyre didn't bite). Funny - I know it wasn't my riding but my brain's now wired to "OH SHIT" most of the time while riding. I've have to slow right down and can't seem to do corners like I used to. Lost my Mojo man, what a bugger. Hope it comes back or I'm going to have to give up two wheels. Can't enjoy riding this way.

Let me know it gets better than this PLEASE!!!!:shit:

The ones that feel like you were not at fault are harder to walk away from emotionally because you were a victim of chance.
Best you can do is look for what you could have done different.
If you knew the tire was dodgy in advance:
Could you have gone into the corner slower?
Should you have replaced the tire?
Would going in wider have helped?

I don't want to point a finger, but if you take stock of the input you had as a rider and do an analysis of the accident as impartially as you can you may find you are still not at fault but that you could do things to minimise the risk.
You may also find you were at fault but at least you will be better prepared next time.

My first cropper I was struck from behind by a truck while sitting at the lights.
Not my fault, very demoralising.
But wait, if I had been 4 inches to the right she would have had to hit 10 cars before she collected my elbow.

Soon as I accepted that second piece of the puzzle I had more confidence than before because at last I had some control over my destiny.

Took a non rider who I worked with who happened to be 2 cars back to point this out to me.

[James Deuce]

On a racetrack I'm up and kicking it straight as soon as I find it.

On the road I sometimes have a lie down for a few months. Sometimes I'm on a bike the next day. Depends how many times I die at the scene.

[Ixion]

,, I've have to slow right down and can't seem to do corners like I used to. ,,

That may not be a bad thing. A lot of learners, once past the initial wobbly stage think "hey this is easy, I can go fast". Without having the skill to deal with the unexpected.

Try accepting the slow bit, and work back up to speed. Little bit faster, little bit more, step by step. You may find you are a lot better once you get back there than you were before.

[RC1]

after my first off it only took a couple of weeks to get back to full confidence ( that was about 17 yrs ago ),but it got easier after each accident(yes there have been a few) but the last couple i would have got straight back on if the bike had not been in pieces,

[Lil_Byte]

That may not be a bad thing. A lot of learners, once past the initial wobbly stage think "hey this is easy, I can go fast". Without having the skill to deal with the unexpected.

Try accepting the slow bit, and work back up to speed. Little bit faster, little bit more, step by step. You may find you are a lot better once you get back there than you were before.

Totally agree. I have dropped my speed markedly in cornering and slowly working back into it again after some idiot cyclist did someting stupid in front of me as I was exiting a corning.

As a reslt I have slowed down into corners and worked at the lines I took in corner. It doesn't make for as fast a corner but if I may have had a better chance of not hitting the cyclist (idiot bastard that he was).

The confidence is slowly coming back that it is possible that some stupid bastard will not be in front of me as I exit a corner.

But just take it back to basics til you feel better

[NighthawkNZ]

My first major bin... err well I rode 30 ks to the hospital... ( I took a corner to fast my fault totally) after that if can I get straight back on bike and ride...

but I learnt from any mistake I made... i hope

One time I got hit from behind while I was at a give way and pushed out on the line of on coming traffic... and it just so happened to be a fark big truck when I looked up after I realised what had happened I saw the trucker fully locked up... I was luckily able to back up quick enuff... but needed a new pair of undies
(that night I went to the pub with the trucker...) however I didn't drop the bike... (I was doing motorcycle couriers so I was on my mates bike for the rest of the day till we made repairs to mine)

The only other bin I can recall is hitting a shingle patch in the apex of a corner at about 100km and my front wheel decided it couldn't grip on shingle...

All I can say is it depends on the bin and the person how bad the bin, and personality, general condifance etc...

[Lorax]

A guy I know wasn't hurt in a small accident at an intersection in the UK, but it put the shits up him so much he's never been on a bike since.

I guess he just thought it wasn't worth it. Me? Haven't even had a near miss yet (fucken touch wood!) but only been riding a few months. Lucky lucky lucky.

[gijoe1313]

I think it's a purely personal response - everyone takes their own time to "recover" from an experience differently. I'm sure the caution you are showing is a good thing, since it's got you thinking about riding more!

With me, after I binned at nana speeds as a newbie newb - I was straight back up, sorted myself out and thought along the lines of "righto, time to get straight back on the horse - sort it out, and go back and tackle that sucker again later successfully!"

After I finished the ride with my mentor, going through Quarry Road in Ardmore - much more twistier and challenging then what I just binned off (and yes, for those that do remember it was Dover :whistle: :innocent:), I think the grin on my face after I left his house and doing a little reflecting meant all was well with the world.

I did the same corner that day at a faster speed with no worries! :doh: Learnt a ton from that! Same with you - just go back to that corner again when you can and just ride through it like all the other, more challenging and "harder" corners you have done before!

Shucks! I remember when you were on the twofiddy ride taking those corners with snap and confidence! Just get your Mojo back baby! And Behave! :msn-wink:

Crazyfrog is up and ready for it soon - so shall you! :Punk:

[McJim]

It was lucky Chickadee took it easy today. Just coming into Clevedon from Maraitai I was in front she was following, doing 100kph round a left hander only to find a stocktruck blocking the entire road - grabbed a handful of front brake and stopped in time....just. If I'd been doing 120kph I'd have been looking for a new front end on retard me.:scooter:

[Ixion]

Hm. I wouldn't call that "taking it easy". I'd call that riding at the maximum that was safe - maybe even a wee bit more. 120kph would have been unsafe. So maybe the question has to be asked - confidence? or over-confidence?

[MyGSXF]

Hang in there sweets.. give yaself some time, & you'll come right. :hug: Find yourself a defensive riding course, & hit on some KB mentors up your way to go out & spend some time with ya.. & above all.. practice, practice, practice... :yes:

Jen :rockon:

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

Keep riding as often as you can - I have just got my bike back after binning it and it was written off! I wondered how it would affect me!! Just been on a two week ride around the north island on my own - confidence just grew amazingly quickly - in fact at times I was trying too hard - in the end I relaxed, trusted my instincts and judgement and I rode better than I ever have - well it felt that way. Everytime I saw the "squirly" arrow meaning lots of corners I was going yeeha. So have faith in yourself and get out there and enjoy your riding - and relax.

[NighthawkNZ]

Everytime I saw the "squirly" arrow meaning lots of corners I was going yeeha. So have faith in yourself and get out there and enjoy your riding - and relax.

I like the swirly thing alert... yeah :yes: :ride:

[Hellraiser]

confidence? or over-confidence?

B I N G O but this is not always a bad thing.

I don't think you've lost your MOJO at all, you have a lot of natural ability you are one of those people that was born to ride I think your problem is you no longer trust your machine, wait untill you get your new tyres and get a feel for them, you will learn to trust crazyfrog again.

I can't wait to see you on the track ..........

[Chickadee]

Thanks for the pearls of wisdom. I think new tyres will make things better. I'm hoping to get on the first RRRS course in January which should help rebuild my confidence in me and Crazyfrog.

I think I'll go for little rides through the week to help re-affirm my riding and build from there. I think I bit off more than I could chew this past Sunday so I'll just have to keep working at it.

I'll probably look back in a few months and think it was a good safe scare, I've got my two boys (3 & 15mths) that keep me in line in the back of my mind anyway - too much to loose to do something stupid & kill myself. Probably why I was extra Nanna ish this weekend - thinking about the big picture more than enjoying the ride.

[MSTRS]

Hm. I wouldn't call that "taking it easy". I'd call that riding at the maximum that was safe - maybe even a wee bit more. 120kph would have been unsafe. So maybe the question has to be asked - confidence? or over-confidence?

Don't agree with that. Open road limit is 100kph, presumed to be a safe speed. If we rode in such a way that afterwards we could say "Well, that was boring, and why didn't I ride faster cos it was safe to do so"...most of us would find another sport to get the pulse going.
Mrs McBinn - once you have tyres that you know you can trust, then you can work at building your cornering confidence. 'tis pointless whilst still on that IRC rim protector. Best thing is time in the saddle.

[Ixion]

Presumption is the mother of much pain. Never ever go round a blind corner assuming that it is safe if you cannot see it is



round a left hander only to find a stocktruck blocking the entire road - grabbed a handful of front brake and stopped in time....just.


So the 100 kph was the maximum that was safe - any faster and it would not have been possible to stop before impacting the stock truck. Irrelevant what the speed limit is, maximum safe speed through any corner is that speed that allows one to stop in the clear distance of road visible. Which may be as low as 25kph on some corners - speed limit or not.

Presumably at other times, when not "taking it easy" the corner speed would have been higher. And the rider would have been smeared across the stock truck.

[Chickadee]

Would you believe it. Thought I wouldn't tell my folks about the bin, thought since it wasn't major and nothing I could have changed about my riding (getting new tyres now) that what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them. They worry enough, but my neighbour know's my folks and told Mum via email (my folks live in Nelson - we live in Auckland). Guess Mums have spies & radar we don't even know about. At least she was cool about it, not as if she can make me stop riding - I'm 30 yrs old after all.

[yungatart]

My mum and dad just did that "headshkae thing" that parents do when they "know best" and I'm pushing 50!!!
Some things never change!

[Lucy]

I might see you on the RRRS course then, just sent off my form. After my first drop (wet grass, backyard, slippers...) I was surprised how I reacted to just that, and it was actually a 'drop' I don't think I was moving forward much at all once I had target fixated on the plastic stool...anyway, for the next day or three I was way more cautious and nervous - so I'm not surprised you are feeling a little mojoless after a proper crash. But like the others say, time heals.

[vifferman]

Hey guys and girls,

Just wondering for those that have binned or had a near miss - how long did it take you to get past the heart in mouth and Nanna riding stage.

Let me know it gets better than this PLEASE!!!!:shit:
Yeah, it gets better, but depends on the circumstances, I guess.

After I wrote my first bike off, I had no doubts whatsoever that I'd get another bike once I'd healed, but I used to get the "cold shiver of dread" up my spine whenever I saw other motorcyclists being incautious.

I've had all sorts of crashes since then, including collisions with cars, a cyclist, a pedestrian, but the only one that really shook my confidence and very nearly made me chuck in biking for good was a car that u-turned into me. That was the pain and stress more than anything. I've had over 3 years of happy riding since then.

[Disco Dan]

First crash that almost wrote off my bike I was back riding straight away, had to. put my swollen feet on the exhusts and rode to work with no brakes.

When the crash sank in a few days later i ended up selling the bike. 8 months later i bought another bike. Couldnt stop looking a bikes on the road and regreting my desicion.

My most recent bin on a certain KB ride :innocent: took me about 2 weeks to get my mojo back to where it was. Still take that same corner at ridiculously slow speed though!

You will get ya mojo back! Just bite your lip, get out there and have a play.

[mstriumph]

haven't had anything major - yet - broken ribs, skin loss, interesting puncture wounds, technicolour bruises, that sorta thingy ......

i've found that witnesses [especially ones that know you and are likely to take the piss later] help with the task of getting right back on and taking off again as though all's right with the world [even if it's only to somewhere removed from their gaze where you can cry over the bike's dents/scrapes - and your own - in private].

after the baby's fixed a vacant supermarket carpark or similar and a couple of hours solid tootling about until you find the joy again ... just you and the bike, learning to trust each other again
- it helps

good luck with it anyway

[McJim]

Hm. I wouldn't call that "taking it easy". I'd call that riding at the maximum that was safe - maybe even a wee bit more. 120kph would have been unsafe. So maybe the question has to be asked - confidence? or over-confidence?

Thanks for spotting that Ix - She wasn't going as fast as I was - it was a sweeper, not tight although blind due to foliage. the 100kph I was travelling did allow me to stop in time although 120kph on that corner would have resulted in a gentle contact - any faster and I'd have aimed for the field on my left (Truck was leaving the field on my left) the only other escape route was oncoming traffic and I wouldn't have fancied that.

The point I was trying to make with the comment is that just because you're capable of cornering at 120..130..140kph if you can't see through it then it's not a good idea in rural NZ!

Too often we forget the farmers and their machinery/stock.

[James Deuce]

Too often we forget the farmers and their machinery/stock.

More often than not it's vice versa. The argument that being dead and in the right is a stupid approach doesn't wash in the face of criminal negligence by a proportion of NZ road users.

[Minnie]

Hope you are feeling better about riding soon chickadee, would be a shame for you to chuck it in, with all the support you have here you'll be back into it in no time:yes:

[quickbuck]

More often than not it's vice versa. The argument that being dead and in the right is a stupid approach doesn't wash in the face of criminal negligence by a proportion of NZ road users.

That goes along with my theory of: It doesn't matter if you are in the right or wrong, the Scannia will still F__K you over.

This Revelation is a result of an accident that involved me on a bike vs a 40 tonne truck (who didn't see me), running me over!

The thing was there was something I took away from the accident (other than a smashed bike, many broken bones, and concussion), and that was that I could have avoided the accident had I not made the assumption that he had seen me.
You see I thought he had seen me, and the car pulling up to the intersection (stop sign) hadn't. Too busy worrying about the car, and ignoring the truck that was turning right in front of me (I was going straight). Almost a fatal omission.

It took 10 months to heal, but as soon as I was, I was ready for a bike again.

Never lost my mojo for any length of time, partly (I think) is because I have been falling of motorcycles (or was falling off) from a very young age. Too young to care about how much it hurts, and so young nothing ever broke.

I guess if I didn't start riding until I was much older then my attitude would be different.
I wouldn't have to years of experience to draw back on to be able to analyse situations like I can.

So, Chickadee take it easy, concentrate on your riding, and the speed will come with experience. And Experience will tell you that when you are going too fast.

[$CENSLS1$]

I had my first 'off' today :whocares:
Luckily for me it was at very low speed and I was more worried about anyone seeing me do it rather than any injuries.. :done:

[BarBender]

I had a relatively major smash in my teens that took me ages to get over largely because I didnt have the emotional equipment to deal with it.

These days - its the near misses more so than the bins that keep me awake...:weird:

[beyond]

Well speaking from very recent experience, I thought I would have a wee bit of a problem getting into cornering again after my off and broken ankle.

But, I have been on the edge all week waiting to get my bike back and I picked it up on Wednesday. It was going to rain so came back from the bike shop and spent 80kms on the motorway and in the twisties to scrub the new tyres and never had a problem: like I had not even been off it for the last 5 weeks.

Yesterday the weather was meant to be crap but it was fine and I managed another 130kms through the tight stuff, getting the rear tyre scrubbed to the edge. Apart from a stiff left ankle and gear changes being not so smooth as a result, everything else was fine and it was great.

Loved it. :) Now the forecast is crap for another 4-5 days. :( :(

[Dodgyiti]

Depends how bad the bin was.

I still do not ride as hard as I did before a major bin, and that was 4 years ago!

I also downgraded from 130HP to 90HP and do not expect to ever own something that powerful again, even though power was not a factor, it was, as they say; 'the other guy'

A major bin will make you look seriously at every factor in your riding.

If it doesn't, then you will never learn.

Falling off hurts, in my case- a lot and for the rest of my life.

[Guitana]

Hi Chikadee

It can take some time to get over a crash,but that oh shit feeling is good it sharpens your senses to whats going on around you. I had a near fatal at 140 kms and 6 months later got back on the beast to show I had no fear! Much to the horror of my family. Just take it easy the fun will come back in time,try riding with others until your confidence is restored.

Be safe!

Enjoy the freefall while it lasts the next bits gonna hurt

[FROSTY]

Good question that--Its taken me a fair few race miles to get my confidence bacvk after my bins at taupo end of last month :dodge:

[Chisanga]

I think you are taking the right approach to your riding after your off -not being scared to get back on the bike but being sensible, knowing your limits, attending another RRRS course etc. You rode well on the little jaunts that we have been on.

I'm sure it will come back to you in time and there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking it easy in the meantime :)

[eviltwin]

i wrote my bike off at pukekohe last sunday.
a dude gave me his bike to use for the rest of the day...and away i went.
you can procrastinate forever and it'll get you nowhere.
learn from your mistake and get back on the horse, you'll be a better rider.

[Cajun]

Regaining your "mojo" depends on how emotionally scarred you are...

If you worry about potentially killing yourself, your confidence may never come back. There's a fine line between riding like a nana, and riding fast but responsibly. At the end of the day, you need to ride in a way that minimises the risk of hurting yourself and allows you to enjoy yourself.

When you ride, concentrate on good riding principles and being safe and your confidence should grow from there. If your riding ability has dropped due to reduced confidence, don't ride above your current abilities even if you've done better before - if your head isn't in the right place, you may not pull it off :done:

[Arthur]

I've had plenty of bins off-road, fortunately nothing major, so straight back on the bike and feeding it a fist-full... I've had three bins on the road, the first two were entirely my fault, and all I lost was a mirror each time. Just uncomfortable without those things once you're used to them... The third one was a driver coming towards me and turned right without looking, unfortunately I don't remember anything, so can't learn anything from it. This was the only off that I've had, without getting back on the bike as soon as possible. When I do, it's time to see how how far I can push the envelope...

[mstriumph]

........................ so straight back on the bike and feeding it a fist-full... ............. This was the only off that I've had, without getting back on the bike as soon as possible. When I do, it's time to see how how far I can push the envelope...




You have much to learn, Grasshopper

- there are times when testosterone is NOT your friend..............

[Arthur]

You have much to learn, Grasshopper

- there are times when testosterone is NOT your friend..............

Probably not quite so much as you think...

[Pwalo]

I ride like a Nana anyway. Actually that's not really, strictly, correct. We all get a bit scrared riding anyway. It's all part of the reason we ride (well males anyway).

Take things easy, and you'll be fine. You don't stop walking because you slip over, so treat riding the same. You're not doing anything you don't already know how to do, so why worry?