bosslady

Originally Posted by bosslady

Seems like everyone you talk to when you tell them you're learning was a natural, got on a bike for the first time and off they went, like they were born to ride, fearless. Well is there anyone who's now a confident rider that was never any of these things? Anyone who's scared? maybe wanted to crap their daks? I never went into it thinking I was all that and a bag of chips, thought I might struggle and gosh darn was I right! I don't even know how to drive a manual so not a great start lol. Want to have hopefully a couple more lessons with an instructor before I go out on the road and despite dropping my bike multiple times (have the bruises and achey legs to show for it!) I sure as heck don't want to give up! Tell me I'm not a lost cause!

As per my thread here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...not-so-newbies

I remember this post, I started thinking that I'd made a huge (and expensive, for me) mistake. But I persevered, probably for the wrong reasons, which were that I didnt want anyone thinking I'd talked myself up, that I was a douche (for giving up) or that I was "weak". It's definitely a mental thing, for sure. I lack confidence in most aspects of my life but was determined not to give up on this, that said it's still early days I guess. I'd already dropped a bike a few times by this point I think. The instructors bike, my bike a couple of times etc. it's a real knock to the confidence and I had HUGE bruises on my legs from it but I guess it's all part and parcel of learning and rather than let me put it off, like I said, I kept trying to persevere.

03/12/2012 shortly after starting the thread I had a lesson with my instructor again and man did it make me feel SOOO much better.

Originally Posted by bosslady

Just had another lesson tonight and mannnnnnnnn I feel SO much better. I explained to the instructor just to start with the basics again (this was my 2nd lesson) that I'm in no rush and if I have to have another lesson, then I will. I had a think about it last night and I think a lot of the problem is that I have a particular learning style, very visual and hands on and I have to repeat things over and over until I get it and without too much pressure or too much going on otherwise I get confused and panic. I still want another lesson but I think I've done enough to at least take it round the block, when my bloody gear arrives anyway! Still more to learn, I'm not up myself or a complacent person, like to think I'm a realist lol. Glad I'm getting better at looking where I'm going! all hope is not lost quite yet!

That's right... at this point I had the bike but my gear hadn't arrived so I only got to get on a bike when I had a lesson, that sucked! I was getting a bit annoyed by this point because I was itching to get out and practice but couldn't because my gear wasn't here yet. I guess that's a downside to buying online, all the waiting.

With my BHS, I felt like I was under a lot of pressure that I'd brought upon myself, not by anyone else. I shouldn't have incorporated my BHS and my first lesson/time on a motorbike in one, I felt very overwhelmed. If I had to do it again, which I don't (thank goodness!) I'd have done a lesson first, waited a week, then done my BHS, possibly incorporate that with a lesson beforehand.

17/12/2012 I finally got my gear so now I have no excuse but to go out and practice, practice, practice! Still a bit jittery, only willing to go out when the roads are pretty dead, say anything between 6-8am and 8-9pm and only around the block...

Originally Posted by bosslady

Update... I haven't been out on the road since sunday morning before last. My gear just arrived today so i feel a lot better about going out to practice although will still only do it when the roads are very quiet, until I build a bit more skill/confidence up. Am trying to arrange a mentor through this website too. Good luck to me, I guess!

From here.. it was just a matter of practicing and getting outside of my comfort zone. "So I went for a ride tonight" blog to follow...