Losing my nerve

**usa-vtwin** · 18th September 2009, 19:22

Hello...just want to run todays experience past you and see if anyone else has experienced this.

Went for a ride with a mate today to Akaroa (75km ride from ch ch central where we were) and felt fine. Rode back through the longer tourist route through the hills, and felt fine. Started to rain at Hilltop Cafe and we got down to Little River and gassed up.

From here it's open road for 35km to Tai Tapu and I felt a little uncomfortable with my riding feeling a little unbalanced. We had quite a few cars behind us, it was lightly raining and I stiffened up and found cornering taxing. I made it to Tai Tap and stopped at a cafe for a coffee and after relaxing for 15 minutes I felt ok. Got back on my bike and headed off down the road in an 80km zone. Now I seriously felt unbalanced and felt like I was going to topple off my bike...I'd brake and pull over to the left...then start off again...to stop down the road...so I get to some traffic lights and needed to turn right and seriously couldnt make it to the lights and turn through them. I had to pull over and at this point Im like , what the fuck! This has never happened to me before.

We decided it best my mate go home, get her car, and pick me up and we'd leave the bike at her friends near by.

Anyway I decided to keep trying and had to pull over 5 more times as I found it hard to ride.Once I got into heavy slow commuter traffic in town I found it ok...could balance at super slow speed...rode another 12km or so and felt better and in control at 50kph or less in the traffic. About 6km from home on a 3 laner road I felt uncomfortable and pulled off down a side road and carried on home.

I'm wondering if it was just fatigue. The trip was mostly hilly winding roads and I'm wondering if my arms and shoulders got fatigued and that I started holing onto the bars tighter and maybe overcompensated with one arm which upset my balance. And then panicked as I was riding on open road feeling unbalanced and not 100% in control. Normally I feel so at one on my bike.

This was the longest ride Ive undertaken in a long while in one trip (130 odd kms) and whilst I know its peanuts for some, I'd be mainly sticking to 60-70km jaunts over winter.

Has anyone else felt similar?

**p.dath** · 18th September 2009, 19:26

Have you got a flat tyre?

**98tls** · 18th September 2009, 19:27

Never mate,very odd and cant imagine it was down to fatigue.Have you been feeling generally ok recently health wise?

**YellowDog** · 18th September 2009, 19:28

Sorry to hear about this experience.

It also sounds like you tensed up because you were concerned that the rain may make it unsafe to lean into the corners.

If you are struggling with confidence on bends, try swinging out for the bends to force the lean (countersteer). It should help and also make sure you are looking where you want to go.

It could well be also be fatigue, but it also sounds to me like you need to check your tyre pressures to make sure they are spot on.

Good luck.

**MotoKuzzi** · 18th September 2009, 19:39

Some people can lose their nerve temporarily, for whatever reason. I know a guy who was a local legend as a logging bulldozer driver but got to his mid 40's and something in him changed to the point where he couldn't even drive it off the skid.

**Ixion** · 18th September 2009, 19:39

I never heard of such a thing, and I can hardly conceive that it could be fatigue after so short a distance.

I would without delay consult a reputable physician.

(I am assuming here that you not of greatly advanced years)

**sleemanj** · 18th September 2009, 19:40

How is your balance? Inner ear problem perhaps. Had any ear/nose/throat infections lately?

**mossy1200** · 18th September 2009, 19:43

Could be something funny like pinched nerve in back causes midsection musle spaz that sucks energy.Maybe blocked ears causing balance issues.Get some rest.

**AD345** · 18th September 2009, 19:46

For you - the motorcycling is over.

**bsasuper** · 18th September 2009, 19:49

Didn't add a little extra in ya coffee

**batboy** · 18th September 2009, 19:54

my thoughts are, its purely a mental thing, the fear of slick roads and cornering used to put the fear of god into me after i had two major crashes on wet roads due to my inability, it still plagues me to this day, but i have managed to keep it under control, but its still there in the back of my mind it also helps that i no longer use my rear brake at all.

Have you had a spill in the wet?, or have you been away from riding for a bit?
Or just never ride in the rain?

**Chrisnewtobikes** · 18th September 2009, 19:54

You and your bike should both get a check up,for your own peace of mind

**PrincessBandit** · 18th September 2009, 19:56

Sorry to hear about your experience. It's a nasty feeling when you're continually worrying about stuff like that and you still have to face the ride home.

Can't really add anything else that the guys haven't; did you feel it was something within yourself i.e. general physical unwellness which impacted on your riding, or most likely to be a bike problem which you then struggled with?

Check out the bike first or get someone who can do it for you as it will probably be easier to eliminate bike causes than your own health! lol. And if you suspect its a health issue then my suggestion is rest, rest and possibly off to the doc.

Hope it sorts out for you.

Dawn