Mesmerised

[howdamnhard]

Offs tend to make you gunshy but you will get there. You confidence will come back ,your on the right track just keep on riding.

[CookMySock]

You can't really conquer your fears. You have to let them subside quietly in what you know is a safe environment. Unfortunately, pushing yourself through corners isn't really a safe environment, or at least your brain doesn't think so.

Sometimes you just need time. There is no rush anyway - when all this learning to ride is over, you will miss it, so don't be in a hurry. It's fun learning to ride.

If it were me showing you, I'd suggest you simply go slow, absolutely steer only with the bars, position your tyres exactly within your half-lane (no apexing corners), and simply gain time and experience and let the speed build naturally over time - which it will.

Later on you can apex corners, but for the moment you need accuracy, skill, and discipline, and mostly ability to exactly choose your position on the road, using the bars-only. With those skills will follow speed, and your strong feelings subsiding. Then and only then, go find some corners to apex, but if your feelings begin to rise, resort to the basics. This will also likely save you in an emergency.



Steve

[Ratti]

half lane?

[CookMySock]

half lane?

Ask one of the lads or ladettes to point them out. It's the polished wheel tracks that the cars make on the road surface coz their tyres run there. The right-hand-side one is likely where you ride anyways. Try sticking to the right-hand one like poo to a furry blanket. Watch out you don't touch the catseyes, or they will give you a fright, or in the wet they will tip you off.

Steve

[george formby]

Good on ya for getting out & practicing. Riding at night can be terrible on a bike. Your vision restricted to that little bubble of light in front you stops you looking further ahead & can make it difficult to judge speed. As already stated I feel far safer riding on my own, following somebodys tail light ( hi viz jacket ) leaves you vulnerable to their mistakes. A group of mates ended up in a plowed field doing just that. The first rider went into a corner to hot & chose to go through an open gate instead, 6 other bikes followed him. I now watch the reflector's at the road side to give me a better indication of were the road is going. They light up way ahead of the beam & it allows me to keep a good position, safe speed & have the time to watch the road surface in my headlight beam.

[Ratti]

lol, i see this vision of a mama duck and her little ducklets pootling off into a feild...

the reflective patches on those wee poles are good. It did occur to me that I was taking a heck of a chance following this guy, I distinctly recal muttering several times "you better know what you are doing mate" That part of following is not a great feeling. I dont mind so much when I make a mess of things unaided, but blindly following someone else into their mess is just wrong.

[CookMySock]

It did occur to me that I was taking a heck of a chance following this guy, I distinctly recal muttering several times "you better know what you are doing mate" That part of following is not a great feeling. I dont mind so much when I make a mess of things unaided, but blindly following someone else into their mess is just wrong.

GROWL, this was a KBer with :Me after their name? Thats fucken bullshit, man.

No slight on you, Ratti, but no mentor in their right mind should be asking you to do that. Was it really an organised "exercise" ?

You are dead right to feel unsafe in that circumstance. Perhaps on the track it might have been acceptable, but emphatically not at night on an unfamiliar road with a newbie with their feelings going through the roof.

Steve

[Ratti]

not a KBr. through a club. It was one of our regular club rides. I hadn't asked him to guide me , he wasnt acting as a mentor at the time, its just that he knows I have difficulties and helps out when he can. It's very likely that he had no idea I was freaking out and close to losing the plot and going home. On reflection that is what I should have done. Still, no harm done, Anything I can walk away from intact has its upside.

its all cool, I've exchanged a couple of emails with him and we've got it sorted. Communication is everything.

[CookMySock]

Ah well, as you say it wasn't an expensive lesson. As far as lessons go, they can get real pricey compared to that.

Best of luck with your riding, and I hope not too much of it does come down to luck.

Steve

[wingnutt]

Hello,
Yeh it can really dent the confidence, having an off, and it will take time, but the idea is not to push things, take it slow, and your confidence will come back, and you will be a better rider for it.

Plan your run, before you leave, it is a good way to learn slowly, sit down at home with a map google earth, etc, this will give you an idea of what you might encounter, if you don’t like the feel of it, sort another road.

Set goals within the run, not too many, no hurry, you will feel a lot better, with each maneuver you get right.

ride in the daylight, if you can, night riding is not that easy at the best of times, even the experts fluff it, daylight will give you way better perspective.

All the very best, it takes a lot of courage, to get back on a bike after a fall, I reckon you should pat your self on the back, that’s the start.

Robbie

[CookMySock]

Another thing that will help - ride with other learner ladies, or people you like. Find out who is the least experienced and put them out the front.

Ride somewhere not too far, and do simple and enjoyable things, like go for coffee, and make sure its relaxed and hilarious.

Soon you will be chompin' at the bit to go riding.

Steve

[Ratti]

We are doing that this weekend, after getting a thing or two sorted with a young man who was attempting to take over. A few of us women riders are heading for a nice slow pootle up to Otaki for breakfast.
Went on the tuesday night ride lst night and it was around the coast road here. Lots of corners, a bit of unexpected gravel and a chat at the pub afterward. Was really good. I atttempted to apply the half lane thing, it made sense once I was out there. I think I did ok all things considered. Was really funny tho, I lost the sport bikes on the gravel. They all slowed down and I continued at the speed I had been doing. We talked about it later and decided it was two things.
1. the zed is a heavy beast and doesnt wiggle on pea gravel so i really didnt notice it
2. flash bikes get expensive in an off so the riders get nervous, my bike is a rat bike so a few more dents and soemthing else fallling off doesn't really bother me.
funny eh?

[CookMySock]

after getting a thing or two sorted with a young man who was attempting to take over.

MWAHHH!! Was there a teary eye or two? Silly boys should leave the ladies alone, unless they are INVITED(*glare*) and even then they should shutup.

A few of us women riders are heading for a nice slow pootle up to Otaki for breakfast. Went on the tuesday night ride lst night and it was around the coast road here. Lots of corners, a bit of unexpected gravel and a chat at the pub afterward. Was really good. I atttempted to apply the half lane thing, it made sense once I was out there.

Good shit. Thats what you need - fun days out with fun people, with little doses of success, and a good size grin in yer face when ya gets home.

I lost the sport bikes on the gravel. They all slowed down and I continued at the speed I had been doing. We talked about it later and decided it was two things.
1. the zed is a heavy beast and doesnt wiggle on pea gravel so i really didnt notice it
2. flash bikes get expensive in an off so the riders get nervous, my bike is a rat bike so a few more dents and soemthing else fallling off doesn't really bother me. funny eh?

LOL yeah, and it's your skill and experience starting to show.

You'll be fine. Just make sure the experienced people are behind you (sucks to be them!) and the newbies are out in front, and then just sit back, ride and enjoy, and think "accuracy" on those bars. Soon your strong feelings will subside (I think they're doing that already) and the grin factor and confidence will rise, along with your ability and finally will come cornering speed, last where it should be.

Have you met up with the welly bucket racer crew? This girls/guys are funny to watch, and you'll learn a lot from them at their outings. Nice folks too.


Steve

[Ratti]

He looked more stunned than anything. He's a lovely chap and keen as mustard,but outta line, severely outta line. And Im a stroppy middle aged woman with a shit load of experience at dealing with pushy people. Its all good tho, we still friends and he is doing his own breakfast run on saturday, and we wil do ours on sunday. Everyone is happy and everyone is winning. I like that.

Laugh if you like, what are BUcket racers?

[CookMySock]

LOL funny. Oh well, poor fella. But moving on ;

BUcket racers?

They race cheapie less-than-150cc bikes around a little tarseal track, dragging their knee on the corners. There's a big crew of them down your way. Fun to watch, and you might pick up some tips.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/fo...php/91-Buckets

Steve