Bad Hair Days (not about helmet hair)

[Unit:Me]

Some days I can pull the duke out keen for a ride. Right from the start it just goes terribly wrong. I finally get on the road and, well, just cant ride. Miss corners, miss gears, stall at the lights, feel totally unco and question my ability to ever ride well again. Nothing about the bike feels right, so I get paronoid about set up etc. Cant put my finger on the reason why, everytime. I ride by choice so its not just because its a mode of transport. So one would think I was in the mood or right frame of mind when I get out there. Anyone else have this problem?

[Bonez]

Some days I can pull the duke out keen for a ride. Right from the start it just goes terribly wrong. I finally get on the road and, well, just cant ride. Miss corners, miss gears, stall at the lights, feel totally unco and question my ability to ever ride well again. Nothing about the bike feels right, so I get paronoid about set up etc. Cant put my finger on the reason why, everytime. I ride by choice so its not just because its a mode of transport. So one would think I was in the mood or right frame of mind when I get out there. Anyone else have this problem?

Yip. Some days it takes a long time to get in the mode for riding. Others up at sparrows fart ready to go.

[Virago]

Sounds like a "normal" ride for me......... .

But sometimes, very occasionally, it all comes together. Smooth cornering, smooth gears changes, confident (but not cocky), and at one with the machine.

For me, one really good ride makes up for 10 mediocre rides.

[heavenly.talker]

Yes...I know I'm going to have one of those days when I look in the mirror that morning and my hair won't go right! Hence the term...bad hair day...I guess ;-) lol

Mind you I do consider an early alarm warning to take it easy that day and ensure that I'm super watchful of everything that is going on around me.

[DMNTD:Me]

Oh yes,"those days"! :slap:
Frustrating and embarrassing to say the least eh.
Blowing my line on a corner is my usual balls up,not too often but when I have a day...I really do.

Remedy: find a nice straight and blast it to the limit then back to reality or my version of it.
Works for me and the voices

[Virago]

.......Works for me and the voices

You get the voices too?????????

[Unit:Me]

Sounds like a "normal" ride for me......... .

But sometimes, very occasionally, it all comes together. Smooth cornering, smooth gears changes, confident (but not cocky), and at one with the machine.

I had one of those too recently after a bad riding day. The day before 90ks was like soooooo freaking fast, the next day, it was a sunday drive. Just cant figure it. Really hate bad hair days on an organised group riding day. Shouldnt be worried what others thinks cause they are all probably in their own world and dont even notice mine. Oh, and the voices confuse me, dont know which one to listen to

[FROSTY:Me]

SP man just posted a link to an article about just that.
I have days like that at the track and on the road.
The secret is --SLOW DOWN.
Get back to a pace where the flow starts to happen again then build the speed from there.
Sometimes even stopping completely is the answer. Get the ol head together and back in gear.
When Im practicing for a meeting i might go waaay hot into a couple of corners and then cruise the rest of the lap so my brain has time to digest what Ive just done and whether it was good or bad.
I've seen this a lot with newer riders. They just get worse and worse and worse out of their depth But some ego or testosterone thing has cut in and they wont slow and gegather their thoughts.

[number33]

Duc, RELAX your arms on the handlebars. Hold the bars lightly. Concentrate on that. Wear earplugs too.

[Ixion]

I'm quite sure that EVERY rider has this problem. And no-one really knows how to overcome it. All one can do is slowdown, stop, contemplate, and try again. Doesn't always work, but. Sometimes best just to go home.

Just one of those things I reckon.

[oldrider]

Some days I can pull the duke out keen for a ride. Right from the start it just goes terribly wrong. I finally get on the road and, well, just cant ride. Miss corners, miss gears, stall at the lights, feel totally unco and question my ability to ever ride well again. Nothing about the bike feels right, so I get paronoid about set up etc. Cant put my finger on the reason why, everytime. I ride by choice so its not just because its a mode of transport. So one would think I was in the mood or right frame of mind when I get out there. Anyone else have this problem?

You better start getting used to that, Ivé been riding for over 50yrs and saddly those days just pop up every now and then.
Sometimes you can ride them out, most times I just go home and sulk. Hate it when that happens. Cheers John.

[Bonez]

You get the voices too?????????

I just think of them as my more experienced imaginary freind.

[DMNTD:Me]

You get the voices too?????????

Mate(s)!! I got lots of friends...most of them are me

[DMNTD:Me]

Duc, RELAX your arms on the handlebars. Hold the bars lightly. Concentrate on that. Wear earplugs too.

But then you can't hear it singing ...(and the voices)

[Jackrat]

Never happens to me,,,,I don't own a Duke,,,bugger.
But that other stuff,,,,yeah now an then.
I just slow down or stop for a while,reset the head an carry on.
I had a ride resently were I started off really well, then got uncomfortable as the day went on.I was with a number of other riders so felt I had to keep up,but when it got no better I just backed right off,lost contact with the other riders but felt heaps better for it.
I don't look for answers to these things,,,just shit happens.