To Ride Or not To Ride, That is the question

[riffer]

Hey cheetor,

I had my first ride today since the crash, after putting the bike back together again.

I had thought at the back of my mind that there might be a bit of apprehension, and I guess there was a bit, as I had completely rebuilt the front of the bike and, although I was very careful to make sure I had done the job right, there's always that thought at the back of your head, "did I miss something".

I hadn't tightened up my steering head enough and it was a bit wobbly, and I had to fix that as the handlebars wanted to tank slap when I took my hands off the bars, but that was quickly fixed.

What I'm really trying to get at is that it only took a couple of minutes on the bike for me to realise that I wasn't scared at all, even though the tyres were cold, I was rusty after four weeks off, and the back tyre was spinning in the wet.

Sometimes the stuff you make up in your head when you aren't riding is a lot worse than how you actually feel when you are on the bike.

It's always tough, that first crash. Mine was when I was 17, on my IT400, when I tried to jump it on the Hutt Valley Riverbank, and blew the landing, and landed on the tripleclamps, breaking two ribs.

I wondered at that time whether or not to get back on, and did as soon as the tape came off, even though it hurt like hell.

Anyway, my mother kept on about how I was going to kill myself on that bike, and hassled me to get a car. So I got a V8, then another bike, then another V8, a few other cars, then a turbo 4WD, then a twin-turbo 4WD (love those subarus) and now I'm back on the bikes.

The cars are cool, but they never gave me the buzz that the bike does.

I'd hate to see you give up on bikes quickly, but do what you feel best.

Try the bike one more time before you make your decision, though

[moko]

Cheers

Sorry Katwyn but I agree with PT`s first comment.If you jump back on a bike after an accident thinking "great I`ve got less chance of another one now" you`re dangerously deluded.In fact if it`s rattled your confidence there`s a good chance you`re at more risk as you`ll be riding tensed up and possibly over-reacting.How does the saying go"Theres lies,damn lies and statistics",or something similar.

[Skyryder]

Never binned the bike but some near misses in cars taught me a few things. As most have said only you know the aswer to your question. But if you did not learn anything from your 'off' then stay off until you have.

Skyryder

[dhunt]

To Ride or Not To Ride isn't really the question. But why wouldn't you ride? After binning myself about 9 weeks ago now. This is something I've thought about a bit. I got on a bike pretty much as soon as I got out of plaster but that doesn't mean I've forgotten about the binning.

It has made me much more aware of safety issues. I pay much more attention to cars that cross my path and yes I probably ride slower than I use to. I still ride cause I enjoy riding a lot more than I enjoy driving.

About a week or so a go one I found out of the guys I grew up with was killed in a freak accident in which he was electrocuted while out in a little sail boat. It helped make the point pretty much anything we do has some risks. It is just a matter of do these risks out way the benfits.

Well thats how I'm looking at it. But really you have to make up your own mind.

David

[Bob]

Like most of us it seems, I've had a major 'off' as well (I did the classic flip over the car bonnet trick - ended up with me having a disc removed).

I couldn't wait to get back on the bike once it was repaired.

Oddly enough, I had more problems with a minor off a couple of years earlier - real low speed slippery flagstones lowside. For a couple of weeks after that, I had real problems tipping the bike into corners, as I was convinced it was going to topple over if I leaned too far (no chance of that!)

My wife had a massive accident which resulted in her needing reconstructive surgery on her knee - it was the aim of getting back on the bike that helped her recovery.

Now this isn't meant to be showing you that accidents happen - they do. But if you have the urge to get back on the bike, I think that shows you are ready to do it once again. If you were very dubious about riding, then it might be another issue.

Just a thought, but why not book yourself into a training school? Explain you've had an accident and are looking to build confidence again - that way you can get some practice in with someone else who will be used to hesitance and then get back out there when you are ready.

On Katwyn's 'less chance of an accident' thing - I think you're misinterpreting the figures. It isn't a case of "As you get older", but "As you build experience". More experience - and very importantly more practice - and your observation skills improve, as does your positioning and so forth.

The biggest accident group in the UK are late 30s to mid-40s - lot of people come back to bikes after a long time and don't realise that things have changed.... they genuinely do not seem to realise that nice looking R1 they just bought goes a lot faster and can do things the old rustbucket they had in the 80s couldn't have dreamed about. Or that their skills are so rusty they've practically disappeared.

Back to the point - you feel like you want to get back on, so try it - maybe at a school like I suggested to get your confidence rebuilt. OK, if you try and can't do it, at least you know. Better to try again that give up now and spend the rest of your life looking at bikes and thinking "I wonder what it would have been like to ride again?"

Just my tuppence-worth, but hope it helps.

[KATWYN]

On Katwyn's 'less chance of an accident' thing - I think you're misinterpreting the figures. It isn't a case of "As you get older", but "As you build experience". More experience - and very importantly more practice - and your observation skills improve, as does your positioning and so forth.

.

I didn't think getting older had anything to do with it?, as you may start riding a motorcycle at 50 or 60 etc . But the 5 year time period is based on experience.

Most likely to have a crash within 5 years due to inexperience
less of a chance thereafter

[KATWYN]

In fact if it`s rattled your confidence there`s a good chance you`re at more risk as you`ll be riding tensed up and possibly over-reacting..

Hmm good pointMoko. So there could be that window of time where you are
in more danger when you get back in the saddle.... and that window of time
would vary greatly from person to person most probably

[Posh Tourer :P]

Sorry Katwyn but I agree with PT`s first comment.If you jump back on a bike after an accident thinking "great I`ve got less chance of another one now" you`re dangerously deluded.In fact if it`s rattled your confidence there`s a good chance you`re at more risk as you`ll be riding tensed up and possibly over-reacting.How does the saying go"Theres lies,damn lies and statistics",or something similar.

If you get back on the bike with that attitude, then you are at risk. That attitude is often due to the misunderstanding of statistics that i was referring to earlier. However, if he reacts like the average person and is a bit more cautious, then he will have less chance of an accident. It will have nothing to do with statistics, but with his attitude. The statistics are almost irrelevant for each individual, and only provide a general guide as to what might happen in most cases, given that most cases involve a set of common responses to an accident etc.

[moko]

Then there`s the "some other idiot" factor".Years back I was in the outside lane waiting for the lights to change.Some cretin came barrelling down the road and just piled into the car next to me sending it clean across the junction(where the traffic was still moving)where it flipped onto it`s side.Victim of this total stupidity was doing nothing wrong,just his bad luck he was in the way of some blind moron.brought me out in a cold sweat thinking about the damage that would have been done to me if he`d piled into my bike at that speed and force of impact.Scariest thing for me on the road is the truly awful standard of car-driving these days,I`ve got every confidence in my own abilities.

[Draco]

To ride or not???

As Death said, i think you can class my crash in the fairly big catagory. Few days in intensive care, weeks in hospital and nearly a year in bed (5 fractures in my pelvis, destroyed knee, partially wrecked ankle and tried to skin myself like a chicken), and the whole time i rehabed, the next cold kiwi rally was my motivator.

My family bitched at me non stop to quit riding. And the day i told them all that they wouldn't be bitchin at me if i'd injured myself playing rugby or waterskiing, they all shut up.

As everyone has said only you can make that decision. But i think the fact that you are itching to go again sais the decision has already been made. So borrow a small bike, one you cant get yourself in to too much trouble with and go for a ride, then you will know.

Most important of all, if you ride again, learn something from your crash. I will never ride like i used to, but perhaps that is a good thing. I would also never give up the wonderful memories and awesome mates i've made since learning to ride.

[KATWYN]

As Death said, i think you can class my crash in the fairly big catagory

What happened? where,how, etc etc

[Ghost Lemur]

As has been mentioned repeatedly already, it very much sounds like you have made your decision, but are getting a bit of pressure for loved ones to change your decision.

Just remember at the end of the day it's you you have to answer to.

A little side story I use to illustrate why something being "dangerous" should not stop someone from doing it if they have the passion and desire.

There was a rock climber a few years back. One of the best in the world by the name of Wolfgang.
This guy could scale his practice wall in his house with just two fingers on each hand and no legs.
He did quite a bit of free climbing, which for those who don't know is climbing without ropes or harness. Obviously it's the most dangerous form of the sport.
Anyway, this guy was called on to do some stunts in Stallone's Cliffhanger film. Incidentally he was the guy who was hanging from the overhang by one hand (no ropes, 1500 feet up).
Well filming finished. He got in his car to drive back to his home in Austria and was killed in a car accident.

I've also known people who have died doing what they loved. My auntie was a skydiver and lost her life to her shute not opening. I don't think she would have, or could have, given up even if she knew that she would go that way.

Doing a bit of rambling here. But all I'm really trying to say is life is fragile and not fair. You can live in a bubble trying to not get hurt and still get struck down early having had no fun. Or you can do things that make you happy and provide purpose to your life, and take educated risks.

Whatever you end up doing remember that you are still alive to make these decision and celebrate that fact.

[Bob]

Hmm good pointMoko. So there could be that window of time where you are in more danger when you get back in the saddle.... and that window of time
would vary greatly from person to person most probably

That is why I suggested maybe having some time with a training school. Get some practice under the belt to help getting relaxed and in focus once again. Put the pride (not that I'm suggesting pride is in question here, but we're all pretty awful by and large when it comes to asking for a little help when we need it) to one side and let these guys do what they are trained to do.

That said, you can bet the first time something that is similar to your accident occurs (in the case of my 'biggie' someone rolling the car out of a side turning), you will have that mental 'EEK!' moment, but if you've got your confidence back - and you're back in tune with the bike - you'll get through it fine and be able to get on with biking and life in general.

I didn't think getting older had anything to do with it?, as you may start riding a motorcycle at 50 or 60 etc . But the 5 year time period is based on experience.

Most likely to have a crash within 5 years due to inexperience
less of a chance thereafter

I know what you're saying, but I don't personally like the idea of applying statistics to this kind of situation. I've been riding for over a decade now - but I still had a close shave a couple of months ago when some dizzy twit was too busy talking to their friend rather than look at the road... so they just started rolling the car out of a side-turning. Despite it being a clear day, my riding a bright yellow bike, with the headlight on, sounding my horn and shouting abuse at the same time! I still had to brake, then take evasive action to save my own skin.

Admittedly experience and practice (I ride every day of the week) got me out of trouble, but I'd hate myself to adhere to the idea that I've been riding for a long time so I am safer.

It isn't me I worry about (I know my limits and I work hard on my observational skills), it is the other idiot that isn't thinking/is so wrapped up in cotton-wool (figuratively speaking) by all the protective features in their car that they just don't pay attention properly.

Defensive riding (and a little paranoia in the right place - when I am on the road, as far as I am concerned everyone else is a potential danger) is the key to my mind.

[riffer]

Riding the bike again on Saturday and yesterday, I have discovered that I have become a bit of a chicken turning left.


I guess this is to be expected since I lowsided on the left hand side, but it seems like my ankle and knee are complaining, even though I know they should be okay.

Also, my weight shifting on the left corners is a bit dodgy too. It's almost as if my body is betraying me... making the bike wobble a bit as my body overrides my brain.

Any ideas on how to correct this quickly? I'm picking it will go away with a bit of riding, it's just interesting to notice it, its so involuntary...

[moko]

Just take it really steady for a while until you feel happier,if you ride around feeling un-safe then you will be.A bit of time will get your confidence back again,ride slowly,no law against that,until you feel happier.As you say it sounds as if you`ve got a bit of a mental block at the moment and tensing up on left-handers,time will cure that one.I had a similar thing a few months back,back end slid out on gravel and I had to lift it up or drop it,got her upright but that meant heading straight for a stone wall and trying to brake on a loose surface.Ended up stopped just short of the wall but wondering how the hell I`d got away with it,very scary moment.Really shook me up and had me rattled for a couple of weeks,and I`ve got nearly 30 years riding behind me.My cure was to go back to the same corner and take it again.No gravel this time but I still got the jitters approaching it,slowed way down and took it at not much over running speed,once I`d cleared it felt loads better,turned around,back a few miles,turned around again and took it at more usual speed,mental block cleared.