To Ride Or not To Ride, That is the question

[Bob]

Another idea that might be worth trying - is there something like a supermarket carpark that you can use to practice?

Thinking along the lines of superstores with HUGE carparks here. Everyone tries to get as close to the shop as possible, so normally the park farthest away is completely empty. So use that part to get some practice in.

Ride slowly round the lanes at the top end and build confidence. I've been through exactly the same thing - your brain is throwing you warning signals that just aren't true. It is trying to defend you from a situation you've been in before. Our 'Fight or Flight' instincts aren't keeping pace with technology, so they don't know how to handle situations like lowsiding off a bike!

Other than that, as Moko says, no harm in keeping the pace down and keeping it steady until your confidence increases. As I say, after a lowside I had, for the next couple of weeks I seemed to be taking left-handers in segments, tipping the bike in stages rather than making it a smooth action. So I went off and did just what I've said above, did some practice away from the road and took it easy until my confidence was improied and things got back to normal.

[Draco]

What happened? where,how, etc etc

Being new to riding, my mechanical knowledge was pretty limited. I had been complaining about my steering, but didn't really know anyone who could look at it for me at the time. Cut a long story short, i had stuffed steering head bearings. I had just overtaken a string of cars and pulled back in, only to hit a really rough patch of road (unsignposted) (crap northland roads) at approx 120k and got in to a massive tank slapper. Tried all the usual stuff to recover, but eventually got spat off. Fractured my pelvis when i hit the deck, as i was sliding along the road i could hear my bike catching up to me, next thing it slammed in to me and sent me spiraling across the road, and shattered my pelvis in 5 places, tore my knee ligament etc, etc. The whole crash was witnessed by an ex speedway racer, who said it looked very impressive. Needless to say it sure didn't feel too impressive.

I suffered major confidence loss when i finally started riding again. I had panic attacks every time i hit rough road. It still makes me nervous, but thanks to my partner i got rid of the bike i crashed because i had no faith in it anymore. I bought a different bike, fitted a steering damper, and never rode over 100k for a while. I concentrated on becoming more relaxed while riding instead, things like polishing up my lines, smooth braking etc. And with time the panic attacks stopped, and when i hit rough stuff unexpectedly, i get a little nervous, but can talk myself through it. I've been told lots, that time helps, and although i didn't think it would, it does. Slowly but surely the confidence in myself and my bike is returning. To what degree it will, who knows? Atleast i'm here to ride again, and even enjoying it again.

[riffer]

As I say, after a lowside I had, for the next couple of weeks I seemed to be taking left-handers in segments, tipping the bike in stages rather than making it a smooth action. So I went off and did just what I've said above, did some practice away from the road and took it easy until my confidence was improied and things got back to normal.

Sounds like a good idea Bob.

Haven't ridden the bike since Sunday, as there's almost no gas in the tank and even less cash in the bank to pay for it

I didn't help my confidence at first by having the steering head bearings too lose - the manual reckons 2ft-lb, but that's bollocks in these bikes - maybe when new, but not now. I have upped it to about 10 ft-lb and this has taken the wobble out when I take my hands off and sorted that little "clunk" when I jab on the brakes.

I was doing a bit of that taking the corner in steps - it seemed to me like the bike was dropping down a little too fast for my liking. I must admit I've lifted the forks up the triples so they stick about 3-5mm out from the top of the triples - in order to quicken up the steering. Maybe its a bit much - I might try dropping them again and see if it makes me feel a bit less nervous.

I think what you mention is a good idea - just practice and practice those lefts again.

One corner in particular I had a problem with (the Wallaceville turn-off up Whakatiki St on River Road going north, for those of you who know the road), is a little tricky, it's a quite tight-ish 90° left corner which is not cambered, and always has gravel on the inside and outside of it, and which goes straight on to some nice little esses before you have to hit 50 km/hr.

Before the accident I was reasonably confident on the corner, but it's always been tricky. I used to be able to take it leaned over and let the back just start to slide a touch, now I just try and go straight up and down and tend to wobble a bit.

I must try the left hander at the bottom of Haywards leading on to the motorway going north as well. That one will let me know if there's a problem.

I have also noticed that my front tyre still has slight gouge marks where it hit the boat trailer (cheap bastard that I am - I haven't replaced it) and these are still scrubbing off - it's on the left side - that could be causing me gip too.

But I think mainly its in the brain because I can feel the weight on the left ankle and knee and that just doesn't happen on the right side at all.

Oh well, put some gas in the bike and get out there and practice, I reckon...

[vifferman]

Like others have said, cheetor, it's your decision to make, and all you can do is weigh up other people's opinions and experiences and then decide what's right for you. Don't let anyone else make the decision for you.

When I wrote off my first bike (many years ago), I never had the slightest doubt I would ride again. However, I remember watching other bikers do silly things while I was bikeless and catching the bus, and it used to give me cold shivers down my spine, and made me feel sick for what might happen. But thinking about getting back on a bike myself didn't worry me at all.

Since then, I've had 5 more bikes, and several more accidents, all fairly minor apart from the last one (a year ago). While lying in pain on the road waiting for the ambulance, I thought "This REALLY sucks", and I had some very hard thinking to do about whether to get another bike or not. In the end I decided I wasn't quite ready to give it up just yet, but it was a close call. I'm still not positive it was the best decision, but I can still quit if I wish to; I'll lose some money, but too bad.

[riffer]

Interesting crash video here:

http://wtfpeople.com/openlink.php?LI...d0af2c27033825

Guy has a good attitude about it afterwards though.

Makes my crash look like a walk in the park.

[FROSTY:Me]

Get ya ass back on a bike ASAP. --Well noone else is saying that.
You will Know if you have your nerve back or not.
I watched 6chris6 as he slowly regained his confidence over a few days.
Initially he was fighting his bike-Totally out of sorts with it. His back musta been sore then he began to relax and enjoy
The only way you will know is being on the seat and riding.

[KATWYN]

Being new to riding, my mechanical knowledge was pretty limited. I had been complaining about my steering, but didn't really know anyone who could look at it for me at the time. Cut a long story short, i had stuffed steering head bearings. I had just overtaken a string of cars and pulled back in, only to hit a really rough patch of road (unsignposted) (crap northland roads) at approx 120k and got in to a massive tank slapper. Tried all the usual stuff to recover, but eventually got spat off. Fractured my pelvis when i hit the deck, as i was sliding along the road i could hear my bike catching up to me, next thing it slammed in to me and sent me spiraling across the road, and shattered my pelvis in 5 places, tore my knee ligament etc, etc. The whole crash was witnessed by an ex speedway racer, who said it looked very impressive. Needless to say it sure didn't feel too impressive.

I suffered major confidence loss when i finally started riding again. I had panic attacks every time i hit rough road. It still makes me nervous, but thanks to my partner i got rid of the bike i crashed because i had no faith in it anymore. I bought a different bike, fitted a steering damper, and never rode over 100k for a while. I concentrated on becoming more relaxed while riding instead, things like polishing up my lines, smooth braking etc. And with time the panic attacks stopped, and when i hit rough stuff unexpectedly, i get a little nervous, but can talk myself through it. I've been told lots, that time helps, and although i didn't think it would, it does. Slowly but surely the confidence in myself and my bike is returning. To what degree it will, who knows? Atleast i'm here to ride again, and even enjoying it again.

Scary stuff! especially the bit about sliding along the road with a fractured pelvis and hearing your bike catching up to you knowing what was about to
happen.

[loosebruce]

It's all upto you man, i'd be lost without my bike to ride, i reckon you should get back on it, jus make sure you have the right gear on, i think everyone who rides bikes at some stage in their life will have a crash their fault or not, i'v had a few, one quite serious 120kph+ my own fault, i ended up in tokoroa hospital, ask WT about tokoroa, never again will i crash in that area. In saying that i crashed at just over 130kph sure it was on the track but i had full leathers on etc etc and walked away without a scratch on me, the bike on the other hand well yeah.
Get back on a bike for sure but make sure you spend the $$$ on good gear, so if the worse does happen again and you have an off the chances of getting hurt are that much less, money can fix a bike or buy a new one in some of my case's but not fix the body all that easily.

[cheetor]

It's all upto you man, i'd be lost without my bike to ride, i reckon you should get back on it, jus make sure you have the right gear on, i think everyone who rides bikes at some stage in their life will have a crash their fault or not, i'v had a few, one quite serious 120kph+ my own fault, i ended up in tokoroa hospital, ask WT about tokoroa, never again will i crash in that area. In saying that i crashed at just over 130kph sure it was on the track but i had full leathers on etc etc and walked away without a scratch on me, the bike on the other hand well yeah.
Get back on a bike for sure but make sure you spend the $$$ on good gear, so if the worse does happen again and you have an off the chances of getting hurt are that much less, money can fix a bike or buy a new one in some of my case's but not fix the body all that easily.

HEHE, It was my good gear that saved my ass in the first place
Need a new helmet, pants and jacket though, And a new bike may also help

[Draco]

Get back on a bike for sure but make sure you spend the $$$ on good gear, so if the worse does happen again and you have an off the chances of getting hurt are that much less, money can fix a bike or buy a new one in some of my case's but not fix the body all that easily.

Amen to that! Wearing good gear also helps your confidence return knowing that if you crash, chances are your gear will hopefully reduce the severity of injuries. And before anyone points that statement out, i do not mean that it makes it safer to do stupid stuff, or break the sound barrier, it just helps me relax, and therefore has a positive side effect of improving my riding.

[Ghost Lemur]

Interesting crash video here:

http://wtfpeople.com/openlink.php?LI...d0af2c27033825

Guy has a good attitude about it afterwards though.

Makes my crash look like a walk in the park.

Links dead.

[MadDuck]

Just DONT do what I did. I put my bike under a bus when I was in my early twenties. The family all said OMG dont ride a bike again its way too dangerous blah blah blah....so lets say just a few years passed (about 15) and I decided to get back on but now I ride very hesitantly - yeah ok like a nana. Is it a bad thing NO. But my damn crash was a stoopid crash which should never had happened.

I walked away but realised that buses are just a little bit bigger than bikes 15 years is too much time to miss out on all the fun

[Bob]

Amen to that! Wearing good gear also helps your confidence return knowing that if you crash, chances are your gear will hopefully reduce the severity of injuries. And before anyone points that statement out, i do not mean that it makes it safer to do stupid stuff, or break the sound barrier, it just helps me relax, and therefore has a positive side effect of improving my riding.

NOT picking you up on this - HONEST!

I am one of those people who thinks you should always wear good protective clothing, no matter how long the ride, the weather or anything. In Winter I wear waterproof, armoured and thermally lined jacket and trousers. In Summer, lightweight Cordura jacket, Hood jeans (like Draggin' - Kevlar lined for fantastic abrasion resistance). All year round? Arai lid, decent gloves and boots.

I've got quite a bit of abuse over the years for voicing this opinion (Most famously from someone who said "I won't let anyone tell me what to wear - and I have the scars to prove it" - like that was showing what he did was clever or right!)

But there was an article in one of the bike mags over here on the subject of 'Does protective clothing make you less safe?' Theory went that you are covered from head to foot in protective clothing, so you take more risks as you think you will be safe in the event of an accident.

To prove the point, they sent out people over the same route in different levels of clothing - the one with the top of the range leathers etc pushed way harder and rode much faster than they did when put into less effective kit. And the person who rode in nothing more than the minimum to cover their embarassment rode very slowly indeed!

But if it helps you to relax, then brilliant. Your mind isn't focused on something else then - so you can concentrate on riding, avoiding every other idiot on the road, potholes and the rest!

I still think - no matter how good your protective kit - a little dose of 'paranoia' is useful. Treat every other road user as a complete moron, always make sure you have an escape route etc and I reckon you'll be a lot safer, no matter what you wear!

[cheetor]

Had a chat to my insurance company today, Tnhey're getting me a new bike
I"M Itching to ride again, I think I definitly must have 'The Bug'

Heres to good gear *cheers!* it saved my Ass!, Worth its weight in gold(and with all those armour plates it weighs alot)

I realy look forward to riding with you guys(And gals) again!

[andy1]

Good man. just take it easy dude.