How long does it take - to regain confidence after a bin??!!!

[mstriumph]

haven't had anything major - yet - broken ribs, skin loss, interesting puncture wounds, technicolour bruises, that sorta thingy ......

i've found that witnesses [especially ones that know you and are likely to take the piss later] help with the task of getting right back on and taking off again as though all's right with the world [even if it's only to somewhere removed from their gaze where you can cry over the bike's dents/scrapes - and your own - in private].

after the baby's fixed a vacant supermarket carpark or similar and a couple of hours solid tootling about until you find the joy again ... just you and the bike, learning to trust each other again
- it helps

good luck with it anyway

[McJim]

Hm. I wouldn't call that "taking it easy". I'd call that riding at the maximum that was safe - maybe even a wee bit more. 120kph would have been unsafe. So maybe the question has to be asked - confidence? or over-confidence?

Thanks for spotting that Ix - She wasn't going as fast as I was - it was a sweeper, not tight although blind due to foliage. the 100kph I was travelling did allow me to stop in time although 120kph on that corner would have resulted in a gentle contact - any faster and I'd have aimed for the field on my left (Truck was leaving the field on my left) the only other escape route was oncoming traffic and I wouldn't have fancied that.

The point I was trying to make with the comment is that just because you're capable of cornering at 120..130..140kph if you can't see through it then it's not a good idea in rural NZ!

Too often we forget the farmers and their machinery/stock.

[James Deuce]

Too often we forget the farmers and their machinery/stock.

More often than not it's vice versa. The argument that being dead and in the right is a stupid approach doesn't wash in the face of criminal negligence by a proportion of NZ road users.

[Minnie]

Hope you are feeling better about riding soon chickadee, would be a shame for you to chuck it in, with all the support you have here you'll be back into it in no time

[quickbuck]

More often than not it's vice versa. The argument that being dead and in the right is a stupid approach doesn't wash in the face of criminal negligence by a proportion of NZ road users.

That goes along with my theory of: It doesn't matter if you are in the right or wrong, the Scannia will still F__K you over.

This Revelation is a result of an accident that involved me on a bike vs a 40 tonne truck (who didn't see me), running me over!

The thing was there was something I took away from the accident (other than a smashed bike, many broken bones, and concussion), and that was that I could have avoided the accident had I not made the assumption that he had seen me.
You see I thought he had seen me, and the car pulling up to the intersection (stop sign) hadn't. Too busy worrying about the car, and ignoring the truck that was turning right in front of me (I was going straight). Almost a fatal omission.

It took 10 months to heal, but as soon as I was, I was ready for a bike again.

Never lost my mojo for any length of time, partly (I think) is because I have been falling of motorcycles (or was falling off) from a very young age. Too young to care about how much it hurts, and so young nothing ever broke.

I guess if I didn't start riding until I was much older then my attitude would be different.
I wouldn't have to years of experience to draw back on to be able to analyse situations like I can.

So, Chickadee take it easy, concentrate on your riding, and the speed will come with experience. And Experience will tell you that when you are going too fast.

[$CENSLS1$]

I had my first 'off' today
Luckily for me it was at very low speed and I was more worried about anyone seeing me do it rather than any injuries..

[BarBender]

I had a relatively major smash in my teens that took me ages to get over largely because I didnt have the emotional equipment to deal with it.

These days - its the near misses more so than the bins that keep me awake...

[beyond]

Well speaking from very recent experience, I thought I would have a wee bit of a problem getting into cornering again after my off and broken ankle.

But, I have been on the edge all week waiting to get my bike back and I picked it up on Wednesday. It was going to rain so came back from the bike shop and spent 80kms on the motorway and in the twisties to scrub the new tyres and never had a problem: like I had not even been off it for the last 5 weeks.

Yesterday the weather was meant to be crap but it was fine and I managed another 130kms through the tight stuff, getting the rear tyre scrubbed to the edge. Apart from a stiff left ankle and gear changes being not so smooth as a result, everything else was fine and it was great.

Loved it. Now the forecast is crap for another 4-5 days.

[Dodgyiti]

Depends how bad the bin was.

I still do not ride as hard as I did before a major bin, and that was 4 years ago!

I also downgraded from 130HP to 90HP and do not expect to ever own something that powerful again, even though power was not a factor, it was, as they say; 'the other guy'

A major bin will make you look seriously at every factor in your riding.

If it doesn't, then you will never learn.

Falling off hurts, in my case- a lot and for the rest of my life.

[Guitana]

Hi Chikadee

It can take some time to get over a crash,but that oh shit feeling is good it sharpens your senses to whats going on around you. I had a near fatal at 140 kms and 6 months later got back on the beast to show I had no fear! Much to the horror of my family. Just take it easy the fun will come back in time,try riding with others until your confidence is restored.

Be safe!

Enjoy the freefall while it lasts the next bits gonna hurt

[FROSTY:Me]

Good question that--Its taken me a fair few race miles to get my confidence bacvk after my bins at taupo end of last month

[Chisanga]

I think you are taking the right approach to your riding after your off -not being scared to get back on the bike but being sensible, knowing your limits, attending another RRRS course etc. You rode well on the little jaunts that we have been on.

I'm sure it will come back to you in time and there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking it easy in the meantime

[eviltwin]

i wrote my bike off at pukekohe last sunday.
a dude gave me his bike to use for the rest of the day...and away i went.
you can procrastinate forever and it'll get you nowhere.
learn from your mistake and get back on the horse, you'll be a better rider.

[Cajun]

Regaining your "mojo" depends on how emotionally scarred you are...

If you worry about potentially killing yourself, your confidence may never come back. There's a fine line between riding like a nana, and riding fast but responsibly. At the end of the day, you need to ride in a way that minimises the risk of hurting yourself and allows you to enjoy yourself.

When you ride, concentrate on good riding principles and being safe and your confidence should grow from there. If your riding ability has dropped due to reduced confidence, don't ride above your current abilities even if you've done better before - if your head isn't in the right place, you may not pull it off

[Arthur]

I've had plenty of bins off-road, fortunately nothing major, so straight back on the bike and feeding it a fist-full... I've had three bins on the road, the first two were entirely my fault, and all I lost was a mirror each time. Just uncomfortable without those things once you're used to them... The third one was a driver coming towards me and turned right without looking, unfortunately I don't remember anything, so can't learn anything from it. This was the only off that I've had, without getting back on the bike as soon as possible. When I do, it's time to see how how far I can push the envelope...