Encouragement needed please

[Scorpygirl]

Hi Julie, as everyone has said - I know how you feel. I felt very nervous, even to the extent of being nauseous when I first got back on my bike again at the end of December. However I was determined to do it and it started to get easier. Keep up the practice and all the best.

[scumdog]

Just get out there and ride - at your own pace, never do it when you feel 'pushed', after a while you'll get more confident and faster - but never relax as that is when the other idiots we have to share the road with will get you (or the skid 'skid-demons' - but that's another story)

[scumdog]

I've been riding for.. erm..... 34 years and I still get scared at times and I've also learnt that I don't always want to take a bike... Mostly - it's still the same magic rush it's ever been.

Keep at it - after a bit you will really know if it's for you or not but there should always be just a little bit of fear...

I agree with Paul - he calls it 'riding', I call it 'staying upright and not colliding with anything" but it means the same thing. (I think).

[idb]

.......my thoughts are that control is what you need to feel - over the ride, your bike, yourself

Never had it, haven't got it, that's the excitement for me!!!

[KATWYN]

Hi Guys, I'm almost a totally new biker (38 years old and only been on a bike 4 times!)and wonder if I'll ever stop being petrified of my bike. I'm getting out about once a week for a 50k ride with my partner who has many years of experience and really have to force myself to go. The strange thing is I totally enjoy the last part of my ride home, it's such fun accelerating out of the corners. I just wish I could feel like I do at the end of a ride when I first set out. Any encouragement at all would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Julie, firstly, congratulations....riding a motorcycle- HUGE achievement. What you feel is completely normal.

What solved that feeling for me was riding my bike every day (I ride it to work) I no longer have that awful nervous throw up feeling I used to get prior to a ride.

So the answer is....ride as often as you can and understand the physics (of the machine) & geometry (of the road) to corner !

enjoy

[Nasty]

That's actually excellent advice. Nasty had her FXR150 for nearly a year and then got the Virago 500 but in all that time she would think of reasons *not* to ride to work. Too windy, too wet etc etc

Finally at xmas we rode Welly to Auckland via the Western Lakes road, back down Highway 31, over the Parapara's in the worst possible wind and rain and back home. That did it, she said that it didn't get any worse than that and it wasn't that bad.

Now she rides every day and looks forward to it

I love it when the man tells stories about me and doesn't give me a heads up on it ...

Well Julie, I know how you feel .. but you just gotta ride more ... and enough on that ...

I love the feeling of getting close to home ... and what I find it is, is simple, the courners are working, the roads are smooth and I havbe enjoyed the lead up after getting over the nerves ... that is really normal.

I hated my time up north when the day started straight away with windies and courners and shyte when I am not always comfortable doing ... but start for a bit on the straight and work into it and I am in the grove .... hopefully you will see what I mean ...

Anyway ... got to go to me aunties for dindins .. let us know how it is going.

Nasty!

[shafty]

Hi Julie, welcome aboard the Motorcycling Roundabout - well done for "doing it". I've ridden for 32 years and nearly always feel a bit "cautious", - I reckon if you feel too relaxed, you can become "cocky", so its a good thing.

I would sincerely recommend you do a BRONZ (www.bronz.org.nz ) or similiar course as soon as convenient. That will give you the tools for the job, before you pick up any bad habits.

Long rides as you get in to it will help also.

Have fun, never stop learning

[beyond]

As other have said, you just need to get out and practice.
I was off bikes for 25 years then got a 1400. The first few times on the motorway I felt so vulnerable and exposed just like I did when I first started riding at 18 years. Now, it was like I was born on a bike. It all becomes second nature and then of course you have to deal with over confidence which is stage 2 of your cycle.

You'll come right. Just ride often and start enjoying it and the more you ride, the things you concentrate on now will become automatic so you can just relax and get on with the ride. There will come a time when you just can't wait to get back on the bike.

[Blueskies]

Hi Julie,

Thanks for starting this interesting thread. Always good to read of how other bikers feel, esp the more experienced amongst us.
I have been riding for just 15 months. A late starter you could say.
Initially terrified by my gn250, the required skills were apparently far out of my reach.
One year later I was back to being almost as terrified again - this time by my scary Vulcan cruiser. Woweeee did the size of the Vulcan's petrol tank intimidate me, big time. Never mind the rest of the bike, all it took was one look at that tank to turn me into something similar to jello.
It took me 5000k's on the Vulcan to finally get that fantastic one-with-the-bike feeling, but it came. Not easily, but finally.
Now it's a love thing forever and the secret was, as has been repeatedly said here, PRACTICE. I made the biggest improvement when I rode 2500 km in 10 days, all weathers.
So Julie, be kind to yourself. Know 'that feeling' will come and just let it happen. Do it whatever way suits you, but get out there and do it. You will not regret it. Go for it Biker Girl, you are nearly there.

[Julie]

Hey, thanks for the brilliant responses, advice well appreciated. Got on the bike a few days ago and headed off to waihi and back (about an hours ride)and totally enjoyed it so much so that the following day being Easter and all that I went on a challenging ride to Whangamata with lots of winding roads and even survived that. I don't feel as apprehensive about getting on my bike and can't belive I am actually looking forward to going out on it tomorrow weather permitting. Cheers

[beyond]

Good to hear. Go girl.

[Hinckley]

Hey, thanks for the brilliant responses, advice well appreciated. Got on the bike a few days ago and headed off to waihi and back (about an hours ride)and totally enjoyed it so much so that the following day being Easter and all that I went on a challenging ride to Whangamata with lots of winding roads and even survived that. I don't feel as apprehensive about getting on my bike and can't belive I am actually looking forward to going out on it tomorrow weather permitting. Cheers

Thats good stuff Julie its all about relaxing and enjoying the ride for what it is (bloody good fun).

[Scamp]

Good to hear that you are getting out there Julie.
One other thing I'd recommend is attending a track day. They aren't that expensive and the skills you learn are worth the small outlay.
Keep enjoying.

[peasea]

I'm afraid there's no magic cure. As my erstwhile comrades have said practice is what it's all about. Its the same as learning any new skill - whatever it is.

Go through what you need to do in your head, and then go out and do it. Visualise and practice. Once you've got the basics (starting, changing gears,ect) down pat, you'll have more time to concentrate on riding itself, and your confidence will skyrocket.

Probably.

These people have ESP: Just go and do it. You'll soon find your own headspace, groove and limitations. Take trips in good weather to familiarize yourself with local roads and your bike, then do the same trip in the wet. Build on that. Be prepared at all times and at all times be prepared. At ride's end, look back, ponder and absorb. It's all good. Riding is a disease that has no cure other than riding some more.

Welcome

[Rotor]

I think all new bike riders feel scared and a lot of people who have had bikes for year still are scared.
For my self, I was all-ways nervous when I first started riding. Had a few crashers but kept ed getting back up (you have to if you want to be a bike rider). What cured my fears was to only have a motor bike for transport for 4 years so that it takes the pressure off-
1/ starting the bike (old bikes have a spacial way of starting if you get it wrong they need pushing)
2/putting your gear on (in the right order)
3/ watching out for KILLER cars
4/ you get my meaning
once all the little things (and there are heaps of little things) are second nature then the big things (KILLER cars, trucks, oil, dirt etc) are easier to think about.
Good luck and keep doing it