Help please! I'm a wuss on the open road!

[MSTRS:Me]

Oh yes I bloody well did mean to shout!

Softly softly catchee monkey.
If the trainee doesn't listen etc then yes, by all means give them a rarkup.
But if you are doing the same to a newbie that has asked for help in good faith then perhaps you are not the right person to be teaching them?
"Is this the right room for an argument?" - "No, sorry. This is abuse"

[Squiggles]

you're welcome to come along on the learners rides organised by the Auckland Uni Bike Club,we have a fair few learners that come along to get used to open road riding

[janno]

[QUOTE=The Stranger;1097104]You didn't per chance teach Justsomeguy to ride did you.
Nah, he was worse, he would listen, nod appropriately, agree then just carry on as normal.


No, this was a woman in Bris, who I found out later was famous for doing the hard luck story about how she couldn't get help, then behaved in such an outrageous manner that no one wanted to help her. Really took advantage of people's good nature. Luckily I've never come across another like her though. Most motorcyclists are the best, IMHO!!

Jan.

[flat battery]

Hi again,

Wow thanks for all your advice! I think relaxing is something I definitely need to do, but perhaps this will be a lot easier once I've done a couple courses and have a bit of confidence in my riding again. I'm definitely keen to do the RRRS course (I didn't realise you could do this with such little experience!) - have PM'ed the stranger.

AWNMR sounds good too - when's the next one? I live on the shore so it might be easier to meet you in Albany if that's where you go.

Janno - your plan sounds good, I have a rider in mind for this but he just sold his bike! I'm sure this can be sorted though. The plan makes a lot of sense, in fact we do the same thing when we take out a newbie mountain biker (although we don't need the tail person for that! but its great to follow someone elses speed and lines though).

Hanne - might have to take you up on the coffee offer. And klingon if you're keen! I'll be in touch

Anyway, I'm feeling a lot more positive so thanks. Will let you know how I get on! And if I have any more questions. Also, for the record, I'm a good listener :P

[Mom]

I'm feeling a lot more positive so thanks. Will let you know how I get on! And if I have any more questions. Also, for the record, I'm a good listener :P

As the learned on here have already said, relax, it is all about fun, whether doing 50kph or xxxkph, trust your bike to do what it can do, just get out there and do it. Dont grip the bars as if your life depends on them, look ahead of where you want to go, and ride lots and lots! Watch out on the calender on the home page, for rides happening close to you, read the body of the post as some dont say "learner friendly" in their titles, but are more than happy for, and cater for learners to join in.

[sunhuntin]

if the wind picks up more than you are used to, try increasing your speed. ignore the 70k open road rule imposed on learners, as in strong wind, it could be the death of you.

i reguarly ride above 80k... 110k max. while down south, i was doing 110k just to keep in a straight line, as the side wind was very strong.

if you dont feel safe going faster, find a safe spot and pull over. preferrably somewhere like a gas station, where you can leave the bike and get your nerve back.

best of luck... before you know it, youll be wondering what you were worried about!

[Rashika]

Even after years of riding there are times when I still get a bit nervy on the road.. it could be due to conditions (e.g. wind or traffic) or just not being in the right frame of mind (and that can have a LOT to do with your riding).
You need to be comfortable (which means no death grips on the bars, and relax your shoulders etc), relaxed (as much as you can in 100kms hour winds) and confident. By confident I dont mean able to go 300kms an hour without a qualm, just confident that yes i can take the corner right at a modest speed and not go over the centre line.
Confidence comes with experience, which you will gain by just doing lots of riding... I mean HOURS in the saddle... of all types. If you can get a mentor to help you all the better, you will learn quickly and safely, and be able to learn from feedback about what is good and not so good.

You have really only been learning for a short time, so dont expect to know everything and be supergirl in that time
...and others shouldn't be expecting you too either!

If I was to jump on a mountainbike and head off with some people I know, I know sure as anything I would be behind pretty quickly, but thats okay, cos i dont have their balls or experience, BUT I will get there eventually and will probably have a ball improving along the way.
And you aint alone, lots of people feel nervy on the open road. Altho nowadays i usually feel more nervy in town with all the traffic.
Good luck and stick with it...talk to us again in a year about how you feel about your riding.

[scumdog]

Top hintss:
Look away ahead at where you want to go - not at a patch of road about 20 metres on front.

Look ahead at where you want to go - not at the edge of the seal as you go around a right-hand bend.

As a rough rule - on left hand bends look to the left side of the road, on right-hand bends look towards the centreline BUT look away ahead where you want to go.

Wind problem? Eat less beans.

Seriously, in strong side winds LET your bike 'wobble' around a bit (assuming you're not on a motorway with cars hemming you in tightly or something like that) and keep your speed up - even though you feel really slow=really safe.

[Coyote]

Go as fast as possible (probably around 160 on your VTR) for a fair while. Do this several times. This should desensitize you to going 100

[ceebie13]

... and negative as it may sound, be prepared for - not scared of - the fact that one day you will drop your bike. Then maybe you won't. Above all, enjoy the buzz. Good luck.

[Stella]

Hello
I got my learners 1.5 months ago and most of my riding has been on the open road. Apart from it being damned fun and far fewer intersections and cars, it gives me a chance to just get used to the movement of my bike. Obviously you feel a bit different....

My advice would be:
IF SPEED SCARES YOU SLOW DOWN:
My first ride I stuck to the 70kmph rule, as did my 'escort' friends in front and behind me. I felt very safe between them, and they knew I wanted to stick to 70 for my first ride and respected that. Since then I have mostly been going 80kmph but playing at going faster. If the road scares me I slow down. I HAVE NOTHING TO PROVE!!! I am just learning and want to do so safely and comfortably.

DO FREQUENT SHORT RIDES:
The more often I get out the better I feel. And by the end of a long ride I start to feel pretty shattered, not good for your concentration. Also each scary bit builds on top of the last one (for me this is around town!) and I can be quite rattled by the end of it. If you get out more frequently and for easier, shorter rides your confidence will build each time. Look on a map for short easy straight roads. Even just do a 20 minute loop.

HOW SAFE DO YOU FEEL IN YOUR GEAR?
I wear armoured textile jacket AND pants, plus Doc boot and the gloves and helmet every time I go out. Even if it is just around to block to my friends house. When riding pillion I didn't have the right gear and often my ankles or knees were screaming in terror the whole way! I decided right at the start of getting my learners that I was going to wear the proper gear EVERY trip. Even if it is a hassle. I am just as likely to come off on a short trip. I feel nice and safe in it and don't have to worry about skin grafts while I am riding!!
(My friends wear jeans, no thanks. I dont care if they think I am being over-paranoid and girly.)

Get out there

Stella

[McJim]

Just a wee note to some about the VTR she's riding - she's got the fully faired VTR250 from the late eighties. Dunno how that compares to the 1998-2002 VTR but the 2003 onwards had upgraded suspension.

I used to find it daunting with cross winds and riding on the open road.

Practice and repeat and you will build your confidence gradually - only time will give you the confidence - you know best your own learning style but try to take on board advice from anyone experienced who offers it.

I have had loads of very useful advice and I've had advice that I quite simply didn't understand leading the tutor to believe I wasn't listening and I've had advice that contradicted advice from another.

I still listen to what others have to say but there's only one rider I regularly listen to and never question his advice.

Well done for getting out there and welocme to KB.

you are not a wuss - maybe you just think a bit too much.

[MSTRS:Me]

.... I HAVE NOTHING TO PROVE!!! ...

Excellent. This little gem will help you to relax.

[granma2]

I found that when I started racing a pocketbike, I gained a heap of confidence on my big bike.

I have graduated from pocketbike to Bucket racing, and to trackdays at Taupo. Yes each progression scared the hell out of me.

My road bikes have gone from a Yamaha 250cc to a Honda CBR600.

I can read corners, cambers, other riders, cages, much better and my reaction time has improved heaps.

It has taken time, we have been racing for three years now.
Dont be pressured into riding too fast too soon.

You have a nice bike too, the VTR is a good bike.
Good Luck and DONT GIVE UP.

[Cr1MiNaL]

what they all said. dont look at the scary gravel on the side of the bend just kno its there DONT LOOK. bikes have this funny tendancy to go where u r looking. some physics mambo jambo who cares... even if its cages u riding in between dont look at them or u will start nearing them... this is especially true around tight corners (when u get there, look at the meeting point of the corner and the bend where u can see.) always look up and always pay attention. go to the AWNMR some good riders there some of them who gave me A+++ tips The Stranger(knows his shit), BigDog(likes givin people pillon lessons esp ladies , McdaKnife (likes lecturing n askin u to slow down n not pop stoppies) et al.
Good Luck
Raj.