Thinking of giving up biking...

[Steam]

I just had my second crash, I shattered my collarbone (into 4 bits) while riding through the outback in Australia and had to be flown by Flying Doctor to the nearest hospital, etc etc, blah blah...

I have had two crashes on motorcycles now, a year apart. The first one was a beginner's crash that I will not repeat due to having more experience now. (Target fixation)
This most recent crash I don't remember, (concussion + amnesia) but I think it was probably due to hitting a patch of deep gravel or dust at 70 kph and being thrown off. (It was a gravel road)

I'm afraid that it's going to happen again. I will hop on my bike again in a few months and probably with a year or two I will have another crash, another month off work if I'm lucky. And hopefully no permanent damage.

I do everything I can to be safe, wear All The Gear All The Time, take a skills refresher course every year, read about and practice good riding techniques regularly.
But I still think I will fall off within a year or two and hurt myself again. Something will happen, a cage pulling out in front of me, a bit of dirt on a corner, a patch of oil...
It's not like I push the boundaries of what my motorcycles can do, it's just basic rider error on my part really. Maybe I just don't have the brains or reflexes or instincts to make a proper biker who doesn't fall off.

What you think? Is this just a normal part of being a motorcyclist or have I had a run of bad luck? What can I do to STOP FALLING THE FUCK OFF. Or should I just give up and avoid the pain of another off.

I really love biking and bikes, it is the wickedest feeling, but I think the price may be too high.
I love biking but only as much as icecream and chocolate. (but less than beer)... so it wouldn't kill me to give it up.
My Mum reckons I should keep riding, she knows how much I love it, but I'm not so sure.

[SwanTiger]

You're doing considerably well compared to other Kiwi Bikers, Mark was averaging 1 write-off every 3 months.

[Katman]

Well if you're that easily put off then I suggest that motorcycling just isn't for you. Simple really.

[jrandom]

I'd say, two bins over a year for a beginner, par for the course, not too bad really.

And let's face it, you took on a pretty big task riding that postie bike through the unsealed Australian outback!

No reason to take a standard n00b target-fixation crash, plus an (effectively) offroad bin in seriously hardcore conditions that resulted in a broken collarbone and concussion, and conclude that you're doomed to be a bad rider. No reason at all.

You're not doomed to bin. Every moment on the bike, you're in control, you get to make the decisions that control your wellbeing, and you have no sensible reason to believe at this stage that you're any worse than the rest of us at doing that.



No reason to force it, though. Ride, don't ride, do whatever the spirit moves you to. You should be able to look inside your own mind and know what you want to do from day to day. Nobody will judge you either way.

[davereid]

Motorcycling is certainly more dangerous than sitting at home on the sofa.

But so many of the things we do, (the fun ones at least!) involve risk.

Personally, I would never give up any of the dangerous, but fun things I do.

So if you enjoy dangerous hobbies - motorcycling, diving, skydiving, boxing or whatever, just try and be as safe as you reasonably can be without giving up, or focusing your entire time on the bike on the dangers.

[Trudes]

Yep, doesn't sound too bad to me Steam, injuries happen all the time, playing sport, driving a car, cooking dinner, getting pissed and falling over etc etc, yet we continue to do these things. Is it a fear of getting hurt or is it a confidence thing? I guess it's a matter of weighing up the good and the bad aspects of it for you and making a decision from there. Hope you sort it out and get back on your bike and join us riding soon.

[Crisis management]

Don't stress it Steam, if you want to ride bikes you will, if you don't feel comfortable with the possible consequences, you won't.

Also remember, there are other things in biking other than riding in dangerous situations (I class your last off as in that category) so you may well find an aspect of biking that appeals to you. Recently I sold the 1100cc sports bike and now use a big chook chaser because I realised that falling off at my age was going to hurt more than I wanted to put up with. I still miss the beauty of pure cornering, its definately not the same on knobbies, but in balance I am better off.

You will know where you feel comfortable, go there and enjoy life. There is far more to life than bikes (ducks for cover) and you need to get out there and be the best you can in whatever way works for you.

Enjoy the trials of life Steam, this is why you went out into the big wide world, to see what you could learn.

Thinking of you.

Iain

[Pussy]

Your mother is right. I fly topdressing planes for a living, and have been riding motorcycles since 1974, so far staying in one piece. It's about risk management. So long as you don't let your confidence exceed your competence, you'll be right

[crashe]

My Mum reckons I should keep riding, she knows how much I love it, but I'm not so sure.

Listen to your mother, she knows best.

She is encouraging you to continue to ride....... so do it.

Let yourself heal up first, get over all your injuries and get a Doctor's clearance to ride again. Buy another bike and start all over again.....
Maybe do a refresher course..... like the 'Ride Safe Ride Right' Course.

Hell doing the ride in Aussie was a tough ride... yep you have taken a few knocks..... but so have many other riders..... and we all got up again and rode.


Don't be put off by a couple of falls..... get up, dust yourself off and get out there on a motorbike.

[tri boy]

My Mum reckons I should keep riding, she knows how much I love it,

Theres your answer mate.
Besides, you have had only two off's.
OK, they hurt, but they could of caused no pain/scratches. Its the luck of the draw so to speak, and not being in total control is one of the reasons people like yourself are drawn towards such activities.
Keep on riding mate, and maybe throw a leg over a dirt bike occasionally also to get some off road skills honed. I'm sure some KBers will assist there.

[janno]

It might be more difficult for a bloke to deal with it, but in any situation where you were going along swimmingly and suddenly you are badly dented and in pain, it's easy to lose a lot of confidence. And then sometimes you feel like a wimp and a failure and why can't you just harden up like everyone else etc, etc.

Perhaps cos your brain had no prior warning signals, so it feels like it WILL randomly happen again now that it's happened once? I've had it after horse riding accidents and car accidents, but haven't given up either riding or driving, and got the confidence back pretty quickly.

That bull dust in Aus is absolutely notorious for causing the downfall of even really experienced off road riders, it's shit of a stuff.

Just relax about it. If you ride again you do, if you don't you don't. It makes no difference to the greater scheme of things either way.

[Bonez]

Keep at it Steam. You're probably just feeling a bit down at the moment. Chin up ol boy.

[Mom]

I think this is part of the healing process mate. You were badly hurt and it will take time to get well again. Dont give up riding!

Take your time getting back into it, lack of confidence will be a given for a while.

I have read your posts and seen how keen you were to do that big adventure! It is still there waiting for you to do you know.

Get well, then get a bike, and then gently get back into it. Shit happens sometimes is all........my advice is dont make any decisions one way or the other till you are 100%.

[Cache Wraith]

Hey, good luck with the healing Steam.

[fishb8nz]

Do what you think is best. I remember something my mum told me - "Never do anything away from me that you wouldn't do in front of me".
Hell, I've been married for 35 years and no other partner and I wouldn't have sex with my wife in front of her! What would she expect from a 15 y/o??

I've had a badly broken collar bone - playing rugby
I've had a badly broken wrist - mountain biking
I've had a badly damaged knee - playing soccer
I've had a mildly broken ankle on my motor bike - totally my fault

Get back on your bike and just take it easy until your confidence comes back. Then...take it easy, stay within your limits but still have fun.