This is for the not so newbies

**bosslady** · 3rd December 2012, 20:27

Originally Posted by DEATH_INC.

I'm certainly not a natural either. I flipped the first bike I got on after about 50 feet. I still do real dumb noob things sometimes. I've been riding 30 years.
Don't worry about it.
I'm a bit puzzled...you have an instructor now? Or are you going to get one? I'm thinking that if you already have one, and you've fallen multiple times (no offense) I think you need to find a new one.

I have one. Problem isn't the instructor, problem was my first lesson incorporated the BHS so that was a bit of pressure on my shoulders. If I was smarter I would have done lesson one day, BHS another. Second "lesson" was with a friend of sorts, didn't want to piss them off and felt really stressed hense me losing control, going down small grassy bank and bike landing on my leg. Do not underestimate how uncoordinated I am... answer is VERY!

**Drew** · 3rd December 2012, 20:29

Originally Posted by bosslady

I have one. Problem isn't the instructor, problem was my first lesson incorporated the BHS so that was a bit of pressure on my shoulders. If I was smarter I would have done lesson one day, BHS another. Second "lesson" was with a friend of sorts, didn't want to piss them off and felt really stressed hense me losing control, going down small grassy bank and bike landing on my leg. Do not underestimate how uncoordinated I am... answer is VERY!

Wow, sounds like a challenge. I know several people who would revel in your progress, along with you.

**300weatherby** · 3rd December 2012, 20:38

Don't sweat it, very few, if any, just jump on a bike and go like they have done it forever- first time on a bike, the old man teaching me to ride on a 125 Stinger in the drive - him yelling at me to pull in the clutch as I rip up the drive and plant it in the garage door, throttle pinned...... lucky for me flat out in first on a 125 Stinger aint so fast!.

Over 30yrs riding on allsorts and the odd mistake still occurs.

**Gremlin** · 3rd December 2012, 20:48

I guess I was a bit of a natural getting onto bikes, but it still hasn't stopped me from continuing to learn and self-assess my riding to seek continual improvement.

I've known plenty of riders who were not natural. Don't worry about the confidence as that will come with time. Try to think back to learning to drive (assuming you did that first). You would have been very nervous, but as you got more comfortable and some of the tasks became more automatic, your confidence grew. The same thing applies to riding.

Once you start getting the basics down, the key is recognising there is always room for improvement and working on making your riding better. One I know was definitely not natural, and read all sorts of books that broke down the elements of riding. Read a section, go practise, read another section, practise some more, and so on. Find what works for you

**FJRider** · 3rd December 2012, 20:49

Originally Posted by bosslady

Do not underestimate how uncoordinated I am... answer is VERY!

I think that was already noted ... after you posted your shopping list ...

**bosslady** · 3rd December 2012, 20:58

Originally Posted by Drew

Wow, sounds like a challenge. I know several people who would revel in your progress, along with you.

Yup thats me, a challenge, all the boys say so lol

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I guess I was a bit of a natural getting onto bikes, but it still hasn't stopped me from continuing to learn and self-assess my riding to seek continual improvement.

I've known plenty of riders who were not natural. Don't worry about the confidence as that will come with time. Try to think back to learning to drive (assuming you did that first). You would have been very nervous, but as you got more comfortable and some of the tasks became more automatic, your confidence grew. The same thing applies to riding.

Once you start getting the basics down, the key is recognising there is always room for improvement and working on making your riding better. One I know was definitely not natural, and read all sorts of books that broke down the elements of riding. Read a section, go practise, read another section, practise some more, and so on. Find what works for you

Learning to drive? Deary me... 16, second time out on the road, country road, 100ish k's, panicked, thought I'd turn into a road so person teaching me could take over as I was starting to freak, Probably would have helped if I'd slowed down and ahhh there was gravel = down a grassy ditch (notice the theme here?), hit fence post pretty hard, wrote off car. Gave up. Didn't get back into the drivers seat until 4-5 years later! Good story huh?

Originally Posted by FJRider

I think that was already noted ... after you posted your shopping list ...

Hey come on, didn't you go back and read, it's all black minus the yellow helmet yo!

**BigAl** · 3rd December 2012, 21:03

Originally Posted by bosslady

?...going down small grassy bank and bike landing on my leg.

Practise makes perfect, but try sticking to flat sealed areas like car parks whilst learning as grass on a road bike is not ideal.

**Disco Dan** · 3rd December 2012, 21:05

Originally Posted by bosslady

Thanks everyone for your kind words. Just had another lesson tonight and mannnnnnnnn I feel SO much better. I explained to the instructor just to start with the basics again (this was my 2nd lesson) that I'm in no rush and if I have to have another lesson, then I will. I had a think about it last night and I think a lot of the problem is that I have a particular learning style, very visual and hands on and I have to repeat things over and over until I get it and without too much pressure or too much going on otherwise I get confused and panic. I still want another lesson but I think I've done enough to at least take it round the block, when my bloody gear arrives anyway! Still more to learn, I'm not up myself or a complacent person, like to think I'm a realist lol. Glad I'm getting better at looking where I'm going! all hope is not lost quite yet!

Once you have completed a few lessons - go down to an empty carpark by yourself, armed with a pack of $10 warehouse marker cones (http://tinyurl.com/cqx6k3q) have a practice. No-one will be around to see you fall, or nearly fall or if you 'miss' a cone here and there etc. I spent a few hours a week doing that low speed practicing when I was learning - by myself. Great confidence builder.

As I like you have a very similar learning style. If your really worried - ie drop the bike on yourself and your lying thinking err now what... take a good trusted friend with you!

When your in a group teaching situation it can be quite hard to have the confidence to push yourself enough. I'm sure you know what I mean!

Good luck - your on the right track

**Brett** · 3rd December 2012, 21:17

Originally Posted by bosslady

Seems like everyone you talk to when you tell them you're learning was a natural, got on a bike for the first time and off they went, like they were born to ride, fearless. Well is there anyone who's now a confident rider that was never any of these things? Anyone who's scared? maybe wanted to crap their daks? I never went into it thinking I was all that and a bag of chips, thought I might struggle and gosh darn was I right! I don't even know how to drive a manual so not a great start lol. Want to have hopefully a couple more lessons with an instructor before I go out on the road and despite dropping my bike multiple times (have the bruises and achey legs to show for it!) I sure as heck don't want to give up! Tell me I'm not a lost cause!

The first time that I rode a motorbike, it was my mates FXR 150. I remember the feeling being overwhelming when trying to coordinate throttle, clutch, brakes and gears...so very different to a car! I felt like such an uncoordinated moron. Fast forward a year or so and I bought my first bike, a ZXR250 and I distinctly remember that the first night I got it, before having had any real experience riding a motorbike, I decided to take it out for a ride at night in the country side. Well bugger me did I feel out of my depth, trying to get the hang of picking lines (made even harder with the ZXR's barely sufficient head light) and trying to get the bike through corners. The joke is, that I was riding at 100% of my ability at the time to keep it going and yet I was riding under the speed limit and at speeds that I would comfortably do now in the wet on slick tyres while riding one handed and eating a mince pie.

the point...it's like anything. take time, have patience and it will start to flow.

**bosslady** · 3rd December 2012, 21:19

Originally Posted by BigAl

Practise makes perfect, but try sticking to flat sealed areas like car parks whilst learning as grass on a road bike is not ideal.

Practice doesn't make perfect, especially if you keep practising wrong... least that's what someone told me... hmm who was that, not a biker anyway! p.s. it was on the road just took an umm.. detour shall we say..

Originally Posted by Disco Dan

Once you have completed a few lessons - go down to an empty carpark by yourself, armed with a pack of $10 warehouse marker cones (http://tinyurl.com/cqx6k3q) have a practice. No-one will be around to see you fall, or nearly fall or if you 'miss' a cone here and there etc. I spent a few hours a week doing that low speed practicing when I was learning - by myself. Great confidence builder.

As I like you have a very similar learning style. If your really worried - ie drop the bike on yourself and your lying thinking err now what... take a good trusted friend with you!

When your in a group teaching situation it can be quite hard to have the confidence to push yourself enough. I'm sure you know what I mean!

Good luck - your on the right track

Yup, know what you mean, which is exactly why I opted for 1 on 1 lessons, impossible for me any other way. I'd just leave and go cry in my car probably!

**McFatty1000** · 3rd December 2012, 21:34

Originally Posted by tigertim20

Tell ya what lady, people might THINK they were a natural, But I bet that in most cases there were experience riders watching from afar, thinking 'what the FUCK is this moron doing?'

This is pretty much it all in a nutshell, some people have natural talent yes but they were all learners at one point, its more that by the time they realise they should have been terrified of their own riding, they've been doing it long enough to have some actual competency at it

**Oakie** · 3rd December 2012, 21:45

Your better off thinking your not a natural and being scared than believing your wonderful at this stage. You'll probably live longer.

Me, I started this 34 years ago. I'm not a natural and last got scared thinking about riding a bike 19 days ago.

**bosslady** · 3rd December 2012, 21:50

Originally Posted by Oakie

Your better off thinking your not a natural and being scared than believing your wonderful at this stage. You'll probably live longer.

Me, I started this 34 years ago. I'm not a natural and last got scared thinking about riding a bike 19 days ago.

Good to know! What brought that on though?

**Laava** · 3rd December 2012, 22:03

Sounds like you are already doing the right thing anyway without our advice. Almost if not all of what you need to know will become natural or second nature with practice and instruction. More like a habit really! And with a good instructor, i guess it will all be good habits.

**CelticSam** · 3rd December 2012, 22:15

The first time I got on a bike was just over a year ago for the BHS. I went for lessons with my wonderful instructor, then got to know my block very well, only doing left hand turns as crossing traffic (not much) was terrifying. More lessons, slowly building confidence, my block moved a road or two and included some right hand turns. Went out practising 20mins each evening. Slowly increased my distance from home. I now ride to work as much as I can and am loving it

I also did an 8 hour course too. Persevere and you should be rewarded with the joy of riding