How the ride feels

**slofox** · 16th January 2009, 12:41

Does anyone else experience this or is it just me?
Some days I go out to ride and it all just goes click without any effort. And then on other days it is hard work - I don't trust the bike, road, myself, whatever, and tend to ride without full confidence.
Today it all worked. Despite some fog patches etc, I had full faith in the machine and even the tar melted roads. I felt relaxed and at one with the experience. Effortless and so very much more enjoyable. Yesterday was the opposite, at least on the first half of the ride. I felt edgy, the road looked slippery and I generally took it real easy, although coming back was a lot better.
I don't know what makes the difference from day to day. Could be my own physical or mental state. Could be how I sit on the bike. Could be weather or some other unknown factors that I have not thought of yet.
Any thoughts?

**Reido** · 16th January 2009, 12:48

yes, very much so

yesterday was crap for me. it just didnt feel right,
20km into the ride, going left at an intersection with too much gas/revs etc, back wheel spun and slid 30cm? or something... stopped went back.. something slippery >_<

but yeah i have days like that.. everything goes right, or nothing does

strange isnt it?

**Pwalo** · 16th January 2009, 12:54

I think everyone gets that from time to time.

I ride pretty well every day, and most of the time I'm pretty relaxed about the whole thing, but every now and then I'll feel out of sorts, almost as if I'm out of time/rythm/something.

To be honest I don't think about riding, as such, when I'm on the bike. Too many other things to pay attention to on the work run.

**vifferman** · 16th January 2009, 13:16

I have some days where I know I'm really tired or out of sorts, and have to make a mental note to be extra careful on the bike so I don't cock things up and die. (Yeah I *know* I should take the car instead on those days, but it's not always an option).
Apart from tiredness or mental distractions (worries of the day or whatever), I dunno why sometimes things don't click. Being aware of it and disciplining yourself to allow for it, or alternatively stay off the bike, is all you can do to deal with it, I guess.
More worrying for me is 'grumpy days', when I feel like shit and ride like a dick because of it. It's very hard to not give in to that.

**prettybillie** · 16th January 2009, 13:41

It's nice to hear that I'm not the only one who feels like this.

**Murray** · 16th January 2009, 13:45

Originally Posted by slofox

Does anyone else experience this or is it just me?
Some days I go out to ride and it all just goes click without any effort. And then on other days it is hard work

Any thoughts?

Hey Slofox it could depend on how much of your wine your've been drinking???

Nah I think it happens to every one, especially if you do not ride regularly!!

cheers

**Anarkist** · 16th January 2009, 13:53

Yeah, definitely. I went for a slide down the pavement last night because of a lapse in concentration.

Some days just aren't meant for riding.

**spookytooth** · 16th January 2009, 14:25

Yep some days it i just dont click with the bike and road'some days everything just feels right.Having said that i haven't been on a ride and thought i wish i had stayed home

**slofox** · 16th January 2009, 14:37

Originally Posted by Murray

1.)Hey Slofox it could depend on how much of your wine your've been drinking???

2.) Nah I think it happens to every one, especially if you do not ride regularly!!

cheers

1.) har de har har...

...it could be, but since I am not allowed to drink any of it, it shouldn't be.....(or maybe it is the NOT drinking!!!).

2.) I ride every day, so that's not it either....sigh...

In fact, anything I have done in the sport line has been like this. When I was a squash player I had on days and off days. These days partner and I compete on the dance floor and we have the same thing there. Some days it is effortless and you get what they call "flight" going ( you get about two minutes of this per year of training...). On other days the feet are made of lead and we lumber around the floor like lame elephants....guess the bike thing is just more of the same old same old.....

**slofox** · 16th January 2009, 14:37

Originally Posted by spookytooth

Having said that i haven't been on a ride and thought i wish i had stayed home

I agree - the worst day riding is better than the best day working...

**Stirts** · 16th January 2009, 14:39

And I thought I was special

On the bad rides I talk out loud (well shout actually) to myself.
"Concentrate you fuck knuckle" is the main one. It works most of the time.

A very wise man once told me "if you are having a shit arse ride, pull over, walk round your bike a couple of times, then get back on" That works sometimes too.

I always do a little self analysis of what state I am in, and if I am feeling off, either physically or mentally I will not ride.

**Fatt Max** · 16th January 2009, 14:54

Yep, same trouble here.

Some days I cant settle in, keep shifting in the seat and just cant get comfortable. I did read a thread about getting the seating position right and everything just falls into place from there.

I also have days when for the life of me I cannot find neutral without a whole heap of stomping on the clutch pedal and swearing in my lid about life in general.

Then I have great days, it feels comfortable, smooth ride, no heavy braking and life is great.

I suppose its cos we are (in the majority) human have this wonderful gift of being different.

Thats my story anyway's.......great thread, really interesting...

**spookytooth** · 16th January 2009, 14:57

Originally Posted by Fatt Max

I also have days when for the life of me I cannot find neutral without a whole heap of stomping on the clutch pedal and swearing in my lid about life in general.

on those days try stomping on the gear lever

**retro asian** · 16th January 2009, 15:17

Originally Posted by Fatt Max

I also have days when for the life of me I cannot find neutral without a whole heap of stomping on the clutch pedal and swearing in my lid about life in general.

Must be a VL250 thing....