Crisis of confidence

[Lissa]

I fully understand what you are going through. And believe me I still do stupid things from time to time, and my parking isnt too hot either as some people can agree with.

First day I got my bike I rode around the trampoline because I was too scared to go on the road and change up gears.

The next day I thought bugger it, I'm going to ride around the corner to my mums.... that was great fun.

Its all about confidence and getting your skills up. It totally helped me that i had someone to discuss things with (eg uncle B - just like Bull) he had a sense of calm about him, when I was freaking out. I also found some great friends to go riding with, who even now, give support. Such as riding infront and behind me, and not trying to push me into doing something I am not comfortable with.

I remember the first time I went 100k (I think that was about the time of our First Chicks Ride) I freaked out, because I wasnt use to the wind or the bike. And yes I was slow, and uncomfortable. But I got alot of advise, I never got pressured to go faster, and was told very importantly... go at your own pace. Now I love riding. I am absolutley comfortable on my bike, have learnt the feel for my bike and know my and my bikes limitations.

So

1. Get some buddies to ride with, whom you trust and are comfortable with.
2. Push your comfort zone... even if its just a tootle down the road and back again.
3. Get a mentor to help you out.
4. And enjoy the challenge and the ride.

[Alice]

perhaps its easy to get paranoid about the whole " danger " thing associated with riding. I hear a lot of talk about this from lots of people, sure, we are very exposed if something goes wrong, no protection like in a car, but if we ride defensively and within our limits I do not feel there is to much to worry about. How many crashes have you had in your car, probably none, so why are you more at risk on your motorbike. Its when we really push our limits that there is more chance it will turn to custard, and its fun to push our limits, so if we do that then we have to accept we are more at risk. If I start to have negative thoughts I just think the thought then push it aside and not dwell on it leting it go round and round in my head.

When I started riding my first couple of rides I headed off on quiet country roads with hardly any traffic then after a couple of rides I felt confident to ride in traffic, it does not feel any differant from driving in traffic cept yu on a bike.

Hope yu feeling confident sooon.

[Roj]

brilliant thread!

I'm nervous as hell of my first ride... But then I remember it's been a long time since I've become interested in/passionate about something which is consuming sooooo much of my time (hope the IT guy at work doesn't look up my internet use!!)... I'll go in tomorrow and KB will be banned

Just make sure the IT guy rides a bike, and introduce him to the site...

And yes I work in IT.....

[Roj]

Whoa, this thread is kind of freaky.

You even got grown men admitting to being scared here. What are you guys? a bunch of Austalians?

Real MEN...

[The Stranger:Me]

Real MEN...

Ok I can dig the attitude of "feel the fear, but do it anyway" that is what life is about. But hey if you are terrified on a motorbike, I really think you should not be riding on the road.
If you fear for your life that much - get a car.

[crashe]

Good to see that you have a mentor (as mentioned in your first post)
I take it is Sue (Riff Raff), then she will teach all the correct stuff.

Good onya for getting out and about at 5am....... most of us are still asleep.
So I am assuming that you are out in South Auckland somewhere???????

As others have said practise, practise and practise........
all in a quiet street/cul de sac until you get the starting, hill starts, doing turns and stopping down.

By going up and down that quiet street until you feeel comfortable and get get up to 4th gear and 50kms....... only then start to venture out into other quieter streets.


You know the best thread to read is BuckBuckNo1 thread...... on "learners training thread".


Is there anyway that you can get to the Wednesday night Mentor night..... (see Meetings and Events section) There is someone who will escort you all the way there and home again.......

If you feel a panic coming on....... pull over to the side of the road......
Take a deep breath in............... breathe out......
Do that a few times........ and then continue on riding.

The deep breathing does help to calm the nerves back down.

[El Dopa]

Hi there,

I'm relatively new. I get something similar, although it's fading now. I can find myself making excuses for not going.

'hmmm, could go out on my bike, but it looks like it might rain. Won't bother'

'Now all the houseworks done, its time for a ride. Hmmm, it'll be dark soon. won't bother".

Etc.

It is sometimes worse if I haven't ridden for a week or so.

The only way to get through it, in my experience, is to force yourself to go out, even if it's only round the block.

Go round the block Friday evening, and you'll feel fine about going out for an hour on Saturday. Then you'll wonder what all the fuss was about and go out all day on Sunday and have a blast.

Having said that, don't ignore the warning signs. If you're riding like a numpty and can't relax into a groove after a decent interval - go home and try again the next day. Sometimes that little voice is talking for a reason.

[earthbound misfit]

Good on you for fessing up about that feeling. I've only been riding a short while and get it everytime know I'm going to ride.
Even though its uncomfortable I know its because I'm trying something new and pushing my boundaries, this reminds my why I wanted to ride.

Keep an open mind, and not trying to be negative or upset you, but odds are you will come off sometime too and when that happens (like it did to me) just brush yourself off and give thanks that you are ok and get back on, (when the insurance company pays you out and you get a new bike),

Don't give up, there are lots of chicks just like us going throught the same experiences. You have an awesome support network here in KB by the looks of all the good feedback.

[_Gina_]

I still get excited heading out, and if I don't ride for a day or two I get grumpy.

HAHA

Funny that comment, was just wondering whether you were experiencing nervousness or being excited ?

I have always been excited to ride and even though I had moments where I would worry about making a fool out of myself at first (remember to put the stand down G, oops, I forgot to strap my helmet up, DOH!)
I was always excited and those feelings were the ones which drove my butterflies.

Are you able to differentiate which feeling you are having?

Reason I ask, is that if you are scared then that is a completely different ball park.....

Awesome to hear you already have a mentor.....and one who is willing to get up at 5am!

G

[_Gina_]

I have had an experience (not motorbikes) where I had a love hate relationship going on and in retrospect it wasn't really the go.

I was scared shitless of the task at hand, but once completed I would be high on the buzz of it all.

It is quite different from the feeling of excitement and nerves that are associated with that feeling.

Just curious really

[slinky]

Finally got my bike, had an awesome time doing the refresher basic handling skills, and now I find my stomach in knots at the thought of going out on the road. Been out yesterday and today - albiet at 5am - fine whilst riding - but ffs - what is the problem!

Please tell me that this feeling will pass with practice, practice, practice.

Replies from women riders would be greatly appreciated - not that I discount advice from guys but your testosterone gives you the edge.
Don't mean to start a debate on the equality/inequality of the sexes.

TIA

maybe your just over excited about going for a ride?

[The Stranger:Me]

I have had an experience (not motorbikes) where I had a love hate relationship going on and in retrospect it wasn't really the go.

I was scared shitless of the task at hand, but once completed I would be high on the buzz of it all.

It is quite different from the feeling of excitement and nerves that are associated with that feeling.

Just curious really

I shudder to think - how curious were you exactly?

[BarBender]

Finally got my bike, had an awesome time doing the refresher basic handling skills, and now I find my stomach in knots at the thought of going out on the road. Been out yesterday and today - albiet at 5am - fine whilst riding - but ffs - what is the problem!

Please tell me that this feeling will pass with practice, practice, practice.

Replies from women riders would be greatly appreciated - not that I discount advice from guys but your testosterone gives you the edge.
Don't mean to start a debate on the equality/inequality of the sexes.

TIA

I dont think testosterone gives guys the edge. It can work against us as well.
5 am is a good time to ride. So is riding out in the country. Maybe that should be a good place to start. Head out for them open highways and get some wind in your face...and gradually build up your confidence. If your stomach is in knots you might want to try untying them before you head out.

[_Gina_]

I shudder to think - how curious were you exactly?

Well, in respect to the subject, slightly.
More curious now with regard to your need to shudder

[<G>]

[QUOTE - mentor - I take it is Sue (Riff Raff]

Hi Crashe, thanks for your input, no it's not Riff Raff. I belong to the African Eagles MCC and Sue is one of our members. She lives close to me and is an early riser so that helps!

Won't be able to make the Wednesday night rides, I live in East Auckland and only get home at 7pm.