Crisis of Confidence

[silverelephant]

I'm having a bit of a confidence issue at the moment which resulted in me getting all kitted up this morning, getting the bike far enough up the driveway to get the front tyre on the pavement and then deciding that I just can't do this!

I passed my test in July (DAS) and picked up my first bike last week - I've managed to do a whopping 48 miles on it since I got it. My last run out at the weekend was fine, after the first 5-10 minutes I settled down and started enjoying myself, even went on a dual carriageway myself for the first time with no problems. I had a minor hiccup as I was getting near home on a blind left hander where I started going wide, but I saved it (with much talking to myself) even though I'm not sure why I started running wide in the first place.

Fast forward a few days and I'm now in a position where I've convinced myself that I don't know how to ride. I'm not really sure why, and I'm even less sure about how to get over these nerves - obviously I know I need to get back out on the road but I just don't know how to convince my inner voice of this!!

Can anyone give me some advice, or a well deserved kick up the ar$e. I don't ever remember feeling like this when I passed my driving test (although admittedly that was a loooooooong time ago ;) )

TIA
L x

[pmapp]

I could give you a kick up the harris, but I don't think this would help. :-)

I think the only cure is just to bite the bullet and get out there. Do you know any body else with a bike - so you can go out with them?

I'm sure some of the .org guys n gals from your area would be more than willing to help you out.

How were you while doing your lessons and test? How about going back and geting a couple hours accompanied riding from them?

Once you get into the swing of things you'll be wondering what you were worried about. Your confidence will grow everytime you get out there. So this weekend I would like to see piccies of you out and about and enjoying your bike.

HTH :-)

[Jabba]

Can anyone give me some advice, or a well deserved kick up the ar$e. I don't ever remember feeling like this when I passed my driving test (although admittedly that was a loooooooong time ago ;) )

You need miles in the saddle and some chums to ride with.

Also, you might benefit from a a little extra coaching and advice. Try these people:
http://www.bikesafe.co.uk/

Best investment I made after passing my test.

[stewie]

The best way to gain confidence is just go out and do it, you,re bound to feel a bit nervous to start with, thats normal, why not see if you can hook up with some of the SV Ecosse gang ? or go out on a sun morning somwhere quiet and just take your time on a road you know well, dont worry everyone has bouts of lack of confidence, you,ll be fine :D

[shonadoll]

I often feel the same, you are not alone. Me and my neighbour often don't ride for a while and recently passed our tests - and get really panicky if we plan a ride, worrying about silly stuff. TBH I think the bike test is lacking in that you aren't taught cornering, I'm really rubbish at it, though slowly getting better, but my neighbour is better at it than me, despite doing her test later.

Really the solution is miles - I always feel so much better when I just get on with it, but saying that, my sv only has 1500 miles on it! I was off the bike a while having an op, and my neighbour isn't 100% at the moment, but we try and get out as much as we can, which isn't that often, with kids and whatnot.

[shonadoll]

Sorry meant to say if you want to pm me your mobile number, I could text you when we are going out? x

[silverelephant]

Thanks guys, hopefully I'll be able to look back at this thread in a wee while and think "what a pillock"! I hear what you're saying about getting out with some of my mates but I'd rather get some confidence up on my own first, I've heard too many stories in the pub to think this would be helpful at the moment. :D

Will have a wee look into further training too as I'm sure it will help with the corners/confidence ratio.

In the meantime if you see a black SV going far too slowly in the Central Scotland area it'll probably be me, give me a wave :smt044

[fizzwheel]

Its all about the miles and having a positive mental attitude i.e. one of "I can do this" rather than one of "I can't do this its to hard" etc etc.

I think you're right go out by yourself and build your confidence up before you ride with others as its less to worry about if you are out on your own.

Dont think to much about it either, just get your bike out, kit up and go, dont dither around getting nervous about it, just get out and go. Dont make a plan dont worry where you are going just get out and ride.

[dizzyblonde]

As Stewies says ask some of those nice peeps in your area to hook up with you on a ride. safety in numbers?
I always say just to get out there, it all comes in time. Even now I have my off days and think I'm too much of a scaredy cat to go out.

On occasions I sit and think its time to hang up the boots, but then on others I think to myself..blondes have more fun...in their own special way...no knee sliders required;)

[Toypop]

Reading the original post, there are a few things in there that really scare me.

Personally I'd stop riding now and evaluate in your mind why you are riding in the first place and what your motivation is etc.

At the moment I am not sure you should be on the road and probably need a lot of off road followed by a lot of on road supervised training before you venture out on your own - and only then if you state of mind is complete different to how it is now.

[tomjones2]

Sounds like you are getting worried and looking at the road right in front of your wheels, try looking down the road and though the corners. This certanily helped me loads

And get out on a ride with some other peps

[BBadger]

i know how you feel.
just after passing my test over a month ago now i didnt want to ride.

but i got a friend to follow me in his car
then my dad came with me on his bike.

after a few days i was fine
now done about 400miles in a week!
once your riding ull forget all about the nerves so just take it easy on some small back roads to begin if your by urself.

good luck
badger

[silverelephant]

Thanks for the PM's folks!

Fizz & Dizzy too thanks for the advice, I'm obviously just having an off day because I know I can do this.

This is a great place for rambling on, tried talking to my husband but he likes bikes of the pedal variety so doesn't really understand!

Guess we all have off days eh :rolleyes:

[stewie]

Just get a few miles under your belt to get used to the bike and being out in town, country etc, no ones an expert straight off so bite the bullet and go and do it, like now, right now, get your gear on have half an hour on it, you,ll feel a lot better for just going out and doing it, dont sit and think about it, get your lid and leathers on and enjoy the bike for 30 mins or so.

[chrisc]

I think that its a very brave decision to say 'hmm im not ready for this' and good on you for doing it. A lot of people would try to push on regardless and potentially put themselves and others in danger as a result.

A little extra tuition and im sure youll be right as rain.

[stewie]

Just read my last post back and it looks a bit bullying, sorry , you,ll be fine though.

[newts924]

I felt the same when i got my bike, as i had a long break from riding and i was so ****ting myself. However i went out with a mate a couple of times and my confidence began to grow and you do pick things up from people which do help.

I now go out on my own at my own pace and i ride to my capabilites, if i see other biks coming up behind me i move over a bit and let them pass, don't be put off by them, they were all like you at one stage of their riding life.

Best thing to do is short jurneys to start with and build up and you will be enjoying the open roads, just take your time and don't push it to hard.

I am not the best rider in the world far from it, but i love to ride and the more you get out the better you become.

GO ON ENJOY IT

[fizzwheel]

I'm obviously just having an off day because I know I can do this.

Yes you can and you know you can, because if the examiner thought there was something wrong with your riding you would not have passed your test. You need to remember this ;)

As my old friend Yoda said "Do, or do not, there is no try"

Guess we all have off days eh :rolleyes:

Yep we do, even now I have a day where I ride like a burk and do stuff wrong, just put it behind you learn from it and dont repeat the same mistakes again.

[lily]

Having just passed my test, I know where you are coming from. I get nervous just looking at my bike, but after about 5 mins i kind of call myself a daft idiot in my helmet.

I think as others have said its a miles thing.... I've done 500 ish miles since passing last friday (15th) and I have seen an improvement in my riding since then. I know there is still a lot to improve, but if you weren't ready for the road they would not have passed you!

Most of those miles have been with drew leading me and Hovis sat behind me, as that is how i felt comfortable as they were kind of my bodyguards.

I posted last tuesday about not feeling right, and was given some great advice from the guys and gals here. And managed to get my confidence up enough that i rode to work yesterday, all by my little self (i did talk to myself all the way tho)

I think if you could ride little but often you may feel more confident. Maybe ride to work most days which is what i am going to try and do. Also go out when the roads are empty as there are less cars to put you off.

I can't really talk as not been riding long enough...... but i am told it gets easier.

Keep at it as its to much fun not to ;)

[dizzyblonde]

Most of those miles have been with drew leading me and Hovis sat behind me, as that is how i felt comfortable as they were kind of my bodyguards.



I used to ride like that a lot. Still do on occasions, but it seems these days that peeps just like following Dizz, and won't overtake her...talk about a road hogger...lol..Especially on long trips when they can't be ars$ed to follow their directions......as if a blonde can find her way out of a paper bag:confused:

[carty]

Hovis sat behind me, as that is how i felt comfortable

Christ! I like to keep Hovis where I can see him - you never know when he's going to wind up that 'Blades throttle and go off chasing M3's! :smt044

[gemma1675]

I passed my test a couple of years ago but I don't ride that often and since I got my SV I have also experienced this lack of confidence. This weekend though I faced a lot of my demons and although it was terrifying I am glad I did it. We rode up to Cadwell for the weekend - right up to the last minute I was considering wimping out and taking the car but no, we rode. I followed OH most of the way up there and it was fine (he is a good steady rider - I felt safe following him). Day 2 came and we went out for a ride around the area. It was raining - I don't ride in the rain - and I didn't know where I was going. We were a bit picky about where to stop for lunch which meant lots of pulling into pub car parks (often gravel or poor surfaces). I lead for 50% of the time as I had the map! Day 3 we went to the circuit and watched BSB - even that meant riding with loads of other riders about and going cross country on muddy grass. Day 4 rode home, I led the way for a lot of it.

So 500 miles later I feel quite proud of myself. :cool: My slow speed control has improved, my confidence has improved, I have a few more miles under my belt. I think I bonded with my bike, I haven't felt this comfortable since I sold my GPZ500 - which was my first bike.

So ride, ride, ride. I know it's hard and I am as guilty as anyone of making excuses and taking the easy route (i.e. the car!) but in my experience it is the only way to increase your confidence.

Good luck with it. x

[Jester666]

Reading the original post, there are a few things in there that really scare me.

Personally I'd stop riding now and evaluate in your mind why you are riding in the first place and what your motivation is etc.

At the moment I am not sure you should be on the road and probably need a lot of off road followed by a lot of on road supervised training before you venture out on your own - and only then if you state of mind is complete different to how it is now.

That's really helpful!! Well done. :thumbsup::rolleyes:


Silverelephant, ignore that post. Just get out there with people you know and get confidence.

You've had the confidence to pass the test so all you need now is road miles. The more you do the easier it will get.

Keep riding! :thumbsup:

[carty]

That's really helpful!! Well done. :thumbsup::rolleyes:

Not helpful but not unwarranted IMO. If a 17 year old car driver posted saying they had no confidence and weren't sure about going out cos they were so scared then would you not want to question why they were on the road? Would you not think they posed a potential danger to themselves and others? It's obvious that Silverelephant does need some confidence boosting at the moment in order to not be scared - a scared rider is not a safe rider.


Keep riding! :thumbsup:

I agree with this - but it sounds like it would be useful to get some friends to ride with you and help build up your confidence. If you can go down to some industrial estates or something and get the feel of the bike controls, accelerating and braking in a controlled environment etc? Once controlling the bike becomes second nature then you can get out on the road more worry about the other traffic. :)

[shonadoll]

Reading the original post, there are a few things in there that really scare me.

Personally I'd stop riding now and evaluate in your mind why you are riding in the first place and what your motivation is etc.

At the moment I am not sure you should be on the road and probably need a lot of off road followed by a lot of on road supervised training before you venture out on your own - and only then if you state of mind is complete different to how it is now.


That's ridiculous and not at all helpful. People are saying she needs more practice, which she does, but surely admitting that is a good thing? I need more practice, a lot of people do and you never stop learning.

She's passed her test, said she had a minor hiccup and is now having a confidence crisis-she needs time and experience, that's all.

Personally, if I were you, I'd stop typing now and evaluate what your motivation is.:confused:

[Jester666]

That's ridiculous and not at all helpful. People are saying she needs more practice, which she does, but surely admitting that is a good thing? I need more practice, a lot of people do and you never stop learning.

Agreed. I've been riding 14 years and still make mistakes!

Personally, if I were you, I'd stop typing now and evaluate what your motivation is.:confused:

Quality reposte!! :smt046

[Paul the 6th]

In the meantime if you see a black SV going far too slowly in the Central Scotland area it'll probably be me, give me a wave :smt044

Hello & welcome to the site :)

Just picked up on that bit on the first page. I passed my test last year in may and went out with a few mates who all had supersports and seemed to be able to skim through corners & keep on accelerating where I was doing half the speed & felt like I might not make it around.

Everyone has been a 'new rider' at some point and riding a bike really is a continuous learning process which never really stops. Practice and experience will give you plenty of confidence. It's probably better to take corners slower than you need to, then next time you come through, pick up your speed a few mph and feel how the bike handles. Don't expect to thrash through straight away.

You also said that you'll plan a ride out with your neigbhour, then within 5 mins start freaking out about what could go wrong - what sort of things are you panicking about? Just wondering :)

Don't stress yourself about this kind of thing, because you will end up talking yourself out of it - just take your time, ask all the questions in the world, practice and remember you're the one in control of the bike. You're obviously safe & competent enough to be on the road because a test examiner passed you :) I'd defo go for the bikesafe/extra training and maybe when you're more confident (and if it's your sort of thing), some track days to really feel how capable the bike is in a safe environment.

Above all, enjoy yourself :)

Pt6

[silverelephant]

Just get a few miles under your belt to get used to the bike and being out in town, country etc, no ones an expert straight off so bite the bullet and go and do it, like now, right now, get your gear on have half an hour on it, you,ll feel a lot better for just going out and doing it, dont sit and think about it, get your lid and leathers on and enjoy the bike for 30 mins or so.

Well that was the kick up the ar$e I needed! Just been out for a leisurely wee half hour as suggested, decided to go back and tackle the dreaded left hander.....not a problem at all :D Wondering now why I was getting so worked up this morning. :rolleyes:

Some very helpful peeps on here thank you all! I'm not (that) daft, I know that passing your test doesn't instantly qualify you as the "best rider ever" it merely means I'm legal to be let loose on my own and I know I've got a lot to learn, I'm not gonna learn anything by sitting on me bum complaining about having no confidence :p

So here's to us newbies, looking forward to one day being able to say to someone in a similar situation "been there, done that, here's my advice". Let's face it we've all got to start somewhere, it's a shame some people forget that they were ever learners!

[sinbad]

That's ridiculous and not at all helpful. People are saying she needs more practice, which she does, but surely admitting that is a good thing? I need more practice, a lot of people do and you never stop learning.

She's passed her test, said she had a minor hiccup and is now having a confidence crisis-she needs time and experience, that's all.

Personally, if I were you, I'd stop typing now and evaluate what your motivation is.:confused:

It's hard to give advice to someone who is not confident or afraid of their motorcycle. You really don't want to push someone (however indirectly) into doing something that they do not wish to do, particularly something as hazardous as this.

I think we all need to step back once in a while and consider why we do this, why we ride. I know I do, I think it's healthy to. We shouldn't ride for the wrong reasons.

Anyway, I actually agree with your post, I just understand why some people are so wary of encouraging people to ride if their heart is not in it. It's easy to say "just get out there and get some experience", but on the other hand, if the person really wanted to do that, they already would have. If they do it because they've been told to, is that really a good thing?

You have to approach riding with a positive mindset. Even if you lack confidence with the machine, you have to be confident that riding is something you really want to become good at. You have to be the only one that encourages you to climb onto the bike.

Specifically to the OP: If you're positive, and enthusiastic, then you will become an accomplished rider in no time. Just remember that you can do it (you've passed your test, you know what you're doing), and make sure that you only ride when you're in that positive state of mind. There's no need to hurry yourself, you'll have your license for a long time. Enjoy it, don't ride if you're not enjoying it.


Edit: Well done, sounds like you've made good progress and parked the bike up with a smile on your face, which is the most important thing :) I bet you turned and looked at her as you walked away :)

[silverelephant]

Hello & welcome to the site :)
<snip>
You also said that you'll plan a ride out with your neigbhour, then within 5 mins start freaking out about what could go wrong - what sort of things are you panicking about? Just wondering :)



Hi PT6!

We seem to have got our wires crossed a wee bit here, what I meant was I always find that I settle down a bit after the first 5 minutes or so. My problem this morning was a self-enforced inability to get past this, but as you'll see above I soon kicked it into touch.

A half an hour ride might not seem like much to some but it's all time on the bike and experience, plus it lets my muscles gradually get used to a position that is slowly starting to feel a bit more natural :shock:

[Paul the 6th]

I don't really read things on here properly lol, I just skim over, pick out the key words and decide what people are talking about :rolleyes:

glad you went for a ride in the end :) When I first passed I went on massive rides on my own, then freaked out when I had carpal tunnel syndrome in my hand for a few days afterwards. Buildin up your muscles with your confidence is a top idea :) sounds like you're gonna be fine, just keep up the practice :D

[silverelephant]

<snip>

You have to approach riding with a positive mindset.

<snip>
I bet you turned and looked at her as you walked away :)

Sorry not worked out how this multi-quote thing works yet!

I think you make a very good point there sinbad about having a positive mindset, this is what I was lacking this morning. I could easily have sat here without posting any of my thoughts and regained my positivity, I just chose to put it out there for others to comment on. :rolleyes:

As for turning and looking as I walked away - were you parked further up my street watching me???? lol

[sinbad]

Sorry not worked out how this multi-quote thing works yet!

I think you make a very good point there sinbad about having a positive mindset, this is what I was lacking this morning. I could easily have sat here without posting any of my thoughts and regained my positivity, I just chose to put it out there for others to comment on. :rolleyes:

As for turning and looking as I walked away - were you parked further up my street watching me???? lol

Hehehe I see all. It's the sign someone had a good ride, that they like the bike, if they turn and look. As long as they don't then shake their head, scream, and kick it off its stand, of course :)

Anyway, good on you. Typing/talking about bikes is a good way to build enthusiasm/positivity, I'm pretty sure you were going to be just fine anyway, though. You did the right thing stopping and gathering your thoughts in one way or another. (imo)

[Jillyburd]

Good on ya Silverelephant! I passed my test a year ago and without the gentle shoving by a certain few (you know who you are!) I would've given up riding last winter due to lack of confidence which mostly stemmed from the fact I'm not often able to get out due to family, rubbish weather etc. I suffer terribly from "the fear" before I ride but just know it'll go away as soon as I'm up the street.

I prefer riding with a buddy, it's nice to stop and have a cuppa and a yak before moving on again. Whether you decide to go alone (and you did today, fab!) or with another couple of mates it's all about taking it at your own pace and building your confidence without scaring yourself silly.

I've endured a few comments from certain people who neither know me nor have seen me riding and have chosen to seethe silently for a while then plod on at my own pace.

I hope your mileage stays on the up, am jealous! I don't often get the chance to go out, when I do it's pi**ing down!