Less about fun - more about preservation

[stuartyboy]

Anyone else feeling like this? Less about fun and more about preservation?

My wife said something that made me think tonight. She couldn't remember the last time I came home after a blast and raved about it. True I had an off recently - my confidence is low and I'm still paranoid but she has a point.

Take tonight's ride for example.

3 cars pulled out in front of me. A boy racer reversed out at warp speed nearly t-boning me. Diesel spills. White van man crawling scarily close behind me in town, an idiot in a cage braking and weaving in front of me, a stupid cow ran me onto the verge on a single track, a lorry ahead was indicating left to turn onto the road, I see him, he pulled out - but pulled out onto my side of the road causing me to brake hard. And to cap it all....just as I'm exiting a roundabout this nutter changes lane and cuts in front of me - nearly taking me and another car out.

This wasn't fun and it's like this all the time these days. I seriously thought about hanging up my leathers tonight.

[rictus01]

Funny that, after 8 and a half months off the road, a near death accident, smashed knee and continued pain everyday and every step, the last two weeks being back on a bike (ok not my first choice a machine, the CB) are great and give me a feeling of normality I haven't had in all that time, I think coming so close to not being able to ride at all, has made me understand what riding gives me, not there yet, still building bravery and confidence, the pain is something I'll have to live with, but I'm even getting used to that.

Feel like hanging up my Leathers, not on your life, perhaps when they nail the lid on, but not before if it's my choice.

Cheers Mark.

[Sid Squid]

Your confidence took a knock, understandably, and now you're focussing on the negatives at the expense of identifying, and enjoying, the positives.

Don't give yourself a hard time over it, and don't dwell on the crap bits*, they were always there you're just thinking more about them now.

* Harder to do than say I know, but you'll be back soon I'm sure.

[K]

When you have the choice it's easier to think about giving up.
But when you get into a position of no choice, be it because you've sold the bike or other circumstances dictacte you 'can't' ride...

... then it's hell.

Thing s, it's not just your confidence that has taken a knock - your imagination has taken a boost too. All those hazards that you will have subconciously noticed before are now much more of a focus.
Your brain can run little 'what if' scenarios for you instead of just pointing you in the direction of the safe route. This can be unnerving, but you just learn to use them as a new, advanced tool in hazard perception.

Now if only such predictive abilities could work for me in chess. ;)

[malks]

yeah you may only have told her the bad bits about the ride, but the good bits she just wouldnt understand! i've tried explaining it to my mates when they ask about being out, they just dont understand how i can just 'go for a ride', they dont understand how i can just ride somewhere for no real reason then turn around and come home again!

but the happiest i've been recently was riding through Glencoe the other week whilst on holiday, cruising at about 80(ish!) in glorious sunshine, through one the of the most scenic areas of scotland on a tuesday afternoon with no other care in the world. just such a great feeling inside. you will all know exactly what i mean, but try explaining it to someone!

[Ceri JC]

It's a bit like that saying, "I only ask if life is worth living when it isn't." The fact that you're questioning it shows you had an exceptionally bad day's riding. Would you be thinking about quitting if you had just come in from a ride in glorious weather on spectacular roads, where you were riding well and car drivers were all giving way to you, moving over to let you pass, etc.?

As K says, I think these sort of things can (in the longer term, once the initial unpleasentness is forgotten) actually aid your riding/enjoyment of it. Since a chap had me off on a roundabout, I'm actually better at predicting car's movements/when they're going to go in the wrong lane.

[LouLou]

Anyone else feeling like this? Less about fun and more about preservation?

My wife said something that made me think tonight. She couldn't remember the last time I came home after a blast and raved about it. True I had an off recently - my confidence is low and I'm still paranoid but she has a point.

Take tonight's ride for example.

3 cars pulled out in front of me. A boy racer reversed out at warp speed nearly t-boning me. Diesel spills. White van man crawling scarily close behind me in town, an idiot in a cage braking and weaving in front of me, a stupid cow ran me onto the verge on a single track, a lorry ahead was indicating left to turn onto the road, I see him, he pulled out - but pulled out onto my side of the road causing me to brake hard. And to cap it all....just as I'm exiting a roundabout this nutter changes lane and cuts in front of me - nearly taking me and another car out.

This wasn't fun and it's like this all the time these days. I seriously thought about hanging up my leathers tonight.

Sorry to hear that...doesn't sound much fun. I had somebody pull out in front of me when I was on my CBT the other day. She started to pull out, saw me, hesitated, then decided to pull out anyway! Silly moo! :confused:

[Baph]

The lorry turning left thing, lorries tend to swing wide to come out.

I have times (mainly commuting) where I'm avoiding everything on the road. I also have times where I just disappear out on the bike & can't stop grinning.

Consider moving house before you consider selling the bike & hanging up your leathers. The roads around here are excellent stress relief :)

[Tomcat]

I had similar doubts not long ago .... which were building up over time. I discussed it quite a bit on the forum, and although others certainly didnt persaude me, they did remind me of what I love about it.

From my experience I would say hang in there and the good will come back. But the other option is to take a break, and see if you miss it .... I bet you will!!

On the bike the only thing that has helped my confidence, is to do the miles, and forget the bad days, and set off out on your bike thinking it is going to be a good one!

Even now, I can get anxiety about a ride, if I think about it to long, but once on the bike, that leaves me and wayhay we are off! This includes making myself ride in the wind and rain, which has always been an issue for me. I have truely found that if something in life seems to difficult .... it usually isnt!!

[Baph]

Even now, I can get anxiety about a ride, if I think about it to long, but once on the bike, that leaves me and wayhay we are off! This includes making myself ride in the wind and rain, which has always been an issue for me. I have truely found that if something in life seems to difficult .... it usually isnt!!

I'll second that!!

From conversations with you on the MIGTs ride you obviously still have concerns in your head. The second you get on the bike all that's forgotten though, as you get "a bit too excited" in your own words. ;)

[Tomcat]

I'll second that!!

From conversations with you on the MIGTs ride you obviously still have concerns in your head. The second you get on the bike all that's forgotten though, as you get "a bit too excited" in your own words. ;)


:D the bike gets the better of me!

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Also, remember that other road users can smell fear. Invariably when you're riding is the most nervous is the time when most car drivers try to kill you.

Try to relax, take things easy and they'll get better.

[Stu]

Can I ask what extra training you have had?
As Baph says above what did you expect the lorry to do? except pull out wide on to your side of the road.
I can't recommend IAM highly enough.

The lastest advert for a Golf? asks when was the last time you just went out for a drive (i.e. not to get somewhere) Well I've just come back from the best part of 1000 miles ride to & around the Lakes which was just purely for the ride, not to get somewhere (apologies, the company was a good bonus) But I can't imagine driving a car for pleasure, but riding a bike for pleasure is quite normal.

[John 675]

I almost hung my leathers up as well,
i had an off in the rain and now i have very limited confidence in my tyres and my brakes when it raining.
there must be something we can do about deisel on the road because it is so dangerous to bikers . . im not quite sure the gov know how dangerous it can be . . . it scares the shizzle out of me
im fine in the dry though
but as i said after 3 offs i really started wondering if it is worth it . . .
in my opinion . . . it is, but im really thinking about further rider training and a trackday in the rain . . .

But i know how you feel mate but hang in there, we both know you love riding its just a shame that when these things happen you question wether its worth it or not.

[stuartyboy]

Can I ask what extra training you have had?
As Baph says above what did you expect the lorry to do? except pull out wide on to your side of the road.
I can't recommend IAM highly enough.

I expected the lorry driver to stay put. There was 8-9 other riders behind me in a different group and he saw us from about 2-300 yards away and I was eyeballing him on the approach. He saw us alright - absolutely no doubt. He just pulled out at the last minute.

I used to drive 7 tonners in my dad's coal business for years so I know all about turning, reversing etc. This guy was in a 10 tonner so he could have turned onto his own side no bother. He ran a full length accross the road.

It's not just the lorry driver. It's everywhere nowadays. Idiots in saxo's, people carriers and soft tops trying to antagonise you. I had someone in front hitting the brakes and weaving in front of me yesterday. I mean why?

Like SS says...I may be rocussing on the negative but it's really hard to get out of.

Training - I'm training/learning all the time. It was the 2 second rule and good defensive riding that saved me from smashing into a car that had no brake lights. I take training seriously and I'm doing extra this year. Going on a 3 day advanced rospa/iam course soon.

But at the end of the day, training is all about preservation/safety and not about fun.

[Baph]

But at the end of the day, training is all about preservation/safety and not about fun.

At the end of the day, you can't do anything about the idiots on today's roads. You have to be safe first, fun comes later, when safe to do so. That's part of the good thing about living where I do. I can choose, do I run the rat race & filter, or do I go over the tops where I'll be unlucky if I see 5 cars in 50miles!?!?

If you want fun, and don't want to worry about what other people are doing, then track days are the answer IMO.

[stuartyboy]

I'll be unlucky if I see 5 cars in 50miles!?!?

I saw your vid Baph. I'm a bit more remote than that. I live in the country, single track for 1 mile then 5 miles before the 1st town. Quiet roads but you still get idiots.

Bring back my honda superdream days.

Forgot to say...track days. Yeah but we only have knockhill up here. You guys are spolied for choice down south.

[MeridiaNx]

i had an off in the rain and now i have very limited confidence in my tyres and my brakes when it raining.

Not to worry, this happened to me for a while. I had a little slip on a wet diesel spill at about 4am a few years ago and lost loads of confidence for a long time, particularly in the wet I'd go out on rides with my Dad and every time I saw what looked like a remotely damp patch I would tiptoe around the corner almost upright. Granted, on crappy country roads his GS is a little more forgiving but it just took time to get back what I'd lost.

Gradually I found I could lean it over further and it struck me that I had become needlessly paranoid. I was out in the ****ing rain a couple of days ago going through flood waters and realised that not once have I had an 'incident' just because the roads are wet. It has been diesel on one occasion and a slew of farm mud in my lane round a tight bend that have done for me (fortunately both at very low speed). Your brain takes over and makes every little problem a serious threat, when in fact the tyres can cope very well indeed. It'll come back, just hang in there and take it bit by bit ;)

[Baph]

I saw your vid Baph.
:lol: That video took me from the outskirts of Bangor, past Tesco, up through a local estate passing the test centre, past two schools, a couple of popular pubs, Menai Bridge police station, then down the main road towards home.

Where I turned right into my road, you can go out that way & get back over to the mainland via the train bridge (that runs under the A55) on the service track.

I'll take your single track for a mile & raise you a single track for 7 miles before I *NEED* to risk seeing another or house :lol:

EDIT: Since when am I "down south"? :lol:

[John 675]

Not to worry, this happened to me for a while. I had a little slip on a wet diesel spill at about 4am a few years ago and lost loads of confidence for a long time, particularly in the wet I'd go out on rides with my Dad and every time I saw what looked like a remotely damp patch I would tiptoe around the corner almost upright. Granted, on crappy country roads his GS is a little more forgiving but it just took time to get back what I'd lost.

Gradually I found I could lean it over further and it struck me that I had become needlessly paranoid. I was out in the ****ing rain a couple of days ago going through flood waters and realised that not once have I had an 'incident' just because the roads are wet. It has been diesel on one occasion and a slew of farm mud in my lane round a tight bend that have done for me (fortunately both at very low speed). Your brain takes over and makes every little problem a serious threat, when in fact the tyres can cope very well indeed. It'll come back, just hang in there and take it bit by bit ;)

maybe your right but im on 7800 miles still on my stock rubber . . do you think its worth changing? lol, im starting to get a white band down the center of my rear tyre . . . i think its time . . but i want something with proven wet weather stability and on that im completely lost . .
as for the breaks ive just got to understand the limits . . . or change the entire front end to the GIXXER 750 :p . . . the thing we do to boost confidence..

[fizzwheel]

maybe your right but im on 7800 miles still on my stock rubber . . do you think its worth changing? lol, im starting to get a white band down the center of my rear tyre . . . i think its time . . but i want something with proven wet weather stability and on that im completely lost .

Metzler Z6's I've not found a tyre yet that works as well as they do when its wet and cold. They are really confidence inspiring as well.

The only way you're going to get your wet riding confidence back is to ride in the rain. I spent alot of time at the weekend riding in the rain or on damp roads. Its done wanders for my confidence. I've gelled with the bike again and I trust it more.

[SoulKiss]

Anyone else feeling like this? Less about fun and more about preservation?

My wife said something that made me think tonight. She couldn't remember the last time I came home after a blast and raved about it. True I had an off recently - my confidence is low and I'm still paranoid but she has a point.

Take tonight's ride for example.

3 cars pulled out in front of me. A boy racer reversed out at warp speed nearly t-boning me. Diesel spills. White van man crawling scarily close behind me in town, an idiot in a cage braking and weaving in front of me, a stupid cow ran me onto the verge on a single track, a lorry ahead was indicating left to turn onto the road, I see him, he pulled out - but pulled out onto my side of the road causing me to brake hard. And to cap it all....just as I'm exiting a roundabout this nutter changes lane and cuts in front of me - nearly taking me and another car out.

This wasn't fun and it's like this all the time these days. I seriously thought about hanging up my leathers tonight.

Been there myself, in fact since I got back on the bike in mid-Feb after my off/broken collarbone, its only in the last 2 or 3 weeks I have been enjoying myself again, which is due to me no longer over analysing everything and just getting on with it.

Never underestimate the effects of something like an off on you, even if physically there are no scars.

Keep with it, and it will all be ok

[stewie]

Anyone else feeling like this? Less about fun and more about preservation?

My wife said something that made me think tonight. She couldn't remember the last time I came home after a blast and raved about it. True I had an off recently - my confidence is low and I'm still paranoid but she has a point.

Take tonight's ride for example.

3 cars pulled out in front of me. A boy racer reversed out at warp speed nearly t-boning me. Diesel spills. White van man crawling scarily close behind me in town, an idiot in a cage braking and weaving in front of me, a stupid cow ran me onto the verge on a single track, a lorry ahead was indicating left to turn onto the road, I see him, he pulled out - but pulled out onto my side of the road causing me to brake hard. And to cap it all....just as I'm exiting a roundabout this nutter changes lane and cuts in front of me - nearly taking me and another car out.

This wasn't fun and it's like this all the time these days. I seriously thought about hanging up my leathers tonight.

After 3 offs over the years and 2 and a bit years driving an ambulance ive seen my fair share of trouble out on the roads, in fact I have only recently returned to biking in the last 12 months or so.The point is, you will have bad days BUT you will have good days as well . Stick with it, your confidence will return, it just takes a bit of time sometimes. :thumbsup: