How can I recover mentally after crashing?

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

took me a while to get to ride my bike properly again after my accident
you will feel better after a few months and a few more 100 miles under your belt. make yourself go out on your bike even when you don't really feel like it.

I have done a lot of miles since the accident. As soon as I felt better, I rode on my own to Bordeaux in two days. I was terrified for the first 100 miles and I was fine riding through the French countryside... Since I came back, I haven't been riding very much. I know that I must face the London traffic again and I know that you are right, I MUST do it even if I don't really feel like it! (My accident happened in London traffic). I must so I will. Tomorrow. Yes. Tomorrow. Thank you Kwak zzr

Originally Posted by Toypop

Someone mentioned riding aggressively earlier.

That is my approach. I don't mean riding like a tw*t or in a risky or dangerous manner. I mean kind of bullying and harassing cars. Making them know you are there. As the other person said you still ride defensively as there is a difference between aggressive and offensive riding if you know what I mean.

Yes, I do know what you mean by riding defensively. At the moment, I think that I am quite aggressive as well as scared. I guess it makes sense: I am feeling scared and insecure therefore I am nasty. It is very frustrating and sometimes an embarrassing way to behave. Anyway, what is the point of shouting inside my helmet? It gives me headaches and sends bad vibrations...

Originally Posted by northwind

I reckon tuition is a very good idea... You almost certainly will get your groove back over time, but there's ways to speed it up. Just riding with someone you can trust and getting a second opinion can be a huge confidence booster.

Thank you for replying. I have done some riding with my partner last weekend. He is such a great rider, I felt very embarrassed being so clumsy. Silly me!

Originally Posted by northwind

I reckon some track time would also be good, it gives you a chance to just ride without worrying so much about what's going on around you. The ones with tuition are great, but also generally expensive Also, while they make you a better rider in terms of machine skills, that's not really what you're after here is it?

Regarding tuitions, I can't afford them at the moment. I am starting a Postgrad in Sept07... I hope you are right, my confidence will be back over time.

Originally Posted by Stu

IAM
or Bikesafe

Bikesafe yes, IAM I wouldn't give the time of day to.

All it does is fill your head with a "do thiis, do that, in this order" system and conditions the instinctive rider out of you. I can't help but notice that the IAM riders I know are the ones who fall off and crash more than those of us who haven't done their training.

I also find most IAM people to be insufferable up their own backsides bores rattling on about their super-reliable BMWs, while leaning on the courtesy bike they've been given because their own is in for its second shaft drive bevel box replacment in 6,000 miles (I have actually witnessed this myself)

In contrast, I learned a shedload of useful stuff from the police Bikesafe course I attended, and that was after riding for over 25 years.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Aline

I am in East London. I will come. Thank you SoulKiss.

No thanks needed, noth open to anyone in the Org, no permission required

This Wednesday is the next SELKENT meet, see the thread entitled "The Pied Bull"

If you need someone to follow let me know and we will see what can be arranged

David

This evening, I thought that I might feel more confident if I was feeling physically stronger. I looked at different health clubs websites and was discouraged by the fees... I went to visit an athletic club this evening. It looks great: friendly people, good activities and cheap annual membership. I think this will do me good: as well as making me feel physically stronger, I will keep my aggressivity level down and I will feel mentally more balanced.

I have already received a lot of comments and remarks on this thread. I thank you all. I have replied to all of them because every reply made me think about my recovery in a different way.

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

No thanks needed, noth open to anyone in the Org, no permission required This Wednesday is the next SELKENT meet, see the thread entitled "The Pied Bull"
If you need someone to follow let me know and we will see what can be arranged
David

I will come on my own. I will give myself time, I will be relaxed and everything will be fine.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Bikesafe yes, IAM I wouldn't give the time of day to.

I am sorry to hear you've had a bad experience from IAM. It's only made up of people and people come in all different guises. Of course you are going to get a few that are absolutely complete ****s. H*ll on this site there's more than a fair share of them too but I have found that's it's worth sticking with it and hopefully you'll find some that you get along with

All it does is fill your head with a "do this, do that, in this order" system and conditions the instinctive rider out of you. I can't help but notice that the IAM riders I know are the ones who fall off and crash more than those of us who haven't done their training.

I also find most IAM people to be insufferable up their own backsides bores rattling on about their super-reliable BMWs, while leaning on the courtesy bike they've been given because their own is in for its second shaft drive bevel box replacement in 6,000 miles (I have actually witnessed this myself)

There's quite a few on this site that have done IAM, so they're not all BMW riders & an insurance discount is probably better evidence of being a safer rider than your anecdotal experience.

[Stu]

Aline I've got that email address of the guy at EAMG (IAM) I would pm it to you, but you don't allow pms.

I know you mentioned funds being a little tight due to your pending post grad (good luck with it btw)but the Bikesafe course imho is worth every penny and more. I did mine a couple of years ago with Kent Police after I'd had 2 off's in the space of 3 months and although I didn't view myself at fault I did wonder if I could have done something different. The Bikesafe course gave me a few extra skills/lessons that I could take with me and use, knowing that I had this addtional skillset/knowledge helped with my confidence. From memory it cost me £30.00, which included a brief classroom session and 2 observed rides with excellent feedback and some very useful advice.
The link to the main site is here http://www.bikesafe.co.uk/

It really is worth doing and it's a good day out to boot