Left hand bends

Serious post - do not derail please

Since my off last year I simply can't lose this stupid fear of left handers. Right handers are OK, but on a left as soon as I see oncoming I get that stab of 'oh sh*t' and jerk the bike to the left. It's really getting me down.

Any tips?

maby you could goto france and go round some of the roundabouts.

i know how you feel. i have the same feeling about fields

just keep riding the fear should go away.

urr. . .its been a long time since i studies psychology. . . so i doubt i can be much help.

how about a track day to practice and build up your confidence ?

ive heard rapidskills are pretty good for that sort of thing.

sorta like road style training on the track.

[Sid Squid]

Try to identify what it is that you find unappealing about left hand bends, rather than say to yourself "I don't like left handers", try to dissect what you do when you pass through the corner, and that part of the process that you are least happy with, work at it, there will very likely be a specific trigger that sets off your alarms.
I'll bet that a component of the problem you feel is that there being less forward vision through lefts, you feel constricted and thus unsure, very often riders who don't like lefts, (and I assure you you're not alone), find that their waryness leads them to turn early in the corner and hug the inside of the road, which further restricts their forward view thus compounding their anxiousness.
Work on your road positioning so that you get the best view and therefore allow yourself to build a better and more confidence inspiring plan.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Try to identify what it is that you find unappealing about left hand bends, rather than say to yourself "I don't like left handers", try to dissect what you do when you pass through the corner, and that part of the process that you are least happy with, work at it, there will very likely be a specific trigger that sets off your alarms.
I'll bet that a component of the problem you feel is that there being less forward vision through lefts, you feel constricted and thus unsure, very often riders who don't like lefts, (and I assure you you're not alone), find that their waryness leads them to turn early in the corner and hug the inside of the road, which further restricts their forward view thus compounding their anxiousness.
Work on your road positioning so that you get the best view and therefore allow yourself to build a better and more confidence inspiring plan.

What he said... can you identify something that maybe you believe caused your off? Something about the conditions, signage, etc.? It may just be that you've linked the sight of a left bend with the horror of coming off and now to see it makes you relive the off? With time it will go, but it will take time, and practise. Had 2 right bend offs and 1 near miss and took a while to get back into the groove. Human nature.

maybe try a bikesafe type thing with someone skilled who can give you pointers and boost your confidence on left handers?

As other peeps have suggested, further training can only help. The IAM certainly wouldn't be a bad idea.


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Ed. I have gone through the same type of experience as you know. Exactly what Sid Squid said I did. I analysed my riding and worked out which bits were unnerving me and why. I worked on those bits and built up my confidence again. For me it was not one thing. The MAIN thing was the fear "what if I come off again" Knowing the pain etc etc. Then it was the bike, couldn't trust it. Didn't think it could possibly be OK to ride properly. Then it was the tyres, didn't trust them. Once I had worked through each one and worked on them, my riding started getting more relaxed again. Along with that came the confidence.

My riding now is nothing like it used to be, I am still nervous going hot into a bend, especially if there is something I know that can hurt me big if I come off. But at least it keeps me real and controls my riding.

Best of luck with it, and try to persevere through.

Wow!!! The off - I got too close to an oncoming car, I didn't flatten the corner, I stayed out. And it was the sight of this red Saxo rushing towards me - wheels clipping the line - that made me grab the lever. I see a car coming towards me, get this involuntary stab, lurch the bike over. And I don't even go in too quick - Si knows I ride like a granny. And like Sid says, there's then restricted forward vision, and I think 'damn!!! done it again' and now I more or less expect to do it.

I'm gonna work at it.

Thanks guys.

Ed.. I think all excellent advice from the guys. But reading your last post you reveal that in fact it is not actually the left handers but more things you associate to them...in connection with your spill last year.
I am trying to get my mind back in to riding on "the other side" of the road again to try and help a little. To a degree their can be a limited amount of vision to any bend that we enter but as well as the points well noted by Ape...you dont want to get hurt again. The main thing I can see is that b*stard of a thing "target fixation".
We have to get you somehow to relax and go about this cornering business so that you turn the whole damn thing around so much that you cant wait for the next left hander!

Heed what the fellas are saying but try this little exercise...it has helped me in many situations......like leading up to a come back game following a serious rugby injury,going in to a Karate tournament when I felt I had progressed more than my ability should have allowed...and oh yes following one or two of the spills I have endured in my biking years!

Relax and close your eyes and just take your self mentally out on one of your favourite rides.You know the route and so pick a start point and a finish point and then actually see yourself riding your bike along the chosen route.Every gear change will be snick perfect.Every braking action will be smooth and every curve or bend will be approached with confidance as you elect your braking point and scrub off the speed needed, position yourself for the curve and drop her in...looking through the bend...apex spotted...keep looking ahead but wind on the gas.

Believe me do this over and over again and then simply re enact it when out on your bike. The whole deal will quickly just become second nature,after all unfortunately you made a slight mistake last year and paid a heavy price which was a great shame. But that is all it was....there is a very confidant and competant rider just waiting for you to let him out!

Good luck mate!