Crisis of Confidence

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

Originally Posted by silverelephant

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

[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

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.