All this excitement - how do you control it?

Here is a question, to which I couldn't find an answer on this forum (might be my searching technique ).

How do you control yourself and keep to sensible speeds while riding your bike on public roads? What I mean is what do you say to yourself or do to resist the urge to open it up through a nice sweeping bend or fly away from traffic lights? I keep finding myself doing silly speeds on my way to and from work (all of you know how fast an SV can go). It's not that I try to race everyone (I'm not really a competitive person), it's more like a race against myself.

I know what you're going to say - young and stupid. But everyone has gone through that and people, who managed to stay out of hedges and avoid white vans, are the ones, who can calm themselves down and lead long and hopefully happy biking lives.

I thought about this when a colegue at work showed a phone picture of a bike accident he witnessed this morning. Not sure how the biker faired, but I was told that he was conscious after the crash (I hope he's fine).

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this? Advanced training, experience or meditation? Let me know please before I end up like that guy in the photo

I'm probably not one to talk as I also succumb to the 'red mist'. However I do find that a helpful speed kurb is to think about how long you'd lose your licence for if you were to get clocked at that point in time. Plus advanced training is always a good idea as it helps you to be more aware of potential hazards.

[tinpants]

I think we all succumb to the red mist from time to time but its what you do about it. I think about my kids growing up without a dad, and my wife having to deal with the fact that I'm not coming home and how she's going to tell the kids.









Usually has the desired effect and I put the brakes on a bit.

There are old bikers, and there are bold bikers.

But there are no old bold bikers

This question can only be answered by yourself in truth. You will have your own reasoning for riding how you do at any given time.

Well. Threads like this do the trick:
http://forums.sv650.org/viewtopic.php?t=35814

Humans are squashy soft things, and 70 mph lorrys are less so.

to be honest, i dont resist the temptation,

i just make sure i am safe in doing so.


safe from prosection and danger

Ive slowed down a lot this week. But that has to do with reading about a biker dieing last week on a stretch of road I use daily, Full Throttles death on Friday and my mate breaking his leg on Friday when a car did a u turn on him.

I recently posted a link to a visordown thread on Hall13UKs biker fatality, 29th March thread. If you want a bit of sobering up find it and click on the link. Because thats what happens if you overcook it on a corner way too fast with oncoming traffic. The driver was hospitalised and the biker died I would suggest pretty much instantly.

Thats all it takes to slow me down. That and having crashed far too many times already. Ive been very lucky so far. I really dont want to be lucky any more - just not get myself into a situation where I need luck and good gear to help me.

i tend to be a HERO rider in the summer on the welsh lanes, but every now and again you get a scare may be a phesant or a sheep in the road or maybe you'll drift across the white line when you corner too fast! these things slow me down and make me think what if ????? its hard to not ride on the edge because for me thats where the fun is, but try to ride within your limits or you WILL go down! no one gets away with it forever, "me" up to now i think ive been bl@@dy lucky!!

i just went on a bikesafe night /talk it wasn,t an actual on-bike night ,just in a classroom/lecture theatre .ther was aguy there (not in the police)whho stood up on stage and gave us a story about his biking life and boy i was humbled .this guy was your typical 'up the establishment type'lost his leg ,the other leg was all skin grafts and his whole body was all scarred.he basically put the message across'ride like a nob and youl prob die or b in a wheelchair'think about it ,i do and coming home i was more aware of whats out there ,,,,more training is a good idea just to b more aware .i really like riding my bike and we all like to go fast ,,only hopefully now its in a safer way ..im not a cop or anything just an average guy that wants to live,..the memories that are burned into my mind slow me down now ,,use the inside of your head,not the outside.