Not so great ride yesterday

[DLilah]

Well, STRESS and I have been very busy lately, so we haven't had a chance to get out and ride for a couple of weeks. Last night, we decided to change that and take the long way to dinner at the corner restaurant (a Wednesday night ritual). For a little background, I am a novice rider with only approximately 2,000 miles under my belt, and we live in a very rural area.

I get home from work well before STRESS, so I was ready to go when he got home - had on all my gear and had the bikes out of the garage.

We left the house down our 1,600 foot (maybe longer?) gravel driveway. Already, I had a knot in my stomach. It just seemed that I was kicking up larger and more stones than usual, and it made me nervous. Once we got on the actual road, I thought, okay this is gonna be great! However, the back roads by us right now are in pretty bad (and treacherous, in my opinion) shape. There are many, many potholes, and those that have been patched have lots of loose gravel on them. In addition to the other loose gravel normally found on these roads at this time of year, I was quite nervous.

After about 20 minutes of the back roads, we got to Route 26, which is a pretty major road by us and in much better condition than the back roads. I was thrilled!!! I got Wolfie up to 60 and the knot in my stomach just seemed to unknot. A few minutes later, we arrived at our destination and I was feeling pretty good again!

After dinner, we headed home, just about 1 1/2 miles up the road. As I left the gravel parking lot of the restaurant to get "up" onto the road, my rear end slid out on the gravel. I thought I was going down, but just as I could register that, I straightened myself up and caught pavement. Okay, the knot was back! Then, I realized that I had never ridden Wolfie in the dark before, and I became more nervous. It is really dark on this road (couldn't really see the road well on some blind turns to be able to look where I needed to go), and to make matters worse my windshield was not very clean (I'll definitely be more careful about that in the future). Plus, given my height (5' 5") and the height of my windshield, the edge of it was right at eye level, which made it more difficult to see. Plus, STRESS was in front of me, so I didn't want to put on my brights (he said to just do it next time). Anyway, made it back to the gravel driveway and back into the garage safely. But, the knot is still in my stomach.

I know I need to just keep riding and get lots and lots of experience, but I have a few questions for you veterans:

1. Does that knot EVER go away?!? Maybe I should have just turned around when I first starting feeling it and hopped on the back of STRESS' bike and took a ride another day.

2. Any advice/suggestions about riding in the dark? Right now, I think I would do whatever I could to avoid it, which would really limit my riding.

[Bobmws]

I know I need to just keep riding and get lots and lots of experience, but I have a few questions for you veterans:

1. Does that knot EVER go away?!? Maybe I should have just turned around when I first starting feeling it and hopped on the back of STRESS' bike and took a ride another day.

2. Any advice/suggestions about riding in the dark? Right now, I think I would do whatever I could to avoid it, which would really limit my riding.

You answered your own question. Time and experience will allow you to enjoy what you are doing. If you have the opportunity, take an MSF course.
Cut or lower the windshield so you are not looking through it. Use common sense and reduce your speed at night. Make sure your headlight is adjusted properly, maybe consider adding some fill in driving lights. Make sure your riding partner is aware of your concerns each time you go out. Now that you've ridden at night you know what to expect, the next time should be easier.
Again, the more experience you gain, the more comfortable you'll be.

[dancogan]

D'Lilah, I'm just a beginner, too, without many more miles than you have. I remember many of my early rides - they were filled with fear and nervousness. I thought more than once about just selling the bike. But as I continued to ride it really became more fun, until finally I was only sweating on really hot days. I think you should be proud of riding when you did, and proud of your first ride in the dark ... just don't ride beyond your vision. Is it David Hough who advised that there should never be a "blind" corner? Only a corner who have to slow up enough to see through.

:clap

[DLilah]

You answered your own question. Time and experience will allow you to enjoy what you are doing. If you have the opportunity, take an MSF course.
Cut or lower the windshield so you are not looking through it. Use common sense and reduce your speed at night. Make sure your headlight is adjusted properly, maybe consider adding some fill in driving lights. Make sure your riding partner is aware of your concerns each time you go out. Now that you've ridden at night you know what to expect, the next time should be easier.
Again, the more experience you gain, the more comfortable you'll be.

Thanks for the advice. I have taken an MSF course, but I think I will take it again and would also like to take the ERC as well. I think I need to look into the windshield issue. Maybe there's some type of adjustment. As for the headlight, STRESS said to me before we left that we will need to see if my headlight needs adjustment, and I'll just bet it does. I know he had to adjust his and was amazed at the difference it made. So, I think that is the first order of business. Driving lights is something maybe I should look into as well. Thanks again for the advice. Experience is probably the most important thing I need.

[DLilah]

D'Lilah, I'm just a beginner, too, without many more miles than you have. I remember many of my early rides - they were filled with fear and nervousness. I thought more than once about just selling the bike. But as I continued to ride it really became more fun, until finally I was only sweating on really hot days. I think you should be proud of riding when you did, and proud of your first ride in the dark ... just don't ride beyond your vision. Is it David Hough who advised that there should never be a "blind" corner? Only a corner who have to slow up enough to see through.

:clap

Thanks a lot for the encouragement, Dan. The thing about this ride is that I normally AM having LOTS OF FUN. I just didn't last night, and that really bothered me. I am always a little nervous when I'm riding, which I think is not necessarily a bad thing - keeps my head in the game. But, last night was extra nervous. Thanks again for your encouragement - it sure helps.

[BobFV1]

D'L -

Sounds like you had quite a learning experience - glad you are okay. In my opinion you were riding beyond your skill and experience level. Gravel roads and riding on poorly lit roads at night are advanced topics, as you discovered.

Make sure you ride within your limitations. Your bike is not the best for the long gravel road you describe - you sound like a candidate for a GS- but given your modest height I can see how you ended up with the cruiser. Did you try the F650GS? That sounds like it might be well-suited to your riding requirements, and you can easily add auxillary lighting - there are lots of options for that. You also have good dual-use tire options with that bike.

Try just riding when you are already de-stressed and relaxed and have plenty of time and good riding conditions. It may help to ride with a more experienced rider for a while so you can learn to judge proper sppeds and riding techniques for the conditions - I do this with my son and that way I am sure he won't out-ride his abilities - at least when he is with me!

The knot in your stomach should eventually work itself out. 95 percent chance it goes away eventiually, bit if it doesn't then you will need to carefully reassess your choice of hobby. But I think chances are that with experience you will be fine. You have made a significant committment in terms of equipment and this demonstrates your committment to the sport. Hang in there!

[DLilah]

Try just riding when you are already de-stressed and relaxed and have plenty of time and good riding conditions. It may help to ride with a more experienced rider for a while so you can learn to judge proper sppeds and riding techniques for the conditions - I do this with my son and that way I am sure he won't out-ride his abilities - at least when he is with me!

The knot in your stomach should eventually work itself out. 95 percent chance it goes away eventiually, bit if it doesn't then you will need to carefully reassess your choice of hobby. But I think chances are that with experience you will be fine. You have made a significant committment in terms of equipment and this demonstrates your committment to the sport. Hang in there!

Thanks, BobFV1. I'm not ready to give up on my hobby and certainly not ready to give up my Cruiser. My husband is much more experienced than I, and I always ride with him. I definitely will not ride by myself until he and I both are confident I am ready for that.

I guess I'm just curious if even the most experienced riders get nervous, even if it's just occasionally. Personally, I was taught at a young age that being nervous is not necessarily a bad thing - it just means you care about what you're doing. I think I get nervous more because I want to do everything right, rather than being scared. Thanks again for the advice and encouragement.

[einnar]

Nervous is a good thing, in my opinion, as long as you don't let it build to a point that it affects your ability to react in your present situation. Good friend of mine once said that nerves are like the crossing lights at a train track. You know there is a train there somewhere, and you need to take the steps necessary to ensure you get through the intersection safe.

His analogy works for any situation if you think about it. You knew you were riding in unfamiliar territory, and your nerves reinforced that. The fact that you were nervous is good, in that you were aware of it, and were able to adjust as you went. The dangerous people are the ones that just fly into something, and don't realize they're in trouble until they've lost it.

2 things you shouldn't outdrive.. Your headlights, and your confidence level. (Although it's okay to push the confidence level a bit, it's the only way to make it grow.)

Don't feel bad if you need to slow down to be more comfortable in a given situation, if it means the other riders with you slow down too. I know (knew) a couple people who lost it in corners trying to keep up with more experienced riders. One of them, a good friend, lost his life. (that overconfident, oblivious to danger thing I mentioned above.)

I've skipped riding for a day before, because something in me just said it was wrong. Turns out it was a good thing, due to weather, etc. Listen to your instincts, but listen to the other riders too. I can do some things now with confidence that always used to make me nervous, because I read books, talked to riders, etc... and then went out and practiced just the thing that made me nervous, in full gear, in controlled situations. (I still feel that twinge sometimes doing gravel, bad roads, etc.. but I know my limits. You're still discovering yours. :) )

That's just me.. If something about a pasttime of mine scares the hell out of me, I need to find out why, read up on it, talk to the experts, and work my way thought it. Personal challenge.

Great to hear you made it through your trials on the ride. Expect more, and know that it can be done. I think we all feel it at some point in time.

[Hodag]

I'm almost always nervous out there riding.

My grandfather gave me this bit of advice when I first learned to ride.

"People in cars are trying to kill you, keep that in mind all the time."

Also I really don't like riding at night, too many close deer calls.


I'm really just a scardeycat at heart.

[kbasa]

Some days, I have it. Some days, I don't. The wisdom is knowing which kind of day you're having and riding accordingly.

:thumb

Keep at it. In a couple years, riding a motorcycle will seem as natural as walking.

[manicmechanic]

D'Lilah, you did well! There are days when you just get the feeling you shouldn't ride, and you don't know the cause. So, do you ride more cautiously, or not at all? Only you can decide. There are a lot of people who rely on their "sixth sense", and adjust their actions accordingly.

I might suggest finding somebody with a small dirt bike and going out and thrashing it in the dirt and gravel. Get accustomed to the back end sliding around. Maybe you'll find that you enjoy making it happen. I suggest small, this way the weight is low, the power is low, and the speed is slow. This way you can find the edges of your "envelope", and gain some skill at the same time. You'll find that "letting it hang out" will transfer to road riding, and if you encounter dirt, gravel, or wet tar-snakes in corners and the back steps out a bit, you've got it under control.

[GeoffMiller]

Manic Mechanic hit the nail on the head! One disadvantage to many of todays riders is that they start out on a big road bike. Years ago, many of us started out on small dirt bikes and worked our way up. A large motorycle can be intimidating for experienced riders when things start sliding around. Growing up, we lived out in the country. It was acceptable at the time for underage riders to ride on the gravel roads. As long as we kept off the blacktop, the county sheriff would leave us alone. Loose gravel is usually manageable with the right riding style. A dirt biker can show you how to put your weight on the pegs. A little experience intentionally sliding will make you much more comfortable when encountering loose conditions. I have to agree with the folks about night riding also. Deer are bad news. Plus, one of the many crummy things about aging is that night vision decreases which makes riding uncomfortable. Hang in there! It won't be too many miles and you'll be wearing your bike instead of riding it! :thumb

[BradfordBenn]

Glad you are okay.

I would say that being nervous is not an entirely bad thing. The best thing to come from it is to be cautious, not timid but cautious. I get a little nervous every time I ride, but to me it is part of being aware of what is going on. (Also it might have to do with the fact that I am always scared about the end of my driveway as it is around a blind corner in the development. I am scared someone is going to come flying around the corner and hit me... happened to the neighbors car once.) But I digress...

You may want to retake the MSF course or a Track Day, to get used to riding. Of the two, I learned more from the track day as it was not just riding around in circles. There is an ERC course at the National Rally, but you might want to wait a little longer from what I have heard. I haven't taken one yet.

Also I am willing to bet that from now on you will keep your windshield clean, I know it makes a big difference for me.

Also there are no mistakes, save one failure to learn from a mistake. So congratulation you just got more experience. You have learned from it and are prepared better for the next time. :thumb

[jmerlino]

I know how you feel D'Lilah! Today was one of those days when it felt like everything was against me from the start. There was no rhythm to the traffic whatsoever, and people kept pulling the most boneheaded moves on me. Last week I had such a nice ride. It was completely the opposite. The traffic felt like it was just flowing around me.

So today I did what seemed right to me. I stayed off the major roads, and kept to the familiar as much as I could. I figured my brain power was better spent on dealing with traffic rather than trying to figure out where I was.

I'm a new rider myself, and I've been trying to gain experience and push my own limitations. For me, that generally involves slab riding and night riding. I've been trying to ride slabs when I can, and for longer and longer periods. The longest thing I've done so far is a Boston to Providence ride, which is a little less than an hour on I-95. (The upside is that the R100 has a nice happy zone right around 70 MPH.) I don't enjoy riding slabs, but I don't want want to be in the position of NEEDING to avoid them.

[dano]

Riding isn't a "picnic", by any stretch of the ole imagination.

I don't like the term nervous. I prefer the term aware. Always be aware....and then some.

Doesn't matter what kind of road you are riding. Always "read" it. Prepare of the unexpected. Goes back to being "aware".

While riding at night.....SLOW DOWN!! I don't care what kind of lighting system you have, or how good it is. Little and big animals seem to come alive at night, and always seem to wanna run right out in front of you.....I guess to see what kind of bike you are riding. :D

Anticipate the worst and hope for the best! Some call it being prepared. Make no mistake, it's a war out there. It's us against them....the cage drivers.

Keep reminding yourself, you are invisible. No one else can see me. I have to ride accordingly.

Not trying to make light of street riding, but it is dangerous. It's the nature of the beast. Once you come to understand and accept that fact, only then will you benefit from it.

And one last thing. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET.....NO EXCEPTIONS!! :thumb

[Cliffy777]

i would like to second the notion of a track day. it may sound like a waste of time for you to take a class on a race track, but it will allow you to test your limits on your bike with no gravel, no oncoming traffic, no dogs, no cars - only motorcycles all heading in the same direction around the track.
by going over the same twists and turns over and over with no traffic or gravel to knot up your tummy you will find your comfort level rising like a balloon.
give it some thought for later in the summer.

[IronMike]

We all get the heebee jeebies once in a while. Sometimes it happens out of the blue when you are well into a ride. I respect the feeling and run through a mental checklist starting with immediate concerns like ckecking down the road, mirrors, gauges, "feel" of the bike (tires, stability, etc), then I start down the list of things I may have forgotten or decisions I have made that have placed me where I shouldn't be.

Many times I discover that there was a reason for the jeebies and correct it, and the other times I can reassure myself after running the checklist. If it's really bad I will just pull over and take a break.

The fact that you are asking yourself questions is a good sign. Be safe and enjoy.

[85138]

Caution about track days ... they're addictive. Next thing you know you'll be buying a sportier bike. :) Having said that, I have seen cruisers on the track (even rode mine to the BMW NHIS event in 2002)

Before track day I'd suggest the following; Do the MSF Experienced Rider Course (ERC). Lee Parks hosts Advanced Rider Clinics that're a great bridge between the ERC & Track Days. Hopefully there're some in your area. Oh, and if you do track days, make sure it's a structured event and preferably the the instructional type, e.g. Keith Code's Superbikeschool.com or a BMW dealer sponsored event as opposed to just track time.

Over 12 years under my belt, close to 20 track days and the stomach would still tighten on occasion. Yesterday I was riding my '95 DUC over a favorite stretch of road that's usually pristine only to discover on entering the first series of turns an abundance of tar snakes. Bike felts more squirrely than I'd expected and it wasn't even a warm day. (took a deep breath, picked a line to avoid them ... slowed it down).

[DLilah]

WOW! I feel tons better now. This is all good stuff! I can't thank all of you enough for your words of advice and encouragement. :clap

I might suggest finding somebody with a small dirt bike and going out and thrashing it in the dirt and gravel. Get accustomed to the back end sliding around. Maybe you'll find that you enjoy making it happen. I suggest small, this way the weight is low, the power is low, and the speed is slow. This way you can find the edges of your "envelope", and gain some skill at the same time. You'll find that "letting it hang out" will transfer to road riding, and if you encounter dirt, gravel, or wet tar-snakes in corners and the back steps out a bit, you've got it under control.

manic mechanic, I did start out on a Yamaha TW200, but I probably should get back on it a bit. STRESS has been really urging me to do so for the same reasons. I guess I should be listening to him more. You know how it is, though, it's hard to listen to a spouse - you always take it more personally when they try to give you advice (even when they are giving you EXCELLENT advice). Actually, he has given me a lot of the same advice many of you have. Hmmm, guess I need to work on my listening skills as well as my riding skills. :stick

And one last thing. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET.....NO ECXCEPTIONS!!

dano, always do. I follow the motto of ATGATT.

Thanks again for all the comments! It makes me feel better knowing that I'm not alone. Especially with the night driving thing. Practice! Practice! Practice! I know that's what I need. :thumb

[STRESS]

what ride, what dinner? I thought you were at your girl friends ? :brow
Looks like you gota a lot of good advice and now I get a track day! :clap

[Voni]

D'Lilah, thanks so much for starting this thread. Lots of us share your "knot" in the stomach feeling. Not everyone is brave enough to talk about it.

Sometimes I think this is why womens' seminars are always so well attended. We're not worried about talking about the thinking side of riding. Somehow it's easier to talk about the tech side of riding or the riding at the edge of the evelope side of riding. We're more into learning and not afraid to talk about the fear.


And, btw, it is easier to learn from someone other than your spouse. Paul had infinite patience with me when I was learning to ride, but it was much harder to hear "helpful hints" from him ; )

Voni
sMiling

[DLilah]

Thank you for the very kind words, Voni. Coming from you, someone who I admire, it means a lot! :)

[Bfish]

i was pretty much a beginner 2 years ago. there were many times early on that i never thought i'd get comfortable with certain situations,i.e. strong crosswinds, big trucks, etc. as time went on everything started to fall into place. however, as a qualified older guy / too many responsibilities, etc i always ride within my comfort level. funny but the comfort level may change from week to week or even hourly during a ride. just ride, ride and ride. stay loose and next year you'll forget what was stressing you today. :brow

[BubbaZanetti]

some days i go out and feel like i'm doing everything wrong, missing downshifts, locking up in the corners and taking them too wide, etc....... this is when i usually just go out on a long straight highway and "loosen up" i've only been riding regularly a little over a year, but due to various big trips i've encountered most everything i could immagine and feel comfortable in most places, but, there will always be new challenges, i feel, no matter your skill level

[RT DOG]

D'Lilah your Question brought me back to my military days. My Instructors would alway's say the only stupid question is the one not asked, and You are not the only one with the same question. Well I'm a fairley new rider myself, And for some reason I have had really bad case of the Heebie Jeebies as some one put it early (very accurately I might say) He also he went through a mental check list. Well I did some self evaluation, and I figured out that I was more prepared for starting out my first year of riding, Then I am for my my second year. Well That is going to change, I will spend my time gettting used to ridning this year, In the same manner that I did last year. Until I get my confidence back and shed some of those heebie jeebies, not all of them, just enough to feel more comfortable about riding again, And I want to thank all the people that give such great advise.

[BradfordBenn]

Oh yeah, ride at your speed. Notice how my saying is Slow Poke and proud of it. Cause I don't care what speed you want to ride at, I ride so that I feel comfortable.