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Discouraged!

by Michelle
(Mansfield Ohio)

I have been riding for about 9 weeks. I feel like I have been doing really well. Yesterday I had one of those "I cant do this moments". Me and hubby was out for a ride, and everything was going great, my curves and turns were wonderful. I get to a small intersection with a slight hill, and loose gravel,I could not find my friction zone, this car got really close up to us, so I started flipping out because everytime I tried to take off I would roll back, I got fixated on the small roll and on the loose gravel, So what do I do? I jump off my bike (stupid) decided I will just push it up hill all the while yelling at my hubby who was just trying to help. I almost dropped my bike on the loose gravel, so we stop and take a moment, I was just like " How did I screw this up", Hubby says never get off the bike at an intersection. I knew I had to get back on the bike cause we were quite a ways from home. Ride home was uneventful. Has anyone had similar experience or any words of encouraagement. Just a bump in the road!

Comments for Discouraged!

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Jun 17, 2012

Gotten some courage
by: michelle

I took everyones advice and went and practice the hill using the back brake also I practiced riding in small circles on my bike. Did wonderful. Went for a very long ride and managed curves and everything with ease. I also worked on looking where I wanted to go man it makes a big difference. We was going to go out today but ended up spending the day in the ER with hubby who has now developed my pnuemonia. I plan to keep practicing and looking where I want to go. Thanks for the encouraging words and sharing.

Jun 17, 2012

New to the scene too...
by: AJSayler

I'm new to riding (well, to be the "driver")too. Been riding for just a few months, but only about once every two weeks due to my crazy work/life schedule. I've found that I will have times when I'm riding and feel absolutely awesome - and I could ride forever. Then the next time I am freaking out the entire time, with all the thoughts of all the news stories I've heard recently about motorcycle accidents rolling through my head. I know it's just like anything else...the more you practice, the more comfortable you'll get. Soon (hopefully), it will become like second nature...just like driving our cars. Can't wait till that day comes!

Jun 15, 2012

check this out
by: Anonymous

Read the post shortly after your own...the "oopsie, dropsie etc.." post. You will see that you are not alone. Hang in there, hon.

Jun 15, 2012

Discouraged
by: Turtle

All of us have those moments, the best thing to do is go back to a parking lot. Stop, put your foot gently on the rear break, roll on the throttle and ease off the rear break, do it over and over again until you can do it without thinking about it. This is the same technique you do on a hill. REAR BREAK left foot down, this leaves your hands free to find the friction zone with clutch and throttle

Jun 15, 2012

You'll get it!
by: Connie

Hang in there - it'll come. You just have to keep riding and riding. I freaked out too the first time I stopped on a slight grade. Then I went home, did some research, found a slight grade on my road, and practiced. Keep your foot on the brake, then roll the throttle till you find the friction zone and start to move, then let up the brake. It works. When I stop on a grade now, I sit and process in my head what I'm doing, so it takes me a minute till I'm ready to go. Take a deep breath, take your time, then go. I do the same thing when I stop and start, and when I shut my bike off (one time I forgot to put the kickstand down...). Think think think. My husband says I think too much, but I find it's better to keep calm and collected, and work my brain around what I'm doing! You'll get it! Don't give up. And bless your husband for being supportive!

Jun 15, 2012

fear
by: michelle

I agree the fear sometimes gets the best of me too. I seem to notice more now how much people do not pay attention while driving. I always thought I was a cautious driver till I started riding. Now I find I seem to drive my car like I do when I ride my bike. Course I go faster in my car. I have not ridin since my incident with the grade. Hopefully I will ride today, unless my anxiety kicks up. Hubby says I may have done poorly cause I have pnuemonia and plursey going on right now. Good luck we can do this!

Jun 15, 2012

Got it
by: Stephanie

I know exactly what you're saying. I posted a couple days ago that I feel like giving up but maybe I'll hang in there and give it a try. My first time on a grade was horrible. My hubby was behind me in the car and I'm yelling at him to just wave the cars around me. Again, not his fault but he understood. My thing is one time I'll be on the bike and be perfectly fine and the next time I'm scared out of my mind. I see people driving when I'm in my car and they're on their cell phones and not paying attention. I'm terrified someone is going to just not see me and hit me. But I'm working on it. Your thing is just a minor setback and you can learn how to handle to that grade. Learning how to get rid of fear is a whole other ball game!

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