OK...Ive Got A Prob.....

Off-topic
1

with this…

Ever since my “off” last year, ive had a growing problem that is now getting to me so much that my ride out on monday with andyp and his mates to Walton on Naze was sorta ruined for me, for the stupidness i did, only this time andy was behind me and i felt shite cos he carries his missus on the back and if anything had happened cos of my f***in dumbness, i wouldnt have forgiven myself !!!

My accident happened on a roundabout, approached, slowed down then hit a pothole and was sent flying, BUT when i realised i was in trouble, i braked again, hard… when maybe i shouldnt have, cos that made my bike tip and i went over the top and the bike followed and we ended up somersaulting for england…(saying that, it is quite hard to think straight with all that going on…but still no excuse)…

Anyway, busted knee still ongoing, i got back on my bike, once i had it all repaired…fine…BUT in my head now is that picture of me flying through the air, and being SO lucky to be alive…(ive lost mates since that time, for less believe me, and it always humbles me to think about it)…but now, i cant get my line right on approaching and taking a sharper bend…i mean, it NEVER used to worry me, i just took the corners and bends with ease, didnt even have to think much about them? NOW im thinking too much about them and f***in them up! Im going into the bend, braking when i shouldnt, getting my lines well and truely wrong, and end up just making the turn in time before hitting the edge of the road or kerb…then beating myself up and looking for the next bend and worrying about it before i even get to it…

Ive gotta sort this out…im seriously peed off with it…i get on the bike, all ready to enjoy a ride, come to a bluddy bend or corner and straight away worry, worry, worry…

Sorry Andy for messing up that bend…i know what its like cos i follow the rider in fronts line as well…well, used to…now i just sit and worry if im gonna make it myself, holding my breath till i get round it…im fed up !!

So, i need some advice, although had a good chat with Andys mate in the cafe about it…and he did make sense…but applying it is another thing…im bottling it before i make the corner now and that is peeing me off big time !!

Come on you lot, youve seen me ride my bike…what am i gonna do? Shall i go back to riding out alone again for a while to get my ol confidence back (not that im having a prob actually riding my bike tho?) Have i been riding in packs for too long now and lost my “edge”?

Whats the best advice you can apply to someone whos in my place? Why am i getting myself in the wrong position, and i bluddy know im doing it? This is like when you practice U turns and keep having to put your foot down, till you get it right !

Ive gotta get out more on those country lanes on my own and just ride em aint i? How do you judge what line to be in…why am i turning too late and then grabbing the damn brake?..FFS !!! GRRRRRRR

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Blade, I hear ya.Come and join my club (not the pipe and slippers image people think) and you will get your confidence back and it will change the way you view and think about corners and the questions in your last paragraph will be answered.Oh, Andrew&7 did an article on cornering which was good, but I cant find it now… if anyone else can help?

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Hi Blade, PM Demonbiker or RichM and ask them to go for a ride with you. Both are advanced riders.

I went out with Demonbiker to hit some twisties and I learnt shed loads. He did tell me off when I wasn’t paying enough attention and we stopped at regular intervals to talk about what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong. I’m even more confident now about reading the road and not getting caught out by a corner tightening up on me unexpectedly.

Both Demonbiker and RichM are fast, safe riders and I can assure you you won’t be feeling bored, lol.

I’m also more than happy to come for a ride with you hun and you can follow me. I find doing that is a confidence builder because you can concentrate on your riding.

Also, book a trackday! Nothing will give you better or safer practise at cornering.

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I believe Demonbiker is a member of the same club as me… but dont quote me :wink:

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Smart thing to do would be do a superbike or bike safe course, a lot of what they do is giving you more confidence on & off the track.

If you ever wanna go on a ride holla :wink:

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I did some cornering last year with our Andrew&7 and went to Brands for a track day, since then have felt much more confident cornering. If the weather holds, I might do another track day in October, probably Brands as it is close and nice and twisty, want to come?

Actually, Shewolf, I wouldn’t mind some more help, what do you think if we asked some of the more experienced riders for some special cornering sessions? In groups, so they don’t have to turn up every other day?

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Hey Andrea - long time!!Since I resigned as a host MumG1 and JohnP are sorting out the mentoring. Might be worth suggesting it to them.

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OK, sounds like you already know what to do & how you should be doing it, so I don’t think bikesafe or extra training & accompanied/advised rides are the answer here (not that they’re ever a bad thing !).

Sounds like the problem here is actually a psychological block/hangup & it’s that which is preventing you from doing what you already know to be the right thing.

I’d recommend trying out a hypnotherapist or some sort of psychotherpist as that’s what they specialise in - clearing such blockages / negative associations.

I know we have all sorts of hang-ups in this country about using these folk, but plenty of our top sportspeople recognise the advantage they can give them, especially when coming back from injuries.

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Whilst I agree with you if it is in need, the issue here is Blades self confidence and doubting her road positioning and ability. Blade is a good rider having followed her a few times through france and earlier this year through oxford, but the odd error has made her feel that she is doing something wrong. In this case, I dont think that going out and hitting country roads on your own without instruction first is the answer as if you are doing something wrong, the “bad habit” will only manifest itself and it therefore becomes harder to change at a later date. She requires observation and then helpful tips if required, then she can go and practise on her own. I would help, but I am neither trained or qualifed to advise really.

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I agree with the above, it is a confidence thing, but going out in a group is often the worst thing to do as you either try and keep up or you try and show off, either way it is not good for your confidence.

I would be happy to go for a ride with you Blade if you think it would help, I think you need a bit of one to one, starting slow and steadily building up speed over the course of a day or a couple of days. Either that or pick a piece of road you know well or enjoy riding and ride it slowly, study the road the road side markers for breaking points the tightness of the turn the camber of the road etc… then go back and do the same stretch of road again but 10 mph faster, try and be as smooth as possible, don’t break into turns use only your engine breaking you will find that the bike is much more stable at your turn in point. Then over the course of a few hours go over and over the same piece of road getting steadily faster, start to introduce a bit of breaking if you feel you need to. Generally I find with good observation, awareness and planning there is very seldom a place where you need to break into a turn, only if you are really pushing which to be honest you don’t really want to be doing on the road that is for the track.

Which brings me to my final point, go do a track day, the confidence you will gain from a good ‘steady’ trackday is immense, especially if you have a instructor with you to help you on your way.

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Big SV has hit nail on the head? I DONT have a problem riding my bike…but i DO have this mental pic of me coming off my bike, and WHY i came off it…and the sharp corners and bends (and its not ALL of em funny enough!), seem to bring it all back…and i mess up, and yeh maybe im not messing up THAT bad…i mean on monday, i only did it the once, knew what i did straight away and apologised to Andyp, so its not like i didnt KNOW id done wrong…but then we didnt really hit that many bends either?Shewolf i like the idea of us going out together, and Andrea yeh, come along as well and i know Abbeyj will come, cos shes got the exact same problem as mine…also? if anyone wants to take us on twisty roads etc and give tips, answer questions? i dont have a problem with that and would be happy to be there and im SURE there are others men and women wouldnt mind the help either?

So, BigSV? when are you allowed out again? Promise i wont look at anything other than what you are telling us, and NOT what you will be showing us…(if you come in your all in ones that is?)…:stuck_out_tongue:

Seriously? yeh i would like to go out and take on those damn bends and corners…ive GOTTA do it…cos its making me lose bluddy sleep !!!Rich? sounds all good to me, wanna take me and few others with ya? im not into going THAT slow and then building up speed thing, although good idea, but i want advice on positioning and speed going into the bend…and also, obviously when out with a group and you hit the country lanes, you cant really go at any other speed than whats being done within the group can you…my problem is just certain corners that i can see that have sharp no ending bend to them, i panic im not gonna make the turn, and **** me, i mess up and just about make it…do u think if i lowered the bike it would help? ok might be stupid question i know, but think on, i cant touch the ground full on? and when we come to country lanes i absolutely HATE it, cos i know about the cambers and you turn a corner, come to a junction thats way up on a hill and i have a problem with that no end…ive even dropped my bike cos of that…i had to stop for traffic, couldnt put my foot down cos of the camber, when my foot did touch the ground the bike had leaned too far and i couldnt pull it back, i stalled and of course, had to step of it…again, beating myself up for being so blonde, and thinking of it for the rest of the ride…but what can you do when you aint 6ft tall?..Anyway, when can we all go out then? and who else would be interested in learning how its done…? :w00t:

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I would recommend bikesafe, and speak to the observer to voice your specific concerns. They will then give you specific assistance on your cornering, and if you’re nervous about having anyone else following you too close in case you muck up, then say so specifically and people will hang back.

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Firstly :stuck_out_tongue: :blush: Secondly, if I can come to the EAA ride, on the way back we can hit some twisties if you like? Take it nice and slow, easy and see how things go.

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Aww, bless ya Choccie !! No i dont have a problem with someone following me…n really its me beating myself up over stupid things im doing…although it is bothering me…i dont want to mess up and cause another rider a problem. Its happened to me before where ive been behind someone who messed up, so i dont want to do it to someone?

I think if i can get out with one of the guys on here, who will not judge my or anyone elses riding, but just say “try this way, or do that” and then we go for another ride and then they say, “ok, thats ok, now do this or try that”…then i will be happy with that…im not interested in bombing around country lanes perse…(i have been known to hit 150 in my time…ooops) im interested in getting back the way i was when i felt in control of my bike and not the other way round…(if u get what i mean?)…

Bikesafe will prob be my last port of call if i cant lick it this way…i think Shewolf will sort me out if i bottle this one !!! ha ha :w00t:

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PM sent hun. As for the observed rides, anymore than 2 riders per observer will be pointless and just turn into a group ride. I’m happy to come with you and RichM for a 2 to 1 ride as I’ve been meaning to get out and utilise his riding skills for ages!!

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HA !! what do ya mean “if” you go to EAA? :)That sounds good though…if u get to come we can do that, if you dont get to go? i will STILL do that…used to be a time when i chucked my bike about? nowdays im worried my bikes gonna chuck me about…again ! :angry: Sherrie? pm sent back to ya mate ! ta

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PM sent:)

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So, you can ride, but need to get your confidence back.

I would personally avoid group rides and concentrate on yourself, there are far too many distractions added with people in front, behind…and you may well feel more comfortable practicing different stuff without witnesses !

Also, reading inbetween the lines, I think the most handy lessons for you would be the CSS, riding around a track without using your brakes, it teaches you so much.

Best of luck.

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ok couple of things here,

1st you can ride very well, as said by the others after we got home, {fcuk me that girl can ride a a bike }, even i was on it hard to keep up, and we are talking - - - +. not being funny,bigheaded or anything but a lot of people would not have been able to keep up with you, or would not have done half the things you were doing through the traffic, when i think back about it now it was a mental ride home.

2nd ok so you took a bend from the opposite side from what you should have but i followed you which is not your fault as you are not riding my bike, you are that good a rider that i do follow you, but if a mistake is made and i follow it then that is my problem and not yours, its not the first time ive done it either sometimes with ----- you dont see a bend till it is very late and on top of it and take the wrong line,

3rd

i dont think you have a problem, you might have in your mind but not on the road.

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Thanks mate…yeh, i know its not my riding on the roads, but ive gotta get that judgement right on those bends (well some of em)…cos it pees me off when i do something bluddy dumb…ha ha i thought we had a good ride home, and yeh we did it at some record time as well…but hey, i enjoyed that !!!

Made me laugh when your mate took off, giving it some and tried to get past the gap between car and island in middle of road? …ha ha…me and (guy in red leathers…whatshisface?) had a right ol giggle with each other when we see him wobble about trying to not make a mooey of it all !!! (well it wouldnt have been funny had he come off, but it looked funny from where we were !!!) :wink:

I like the way you guys ride…too many cameras about tho aint there !!! :w00t: