Regaining confidence

[Philo]

Well, I went riding this weekend. Just crashed last weekend, so I was really shaky. I don't have a car, so I ride every day to work, but getting in the twisties made me really nervous. When I got home after 4-5 hours, I was very sore. More sore than I'd ever been after riding only that long. I couldn't figure out why at first, but I was so tight and tense riding that I just exhausted myself.

For the first time since I've had the bike, I wasn't exactly looking forward to riding on Saturday. I felt so awkward in corners (where before I felt okay, just looked awkward :-p ). A couple corners I took at a "medium" speed (for me) and I freaked out, target fixated, glazed eyes, death-grip.....the whole 9 yards. All I could think about the entire time was the front tire sliding.
:holymoly:

I guess the point is, I went out riding to try and regain some confidence, but I'm more discouraged now than I was before. Do you guys have any advice? Should I return to Palomar to face my demons or wait for a while.

[dre_2k2_f4i]

Ride a bike that is more manageable for a while? Maybe a cruiser or smaller 250? I was on my friend's Fizzer 600 while repairing my R6, and because the tires were already scrubbed in I regained some confidence in tires. But I still take turns on city streets way slower (high-sided on new tires when the rear tire spun up on a right hand turn at an intersection). It will definitely take time.

[Philo]

I'm fine in town, commuting, lane splitting, wheelie-ing, etc.... But I got to twisty stuff on the side of a cliff and I'm scared as a little girl. It's not the power, just trusting my tires in the corner. Should I go back to Pali.

I'm goin back to Pali...Pali...Pali.........I'm goin back to Pali...................man, I don't think so.:banana:

[LV_styles]

Originally posted by Philo
I'm fine in town, commuting, lane splitting, wheelie-ing, etc.... But I got to twisty stuff on the side of a cliff and I'm scared as a little girl. It's not the power, just trusting my tires in the corner. Should I go back to Pali.

I'm goin back to Pali...Pali...Pali.........I'm goin back to Pali...................man, I don't think so.:banana:


Just take it slooowww until u are ready! I personally don't think that rushing to get back in the same groove you were in prior to the crash will actually speed up the process. I suggest u ride as much as possible (twisties, freeway, cruise), and gradually your confidence will return. I would be happy to lead u on a ride through telegraph, campo, sunrise hwy, old julian, or something like this to build up your confidence....Palomar may not be the best place to do this, unless you feel comfortable doing so.

Oh, and on another note those of us who like to squid around sometimes:whistle: know that wheelies ain't $hit compared to railing the canyons. Canyon riding is much more difficult/technical than your average wheelie. Don't get me wrong, they both require a lot of skill, but once u learn wheelies they come much quicker than do riding skills involved in the canyons/track. That's just my opinion though.

[Philo]

I'm not into wheelies/stunts either. I just did a couple a few days after crashing to prove to myself "see, I'm not scared".

Watching people/videos of people wheeliing was always cool growing up. I got a bike and for like 3 weeks was going nuts cause my bike wheelies so easy. I kinda got over it and rarely do a wheelie anymore. I never wheelie on group rides and don't really like when others do, especially behind me.

BTW, I gladly wheelie on demand for kids **cough**and girls **cough**. I love seeing the look on a kids face in such awe. I was the exact same way when I was a rascal.

[GPTECHMAN]

Bill, IMHO I think that you should go back. I've never ridden with you, so its hard for me to give any sort of advice. I crashed myself going on sunrise highway. I target fixated on a sign and I was going way too hot for my skill level. I didnt have faith in the tires and kept on staring at that nice big yellow sign. I stood it up and sent off the hill straight into a tree and bushes. It was a righthander and I always had a hard time with rights. I went the same route the next day with tjb, just to kinda over come the fear. Since then I got into a lot of trouble with my rights cause I just didnt trust my tires enough. I always felt awkward and never comfortable on that same side that I crashed on. Which side was it. Do you feel better on any particular side? was the crash up or downhill, I can't remember. Are you hanging off enough? Do you have leathers...cant remember again. My whole PHILOsophy was that I saw all those crazy mafia guys rail it at all the corners that I was afraid that my tires were gonna wash out on and figured out that those guys were going around double my speed, and if they could do that on then I would be able to make my turns. Not any great advice, but it mentally helped me gain confidence

[dre_2k2_f4i]

Originally posted by Philo
I'm fine in town, commuting, lane splitting, wheelie-ing, etc.... But I got to twisty stuff on the side of a cliff and I'm scared as a little girl. It's not the power, just trusting my tires in the corner. Should I go back to Pali.

I'm goin back to Pali...Pali...Pali.........I'm goin back to Pali...................man, I don't think so.:banana:
My message was more meaning that you should ease yourself back into confidence, maybe start back smaller. So get back to Palomar and ride a smaller bike while there because you will most probably have a ton of confidence on it (if you want to go to extremes: go back to Palomar on a scooter). Then you could work your way back up on your bike instead of being a scared little girl.

I am at 100% of my comfort level in the canyons, even after the crash I was. But taking a turn in the streets I am scared like a little girl. I am working on confidence still, but it won't stop me from riding.

[Phamous]

Track Day. That should give you some confidence and some.

[cbrsmurf]

I know exactly what you mean. I crashed @ Palomar, got my bike fixed about a month later and came back, was scurrred... did all the things that you described. I just kept riding and riding Palomar well within my limits. Like all things that you do repititively, you'll get more comfortable and will regain your confidence. So just don't sweat it and practice

[deno]

just take it nice and slow. It'll come back the quicker you relax on the bike. ......nice and easy...

[Philo]

Originally posted by GPTECHMAN
Bill, IMHO I think that you should go back. I've never ridden with you, so its hard for me to give any sort of advice. I crashed myself going on sunrise highway. I target fixated on a sign and I was going way too hot for my skill level. I didnt have faith in the tires and kept on staring at that nice big yellow sign. I stood it up and sent off the hill straight into a tree and bushes. It was a righthander and I always had a hard time with rights. I went the same route the next day with tjb, just to kinda over come the fear. Since then I got into a lot of trouble with my rights cause I just didnt trust my tires enough. I always felt awkward and never comfortable on that same side that I crashed on. Which side was it. Do you feel better on any particular side? was the crash up or downhill, I can't remember. Are you hanging off enough? Do you have leathers...cant remember again. My whole PHILOsophy was that I saw all those crazy mafia guys rail it at all the corners that I was afraid that my tires were gonna wash out on and figured out that those guys were going around double my speed, and if they could do that on then I would be able to make my turns. Not any great advice, but it mentally helped me gain confidence

I was going downhill into a lefthander. My front was nearly bald on the left, which tells me I'm more comfy taking lefts (probly from dirt biking as a kid). At least it's a little safer to crash in a left on the streets.

I think next weekend I'll go for a long ride, prolly solo. I don't want to go to Palomar yet cause I want a full day to just relax and get comforatable again on the bike. Don't want to get in the way and be a pylon at the mountain, there's enough people there already.

Plus I'm still embarassed as hell. I feel like a total squid cuz my bike's all scratched and my leathers are roughed up. Don't want people to avoid me at the top cause they think I'm an idiot and not riding safe.

[Philo]

I'm all about a track day, though. Never done it, ALWAYS wanted to. Even when I was riding my CB.

Okay last question.....do you guys think I would benefit more from doing a couple trackdays, or saving up and going to Keith Code's school??? I'm definitely going to do both, but which first???

[Phamous]

Keith Code first....I think they will probably teach you a lot of technique that you could practice on following trackdays and on the street...If you do trackdays first, you may be practicing bad habits?? That's my thoughts.

[TreAdidas]

Originally posted by dre_2k2_f4i
My message was more meaning that you should ease yourself back into confidence, maybe start back smaller. So get back to Palomar and ride a smaller bike while there because you will most probably have a ton of confidence on it (if you want to go to extremes: go back to Palomar on a scooter).

Or go to pep boys nad pick up your pocket bike ;)

....

When I bit it on my bike in late October on Old Julian HWY.... I got the busted bike home... ripped all of my damaged parts off and hit Palomar the next day with my boys. -No gauges - no headlights - no front turn signals - no mirrors - hell I'm fortunate I had handlebar grips! That was the single best move I ever made for my own not getting all shaken up sake... I didn't have enough time to worry the piss out of myself about it.

Luckily I had the encouragement from friends saying hey man it happens to us all... so I cut my losses ebayed that thing back together and didn't miss a weekend of riding or hell even a day for that matter.... You'll get it back... It happens to us all.... evaluate the situation... and adjust...

[iceman1911]

pretty kewl Chuck when i went down i immediately wanted to pick my bike up and get back on it and go thru the turn that got me again just to prove i could do it - i wanted back on a bike that day broken collar bone, road rash and all (my brother wouldnt let me on his for some reason)

unfortunately it was like a month later till i got back on one - it was a borrowed 87 ninja not in the best repair and it was raining out on our first group ride with anyone - needless to say my first ride back went alot worse than yours Philo - i still get freaked out in some turns too and i am still riding with the ghosts but a whole lot less now than a month or so ago hopefully soon i wont be riding with them at all cuz they cant keep up =)

[GPTECHMAN]

Originally posted by Philo
I was going downhill into a lefthander. My front was nearly bald on the left, which tells me I'm more comfy taking lefts (probly from dirt biking as a kid). At least it's a little safer to crash in a left on the streets.

I think next weekend I'll go for a long ride, prolly solo. I don't want to go to Palomar yet cause I want a full day to just relax and get comforatable again on the bike. Don't want to get in the way and be a pylon at the mountain, there's enough people there already.

Plus I'm still embarassed as hell. I feel like a total squid cuz my bike's all scratched and my leathers are roughed up. Don't want people to avoid me at the top cause they think I'm an idiot and not riding safe.

Bill, I think you need to take a different look on it. At least you have leathers, and people do crash. Ego aside, just have fun and relax out there, who cares about scratches...I converted my bike to look like a POS....who cares, you still have a sick bike

[deathblow]

I think you should do it gradually until you can build that trust level to where you will be comfortable. Don't forget what riding means to you and that going out nervous or not, at least you riding. Anytime you want to do Otay Lakes, let me know :).

[TreAdidas]

Originally posted by GPTECHMAN
Bill, I think you need to take a different look on it. At least you have leathers, and people do crash. Ego aside, just have fun and relax out there, who cares about scratches...I converted my bike to look like a POS....who cares, you still have a sick bike

Here here... I rode a naked R6 for over a month! and at the end of the day... no one cared but me.

::click the pic to see more::
http://www.treadidas.com/albums/album11/P1010060.jpg (http://www.treadidas.com/img/view_album.php?set_albumName=album11)


See the thing about busted bikes is that in all honesty... you're really the only one who notices... and if someone else happens to notice they don't usually think... wow that guy sucks at riding. I alwasy think... oh whoa; dude must have got a sick deal on that bike. :) It is all about perspective.

[dre_2k2_f4i]

Originally posted by TreAdidas
Here here... I rode a naked R6 for over a month! and at the end of the day... no one cared but me.
I will third that notion although I had the uppers and Chuck didn't. The riders in my group brushed the topic for a minute or two. No grilling. Just offered a bit of sympathy, then the conversation moved onward.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/040307/IMG_0415.jpg

[Philo]

Thanks for all the help everybody. Here and elsewhere.

Last post ever.
:cheers:

[Termin8r]

Bill,

Keith Code is a good school, but any formal school should be able to help restore your confidence. After doing Level 1 and 2 at Keith Code, I not only regained my confidence after crashing in 2004, but increased it as well...up until one time after when I went on a group ride and fixated on the guy in front of me causing me to go over the double yellow. While nothing happened as a result, it did freak me out some such that I again lost some nerve. Going to Fontana helped a little, but I picked up some bad habits based on the demons that found their way into my head after going over the double yellow. After Level 3, I'm once again more confident to turn the bike although more track time will probably allow me to keep developing more and more confidence as well. That's why I can't wait until Fontana. Good luck.

[Knightshade]

Track Day. That should give you some confidence and some.

I was thinking the same thing, you want to get your confidence back, it will help if there are less things to worry about.

Cracked my 9 month layoff after a crash at sow. I was messed up scared for the first couple of sessions, comfortable by the end of the day.

Crack a lackin at buttonwillow 2 months later. I think I've ridden maybe 3 weekend rides since coming back and wouldn't state myself as fully "back" yet, we'll see at fontana in a couple of weeks.

[daMartian]

welp,
i crashed twice this year... my first and 2nd ever after riding for 2 years :) (not including dropping the bike LOL)...
crashed at WSIR last february on t3... bruised elbow and ego and the vision of getting ran over by an rc51 - yeah, that was some scarey shiyet!... i stopped on the track so i had to roll myself over to the dirt... i was iffy bout getting back on the bike but i just said "eff" it... lets go to pahrump - not really very confident... then went to streets (sow)- i was sorta getting more comfortable... then went back to streets (hypercycle day) - was getting more and more comfortable - then BAM! crashed again... LOL - and again, stopped on the track and had to roll myself over to the dirt... no damage to my bike except scratched bodywork and then scratched my helmet (now that hurts LOL)... so as of right now, im still trying to regain confidence... i've done 2 trackdays after that - big track and buttonwillow... so hopefully, i can get in the groove again...
so i guess what im saying is that my process takes a little longer (slower) than someone else in getting my confidence back.. its all good... im slow no matter what anyways...

[Aviane]

Sup Philo! I crashed a few months ago, and it took me awhile to get back to the way I was riding in the canyons and twisties, it may take awhile after a crash but beleive me after awhile you will get to be eveb better than be4. It's like breakin an arm or a leg man, when it heals fully it's even stronger the 2nd time around, KEEP FOCUSED, those fearz will fall astrayyyyy!!.......later ride SAFE!.........Avi........Jerzee Kingz

[TreAdidas]

I will third that notion although I had the uppers and Chuck didn't. The riders in my group brushed the topic for a minute or two. No grilling. Just offered a bit of sympathy, then the conversation moved onward.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/040307/IMG_0415.jpg

Yep onward to those dope rearsets!... hmmm those do look mighty familiar!

[ssoulssurfer]

I felt the same way after I went down like 6 months ago in a stupid turn in UTC. The best thing I can say is time, like others have said of course, going to palomar, telegraph, highlang, etc. helped me, but I took it slow. After a long while, I slowly got more comfortable again, although I have a different awarness about leaning into turns now. BTW, I totally know what you mean about trusting the tires in turns, for so long (and still do sometimes), I think about if the tires are going to slip or not.

[brownbrown4]

I'm fine in town, commuting, lane splitting, wheelie-ing, etc.... But I got to twisty stuff on the side of a cliff and I'm scared as a little girl. It's not the power, just trusting my tires in the corner. Should I go back to Pali.

I'm goin back to Pali...Pali...Pali.........I'm goin back to Pali...................man, I don't think so.:banana:

i just got back from a 6 monthe deployment and i feel the same way in the twisties. i've been back a month and have hit the twisties around 4 or 5 times. And im still not as comfortable as i was before i left. the first time i was doing the same things you did. target fixing, on off , bla bla bla. only thing is to start from square-one and pretend you've never been on that road b4. it'll come back on its own. i tried to force it a couple weekends ago, and didnt like the uneasyness. so now i talk to myself in the canyons. find turn speed , find braking point, get in the right gear, position body correctly, choose turn enrty point... and so on, it helps.