First ride tonight....I have questions

[Lil'Suzi]

I went out for my first ride tonight. My brother rode my GS500 to a parking lot for me. I circled around the parking lot for a while, felt pretty good. Then he suggested I go out and around the block (pretty quiet residential area) a few times.

My town does not have the best streets, hilly and the roads are in desperate need of repair. I didn't do too bad, a few messy stops, confused the clutch and the break a bit, and only almost ran off the road twice, but managed to recover.

My brother and my boyfriend both say I have good form when riding and that my turns are good. I was happy tonight that I didn't once stall the bike while going forward from a stop. But I still feel really jittery and feel like there is so much going on that I'm going to forget do something like break in a turn, or grab to much front break and fly myself over the handle bars.

My question is....is this feeling normal, and how long should it last before I decide that maybe its not for me? Anyone else have doubts this early on? Granted I've yet to dump the bike, I guess I just thought it would feel more, natural?
I realize I have less than probably 20 miles on the bike so far. Advice? Encouragement?

[jstark47]

Forum member Veda would be a good person to answer this, and I hope she sees this. Until she does, checkthis postin her blog. Compare it to her posts from March and April. Member blues2cruise's blog (The Blog of Blues) is another excellent read- the first 7 pages cover her first riding season, learning, overcoming crises in confidence, etc. The blogs on this forum are an awsome resource.

.....and BTW, that feeling is normal.

[Tenku]

I do believe you're doing better than my 1st time riding!

I have a H-D Softail, (my very first bike ever) and my first ride (the evening of passing the safety course) I laid her down during a bad tight turn in a parking lot....no damage except to my pride!

I started (like you) riding around the neighborhood on a very quiet 20mph residential street..over and over, and over (I'm sure the neighborhood was glad I graduated to further away rides!)

Every couple of days I'd go a bit further, and onto busier streets, and more traffic....

While I went further, and faster, I never felt that I was 'in control' I had to constantly think of what & how to do whatever I needed to do next (upshift/downshift/brake/stop/start etc...) I literally was talking to myself outloud like a crazy person (thankfully I kept the shield down, so I wasn't taken to the psych ward...)

Still, it took me about 3 weeks before suddenly (like the flick of a switch) I 'knew' I was in control.....my turns stayed in the proper lane....my stops were smooth and controlled....I shifted & braked without having to think about it...(and I stopped talking to myself!)

So for me, it was about 3 weeks of practice, and about 550 miles to become comfortable...(I think the time spent was more helpful than the miles..)

Must have worked, because Sunday, my 1 month of riding paid off, as I went on a ride of ~350 miles with several other experienced riders, and I made no goofs/errors/mistakes!

Just keep practicing!

R

[Lil'Suzi]

I read some of Veda's blog...my god it sounds like me!
Tenku thanks for the PM. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement.
I have a feeling my stomach is going to be in knots for a a few more weeks, but I'm not giving up yet.

[BlackViper]

Well Im 16 and just started learning to ride in june. I was afraid at first because I had never drove anything with a clutch before. I was afraid I would drop the bike during the class. I was worried about everything. Then I took the class and I felt like I had everything down and stoped worrying about the little things, and just tried to enjoy the ride while focusing on other things, like turning, stoping, u-turning and all that stuff.

Becuase during the class all i was trying not to do was not drop the bike. If you didnt take the class i can definently understand your worries and IMm sure it will feel more natural eventually. If you did take the class and still worrie, then your just like my mom. She is still worried about things but she is determined ot get better and do them to the point where it feels natural.

If it makes you feel better, i droped my moms bike once when i was just sitting there on it, becuase i let my guard down. But now on friday i got my own bike and im not so worried about droping it becuase its mine. And i love riding around.

Now i dont know if any of this made sense or is any help at all since Im a rookie, but thats just how it felt to me. And I hope that the feelngs come to you naturaly soon and i hope you enjoy riding.

[Veda]

Goodness I wondered why my ears were ringing. (If you're being talked about on the internet do your ears still ring or maybe my fingers should be tingling? hmm..)

I agree with everyone above. It does take time and practice. I was definitely terrified for my first few rides and I still get anxious now and again when I encounter a difficult situation. I think it's important to understand that everyone learns at a different pace. Things that may have come natural to your boyfriend or brother may not be natural to you and take you longer to learn. Even if it takes you longer to learn it doesn't mean you won't be just as good of a rider with practice.

[paul1149]

Just continue to take it at your own pace. Been riding six months. I had to overcome a lot of trepidation to keep at it. Couple of times I was convinced this wasn't for me, but I would end up going out "one more time". Took me five months before I would attempt the freeway. But I kept challenging myself with reasonable, incremental challenges, and it's been getting better and better. I actually look forward to the freeway and parkway now. It's where the most enjoyment and reward is at this time.

[Lil'Suzi]

I agree with everyone above. It does take time and practice. I was definitely terrified for my first few rides and I still get anxious now and again when I encounter a difficult situation. I think it's important to understand that everyone learns at a different pace. Things that may have come natural to your boyfriend or brother may not be natural to you and take you longer to learn. Even if it takes you longer to learn it doesn't mean you won't be just as good of a rider with practice.

Thanks Veda!

[RC Fan]

Hello!

I've only had my license for a little over a month, so I know how you feel. Personally I felt a lot better after I got out on the highway, and into traffic. Also, I am trying to read up on proper technique, safety, etc.

Did you take the course?

I think it is natural to be a bit nervous--I definitely was, and still am. Don't give up!

[koji52]

i was scared to even go out on the bike...even after i had done the safety course. One day, i just decided that it was time to go out on the road. Forced myself to ride around. Got lost a few times and ended up on a busy street. Had to take 295 to get back home as it was the only route i knew back. After that, my confidence was high enough to go out...didn't do 295 the next week but i was definately riding everyday for as much as i could.