Ladies: What was your greatest challenge - learning to ride?

[Lion_Lady]

Was it getting through a beginner's class? Convincing your significant other or family that you'd be okay? Getting past the fear of being out there on two wheels? Or something else?

How have you dealt with it?

P

[sunshine229]

For me, when I was learning to ride I had a crisis in confidence... every night of the course. I would get a bit strung out due to nerves and then just stop on the spot and cry. It was so weird! The only way to get over it was practicing in a parking lot again and again and again and again... (you get the message!)

[blues2cruise]

I had problems in the beginner's class. Although I finished it and passed the skills test, I was not ready to ride. I did not get any road experience from the beginners classes.

After I hired an instructor for private lessons, I started to "blossom" so to speak.

I still stuggled with confidence for some time and was riding "afraid". I had the skills, but was still so nervous about.

My epiphany came one day when my friend and I had to park our bikes on a gravel pad when we went to the tulip fields in the Skagit Valley in Washington. The only way out later, was to ride through the tractor ruts of a bark mulched field.

I got through the field without falling or skidding or losing control and when I got to the pavement I had brand new feeling of confidence that I never knew before.

My riding got better after that. It got more fluid and my cornering got better.

Confidence...that was lacking.

[sunshine229]

Blues, sounds like you and I were in the same boat - lacking the confidence.

Honestly it took me years to fully overcome the lack of confidence. 4 years on my old Honda CB400T helped, it was a bike that I felt so comfortable on and really couldn't do anything wrong. Even when I *almost* dropped it a few times I was actually able to hold it from going full over.

Moving to the Z750 and feeling like I had conquered all my fear was an absolutely awesome feeling! Now I can zip in and out of traffic and give 'er a bit here and there just for some fun.

[RocketGirl]

Was it getting through a beginner's class? Convincing your significant other or family that you'd be okay? Getting past the fear of being out there on two wheels? Or something else?

How have you dealt with it?

P

I still have confidence issues with some tight u-turns and figure 8's. At the beginning of each riding season, I go out and find a quite street in our neighborhood to practice, but until I actually get at least one u-turn under my belt it's always a nail-biting event for me. This is my 4th riding season and there's a stretch of road construction on the way to work right now and I'm working up the nerve to do start commuting soon. It's a bit comforting to see one other biker on the morning commute, so I know it's do-able. Wish me luck!

[mogster]

I agree it is a good idea to get a few practice sessions under the belt each new season. I often ride with my fella but this year had quite a few trips out on my own first. I pottered around some back streets in town to remind myself of observation skills & also u turns.

[Thumper]

Initially... after the BRC and getting a little Honda Rebel, I was terrified of tailgaters. The Spouse Thingy spent a lot of miles in the car behind me, making sure I had time to get a little confidence without some giant SUV on my tail. After that, I had some peppered moments of heightened caution when I rode, but I was fairly confident on that little bike.

A couple of years later and a different bike...I locked up the front brake on an SV650, launched off of it and hit the street hard. I lost confidence in my ability to brake hard and fast when I needed it. I got the bike repaired, rode it for a few more months, then sold it for an MP3 scooter (unrelated to braking fear...it was a back pain issue.)

I've ridden that for 3 years, along with a Gladius for the last year...and I still don't have the confidence I need when it comes to emergency braking. A few weeks ago at a railroad crossing I nearly locked the front up again (but didn't...I should take something from that but I don't.) I took another riding course, did very well there, but just the IDEA of hard braking freaks me out a little.

So I guess braking is my biggest challenge.

I'm getting a bike with ABS. Some of us just need it, I guess...

[zee]

I had problems in the beginner's class. Although I finished it and passed the skills test, I was not ready to ride. I did not get any road experience from the beginners classes.
*snip*

Confidence...that was lacking.

Thank you for posting this.

I take the MSF beginner's course next week. I'm nervous as all get out... to the point that I was shaking after I got off the phone to sign up! That might be just a little over-the-top, but it's where I am.

Anyone have tips on building confidence, before I even get on the bike?!

[Thumper]

Anyone have tips on building confidence, before I even get on the bike?!

If you can balance a bicycle, you'll be able to balance a motorcycle; keep that in mind.

You'll start very slowly--duck-walking on the bike without it even being turned on, so you'll get a feel for the weight of it (and it will be a small bike)

Once you get to fire up the bike, you'll be taught to use the clutch to go verrrrrry slowly, with your feet on the ground.

They're not going to throw you on a bike, fire it up, and make you ride right from the start. It will be slow, methodical, and is designed to let you get used to every step along the way, and once the bike is moving and you're riding it--and you WILL--you'll be thinking WHEEEEEEE!

You can help yourself beforehand by reading up on the basics. This is a good book if you can find it.

This is a most excellent book and you should be able to find it in a local bookstore (and it's a good book to have around to review...)

Ride Like a Pro is a good DVD, but I doubt you'd get it before your class....but it's terrific refresher.

I was nervous as all get out before my first BRC...but it turned out to be tons of fun. It got me on a bike (and yeah, you'll be parking lot qualified afterward, but the street riding will soon follow) and a couple of years later I took it again under Harley's Rider's Edge program--that was a really good class.

It'll be fine! Just pick up a good book or two and get some reading in beforehand to familiarize yourself with what you're about to do. Having a better idea of what's ahead is usually good for calming a nerve or two...

[RocketGirl]

Anyone have tips on building confidence, before I even get on the bike?!

If you can balance a bicycle, you'll be able to balance a motorcycle; keep that in mind.

Yes! I had not been on a street bicycle in a while and it gave me that much more confidence to get used to being on two-wheels again.

P.S. I made through that road construction section on Friday just fine. The afternoon commute was stop and go traffic, one lane road closure, uneven shoulder, but with a narrow section of newly poured asphalt that I was able to ride. My clutch hand got a work-out!