I knew it was too good to be true! I am a reflective banana

JodieWodie · Reflective Banana Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Well....went out on the bike again tonight...4th time on-road alone...

feeling GOOD Very Happy

.....feeling CONFIDENT Wink

....

EVERYTHING went wrong !

Where do I begin ?....
I don't know myself. Shocked

Firstly..set off...fine...then as I went along a straight country-ish lane (60 LIMIT)....saw a tractor ahead......slowed down...it was then I realised it was doing about 15mph....THEN a new VW beetle zoomed up behind me.... Confused

Should I overtake the tractor??...yes...ok...ok... Thumbs Up

I was, at this point, in 2nd gear..but in the panic has crawled to 15mph....

The car was pressuring me....
driver looking at me Shocked

I forgot about the gear...revved to go...

PAH-PAH-PUT!!!
DEAD BIKE Crying or Very sad

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep ! says VW man.
He missed my bum of bike by inches !!

I had stalled in the middle of the road. Sad

DAMN IT !!

He overtook both of us...I calmed...kicked bike down..started...off.

Okay, okay...all is fine. Don't worry...we can do this.

Came to a mini roundabout.....no traffic from estate to the right...ok..ok...
NO...car coming...I am 1st anyway..slowed down..braked..waited....
GO..GO the car has gone...
GO...G-O....O....

No Crying or Very sad

Bike stalled...
dropped clutch under pressure.
DAMN IT AGAIN !!! Sad

Ok..off again...
wobbly corners.....drivers up my ass.....

At approaching one corner on a 60 road I had to tap brakes as a driver was UP MY ASS at 55+mph...I mean UP IT !!!!
He soon backed off when he saw and realised what he had done and my L Plates. Rolling Eyes

I then reached traffic lights....turning right but giving way to traffic turning left from a bend ahead ..(BAD corner)...

GREEN..crawled ahead...LOOK..no cars..was about to turn..LOOK again...THREE cars came whizzing down the hill,..and turned left in front of me !!
I emergency braked and swerved !!
The man in the front car looked at me puzzled !

YEAH buddy....don't go so fast at traffic lights...especially on a tight blind bend !!
JESUS
Shocked

So....tonight, my confidence is rocked a tad....
I mean.....

I was okay...up to speed...58ish.....(good for my bike)...people overtook me..cool....

but I cannot handle cars up my ASS!
Do I get used to that ?

I am a LEARNER..see the L Plates???....most people don't.

I had my yellow reflective jacket on tonight..this is the only change....is this the reason ??
They think I am 'simple' and 'slow' ????

Sorry if this seems a stupid rant..
I don't understand where I went wrong.

Jo xxx
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Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow"

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Is your clutch adjusted to correctly suit the size and strength of your hand?

Sounds like it's either not quite right for you, which makes it easier to cock up, or that you're simply not giving it enough revs. Confused

XS1954 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 22 Nov 2003 Karma :

I had similar problems when I had my 125. As for other car drivers getting to close there is little you can do. When you get a bigger bike you can get your sweet revenge on them.

Just take it easy with the bike, you will stall it every now and again but this will get easier. I suggest you go out on a Sunday around some industrial estates and just spend time getting to know your bike.

Get back out and get some confidence back!! Thumbs Up

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atom · Scooby Slapper Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Karma :

Doesn't sound like your doing anything wrong. Sounds like your learning, four months ago that was me, usually stalling or fluffing gear changes at the traffic lights in town. You learn not to care so much what other people think. Though it does piss me off when they sit behind you in 30mph zones, way too close, I wait till the National Limits sign then leave them in the dust.
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Frost · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 May 2004 Karma :

Damn it, where do you live?
I shall go riding with you if your not too far away, it help alot to have a confident road user with you either to back you up, or as someone to follow.

you have only been out on the bike 4 times thus far and you still sound very shakey and easily flusterd. make a point of going out for an hour long ride every day just to build up your confidence

Fallen Angel · Franny the Nanny Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Karma :

JodieWodie · Reflective Banana Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

JodieWodie · Reflective Banana Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Spiral · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Karma :

The most important thing my instructor ever told me is,

"You should be concentrating on what is in front of you and aware of what is behind you not the other way around".

Keep this in mind, and as for cars up the rear you need to preform the asshole manoeuver were as you raise your left hand and extend your middle finger Twisted Evil

.
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atom · Scooby Slapper Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Karma :

When I first started I used to go out in the late evenings to an empty industrial estate to practice, and go about first thing on sundays. Though none of that stopped me drpping the bike, that was a bit of a confidence dent. Brick Wall

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Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Don't worry, confidence will come in time.

But yeah, if someone's willing to go out and be your wingman, go for it. They can hold the traffic off your tail and let you get on with it.

JodieWodie · Reflective Banana Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

ARGH...
I feel like crying....

the main point with me is that I have a lesson Thursday night about 25 minutes hard ride away from me...

My Fiance expects me to do this....further than I have been before..incorporating a BIG roundabout.... (to save on the bike hire fees and because it is good for me!!)

I want MORE quite practice time to get the smooth pull-offs..etc down.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr Evil or Very Mad

I feel so...so...

I am not enjoying this now Crying or Very sad

____________________
Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow"

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Relax and enjoy it. Stuff the git behind you, you are learning and they should be more considerate.

More practice and everything will come together nicely.

All the best

Keith
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Fallen Angel · Franny the Nanny Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Karma :

Right missus - you can do this!!! Why let thoughtless twats spoil your new found love (as you put it in your biog) does your fiance drive a car - if so, get him to drive behind you on the way there! That will ease your confidence a bit.

I noted from your biog that you don't drive either, is it the whole highway code thing that you're finding difficult too? If so, perhaps he could drive in front of you leading the way and you could follow him?!

I suppose I have the added bonus of being able to drive!!

Try to keep your chin up chick!! Thumbs Up

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I have an asshole tolerance level of -10 Twisted Evil

www.cliqueyclanmcc.co.uk Mr. Green

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Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Stop typing and get out there then. Thumbs Up

Seriously, go and find a carpark and go practice. Now. Or get up early tomorrow and go. The longer you leave it, the worse your mind makes it.

Shade_BW · I'm better than you Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Karma :

Coventry is a bit far for me to pop up in the evening, but give me a couple of weeks and i can come and chaperone you at a weekend.

This is a serious offer, I am more than happy to come up and outride for you, keep the assholes off your back, while you ride around and get comfy with the bike.

Let me know.

Shade
Here to help.

JodieWodie · Reflective Banana Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

M1ke · Ped Boi Joined: 11 Jun 2002 Karma :

Loose the mirrors too Wink

concentrate what is in front, not whats behind... Or tap it down a gear and leave them all for dead Wink

Fallen Angel · Franny the Nanny Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Karma :

When I was learning to drive, which was only last April, I had never been on the road in a vehicle before, hadn't even sat behind a steering wheel - the confidence thing was the hardest thing to grip and when you have twats pressuring you when you make a wee error, well, that's the last thing you need.

It took me a while to gain that confidence, but it does just come to you.

I found it helpful after I started taking lessons, when sitting in the passenger seat, to take in road signs, hazards, etc. on the road, I felt that kind of helped me read the road a bit better.

Unfortunatley though, it never helped get rid of the twats!!

Don't be dis-hearted honey, you can do it!!!! Thumbs Up

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I have an asshole tolerance level of -10 Twisted Evil

www.cliqueyclanmcc.co.uk Mr. Green

www.bebo.com/fallenangelfran

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Happens to us all when you start driving. Don't worry, you WILL get used to it and pretty quickly. Feck the lot of them, if someone is sat up the back of you just ignore them, hold onto YOUR piece of road (see that tax disc? You DO own the road, bought and paid for! ).

Keep your position on the road and you'll get on fine, I have ridden a cub90 60 miles along the M6 and regularly took a 1960s moped on the Edinburgh city bypass. Sit up, square your shoulders, make yourself big, you are a biker now and if they mess with you, you'll just damn well drag them out through the window of the car and give them a good kicking Twisted Evil

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Josh · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :

My first few rides on my geared 125, I had my Dad on his CB500 behind me, it really did help that he was keeping the traffic off my ass and leaving room for my... mistakes.
As a rule I now tend to do this for any learner I see, confident or not, in any road <60mph limit I will just stay a nice distance behind them and let the car drivers hassle me about keeping to the speed limit.
Of course when the road gets NSL and it is a nice straight... I often have places to go, but for a few friends I have escorted them from tiny lanes to dual carriageways, and they appreciated it, and I have only had my new bike for.... since thursday, but I am like "Learner? I will save you" granted, maybe they don't all want it, but I like to think sometimes it helps, sometimes they wave/nod as I leave them/life saver to pull back in front of them.
And yeah, just keep going, practice is all you need, sure car drivers may hassle you, but just ride safe and spend some time practicing your clutch control in a carpark maybe? Thumbs Up

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badlydamaged · Spanner Monkey Joined: 29 Apr 2004 Karma :

izzi81 · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 24 Apr 2004 Karma :

I learned to ride my bike before I could drive (still can't drive Embarassed

) so I was in the same situation. It can be daunting being out there on the road, trying to learn roadcraft while at the same time trying not to stall or fall off!
But as others have said it's all about confidence. You'll probably have to force yourself to go out on the roads at first to practice, but you will start to get the hang of it.
And just ignore the car drivers. I'm sure you're not holding them up that much, if they harrass you when you've stalled don't bother with them - they were learners too once and I bet they stalled plenty of times.

Try and find some quieter roads near you, and potter around on them. Maybe a residential area? Not busy but with a few junctions to practice stopping and starting at. You'll get the hang of it Smile

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Big Pete · Spanner Monkey Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

You got [b]a[/a] car to get off your arse, that's better than I can usually do.

Straight empty open 40 limit at 11 oclock at night, doing 40. Post office van comes and sits up my arse, in my passat estate.
Flash my brake lights a few times, then slow a bit because he's still there. Slowly reduce speed; ended up I was doing under 20 in a completely open and staight 40, he still didn't get the hint.

Though, to be fair, a lot of bikers do do the same and while it isn't actually a danger to the car drivers like a poncey 4x4 sitting up your arse is, but still does intimidate people.

When you've got a bigger bike you're usually the vehicle going past Smile

. As for the stalling, don't worry initially, you do get used to it. Maybe go to a quiet car park and practice your starts?