I have an attitude problem.

[MementoMori]

As I'm learning, there's one hell of a lot of stuff to be thinking about, as changing gear and braking hasn't yet been etched into my brain. Every time I go out, I'm riding ok but my mind's working to full capacity, as cars are pulling out and waiting for me to pull out, or up my arse, and I come back more unsure about everything than before.

I need to change the way I think, as I tend to make mountains out of molehills when it comes to the mistakes I've made.

How do I get in the right frame of mind, to go out on the bike and carry on learning, and gaining experience, instead of putting it off?

I did my CBT on a scooter, but am thinking of asking my instructor for some help on the geared bike, as he offered to.

Hope you can help
Thanks,
Steph.
____________________
The tiger who came for a pint

[Frost]

Go somewhere as quiet as possible and practise. ideally you want to be somewhere, where you can fuck up gear changes, go slowly and not be in anybodies way.

Once you are familiar to gears to the extent that you can have complete control over them without having to think about things, you can get on with worring about whats going on around you.

Some instruction as to how to use gears would be helpful if you really are that unsure. But allt hats really needed is practise. Allthough being around a confident and expirenced biker would help you feel alot more confident.

[synaptyx]

Agreed, industrial estates on Sunday mornings are a good idea. Nice and quiet.

[Dom_]

Strange that, i was totally the opposite when i first went out. I was very aggresive, very fast and over confident.
Riding all came naturally to me.

Strange that is!! lol

Anyhoo, as said above, go down to an industrial estate.

[mrchips]

In a couple of weeks it'll be natural as Kerry Mcfadden

[Weed]

I practiced in the Supermarket carpark before it opened on a Sunday, went up there at about 8 and the cars started arriving at 10.

[tony532]

youngun'

tut tut you naughty lad

[Weed]

*cough* lady

[MementoMori]

It's not so much the riding, I'm fine with that. It's coping with thinking about riding the bike aswell as constantly scanning for traffic. Right now, I find that's difficult because I still have to make a very concious decision to brake or change down, or listen to the engine, while thinking about what other road users are doing. Which is quite daunting, untill I get used to it. I just need to make myself go out and do it. But I procrastinate a lot and have no self discipline whatsoever.

My dad and I have been to the industrial estate where he works, that's where I got used to the bike, we still go there while I'm perfecting my techniques and stuff.
____________________
The tiger who came for a pint

[Weed]

Keep at it, one day everything will fall into place.

[Andy99]

In time everything will come together,things that you're spending alot of time thinking about now will soon become second nature to you.
As your instructor offered you help it wouldn't hurt to have a chat with him.
____________________
Nothing gets the point across quite like a raised middle digit.

Just call me General Crazypaws.

[hermand]

I had exactly the same thing after I'd passed my driving test. You know the drill, you learn after you pass

So, like you, I was going out and everytime I made a mistake I would dwell on it for hours. After a while you do stop making so many mistakes, you'll become a lot more relaxed as things become more natural but you'll also notice the mistakes other people make.

If you do something silly then yeah, that person is probably gonna think "Gah, twat" but he'll forget 100 metres down the road.

I think the trick is just to be calm and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

[hermand]

By the way, if learning on a bike is anything like learning with a car, everything will literally just suddenly click. It's gradual to a degree and you'll get better and better, obviously. But at some point you'll be riding along, usually through traffic or something taxing, and you'll suddenly think "Hey, I can do this without thinking. I've changed gear 3 times without realising, this is piss!"

[stinkwheel]

[hermand]

Depends how you ride.

[pipnet11]

When i first made mistakes (stalling, buggered up gear changes etc) I always thought id nearly caused a major accident, 'cos i worry about everything! But eventually everything becomes natural.

As everyone says, practice somewhere that you can stall, mis-shift etc without causing any problems. Once you can change and stuff confidently without too much thought you can use your brain more for looking out for the people who are trying to kill you! It will come to you eventually.

Finally, dont be scared. If your scared/worried you do a lot more things wrong simply because you concentrating on being worried instead of riding.

Phill
____________________
I love the girls that do, I hate the girls that dont, I hate the girls who say they will and then they say they wont, but the girl I like most of all and I think youll say Im right, is the girl who says she never has but looks as though she might. - Max Bygraves

[grantl]

Find a quiet place and get some confidence

Then it will all come naturally.

practise, practise, practise.

[MementoMori]

Thanks for all your advice, I really appreciate it. Now I just need to go out there and make myself "practice, practice practice" .. erm..... it's harder than it sounds.... No no, I will do it, as soon as I can, and then I'll be out there happy as a pig in shit, with the rest of you.

Thanks, again for your help
Steph.
____________________
The tiger who came for a pint

[m99dws]

[Sacarius]

I used to be very "aware" and still am to an extent but just keep riding and it will eventually disappear. Don't be hard on yourself, there is not much you can do to ease into things besides going out on the bike as often as possible.
____________________
The way your heart sounds makes all the difference. It's what decides if you'll endure the pain that we all feel. The way your heart beats makes all the difference in learning to live. Spread before you is your soul. So forever hold the dreams within our hearts. Through nature's inflexible grace I'm learning to live.

[malb]

Just stick with it , and remember its better to be safe than sorry. And enjoy it thats the main thing!

Fantastic avatar by the way.
____________________
<-- I'm taller than Charley Boorman look

[Gazdaman]

Don't worry about it, keep practising, after a while gear changing is automatic leaving you to worry about trying not to die.

I found gears very simple, but then I have been driving for nearly a year. Stick with it, just get the miles in and you'll be fine.

Gaz

[Tarmacsurfer]

As your profile states Warwickshire, that means you are most likely just down the road from me.
I'm in the process of fixing an intermittent electrical problem at the moment, but once it's sorted then if you want to meet up and go for a ride then feel free to hassle me. It's a little hard to give advice in an environment like this, particularly on confidence issues, but Frosty's idea is sound. Practice does indeed make perfect, you don't learn to play a piano in 5 minutes
____________________
I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[MementoMori]

Lol, yes, I like this avatar... not sure if we're thinking along the same lines though :: cough ::

Thanks Gazdaman for your advice on trying not to die I'll try get out practicing then as soon as this weather clears up. If it does. If not I'll have to learn on wet roads. Erm crap.

Tarmacsurfer, it took me 8 years to play piano lol. Have you heard of Nuneaton? It's about... hour and half away. I wouldn't want you to have to come all this way mainly because I'm slightly broke for fuel costs right now Btw, are you going to the Motorcycle show at the NEC? Must be right up your street
____________________
The tiger who came for a pint

[Tarmacsurfer]

Aye, I know Nuneaton. Not really an hour and a half away on anything larger than a 50cc The offer stands anyway as I ride further than that on an average weekend jaunt. I fully understand that arranging to meet up with a faceless possible psychopath on a chat forum can be a bit intimidating though, check out the midlands forum and see which of the usual bike meets is closest to you. It's a good environment to get to put faces to names around here.

Sometimes do the bike show, my other half can frequently get tickets and when that fails I just go with the clip board and a box then blag my way in. Security at the NEC are used to me delivering random stuff to exhibitors, so I get the benefit of secure parking and free entrance
____________________
I'm immortal. Well, so far.