First day commuting 2 silly mistakes

[Nai]

Urgh, 2 silly cock ups on the way home this evening. Moved out a lane when there were stay in lane' markings on the A40. Someone pulled into the road in front of me, didn't think, moved out and got a horn blasting then saw the 'stay in lane' written on the floor.

Secound one was 5 minutes later, coming off the A40 where the master brewer used to be. Was coming to the end of Northolt airstrip. Moved to the left of the lane, suddenly a bonnet appeared next to my right leg. Feeling a bit panicked i forgot to indicate. Within secounds he had shot behind me and appeared overtaking me on my left side as the exit slip road appeared. I nearly went into his side. Shat a bloody brick or two, 50mph is a kinda scary speed for a single speed cyclist to be going on something that cant be flicked out of the way like a bicycle.

Hoping Monday will be more pleasant. If anyone knows of a nicer route from Hillingdon to Brent Cross without using the A40 and A406 that doesn't take a huge amount of time, please wave a paw and direct me to it ^^

[Towton 1461]

Hey Nai, we all make mistakes. Don't beat yourself up about it.

The thing is to learn from your errors and not to repeat them.
Because next time you might not be so lucky.
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[hedgehugger]

You soon 'learn' the roads you travel.
Day after day riding the route and it you will soon not need to concentrate on which lanes to be in, road positioning etc, it sort of becomes instinctive. Then you get to be able to keep an eye out on everything else around you.
Give it a week or 2 and what was a 'mare becomes the norm.

[Dazbo666]

Nai, it was your first day. Yes it can be scary at first, but that's mostly down to inexperience.
As Towton just said "The thing is to learn from your errors and not to repeat them. "

as long as you're still willing and able to get out on the bike on a regular basis you'll be surprised at how quickly your ability will improve.

Best of luck
____________________
1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[everyreasonto]

Just try to not let it knock your confidence that much. These people are probably never going to see you again so forget about it.

As long as you don't cause considerable danger to other road users, you should be fine.

My first week was the same, but you get better with experience!

[Nai]

Thanks guys. Been itchin to get back on all day so i dont have a build up to next time i ride the busy roads. Piffin down outside on and off all day. Hoping i can do a few practice runs tomorrow if its a bit drier. I swear it was easier riding the road on a bicycle and during my CBT >.>

Sure ill get better by the end of next week. Looking back though i was crap me lucky with the first one. Deserved to take a hit and squishing for that one totally.

[jimspeed]

take more time and make sure you do your lifesavers..and remember its not a race, you have as much right to that lane as everyone else mate just make sure you indicate in time.
get out there and get some miles in while its quiet so you get usewd to the way the bike handles and reacts to the road
oh and enjoy it
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Hyosung cruise 125(passed test on, sold) Kawasaki el 252 (better than expected but sold on) Kawasaki GPZ500S first "big"bike.(sold) ZZR600 E5..Z750 2007,ER5, currently on a 2008 Enfield bullet electra x and loving it..
,"Alpha-9: Is there any correlation between dyno rod and dyno kits?"

[doggone]

Nothing much to worry about in those incidents, if anything it sounds like you need be more assertive and dominate your lane so drivers don't intimidate you so easily.
Eventually a sort of sixth sense develops so you know what vehicles around you are doing without especially looking for them.

Most drivers/riders have a learning period where something slightly worrying happens every other time they go out.
It doesn't last, but we all (need to) get reminders we aren't invincible from time to time.

[ajbsmirnoff]

chin up lad,

we live and learn.