Fear of the Throttle...No More!

by Rere
(Washington, DC)

Hello fellow female riders. First, thank you for all the encouraging words. I finally stopped entertaining the fear of the throttle and the what ifs. (what if I give it to much?, what if I can't stop?, what if I loose control?) Once on the parking lot, it took me 30mins of just sitting there hearing the bike idle and wasting gas to finally get so frustrated with my own fear holding me back, that I said YOU KNOW WHAT IT! I'm going to go for it! without taking so much as a breath, I eased the clutch out a bit and started moving, slightly twisted and I'm still here:) Fear no.2 put to rest. What was fear no.1?...taking me feet off the ground and putting them up on those pegs instead of dragging my heels. You should see the heels of my boots...not pretty.:)

So now I'm comfortable in first gear, but not yet confident. However, that was a huge step for me and it's funny how after I did it, all that anxiety and fear just fell away and I started to enjoy it. While I was in those first 30mins. of just sitting and stalling, I was almost ready to go home but my husband would not let me. I had no idea that a few minutes later, he would be standing on that lot watching me circle him with him asking If I was ready to go and me saying...not yet. I know you all remember that first time you were able to say with confidence..I can do this...I am actually doing this! well ladies...I'm there. Wish me luck as I continue to grow in this wonderful thing I have discovered.