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A little nervous or should I say alot nervous

by Tracy
(Massachusetts)

Well I have had my license for four years and did great the first couple of years until I saw a very bad motorcycle accident right in front of me and that was the end for me. It was almost two years before I decided to get back on the saddle which my husband is thrilled.. So I have been out a total of three times this year and we are going on vacation to Virginia Skyline drive and Blue Ridge Park way next week. Needless to say I have been utubing every video I can find on this to see every curve and to top t off I am afraid of Heights, LOL.. I am doomed! I am determined to do this after all this is way I wanted to ride to feel the freedom and see beutiful places with my hubby.. I have a 1200 custom and would love to upgrade to a delux but I feel I might be wasting the money if I dont ride distances, and yes we are towing the bike from Massachusetts to Viginia.. So after all that, has anyone done skyline drive and how bad are the turns and twist and curves of the road.. Any advise would be greatly appreciated..

Comments for A little nervous or should I say alot nervous

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Jul 01, 2013

More training is a good way to get less nervous
by: Kathe

Please let us know how your trip went. Given your experience level,the amount of time that passed between your seeing the accident and getting back on your bike, and your thought process about the whole situation, I'd say that this trip is ambitious. If you haven't taken the safety class, I highly recommend that you take it. And even if you did when you first got your license, I'd suggest taking either it again or an experienced rider class if you can find one. I realize that you already know how to shift, and brake and so forth, but I bet that you will find that your confidence level will increase by leaps and bounds if you take the class (either for the first time or again).

Jul 01, 2013

Practice
by: Nana

Are there any local roads that are fairly curvy that you could practice on? I have practiced on some curvy roads where I live and last year did a trip to Eureka Springs, AR. That was a test of my skills and I learned so much. It's not just about the curves, but the grade/incline/decline. It takes a lot of clutch work to find the right gears - much easier to slow using lower gears than the break - and the gears also help you pull up the inclines.

This year I am headed to Colorado with a group, but I'm feeling fairly confident at this point because of all my practice.

Those roads (in the Blue Ridge Mountains) don't have tight switchbacks. They are mostly gentle curves, but they are still just 2 lanes and visibility isn't always the best.

Just go at your own pace and ask questions about using those gears. Of course you know the out-in-out line to take on curves to straighten them and reduce the lean. Try to get somewhere to practice before going.

Good luck and have fun!

Jun 26, 2013

Blue Ridge Mountain riding
by: Jeanne

I live in the area where you will be riding and we ride those mountains all of the time. I was very nervous about the curves when I first started riding. These mountains are NOT switchbacks so the curves are fairly gentle. Remember to take them at YOUR speed! Don't think you have to keep up with your husband and if there is traffic behind you, pull over when you can safely do so and let them go on ahead of you. When I first started riding an older rider smiled and said, "Don't worry about the people behind you. If they are in a car...you are a step ahead of them anyway because you had the guts to learn to ride a bike. If they are on a bike, they had to learn once too!" Great advice!

Virginia's Skyline is a gorgeous ride with awesome views. Plan on making plenty of stops so you can take pictures. Relax and enjoy the ride and let this trip be your therapy...what a great place for therapy the mountains of Virginia are!!

Jun 26, 2013

not for beginners
by: Lynn - Florida

Normally I'm not a negative person, but I would not take a beginner/nervous rider on that type of trip. You need to feel confident not tentative when riding the mountains.

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