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My 2nd Season Riding..Or NOT Riding!!

by Noelle
(Freehold, NJ)

Hello ladies. I got so much great advice last year (my first season riding), i figured i would come here to seek advice again. Its been gorgeous for almost 4 months here in jersey and i still have not been able to get on my bike. My last ride last season I had a brake failure, and although me and the bike came out unscathed, i really got spooked. I fixed the problem and immediately got back on the bike to get her home. So that brings us to this season...Its not so much what happen last season...I feel like i have forgotten everything i learned last year. I put over 1,000 miles on her last year. I guess what im looking for is to know if this is common. Have any of you felt the same way at the beginning of a new season and if you did, how did you do once you got out. thanks ladies

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Jul 13, 2012

You'll be ok
by: Genipher

I was in a similar situation when the riding season started this year. Last summer I bought a Honda Shadow, and felt awkward on it...I'd only had my license for about 10 monhts, and had that "don't I totally look like a newbie" feeling. Just couldn't get that smooth, 2nd nature thing happening. Anyhow, I stored it over the winter, got it back on the road about 2 months ago, and when I started riding it, all the awkwardness had gone. It was like something totally clicked into place, and I haven't looked back since!

Jun 29, 2012

Just Do It
by: Gypsy Spirit

Hi Noelle ...

Glad to hear you came out of the brake situation ok ... and kept on going.

Let me ask ... how long since you rode a bicycle? It would feel weird at first ... but you don't forget how. Same with a motorcycle. Just get on her and go. It won't take long to get back into the flow.

I used to have two bikes ... a Sportster and a Shadow. Just going from one bike to the other would feel "weird" for a little bit. It's natural after a winter riding in four wheel vehicles for it to feel a little strange getting back on a bike.

Take a lazy ride first just to get the feel of it back and take advantage of this gorgeous weather!

Enjoy!

Jun 29, 2012

Try This...
by: Anonymous

Charge her up. Think - "I'm just going to take her around the block to make sure she still runs ok". See how you feel. When you get that "I need to go somewhere!!!" feeling, you'll have your answer. If you don't get that feeling - you also have your answer. But I am betting on the former.

Jun 29, 2012

Yep.
by: Anonymous

Yep. I felt similar the season following my husband's accident. He did a high side in front of me when we were riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway. He landed a foot away from a cliff. He was initially completely paralyzed due to a broken neck. Because I knew if I didn't do it then, it would be way hard later, I followed the ambulance to the hospital on my bike. Following a spinal decompression surgery and months of rehab and recovery, my husband got back on his bike. And, of course, my husband had both physical and mental obstacles to overcome. Fast forward six years later, we're still both riding. But we both had to overcome some mental obstacles that first riding season. My recommendation is: get on the bike. Take a MSF course if you haven't in the past, even though you already know how to ride. It can be a tremendous ego boost. Or, if you don't want to do that, select a different sort of riding training. Good luck.

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