I've joined the ranks...

[somegirl]

Glad to hear things are getting better!

I kind of want to hit some quiet back roads now, but I'm not sure if I should practice a little more before I mix myself in with cars. T thinks I should take it slow and give myself time to process my practice sessions before I hit the street. I'm usually the cautious type, but at the same time I feel kind of limited by the industrial park. I do feel like I need to be in the saddle as often as possible as an hour here, an hour there every few days isn't going to make for a very steady progression.

I started out practicing in a parking lot, but really made a lot of improvement when I went out on very quiet neighborhood streets without much traffic around, and just practiced for a half hour - hour every day for a couple of weeks.  The daily repetition really made a difference.

[whidbeymonster]

i rode around my neighborhood for what felt like years! but it really helped stopping at signs, making left and right turns without a car up my rear end making me nervous. good luck!
tara

[TiNi]

quiet back roads sound like a good idea  [moto]

[Shortie]

I'm nervous as heck to get out on real roads. I know this is a completely normal, natural feeling though. Tony told me that when he started out he rode for a while but gave it up for a couple of months because he just didn't like it. I've only been out on my bike 3 times since I passed my MSF. One short session in a parking lot. One short session in an industrial park ending with a drop. And one successful hour long session, again in the industrial park.

[Kyna]

You'll build up to the road, and there isn't anything wrong with that.  You are doing great.  I'm a proponent of going at your own pace in these things.  It will probably help that you have someone who can go out with you just in case.  For me, knowing that M was right behind me and giving me tips after every ride made me feel so much better and excited to go out again.  Plus, I knew if anything happened he could help me out (like picking up the bike, talking

If you can go out more often, that will help as well.  Just 30 minutes of cruising a day will have you feeling great in a matter of weeks.

[Popeye the Sailor]

You'll build up to the road, and there isn't anything wrong with that.  You are doing great.  I'm a proponent of going at your own pace in these things.  It will probably help that you have someone who can go out with you just in case.  For me, knowing that M was right behind me and giving me tips after every ride made me feel so much better and excited to go out again.  Plus, I knew if anything happened he could help me out (like picking up the bike, talking

If you can go out more often, that will help as well.  Just 30 minutes of cruising a day will have you feeling great in a matter of weeks.

I've found it helps newer riders to have someone more experienced ride with them, specifically, a decent distance behind them, to keep tailgaters away. This is typically why I sweep newbie rides, and let them go at their own pace.

Sometimes it's easier if it's not with the boy, too. Idk if that's an option.

[Shortie]

I've found it helps newer riders to have someone more experienced ride with them, specifically, a decent distance behind them, to keep tailgaters away. This is typically why I sweep newbie rides, and let them go at their own pace.

Sometimes it's easier if it's not with the boy, too. Idk if that's an option.

I don't really have anyone local I trust to ride with other than Tony, which kind of stinks. Not that I don't want to ride with him; I just think having a neutral party to ride with would take some of the pressure off. Not to mention if I want to ride with supervision I have to wait until he feels like riding.

All day yesterday I was looking forward to riding when I got out of work. It was beautiful out all afternoon. I got out and ate supper with T, got geared up and we hopped on my bike. Not a block from his place the wind picked up and the sky turned black. We turned around and not 10 minutes after parking the bike in the garage it poured. And poured. And continued to rain/pour until almost dark.

It let up enough before dark that I would have gone out without thinking twice, but he didn't want to go out in the wet. I wanted to ride my bike with him following me on the Monster or Multi, but he won't take them out when the pavement is wet because it makes a mess of everything. He's a fair weather rider. My theory is bikes don't melt, and they wash, and if we wait for this stretch of bad weather to break we'll never ride.

The weather we've been having here in Maine has been awful. I honestly can't remember the last time I woke up with the sun shining and crashed without listening to the rain. This summer has been a joke weather-wise and I'm never going to get any seat time in if I have to wait until things are 100% pleasant. Not unless I just start riding by myself, and I know he probably wouldn't be pleased with that idea.

/end rant

[Kyna]

have you tried explaining to him that YOU would like to get comfortable riding on wet and dry pavement?  Maybe offer to help clean off his bike afterward?  Unless you feel comfortable riding on your own that's all I got.  Sorry 

[somegirl]

I found in those early days of practicing on quiet back streets, that I learned quickest on my own.  I didn't really realize how much pressure I felt until it was gone.  Having someone experienced with you is good if there is traffic, or the roads are more technical.  For just getting used to the very basics, it's kind of nice to do it on your own without worrying about what someone else thinks.

See if you can get out on your own...tell him you won't be going more than a 5-block radius (or whatever) and will have your cell phone with you.  Basically all you will be doing will be going around the block multiple times by yourself.

[TiNi]

...and don't worry about the neighbors thinkin' you're lost 

[Shortie]

T and I went back to the industrial park again this evening after supper. I was much more comfortable tonight and really tried to focus on my stops. Tony saw a noticable improvement over last time, and I'm starting to feel more comfortable with my bike. I was kind of bored with the park tonight, as I have no trouble with my shifts or turns, so I asked him to bring me to the training lot so I could work strictly on stopping (the lot where I took my MSF is 5 minutes from his pad, 6 minutes from mine  ). I did stops for a while, trying to reduce my stopping distance each time and trying to have the bike almost completely still before putting a foot down.

In between runs I was shooting the breeze with T when my MSF instructor swung in on his bike to get something from the classroom. It was great to see him, and he was happy to see me working at it. He did what he had to do and stopped to watch me for a few. When I rolled up next to him, he looked at me and said "oh yeah, you're definitely ready. You already have a lot more skill than most others starting out." What an awesome feeling. Hearing my strict MSF instructor, who is a police officer to boot, tell me I have nothing to worry about really helped my confidence and gave me the boost I needed to happily hit the street. I think having Tony hear that from my instructor probably helped ease his mind too. 



I also hung my gremlin bell today, which was so graciously gifted to me by Howie  Wanted to make sure I got that puppy on there ASAP!


Aren't they so sweet, all snuggled together? My baby-monster-wannabe fits in just fine. 


 [moto]

[somegirl]

In between runs I was shooting the breeze with T when my MSF instructor swung in on his bike to get something from the classroom. It was great to see him, and he was happy to see me working at it. He did what he had to do and stopped to watch me for a few. When I rolled up next to him, he looked at me and said "oh yeah, you're definitely ready. You already have a lot more skill than most others starting out." What an awesome feeling. Hearing my strict MSF instructor, who is a police officer to boot, tell me I have nothing to worry about really helped my confidence and gave me the boost I needed to happily hit the street. I think having Tony hear that from my instructor probably helped ease his mind too. 

Nice!

You look great on your bike...so petite I'm feeling tall though.

[TiNi]

Nice!

You look great on your bike...so petite I'm feeling tall though.

agreed 

i've stood next to biposto, and she made me (5'1") feel tall 

[MAZ]

You are doing fantastic  - the bike seems to fit you well.  If the MSF instructor says you are ready then the only thing you need to do is make sure you *Feel* ready before you hit the streets.  Sometimes you just "have to do it".

[darylbowden]

I don't know if us men type are allowed to post in here, but whatever...

I know it's a bit late, but don't let anything ruin your confidence.  When I first starting riding, I dropped my streetbike TONS of times (and I rode dirt for years previously).  I would just do dumb shit, like leave the disc lock on, or get freaked out by a bee (I'm allergic) and I have a 32" inseam so I can't even use the short excuse.

Anyhow, years later, I've raced on and off for a few seasons, turning some respectable lap times in the process and haven't dropped a bike in years.  So, don't let the jitters get to you and just realize that this is all a learning process and within no time, you'll be as fast as Grio.  Maybe.