Does anyone start out riding perfectly?

[MJ]

First I want to say that no my better half is not a jerk. He's just concerned about my safety and I really caught him off guard when I took the MSF a month ago and passed. As I stated in another post I took the test when he was out of town and he didn't know about it. I was never able to learn to drive a stick so he always assumed I couldn't learn to drive a motorcycle. Hubby had a bike when we met in 1977 sold it in 1980 and didn't get another bike until 3 years ago. I think he forgets that I rode with him then and when he started back. I got my bike on 6/3 and have been riding on the backroads by my house. We live out in the country and I don't get alot of traffic.

Anyhoo, last night I took my bike out for about 45 mins by myself then he got home and decided to ride with me. We were out on the country roads by our house and had been riding for about an hour. We came to a stop sign and as I came in for the stop - shifted down to first just fine. As I coasted up beside him he said something to me. It really distracted me and I let up on the clutch and rolled out into the intersection. It was like I don't what? I couldn't get the bike stopped. He kept repeating over and over pull in your clutch. No cars were coming so everything turned out fine.

Yes I screwed up. Yes I know that one mistake that like could cost me my life. Yes I screwed up. Hopefully, I won't make the same mistake again. Made it once - learned from it.

We had planned on riding to town which would have been my first real experience with traffic and red lights. I still wanted to ride into town and he never vocalized his displeasure but you can say alot with saying anything.

We did end up riding into town and back which was about an hour ride round trip and I did just fine. He was still concerned when we got home about the earlier mistake.

Again I know one mistake on a bike can be fatal. I've only been riding for about 2 weeks. I'm gonna make mistakes. I never expected to jump on a bike and ride perfectly out of the gate.

Don't really know what I am getting at in this post. Just frustrated with myself for making the mistake. Wondering if I should cut my losses and walk away now. P-O'd cause I think that. I waited a long time to get my bike. :(

[wheezeburnt]

MJ:
Don't be too hard on yourself. I can almost guarantee that it was a combination of two things that screwed you up:
1. Distraction (your husband speaking to you over the bike noise, through a helmet, as you approach an intersection, where you needed all of your concentration. I'm guessing that you were a bit self-conscious and concerned that your hubby approve of your riding, too)
2. Lack of routine. In the very near future, pulling in (and keeping in ) the clutch as you approach a stop will be second nature, and you won't even know you are doing it. You won't even remember clutching when you shift, and you'll arrive in top gear without actually remembering shifting through the lower gears.

I'm not saying forget about it, just don't let it bother you. Remember that, in an emergency or while distracted, you will do what you have practiced. So practice at every intersection, and don't be afraid to go to a parking lot and practice what you learned at the course.

Don't overlook the possibility that hubby might be a little annoyed at himself, too, that he's the one that broke your concentration and in part caused your unscheduled sojourn into the intersection. Nah, he's not a jerk, he probably just loves you and would hate to see you hurt.

I think you'll be fine.

brent

[cTc]

I'd say no one rides perfectly ever. But the thing about makeing mistakes is to learn from them and try not to make the sames ones again. More saddle time = better performance and safer riding.

You will do just fine, just dont give it up.

[wheezeburnt]

MJ:
One other thing I forgot to say: No, nobody starts out driving perfectly. Lots of GUYS think they do, and even if they have a series of non-fatal accidents, in each case they can explain to you why it was the fault of:
-the road surface
-other drivers
-weather
-sunspot activity
-random wildlife activity

Sound familiar???? Ask most MSF trainers whether they prefer teaching guys or women. Guess who is most likely to actually arrive hoping to LEARN!!
What YOU have going for you is that you have taken responsibility for your (almost) mishap, and that gives you the distinct advantage of learning from it. Good instinct.
Brent

[MJ]

Thanks guys. I just needed a place to vent I guess. Appreciate the words of advice and encouragement.

Hubby called a minute ago and apologized. Said he needs to work on his patience and that I am actually doing better than he expected. He just worries about me.

[cTc]

Speaking from experience, when we bought my wife the rebel, I was the nervous wreck. Constantly giving advice on what to do if "this" or "that" happens. But then I realized just how well she was doing, she actually rides better than half our group. And she is very careful. I still worry about her, probably as much a she worries about me, but I dont fear the worst, because the worst can happen to anyone at anytime, anyplace, respecting that and being as careful as one can be is all we can do.

[GearJammer]

Excellent responses! The OL is now riding & ONLY because she was unfortunate enough to hook up with the likes of me, ROTFLMAO!

I was concerned at first, as your husband has concerns for you, but that's normal.

Another important thing to remember is to NOT get in the saddle while in any state of "upset". You want your ability to think clearly to be unencumbered by unpleasant distractions.

Practice is the key to enhancing riding skills.

Keep the unpleasant possibilities in the back of your mind, because the inherent dangers ARE there, but please don't allow those thoughts to be become obsessive. Stay alert, stay calm, continue to practice & everything will fall into place naturally :wink:

[Thumper]

Ohhhhh...you know how perfect my learning to ride has been? I have been so perfect that I manage to stall out in an intersection with a fire truck speeding up behind me, close enough I didn't think it would be able to stop in time.

I *thought* I was in first gear...evidently not. I got about 3 feet when it sputtered and croaked, leaving me with an oh $hit feeling as I tried to fire it back up and get moving...

Yep, that was perfection in motion :lol:

[GearJammer]

hehehe........good point, Thumper. We're all perfectly imperfect :wink:

[MJ]

Thanks for the example Thumper! :)

[Gabe]

I've only been riding for about 2 weeks. I'm gonna make mistakes. I never expected to jump on a bike and ride perfectly out of the gate.

And that is the key to your answer. Even experienced riders sometimes make newbie mistakes...especially if they get distracted. I don't know that I even want to admit to some of the mistakes that I made with only 2 weeks of experience. And in the beginning, I always made more stupid mistakes when I was riding with my husband. I still do, but for the most part I've learned to ride my own ride and not worry that I don't ride the same way he does or worry that he might think I'm no good at riding. It can be hard to stay focused if you feel like someone is critiquing you, even if they aren't really. And considering that you weren't able to learn to drive a stick shift, having learned to operate a motorcyle is a BIG achievement for you! Hang in there, get lots of practice in relatively safe situations (like low traffic areas and parking lots), and in no time at all you'll be surprised at how far you've come.

Gabe

[NuBiker]

What everyone else said.
Don't let anyone or anything distract you.
You're doing great!!! Keep up the good work!!!

[99ww]

MJ, you rolled out into the intersection, Thumper stalled at an intersection and I actually dropped my Rebel at an intersection :roll:

Riding with my husband, geared down and stopped perfectly at a T intersection so I had to decide whether to go left or right... chose left and promptly turned the handlebars to the left :shock: Over she went just as an approaching rider was turning into the same road I was leaving :oops: He stopped to see if I was ok and I was fine but very :oops:

My husband was great... checked to see if I really was ok, helped me pick up the Rebel and we continued on our ride with no further incidents. Bet I'll remember to keep the wheel straight at a stop in the future!!!

[Possum Queen]

Of course we start out riding perfectly. I laid my bike in a ditch absolutely perfectly the third time I was on it. Now I'm still "a practice in the parking lot person"...well only 3 times so far...waiting for MSF class. But a couple of weekends ago, I just couldn't stand it anymore. Enough of the reading. So, I took the bike behind the house over to the school parking lot. Was feeling REALLY GOOD about getting the clutch/throttle coordination right, even got it up to 3rd gear and back down just as pretty as you please. Loved leaning around the curves too. Well feeling like "Miss I can go out on the road back to the subdivision if you follow me in the car Hubby" attitude, I did. Hubby was in the truck keeping a distance...I pulled out on the road, made my right...whooohooo didn't stall, made another left...whooohooo perfect again. Now...time for another left from the road to the subdivision...pulled into the subdivision, hit gravel because my dumb a$$ pulled into the center of the road, lost control (front wheel went out from under me) froze and didn't know what to do.....no clutch, no brake, no gear shifting...just froze. I only remember heading for the ditch and laying it down and jumping off, thinking oh no my brand new bike. But not a scratch on me or the bike. Now my 13 year old thought that was just as pretty as a picture...head for the ditch and jump off. He said it looked like a scene from McIver. "You do stunts better than McIver but you are more graceful at it!" Haven't been on the bike since and not going to until this weekend's MSF class. I just don't want to crash that perfectly again! The scarey part is my husband said when I went to pull into the subdivision, I used no turn signals and no breaks. Good thing he was behind me and not another car or I would have landed perfectly against the hood of a car.

PQ

[99ww]

I think you're right PQ... I laid my bike down perfectly at the intersection! My husband told me that I did a good job getting away from it so it didn't land on me :oops:

At this point, I'll take any kind of affirmation I can get :D

[Snorebaby]

I have never ***knock on wood*** laid my bike down. I have come close several times but have been real lucky. I rode for 5 years and then put her in storage for 14. Just pulled her out and got her road ready this past winter and have been riding regular. But as I was starting out getting her running, I would occasionally ride her around the yard. Not bad...didn't forget too much. But when I got her running, I decided to ride around the 'hood. The street I live on is a Blvd. which is wider than a normal street. I was making my turns and braking great....decided to turn around on my street. WHOA!! :shock: Took me the whole street to make a U-Turn!!! Curb to Curb!! Decided I need MORE practice and LESS arrogance before getting out on public roads. So I basically practiced for about a month before venturing out on the roads in traffic.

[Rebel Neutron]

I'm not a professional instructor and I'm sure not a perfect rider, but one thing I always try to drill into anyone learning to use a clutch (I don't think this has been mentioned yet): the brakes always work! They don't care what you're doing with the clutch. The result might not be pretty, but it's better than a major accident...

[MJ]

I love this forum! :D

I need to practice but I don't need to quit. I'm not the only non perfect beginner!

Thanks to all for sharing!

[ddouble]

MJ,

You might ask Hubby to play "Tail gunner". I ride behind Dot every time. It allows her to set the pace and I'm out of sight out of mind. I can also run interference for her. We review what we learned after the ride. If I decide I want to go somewhere other than planned (say ice cream? :wink: ) I pass her and at the next intersection she pulls up to find out the plan then takes the lead again. :)

Enjoy

[Possum Queen]

Definitely. I think the only way for a beginner (after practicing in a parking lot a whole lot) is to either ride with someone in a vehicle behind you or in the middle of a few other experienced bikers. It's gonna be a long time before I hit the road again....too much traffic in Virginia anyway. Everybody, have a great weekend.

PQ