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afraid to throw myself out into traffic

3K views 13 replies 11 participants last post by  buffy 
#1 ·
havent been riding long. parking lots and backroad for practice. im terrified to put myself in heavy traffic situations.

do i just throw all caution to the wind and do it? will there come a time in my mind that i will definitely feel ready? i panic now if i see a car come up behind me. wth is going on?
 
#2 ·
Don't do anything you don't feel your riding skills are able to handle. To do otherwise is a recipe for disaster. Sounds like you understand that things can quickly go wrong while riding, and that realization/fear may be holding you back. But things can go bad in a cage as well, and you probably drive without giving it a second thought.

If you haven't taken a riding course please do so. It will teach you the proper techniques for riding. Then practice what you have learned until your skills give you the confidence to take the next step. Riding during times when traffic is light is a good way to transition onto the roads/highways.
 
#3 ·
I eased into it a little at time. Takes a while to get use to the difference between a motorcycle and a cage. Don't think I will ever forget the first time I pulled out of Walmart. Sharp uphill slope right at the light. I was looking UNDER the cars as they went by. Forgot to downshift to first. Went to make a right on red and killed it in front of another motorcycle. :nonono:
 
#4 ·
thanks. at least i feel like its natural things to feel. you're right as to not do anything i'm not comfortable doing and yes, i'm sure the mistake you made mr. keys is a common one. or at least i can understand how that could happen.

i just have to keep remembering when i first learned to drive a car. it was so long ago but i'm sure those fears were there to. i just expect to get on the bike and ride it like i've been riding my car for years. doesnt happen that way.

patience is what i must have with myself. thanks for the confidence and input.
 
#5 ·
buffy just keep on doing what you have been doing n eventually you will gain confidence n be able to tackle the traffic ,don't push your self until you are redy n confident :thumb:
 
#6 ·
The key thing is to be confident of your basic control of the bike itself before getting involved in traffic. If you can confidently pull away from a stop using lots of throttle, without fear of stalling and if you can steer and brake without thinking about it much, then you are ready to mix it up in traffic.
This is not to say you don't think about what you're doing on the bike, but that you are not PREOCCUPIED with it. You need to be preoccupied with the road environment, and deal with the bike kind of in the background.
Though I agree about not straying too far from your comfort zone, as a newbie you have to keep stretching your comfort zone in baby steps until you get to the level of an experienced rider. Progress comes quickly in the early years. If you don't keep challenging yourself a little , you will never get there.
 
#7 ·
I practiced for 3 weeks around the neighborhood and around parking lots. I felt things were starting to come more naturally. After another week I was bored with my route and wanted to venter out on to the main road but was nervous about cars behind me and traffic. I was nervous but motivated to try it and thought I could do it. I went on the main road, drove 3 lights and circled back. Then kept adding another light. When I was ready to go all the way into town a friend rode with me and that gave me a lot of confidence as he stayed behind so I could get used to the traffic without a car right behind me. After that, I felt much more confident and go downtown now every day. I had to challenge myself a little like Duckster said but I did it at my own pace. You'll get there.
 
#8 ·
My stepping stone was taking the expressway at 1am (before bars get out but when there isn't much traffic and isn't as late as 4am) - so, taking the roads you'd be taking with a lot of traffic during low-traffic times is a step in the right direction. If you're afraid to do it, then don't, because then you won't be paying attention.
 
#9 ·
I found that riding with a buddy in traffic situations made me less nervous as a newbie. Then once you've done it with a riding buddy it makes it a little less scary to try it on your own.
 
#11 ·
I'll third or fourth the suggestion to ride with someone else. It helps even more if you have some sort of com system (my boyfriend and I have the Sena) so you can talk to the other person as well.

Venturing out on a weekend in the early morning hours also helps, as the traffic starts out light and gradually increases while you're out, while your confidence is building up at the same time as you're getting more experience on the road.

A fellow female rider told me that when you start feeling nervous or feel like you're about to freak out, start singing to yourself. She said she sings the "Meow Mix" song. :D I haven't tried this myself just yet.
 
#13 ·
I talk to myself and sing to myself as well! I do it to keep a cool head-not a good idea to get road rage on a bike ;) It really does help. Sometimes I count the gears out loud as I go through them or I ask the cars not to pull out in front of me. Normally, I do not talk to myself. It's just a bike thing.
 
#14 ·
you all make sense. had a friend offer to drive behind me in their car this weekend so i dont have to worry about whats behind me. she has been very supportive and this is just another example. going to go this weekend early in the am. will let you know how it goes. wjmrty thanks for the great support. you're all right, if i dont keep challenging myself i will never get there. i am getting board with my practice routine now too so thats a good sign i'm ready to move on to the next step. will drop a note before the weekend.
 
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