My progress

[RCMomto4]

Here's the thing. Hubby has a dual sport Husky and it's really made for off road riding. It has knobby tires and an uncomfy seat so he really doesnt like riding it much on pavement. The other thing is that he and my son do their dual sport rides quite often, which leaves me out.

I wish one or more of you gals lived around here because I'd love to find an experienced rider that wouldnt mind riding with a newbie. I guess I should try looking closer to home--I'm sure there has to be people out here!

I'm determined to ride today, even if I just go around town by myself.

[wingryder92]

Janet....like BTW says...if there is a m/c for you to ride on the street you've just got to get out there and ride. I think we've all made excuses but didn't realize that we were making them. If you are familiar with the area you live in (and even if you're not) take the car and ride around and make yourself a loop to ride. Something that you'll feel comfy riding and ride it as often or as many times as you feel like it. My ex did a loop for me that was about 20 miles and there was only one place I had to make a decision concerning the traffic...all other intersections were either stop signs or had lights. He knew that I was still thinking through each step that I had to do. Brake, pull in clutch, turn on signal, release clutch, roll on throttle each move was going through my head like a movie. In the beginning just to make it around one time wore me out becaused I was stressed. Questions like: am I going to drop the bike, am I not going to make the turn like I should, am I going to slow somebody else down, and on and on. My ex was a driver so he was out of town from 3-5 days a week depending on his route. So maybe you can find you a loop or maybe just a stretch of road to go one way and turn around and go the other. Make a date with your girlfriend with two wheels and ya'll get out and enjoy the weather! I'm sure she'd like to get out of the garage/shed.
YOU CAN DO IT. YOU CAN DO IT. YOU CAN DO IT. YES YOU CAN.
Debra
HAVE A SAFE RIDE!

[LeanneB]

Debra... thanks for discussing "tar snakes"... we hit them now and then and in the heat they're a real safety hazard. Happy to hear that you're racking up some serious miles, Kendoll2... you rock! Stay safe... Leanne

[RCMomto4]

We went out yesterday and I had a nice time. We drove to the Harley dealership I bought my Superlow from. It's about a 20 mile ride one-way and it was all in traffic. I was a little nervous on the way but on the way back I felt comfortable and *owned* my lane. I was actually surpised how comfortable I felt with traffic around me. I kept flashing back to the MSF class and remembered all the tips and used them. It really made me feel more in control!

[BtWoman]

Janet, Great Stuff!!!
I'll add something else from my newbie days and finding others to ride with.
I found local forums through links on our Riding School's website.
My hubby really doesn't care if I talk to other men, he has no issues with it at all.
Through those forums, I also found some nice, true, mature gentlemen who were very experienced riders. They too enjoyed mentoring a newbie. They'll do when there are no women riders available.
Also, because they were local forums, we'd have social nights, so most people knew who was who, and had face to face familiarity. I'd go to the socials to get a "feel" for the folks there for myself, too, since you always get that "bad vibe" when someone is not so nice. So, that added a sense of security since the riding community really is small. It was great to meet one of those guys for a couple hour's ride and get their tips. You'd be amazed at some of the ready info you'll get eg. someone knows somebody who's retired and has days free.
And sometimes, even an employee at the dealership who is an experienced rider may offer to take one or 2 newbies out for a ride. We have a friend who did that when he was a bike salesman. Smart, because a) he wanted his customers to keep their bikes b) to establish customer loyalty, and not give up riding because of fear.

[wingryder92]

Janet...so glad you got out for a ride! And yes those MSF teachings will flash back for many years. The more miles in the saddle the more comfident you'll begin to feel. Hope you can get out there more often and have that great big smile on your face!
Debra
HAVE A SAFE RIDE!

[LadynRed]

I finally did it! With a little help from a very supportive friend, I got my bike out of the garage across town and home. My first real time on the streets! My technique was far from ideal, I know I didn't do some things the best, but I made it home safe and sound. I'm past that awful grip of fear of riding on the streets. Having a friend along with me helped a LOT. I screwed up a number of times but I adopted the attitude of 'oh well, tough nuts, everyone has to start somewhere'. Most drivers were pretty nice, which sort of surprised me just a bit, guess I LOOKED like a newbie.. lol. Although there was this one dude who, despite waving him to go around me at 3 different stop signs, just sat there behind me. I don't know what his problem was.

Starting out, my heart was pounding, my stomach was in knots, and my throat got dry. Speed was no more than 30 and it was only 9 miles. I stalled it, oh, about half a dozen times.. once about 2/3 of the way thru an intersection - I forgot to put it down into first at the stop.. oops! Bike doesn't like starting off in 2nd gear. The stop was on an incline, not too steep thankfully, and I have some trouble getting going from there. I'm going to have to figure out that bit of coordination - brakes, clutch, throttle and not roll back on a hill. My cornering, from a stop, wasn't too bad, though most were lefts which are a tad easier. I know my lane position to make those turns wasn't the best though. One part of our route (mostly quiet neighborhoods) was a an "S" curve and I did not take the right hand part of that curve very well at all. There was a big SUV coming around the opposite direction, and although I didn't fixate on the SUV, it did freak me out a little and I didn't fully look thru the turn, so I was too far over to the left in the curve

It probably took a good 30 minutes after getting home for my heart rate to settle down. I was pretty nervous the whole time, but it was definitely exhilarating and I was excited to have finally gotten past that hurdle. All in all, it wasn't as scarey as I'd made it out to be in my head. I freaked myself out WAY too much! Now, granted, it was far from rush hour traffic and I had driven my chosen route 100 times, so I knew every curve, stop, and pot hole or manhole cover, and railroad tracks on the route. Given that I haven't been riding at all since last September, it went fairly well, I'm ready for more!

Definitely heading to a nearby parking lot for some very much needed practice and getting more confidence with the bike. I'm going to be playing my Ride Like Pro DVDs a lot!!

[wingryder92]

Congrats to you!!!!!!! We usually to make things worse in our "minds" than it really is but you have to take that first step to find that out. Seems that you realized each little mistake you made so now you can practice on those things. But keep in mind that you won't ever be perfect so just try to learn and improve from each of your boo-boos. Glad you stayed somewhat calm on your way home and got there without incident and a great big thank you to your friend for helping you in your time of stress. Keep riding,keep practicing, keep riding, and so on. Don't dwell on the screwups but work on improving them for next time. As you practice always end on a positive note so you'll feel good about it and put a smile on your face!
Debra
HAVE A SAFE RIDE!

[BtWoman]

Ladynred, great for you! I hope the guy who stayed behind you was doing so to protect you. Sometimes, when I am in my cage, I will do that, too, to be protective of a motorcyclist, as long as they are going in my direction because I know what non-riders don't. So, I hope he was a nice guy with the same mindset.
Co-ordination was one of the biggest issues for me, too. Here's a bit of helpful advice I once received that helped me stay put on an incline and take off smoothly that works for me.
Sloooow brake release, slooow throttle, slooow clutch release all at the same time. I say "sloooow", because my nerves would frequently make me dump the clutch and then the bike stalled. For me, too, it was getting used to the fact that if the bike is in 1st gear, and trusting that it will move forward even on an uphill incline when you release the clutch and brake because of the manual transmission. I was so used to an automatic car, press the gas pedal and it will go.
My bike doesn't have one of those gadgets that tells me which gear I am in, so sometimes at stops, I will press down with my foot to make sure I am in 1st, so I can make a smooth take off.
I used to practice the clutch, brake, throttle co-ordination hand movements while off the bike, too, such as while watching TV, to instill that "muscle memory" thing, making it come more automatically while in busy and intimidating traffic.
And there is one little, super easy trick that I wished someone had drilled into me when I was a wobbly newbie. This works every time and it's SO stupid-easy!! If you are too close to some obstacle, such as an SUV coming in the opposite direction, push-steer!! Push down and forward on the right handlebar, the bike swerves to the right, push down and forward on the left handlebar, the bike swerves to the left. ALWAYS!!! The harder you push, the greater the response from your bike. It works even when you are in a curve and even when you are not looking in the direction you want to go. But looking is certainly something that gives a sense of greater control, for sure, so good thing to do, too, especially in tight turns.
Keep us posted on your progress! And yeah, glad you had a friend to help you.

[LadynRed]

Thanks for the tips I was soooo nervous, that guy behind me was just bugging me, it never occurred to me that he might be trying to help me out.

Coordination starting on a hill - I found a place, an empty parking lot that has a fair incline, and it's rarely used. I'm going to spend some time practicing there until I can do it smoothly and easily. Although, I am going to take the bike to a friend with a bike shop and have him adjust the clutch for me. I was practicing to get a feel for where the friction zone starts and ends, and the zone is extremely narrow. I've read that about VStars in several places, one MC magazine review even commented about the difficulty of starting off on a hill - and that it can be adjusted.

Today, 3 or 4 of the ladies in our little group are meeting at my place and going out for an easy ride and lunch. I'm excited and will not be nearly as nervous as I was before, and I'll be much more mindful of everything I was taught in the MSF classes.