Riding loose

[chukwu]

Thanks and update

MAN Thanks for the advice... I'll do a little update. My riding got a lot better since this post thanks to the advice.. I still never got to my goal of being able to ride to my college but i'm differently closer. Braking smoothly was a problem for me I learn it was my use of throttle I wasn't rolling of correctly and clutching incorrectly I was using the brake well tho. Fear is still something that affects how good I ride. Being in a lot without a ton of metal boxes around me I noticed my riding overall is better. Uhh I still suck at shifting I kinda want to play with the little adjusters on my clutch but idk if thats a good idea. I haven't rode in a bit because I also need to install my new blinkers I just got and clean and lube my chains. I practice really early in the morning about 6am or 5am at the farmers market on weekdays really good place to practice btw... Thanks everyone

 

[Charmed]

When I find myself getting tense on a ride, I do silly shit like sing out loud into my helmet. Like a really cheesy rock ballad :laughing It's hard to be too tense when you're making yourself laugh. Another thing I do is every time I see a "DO NOT PASS" sign, in my best Gandalf voice I yell "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!":afm199

Boom...total tension reset:rofl

 

[chukwu]

:laughing:laughing

When I find myself getting tense on a ride, I do silly shit like sing out loud into my helmet. Like a really cheesy rock ballad :laughing It's hard to be too tense when you're making yourself laugh. Another thing I do is every time I see a "DO NOT PASS" sign, in my best Gandalf voice I yell "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!":afm199

Boom...total tension reset:rofl

Im trying this thanks that's a great idea... I listen to music but find myself ignoring it because of how nervous I am. I going to just scream it for now on. I'll update when I notice a shift in fear. again thanks never heard this advice..

 

[Maddevill]

If you're learning, I suggest NOT listening to ANYTHING on headphones until you're really comfortable with your riding. It will distract you a lot. You need all your attention on riding right now. I have fairly experienced friends that have made some major mistakes due to listening to music. Some people can do both. Some can't.

Mad

 

[budman]

+1 on not listening to music as you learn.

I still don't actually. I have tried it and it was OK, but I focus better on what I need to when I can hear the bike, the wind and not have a cool tune influence how I ride.

 

[Charmed]

+1 on not listening to music as you learn.

I still don't actually. I have tried it and it was OK, but I focus better on what I need to when I can hear the bike, the wind and not have a cool tune influence how I ride.

But you totally sing Black Tiger when you're riding "The Pace", right? :teeth

 

[budman]

But you totally sing Black Tiger when you're riding "The Pace", right? :teeth

And "Contagious" when in a 24 hour middle of the night race track dog fight! :thumbup

 

[kneedraggeroldy]

:wow Oh man..I am a +1 for not listening to music while learning and similar to Budman....if surrounded by cars when slabbing, no music, some when light traffic or cruising on a backroad and when I get to twistys I find turning it off helps me concentrate and stay away from the tendency to wick it up when a good hair metal anthem comes on :rofl

Not a fan of earplugs on the rode either...track ya maybe

 

[chukwu]

How loud do u think we have are music on.. welp when I ride as I said I barely hear my music only the cars around me.. and earplugs protect your ears.. thats insane to me if ur riding with all that wind in ur ears for long periods of time. I’ve never heard of ear plug or music leading to any accidents but if u find some kool.. but my fear sky rockets in the silence plus I listen to music everywhere in go if that means anything lol. I never though of actual singing to be less tense but as a update. Iit works. Rapping and singing along and even replying to podcasts made me feel a lot less tense on the bike around cars.

 

[Holeshot]

A

For new riders, this is almost always caused by the failure to look farther / far enough ahead. The sensation of (high) speed will diminish if you get your head and eyes up and look at the horizon and not down at the road surface. Once it appears that you aren't speeding, you will likely relax your grip and stress level will drop too.

Best advice in this thread. Start with this while driving your car and start training on how to look "around" objects in your path and keeping your eyes scanning as far as you can see. It's a skill that will leave you if you don't practice it and it's the #1 skill for riding quickly and confidently. It applies to almost all sports where speed is a byproduct.

Eyes up whenever you're engaged in an activity where speed is present. You can even talk to yourself in your helmet to remind yourself. EYES UP.

 

[Maddevill]

Earplugs are an absolute must. Hearing damage WILL occur due to wind noise.
And I have witnessed crashes due almost entirely to the rider listening to some music and getting distracted. Like I said, to some it's not an issue. To others it can be a MAJOR issue.

Mad

 

[chukwu]

Earplugs are an absolute must. Hearing damage WILL occur due to wind noise.
And I have witnessed crashes due almost entirely to the rider listening to some music and getting distracted. Like I said, to some it's not an issue. To others it can be a MAJOR issue.

Mad

I agree I can image riding with out wat plugs.. and music when I ride never over powered other environments like sound of cars my own bike horns I image the music whole have to be ear bleeding loud to completely distracted the rider.. in my course classes they never stated as a issue. But I guess it’s possible..

 

[MapleRoad]

It's all fun and games until the rider starts thinking he can reenact the Wayne's World rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, forgetting he's on the bike. I've known people who could be distracted enough for that. Thankfully none of them ride. Unfortunately, they all drive.

 

[kneedraggeroldy]

Earplugs are an absolute must. Hearing damage WILL occur due to wind noise.

If I was riding a sport bike all the time (like my R6) in lieu of the big pig (with after market windscreen) I could see wearing plugs. I also find in playing music, either speakers in my helmet or ear buds (ewww, really do not like that) the volume to hear the music tends to be high, so not sure it is good for the ears either. But just my preference. Happy riding

 

[2wheels4me]

I'm a relatively new rider too (5 months) and remember going through this experience earlier on in the first month of riding when anxiety levels were high. But it got better with time as I began to relax. I'm still working on proper riding position however. Lately, I keep reminding myself to imagine I was riding a horse....gripping with the knees, using your core and holding the handle bar lightly as you would the reins that you only tug on to give instructions.

 

[Nessal]

Image that you have a small bird in your right hand. That's about as much force I have on my throttle. Use your knees and your core to hold yourself. Bend your elbows to get out of the habit of locking your arms. I see a lot of stiff arm riders.