Get off the bike!

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by dhgeyer

But, with experience comes the instinct to be aware of your limitations and work harder at survival skills.

And it's a good time of the year to mention that NOBODY who takes a few months off should ASSume that they can jump right back on the bike like they never left.

Sweeping turns gave me a problem on my Shadow for a few months right after I got it. The actual turn went OK but I had a VERY nervous feeling while IN the turn......just because the feed-back I was getting was different than what I was used to. Finally got over that BUT..........here we are after a few months off and that nervous feeling is BACK.

Got to find some low traffic, sweeping turns and re-train my mind/muscle memory again. :roll:

[patrick_777]

Your muscles have Alzheimers.

Good point though. Everyone should re-acclimate themselves with their bikes before doing any long or twisty rides in traffic. People's lose their balance and feel for the movement of the bike - not to mention gain weight - during the winter months.

[Water Warrior 2]

Well that explains it. My bike gets fat over the winter months with lack of exercise. :roll:

[BusyWeb]

For me,
even after changing the gears; especially with boots and gloves, I felt differences when riding. ^^;

:blush:

[dhgeyer]

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

Well that explains it. My bike gets fat over the winter months with lack of exercise. :roll:

Mine just asked me the other day "Do these saddlebags make my butt look fat?".

But seriously, this is also the time of year for sand in the corners, very bad road surface, people not used to seeing bikes, colder road surfaces (less traction), etc. etc. I'm talking about places North of the Equator that have Winter, of course.

[Water Warrior 2]

I finally got out riding yesterday. Last ride was a month ago and a short one too boot. Rode 130 km (80 miles) total. Did a concentrated effort on handling the curves and smoothness of control. Must have worked b/c I was able to do a downhill left hander at 2x the posted limit. This was near the end of the ride when muscle memory was working with me. I continue to be amazed at the handling of this Vstrom. Although it is far from a sport bike it is all I do need. It's abilities are greater than mine.

[diffluere]

I take the same route to school every day. I think my muscles remember what to do! Sometimes if I go a different way I get a weird feeling, like I'm going to 'wrong' way, or if I make a stop at the bank or the store it's really weird for me. Also, after days of riding the bike I feel SO WEIRD getting back in my Jeep. The steering is okay but my braking skills are damaged, haha! I forget that it takes like 3x the distance to stop at a light in the Jeep.

I think a lot of this stuff has to do with being slightly dehydrated, the weather, not having enough coffee, and just weird stuff that happens on the road. Today I got caught in the rain for the first time in months and I had to consciously think "stay out of the middle where the oil is!" I almost stopped at a red light in a huge puddle of it. Ugh. Sometimes when I go to stop at lights I have to talk to myself, like downshift. keep it straight. front brake, back brake, foot down. It's weird. Most days I just do stuff without even thinking about it. I'm still a n00b though (it's only been like 9 months!) so maybe that's it.

[Water Warrior 2]

Talking to yourself is good. Just don't do it in a crowded mall. Don't ask me how I know. :whistle:

[bonehead]

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

Talking to yourself is good. Just don't do it in a crowded mall. Don't ask me how I know. :whistle:

Just don't answer yourself. O_o

[Water Warrior 2]

Originally Posted by bonehead

Just don't answer yourself. O_o

Ooooh, never thought of that. How well does it work for you ? :whistle: