Motorcycle Mama
By Christine Weaver

Mission: To unite women who ride or want to learn to ride motorcycles for recreation, education, mutual support, recognition, and to promote a positive image of women motorcyclists.

Happy New Year!

Perhaps one of your resolutions is to have less fear on your motorcycle. You may have had an accident, trouble turning corners, or you may have a fear of locking your front wheel every time you break. Mama is going to share some tips to help you overcome your fears!

Having too much confidence in yourself on a motorcycle can be a problem as it may cause you to ride below your capabilities. However, too much fear is bad for your technique and too little fear is dangerous. Remember this; you are always a student no matter how much experience you have, otherwise you may forget how to become a better rider and how to keep track of your bad habits as well as how to handle yourself in a bad situation or danger zone. When you are afraid you may have the fear that you are not allowed to make mistakes. The truth is learning takes time, and you will make some mistakes.

The biggest fear I have yet to overcome is going around a corner at too high a speed. During this scenario there are so many things going on such as, your brain is busy determining the speed, the right gear, planning the line of  the corner, checking the surface of the road, evaluating the traffic situation, and trying to look ahead as much as possible. The faster you ride, the faster your brain has to think, and that’s when fear automatically sets in. The remedy: ride slower towards the corner! Make sure to practice the skills you have learned over and over again. Eventually you will be more prepared and feel more confident in your mind when the time comes. You will be more relaxed as well.

     Tips: 

1. Watch your body language.
2. Be aware of your hands.  
   Don’t let them tighten on the handlebars - hold them loosely.
3. Be aware of your breathing - let it be steady and deep.
4. Be careful of where you are looking. 
   Don’t fixate on one point; make sure to have a broad view.

Often when you are afraid of corners, you tend to concentrate on speed or how much you lean. Concentrate on the line you want to take, the point you want to lean in, and being steady on the throttle. After awhile you will be more prepared to enter any corner.

Maybe you are afraid of leaning your bike during a turn. Try standing on your pegs to keep yourself in an upright position while pushing the motorcycle away from you. It will feel more natural. Don’t concentrate on how much you lean, but on where you look and how you use your shoulders and hips, as well as how steady you keep your speed.

When it comes to the fear of braking, especially hard braking, the solution is practice, practice, practice! The best place for that is in a parking lot. If you are riding on the road and suddenly have to brake in a panic, pull the clutch and stay off the rear brake! Exposing yourself to hard braking in controlled circumstances will help rid you of fear during any situation and is also a life saving capability.

Maybe you are afraid of getting back on a bike after an accident. The best advice I can give to you is to get back on as soon as possible! The longer you wait the harder it will be. Take time to adjust, but also take the time to overcome your insecurities. Learn something from your accident. In the future you will know what to do under similar circumstances. The fact is that we all need to make adjustments and learn to be better riders, no matter how long we have been riding to help avoid future accidents. Instead of seeing your accident as a flaw, try to see it as a learning experience.

Some of us feel less comfortable riding on a wet surface or one that is covered by debris. Just remember the basics, and try to be steady on the throttle. Keep a loose grip on the handlebars, brake evenly, and ride gentle lines. Your motorcycle should get the opportunity to find its own way, and you only hinder your bike when you tighten on the handlebars.

While riding in the dark you may be blinded by lights. Look ahead as far as possible. You will have to learn a habit of not looking directly into them. The positive side to riding in the dark is that you can spot oncoming vehicles before they come around the corner.

No matter what your fear is, realize that in every situation you can make a difference, and you can always learn from it!

“Fear is a man’s best friend”…John Cagle

Peace...Love…and Road trips 
Motorcycle Mama

Motorcycle Mama can be reached by email for questions or comments at mrschrisweaver@yahoo.com. Her articles can also be found on our sister sites at www.cumberlandcountywoman.com and www.womenofatlanticcounty.com.