Laura,

I missed this post from the beginning, but I've read all the comments and replies and I'm caught up now.

The second day I had my bike, I was making a right hand turn, out of a parking lot, uphill, from a dead stop, into traffic.  And I dumped my bike.  Basically, I held the front brake and twisted the throttle at the same time.  What that did was cause the rear end to do a run-around on me and the bike went down with me under it.  That was in September of last year.  And my shoulder still wakes me up every night.

BUT...I'm back on my bike and riding.  And riding well.  And riding far.  And riding lots and lots and lots.  And loving every minute of it.

Don't let Greg get you down.  He's a good guy and really can be very helpful.  He's a guy though.  They think and react differently than we do.  He didn't mean to offend...(at least that's not the impression I have have).

As for getting back out there, my husband is a newbie rider.  He just started riding this week and I can tell you, if your husband and/or father care about you getting back on the bike and doing it right, they will ride with you and do it YOUR way.  

I've been out with my husband on two long trips this weekend.  It was hard for him.  He hasn't ever crashed, but he has a 25 year old son who lost his right leg from the knee down in a motorcycle accident.  Riding is a major step for him and he is VERY nervous.

BUT, I want him to ride, and therefore it has to be a positive experience for him.  I let him ride at his own pace, even when that means slowing down for all the fun twisties and riding way out of our way just because he isn't comfortable with a certain situation yet (a hill, or a corner, or a traffic pattern).

Your father or your husband should understand that and be willing to ride with you, letting you set the pace and choose the path.  It will be good for both of you.

I'm glad to hear you went out and washed the bike.  Now sit on her and start it up.  You don't have to go anywhere if you don't want...but give her a chance to talk to you.  Pull the clutch.  Rev the engine.  Play with her.  Get familiar again...it's like cousins at the family reunion who used to play together but haven't seen each other in a long time...there's a period of shyness, but soon, they are playing again like no time ever lapsed.  

You and your beautiful Pearl white baby will be the same way.  Take your time, do only what you feel like, but get back out there.  You owe it to yourself.

AND...what I think Greg was hinting at was this...  I know what I did wrong that day.  I honestly evaluated the situation and went over and over in my head what I did, what I failed to do, and what I should have done.  To this day, I think about my mistake every time I find myself in a similar situation.  I won't ever make that mistake again.  I turned the accident into a positive learning experience and moved on.  

Don't worry about what anybody else thinks, says, or believes about what really happened that day.  Work with it in your own head until you KNOW what happened...then learn from it.  Once you've honestly evaluated it, passed by the "I don't know's" and the "for some reason's" and realized exactly what mistake you made, you'll have a solid learning that you can file away and I can almost guarantee you won't ever do it again.

Keep coming back for support.  We're here for you and we want to hear about your progress.

Hang in there chicky...!  (Yes, it's official...all us females write long posts).

Good one....

I myself have had my share of mishaps, the last one 4 years ago, broke 3 bones in my right arm and hand, I got up right away and was back on my bike, very easy to say Very Hard to do, just rember what got you on the bike in the first place, you had fun, keep it that way stay in your comfort zone until you are ready to leave, I don't post here very much but have rarley seen a mean comment from one rider to another, we all
Live to Ride and Ride to Live, this forum cares, because we have been there

Red_Wine wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:06:


Actually, now I think I'm really an East-westerner...

Geez, Laura didn't come back.  Is she lurking and mad still?

Oklahoma_Mike wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:06:


7Up would be more appropriate.

Laura ... please come back ... this Message Forum truly is the very BEST bunch of people I've ever had the pleasure of being associated with in cyberspace ... in fact, even if I didn't Ride a Savage, I'd still hang here once and awhile ... this place is full of great advice (such as Greg gave in his own "unique" way), good laughs, easy (and sometimes thought provoking) conversation and super friends. Ohhh and Savage ownership just happens to be a bonus.
Relax, take your time, climb back on the horse ... and Ride Safe ... and yes please come back; you are more than welcome here!