What a baby...

[purple]

I had posted here about my experience with dropping the keys of a Vespa on the floor board, trying to pick them up, and both of us going down. (My physical therapy will finally be over the end of Dec., and I'll be able to return to work in Jan.) yea!! I went for a ride last week and was spooked.
Geez, I wasn't even moving. I've read about you guys who have been in "real" accidents. How did you get back on again? I feel so dumb being scared about riding from my little fall. When I came to a big curve, (o.k., maybe not so big), I was sitting so ramrod straight, I felt like I'd fall right over. I just couldn't relax. I gave myself a big talking to but was still uncomfortable. I did get the two finger wave from another biker, and that
lifted my spirits a lot! Love when that happens!! Wanted to ride again,
saw it was cold, windy, and was glad I had an excuse not to go out. I'm not a scardy cat type of person, but I hate this feeling. I love my Buddy!

[rsrider]

Use the Force Luke.........

[Skootz Kabootz]

Just start slow again. Maybe find an empty parking lot and take yourself through some of the skill moves covered in the MSF course to regain your confidence. Remember, you didn't have a riding accident. you had an "I dropped my keys" accident. Your riding skills have never been in question.

Also, while you are not riding, it might be a good time to read Proficient Motorcycling...

[maribell]

My last accident I had no choice. We were out in the middle of nowhere and had to get the scooters home somehow. I am just glad my GTS waited until it got to Austin to have its electrical meltdown.

You're not a baby. You're having a natural reaction to a traumatizing event. Just take it slow.

[TVB]

Geez, I wasn't even moving. I've read about you guys who have been in "real" accidents. How did you get back on again?

I totaled my mom's car the weekend after I got my license, and I can relate to this feeling. As soon as Mom got a new set of wheels my parents put me right back behind the wheel again, and I was nervous to say the least. But I was also pretty damn nervous the first time I got on a scooter. It simply took some time in the saddle to get over. Just make sure you do that, and get it over, the sooner the better.

[Jackie F]

First of all, it took 9 mos to get the parts to fix my scooter. By that time, I was, "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" Once I got my scoot, I would only ride it to and from work. That lasted a few of weeks.

Through meetup.com, I got a email to help the city with scooter parking. I just said, "I gotta do this". I definitely (& nervously) told the of strangers my situation, but I don't think they knew how symbolic the ride was for me. So, we went down the steep hills and be bop around the city which helped tremendously. Then, I started getting more comfortable with riding.

The scariest part of "getting back in the saddle" is when you blindly come to THE PLACE where it all happen. Since your accident happen in a different city, you won't have to worry. Just being at that spot can put you in a mini-shock, but it's all about facing your fears.

[ericalm]

If you're committed to continuing to ride, it's just going to take time. Don't psych yourself out. Take it slowly if you have to, like you're starting all over.

The scariest part of "getting back in the saddle" is when you blindly come to THE PLACE where it all happen.

I had problems with this as well. I could very easily visualize the accident from 20 different angles and it would just repeatedly replay in my head every time I passed. That took several months to go away.

[bcarter]

I had my scooter for all of a week when I went down the first (and only) time. It was raining and I was taking a right turn onto a street from a parking lot. Lots of standstill traffic. Anyway, popped a wheelie accidentally while leaning into the turn, wheels slipped on the wet road, I went down dramatically. I was only going about 5mph, but it HURT! Bunch of people got out of cars to see if I was alright, very embarassing, but of course I was alright. I got back up and rode the scooter back into the parking lot and sat down to collect myself.

The next several rides were tough for me because I had these huge bruises and was really in pain from such a little fall. It made me think about what a REAL accident would be like compared to the real pain I felt from such a minor spill. Needless to say, I was really antsy for a while. I had sold my car to get the scooter and so I didn't have any choice but to ride but I was having second thoughts about riding scooters.

But it ended up being a good thing for me. Bruises heal, but it was a good reminder that I wasn't riding a toy, I was riding something that could kill me and I needed to act appropriately. Since then, I ride with a new respect for what I am doing and make sure I am doing it as safely as I can. I'm sorry you had a spill, but try to turn it into something positive. Get back to riding in neighborhoods and parking lots until it is fun again and then ease back into traffic. But this experience will end up being positive because you'll remember it when you ride, but not be paralyzed by it.

For myself, I think there needs to be a balance between fear and excitement. I still get a great rush out of riding, but I've got just enough experience-based fear that I don't do something stupid, but not so much that I can't enjoy myself. Ease back in slowly in driving areas where you can have fun despite your fear. It'll come back.

[Coffeejunkie]

It took a few weeks for me to get my scoot back to riding condition, and then it took about a month before I really felt comfortable again. I had really damaged my confidence in my own abilities because my accident was caused by me and me only.

That being said, I remember almost the exact moment when it all clicked into place, and I realized that I felt much better about the whole accident. It didn't matter that I fell, what I realized mattered most was that I fell, and got back up without letting myself quit something I was really starting to love.

[jijifer]

I second Skootz. Remember it had nothing to do with your ride skills that got you hurt. Now you know just how easy it is to get hurt by falling so yeah, you don't want to fall. You didn't fall by riding and I hope that helps you get back on the saddle.

When I was hit back in June, I was 40 miles away from home and my scoot's my only transportation. Since it was drivable so I rode it the 40 miles. The next day it was just for work and well that was harder since I didn't have someone riding behind me just in case. But the more days that passed realizing that I got hit really helped me get my confidence back.

You didn't crash, a much heavier bike fell on you. YOU CAN RIDE AGAIN!

good luck!

[Anachronism]

If you're committed to continuing to ride, it's just going to take time. Don't psych yourself out. Take it slowly if you have to, like you're starting all over.

The scariest part of "getting back in the saddle" is when you blindly come to THE PLACE where it all happen.

I had problems with this as well. I could very easily visualize the accident from 20 different angles and it would just repeatedly replay in my head every time I passed. That took several months to go away.

I've mentioned a few times that I had a nasty accident at about 20 mph on a sandy corner a few blocks from my house.

When I started riding again, I was pretified going around every corner that I would dump, and I still tend to take corners VERY slowly.

The corner I wrecked on, even though it is only a few blocks away, I DO NOT RIDE, both because I tend to panic and lock up around it, and because I know itg tends to collect sand.

[purple]

Thanks everyone, for the kind words! I WILL get back in the saddle, and
ride again! Hopefully next week when the rain stops...

[ScootStevie]

Like everyone said purple, just take it slow. It'll come back to you. And whats up with all the rain? I haven't ridden in a week I just don't have the gear for it

[TVB]

I've mentioned a few times that I had a nasty accident at about 20 mph on a sandy corner a few blocks from my house.
When I started riding again, I was pretified going around every corner that I would dump, and I still tend to take corners VERY slowly.
The corner I wrecked on, even though it is only a few blocks away, I DO NOT RIDE, both because I tend to panic and lock up around it, and because I know itg tends to collect sand.

Just when I was starting to get comfortable leaning through corners, I wiped out on some wet leaves, and scraped my slacks up. And yeah, I'm still skittish on corners too.

[Rob]

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger"

I think we all make mistakes, errors in judgement, or have lapses in concentration and focus while on 2 wheels. Most of the time without consequence, but every now and then it bites us. But we, hopefully, learn from our and others mistakes. That why I think the "accident" thread on MB is so valuable. Perhaps we should have a "close calls" thread as well.

Anyway, while it wasn't a good experience for you, you'll walk away a smarter and better rider.

Rob