Loss of confidence

-Ralph- · Post by **-Ralph-** » Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:45 pm

In the car, not on the bike.

I used to drive 30-40,000 miles a year and considered myself a good competent driver.

Now I drive 5000 miles a year.

I just drove a car tonight for the first time in nearly two weeks, and the first time in a manual car for about 4 weeks.

Last Monday I drove down to Brighton and back. That was OK, it was in my 2 year old automatic Mercedes which practically drives itself and it was all motorway.

The rest of the week was motorbike to the office or train to London. The weekend my wife drove everywhere. Mon/Tues motorbike to the office again and the rest of the week I've been in Munich so that was all plane/train/taxi.

I got in my manual gearbox Toyota tonight, which I've had for 6 years and used to do 30,000 a year in, and I drove out of town then through country roads home.

I was a fecking mess, gear changes not smooth, can't find the windscreen wipers, spacial awareness and road positioning a mess, crawling through gaps because I can't judge how wide the car is.

Because you feel you aren't doing a good job of driving the car, I think it knocks your confidence, then things get worse and you start driving like an incompetent woman or granny.

Don't like it, it's not me, even when I'm a pensioner, I vowed I'd never drive like that.

Anyone else who uses a motorbike as their main form of transport suffer like this when they get back in a car?

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-Ralph- · Post by **-Ralph-** » Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:51 pm

PS: No problems at all on the bike, I have an advanced ticket and filter heavy traffic every time I go to the office.

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steve_h80 · Post by **steve_h80** » Fri Nov 04, 2016 9:25 pm

Youre just out practice.
You want to try swapping from bike to scooter every so often. Jeez, is that a brake or a clutch? Bugger, that's why I'm at the red line.
Still it's easier than a bud of mine that rode trikes for a year or two... got back on a bike, and forgot to put hs fee down at the traffic lights

boatman · Post by **boatman** » Fri Nov 04, 2016 10:28 pm

I find car driving does not come naturally any more , and seems to be a complete chore !
(Seems to take AGES to go anywhere)
Auto /and manual for me but it's still a pain , always seems as if the roads are too narrow

viince · Post by **viince** » Fri Nov 04, 2016 10:44 pm

steve_h80 wrote:Youre just out practice.
You want to try swapping from bike to scooter every so often. Jeez, is that a brake or a clutch? Bugger, that's why I'm at the red line.
Still it's easier than a bud of mine that rode trikes for a year or two... got back on a bike, and forgot to put hs fee down at the traffic lights

even worse

swap from a 70's classic british bike (thumbs)
to a tiger 800
change gear oops that's the brake silly :laugh:

cheers vince (thumbs)

stevewatkin · Post by **stevewatkin** » Fri Nov 04, 2016 10:46 pm

'Tis true Ralph,

At 68 I ride a bike pretty well all the time now and when i get in the car i don't feel good.
Used to do 70K a year in the car as a rep with the UK as my patch!!
Bike is a 400 Maxiscoot and i feel comfortable and able on it still. Although much slower than of old !!
Still go touring and 400 mile days are OK as long as they are well planned. Camping is still good but not the Dragon in '17 :woohoo:
Adapt with your age and always believe you are ten years younger than you are.
Don't think you are 35 though !
I made that mistake about 10 years ago and made a big error thinking i was better than i really was......................learnt the hard way. Survived to tell the tale and now love every moment on the bike.

malcopopolo · Post by **malcopopolo** » Fri Nov 04, 2016 10:56 pm

I had a a serious car collisoon 6 years ago. Use to drive 30 to 40k a year. My confidence is totally shot. If i never drove a car again it would not bother me. Ride the bike fine? In fact prefer the bike over the car. Only tonight some dickhead drove through a red light as i was turning right. I have a dash cam in the car so at least when i am wiped out the offender will have their wrist slapped...

hornet · Post by **hornet** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 6:54 am

I drive a sprinter all day 5 days week and ride the rest of the time accasionaĺy use her ladyships flash motor it's an auto and way smaller than the van but I go a little1 driving miss daisy, hell I don't really know why maybe it because it's not mine I'm ultra careful, I recon just be cool your a little out of practice or something else important is on your mind and that does make a difference

Mike

SteveW · Post by **SteveW** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 7:15 am

A couple of stiff whiskies should help your confidence, I'd also recommend texting your wife as you drive for reassurance.

frenchy3 · Post by **frenchy3** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 7:49 am

I am actually the other way round. I used to ride just motorcycles through all weathers and some highly spirited riding went on too! I have ridden motorcycles just for pleasure over the last twenty years and drive a car the rest of the time. I used to do a lot of trail riding on sub 400cc bikes and they felt like they were a part of me. Since i bought a BMW F800gs and ride on the road i have felt very vunerable and found myself thinking .....slow down what if a car pulls out of a side turning etc. I went out in the rain the other day and even though i know the brakes and tyres are more than capable in wet conditions i found myself wobbling around the back roads. I know the solution is to ride the bike more to build back my confidence but i am considering going back to a single cylinder trail bike again.