In an effort to be a sensible new biker chick I have trawled many posts and pinned articles on safety, kit, winter riding etc.

I decided to do my bike test and get into bikes having hung up my horse riding boots for good - I've been bitten, kicked, trodden on, knocked over and thrown on the floor for the last time. I've cared for my last sick horse, screamed "WHOOOAAAA FFS" for the last time, written my last cheque and shovelled my last sh*t. Enough is enough.

Okay so I fell off 3 times on my DAS course, my new bike scares the knickers off me and I've already dropped it in my own driveway. Just a bit of experience and I'll be right as rain, yes?

Ha. I now have graphic images imprinted on my brain of the dangers of fuel spillages, the anatomy of a motorcycle accident, some poor b*stard's road-rashed arris, the fact that 9/10 motorists don't know not to remove your helmet if you've had a spill, the unpredictable dangers of paint/manhole covers/leaves/mud/roadkill/kerbs.....and that doesn't include the tales of random off's which pepper every topic and post.

Has it all been a huge mistake? I was so looking forward to preparing for a ride on a beast which didn't get a*sey and unpredictable in the cold weather, didn't spit you off for no reason and didn't take too much looking after. Well f*ck me if biking doesn't involve all of those things. I've been had.

Still, looking on the bright side for a moment....you're more likely to die horribly falling off a bike, but at least you won't have spent several years picking up its poop

I think my bike looks quite nice sitting quietly in the garage. I'm no doubt being completely over-dramatic (although being well-informed of the dangers probably never did anyone any harm), but anyone got any cheerful statistics or advice so I don't age ten years every time I take it on the road?



Suze

Yes, you've read the dangers, you've taken them on board, you've learnt what to look out for.
Now, enjoy

Statistics?

I can talk about me...did my DAS last year in November....since then never droped a bike and never felt off the bike.. (touch wood)

You are already aware of the dangers....just go out and ride in a sensible maner....soon you will be more confident.

Life is a risk.

I have done 27,000 miles by bike in the last 14 months. I haven't fallen off yet, not hit any diesel, had my foot removed by my chain, got any gravel rash, broken any bones, had any trouble with leaves, gravel, ice, mud - well not any I coudn't deal with anyway.

I have dropped the bike by forgetting to put the side stand down, I have broken my mirror by not noticing that where I was putting my foot down was about 3 inches lower than the road I had stopped the bike on.

I did come off on gravel about 32 years ago, come off on ice 25 years ago, and and remodel the front of a car with my left knee whan it turned right across my path about 23 years ago though. But I was young and foolish then

You understand the risks now just go out for a ride and enjoy yourself.

Always expect the unexpected and ride within your limits.

My wife has had horses for years and I would much rather get on my bike in the snow rather than try to change the rug on a 2 tonne horse that could knock me through the wall with it's hoof!!!!!

Great post. "unpredictable in the cold weather, didn't spit you off for no reason and didn't take too much looking after"

Today on my commute to and from work I was ignored, bullied, threatened, pulled out on and generally made to feel I wasn't welcome on London's over-crowded streets. Yet I had so much fun pushing back, making space for myself and leaning over on every roundabout that I actually look forward to my 2 daily rides. Plus I haven't had to wear a balaclava since I was about 8. That's so cool.

1. Statistically Horse Riding is much more dangeous than bike riding
2. you love it and you'll love it more as you get more confident
3. the bike will not bite your backside as you prepare to mount
4. yes I've dropped my bike, but mile for mile I fell off/got chucked off more horses
5. a bike is closer to the ground than a horse so "down" is not that far away
6. Don't forget that we post about the unusual more often than the usual
7. a 200 mile round trip on a sunday with nothing more out of the ordinary than seeing a particularly nice view, having a good lunch or noticing a plonker riding in trainers is the usual

If it was a bad/scary thing i wouldn't now be riding thousands of miles a year

keep riding, keep practising and it will all come together

I am surrounded by geniuses. What is the plural for geniuses anyway?

True, there is further to fall from a horse, and given its tendency to accelerate and/or buck as you leave the saddle it was usually a painful, ground-sky-ground-sky experience. I've done a few acrobatics from horseback to floor in my time.

The first time I flopped to the ground closely followed by a vicious ER-5, I braced myself for the pain of a smashed ankle.....and it never came. And the next two repeat performances were similarly pain free. Yeah ok my knee was black for a couple of weeks, my right hip feels oddly gritty under the skin and still hurts to touch 4 weeks later, but it beats broken bones I guess.

The point of this being that maybe I wasn't so wrong to hope that biking would be less painful than...well...horsing.

At this precise moment, if you invited me the choice of putting a rug on a stroppy 18hh horse in a windy field, or riding my bike round a series of roundabouts, I'd take the horse. But only cos thats what I know. Once I've built up my confidence I know I'll be fine.

Thanks for reminding me that we all tend to post about the unusual more often than the mundane....if you go on to any horsey messageboard its full of nightmare horses biting, kicking, bolting and generally giving their owners a hard time. Generally speaking they're pretty amiable creatures.

So okay then, I will take the fresh statistics on board - thankyou - and if my husband doesn't come home too scuttered tonight we should be able to go out for a while tomorrow.

Loving you all madly

Suze

hurrah for pain-free mileage

Bikers have more fun. Full Stop.

Dropping the bike too often is prolly a sign that you're trying too hard! Relax! And it'll all get easier!

(Erm, have to confess the last time I dropped mine it broke my leg, cos you'll catch on sooner or later. But that was a lot to do with turning a fully loaded bike with a cold engine on a grassy hillside, and you're not going to be doing that for a while!)

My key to relaxation on the bike was always to talk to myself - out loud! Even if I just said, Relax you silly B! It works, honest!

That is brilliant!

Bikes are not dangerous - crashing bikes is dangerous. ergo, dont crash!

Ive been riding for twenty five years ( i have stopped obviously for fuel and such and to sleep) and ive made a right mess of myself but as bornagain says it was when i was too stupid to know better. But im still riding, im still happy and im still a dead ringer for george clooney!

It can be dangerous, keep you wits about you and be sensible and you will enjoy your bike for years and years and years.