How to cope with a past crash

Hammer · 05-30-2006, 9:46 PM

This past weekend while riding @ Putnam was real fun don't get me wrong, I am not giving up on riding. I AIN"T QUITTING.

But I noticed my pace was not up to par, I know i can do better but something in the back of my mind is saying "SLOW DOWN". I was comfortable on the bike despite being a new bike and I have confidence in the bikes abilities and mine for that matter. I talked with CBRVFR a bit and especially my left handed turns were slow as hell and my rights were better but not real good. My lines were OK, but just could not bring it all together. In one session it was like I was on a bike for the first time in my life and all what I had learned was forgotten until I actually thought about each and every little detail and tried to make it all come togther I ended up ending that session early. Will time heal the wounds or is there something I should be doing to overcome it. It not a fear really just that little voice in the back of your mind. I wish it had a mute button.

phobiaphobe · 05-30-2006, 9:52 PM

I had totally lost confidence after my last crash (4/10/2005) to the point where I would ache like hell after a 30 minute ride because I was so tense.

The school I did last week cleared that up after the first 3 or 4 laps.

All better now. (over a year later

)

tigerblade · 05-30-2006, 10:23 PM

Once I'm on the bike, I don't think about previous crashes. It's when I'm sitting around doing nothing that I think about the violence of tumbling, etc. So far, the enjoyment I've had from riding and racing has outweighed the negatives.

I have had times where I felt like I didn't belong on a bike. I think on those days, it's probably best just to pack it in for the day. You can't force your comfort.

Mojave954 · 05-30-2006, 10:27 PM

I am with ya bro. Been bang up twice on the street and once recently on the dirt. Takes awhile to get it back but it will come back.

In my case, never had it but. Just listen to the voice in your head, and take it easy.

jetbdude · 05-30-2006, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

I actually thought about each and every little detail and tried to make it all come togther I ended up ending that session early

I work on one thing at a time, if I work on my lines I don't worry about braking or anything else, when I think my lines are good, I then work on something else....

After my track walk with Jeff Wood at NHIS I had SO many things in my head that I was all over the track.

Just take it easy..

nhfirefighter13 · 05-30-2006, 10:37 PM

I still get butterflies in turn 3 at NHIS from where I crashed 3 years ago.

It happens and is natural. Afterall, it's not something that most people would choose to repeat. I think simply by going out and doing it again, you're off to a pretty good start at dealing with it.

Hammer · 05-30-2006, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

I had totally lost confidence after my last crash (4/10/2005) to the point where I would ache like hell after a 30 minute ride because I was so tense.

I am really relaxed but the things that go through your mind are hard to put away.

Things like: is my body position right, Will the front tuck, this is where it happened last time, am I getting on the gas too early.......
And I really do not fear going down again, not that I want to.

Not real big things but just the concerns of "what If"

Hammer · 05-30-2006, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhfirefighter13

you're off to a pretty good start at dealing with it.

I think it is natural to go through this, but damn it is aggravating.

sheepofblue · 05-30-2006, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

I think it is natural to go through this, but damn it is aggravating.

Nope you are just being a girl

j/k

Hammer · 05-30-2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

Nope you are just being a girl

j/k

I got your girl right here.

Scout · 05-30-2006, 10:58 PM

You got back on, that's the first step. It takes time, the mind is a complex thing. It is a mild case of PTSD, but in most cases it will fade.

I was still damn sore after my crash, but as soon as I could I threw a leg over the closest bike and went for a ride. I had to consciously think about relaxing, as I noticed I had a death grip on the clip-ons...

As time passes, it will get easier.

You're not the only one.

Hammer · 05-30-2006, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scout

You're not the only one.

That is why I am posting this here to see how others dealt with it, I know that I am not the lone ranger.

clutchslip · 05-30-2006, 11:12 PM

I'm still dealing with it. I wasted a set of SuperCorsas. I never edged them and they are do for replacement. It doesn't help when you can still feel pain from the last crash. I trust the bike less than I do myself, actually.

BDA116 · 05-30-2006, 11:19 PM

My first crash was a high speed lowside and while I didn't get hurt very badly it freaked me out with it being the first. I let it bother me some, but had another lowside a few months later. These were both racing incident crashes, and the second one only pissed me off and made me want to get right back out there.
Neither really hurt all that bad, the first re-aggravated my once separated shoulder, but it was fine after a couple days. No rash in either of those as well. Because of that I guess I just wasn't that scared or concerned with it any more.
I was able to concentrate more on my riding and racing and got a whole lot better with one more light highside (that hurt, but nothing major) in the mix.
My last crash is the one that bothers me. I don't remember it at all and it gave me my worst concussion to date (no, Arai helmets are not infallible as I've had two concussions while wearing one), a badly sprained ankle and some bruised ribs. Again nothing actually broken and no rash, but the fact that I had no recollection of what happened and therefore didn't know what caused it and how I hit the ground and wall made me really leery the next couple times out.
Now I just don't think about it. It's gonna happen again, so all I can do is be sure I am riding comfortably and smartly. When it happens, I can just hope that I slide nice and smoothly. More concerned with how it will impact the family than myself.
I was more scared the last time I rode on the streets than I am at the track by tenfold.
Many tracks are getting safer with less major impact areas - which is why I don't remember my last crash - so the likelyhood of major bodily damage is very small. Minor stuff, while still sucky, is much easier to handle.

Mattress · 05-30-2006, 11:24 PM

I'm the same way, I turned some pretty respectable lap times till my lowside at Fontana, totally blew my confidence even though it was a minor crash, I haven't rode enough after that crash to really regain my confidence either, my last trackday at Buttonwillow, in January, I felt like the slowest guy there

Scout · 05-30-2006, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

That is why I am posting this here to see how others dealt with it, I know that I am not the lone ranger.

Sorry man, just trying to help.

sheepofblue · 05-30-2006, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

That is why I am posting this here to see how others dealt with it, I know that I am not the lone ranger.

just a wuss....

j/k with time you will no even think on it. I seldom crashed on dirt but did have some rather spectacular ones (thankfully no broken bones) and really just rode through them. My eye, messed me up more than the others as I was unable to ride for the rest of the season. The delay makes it worse.

bwhip · 05-31-2006, 12:08 AM

Through the winter months as I built my RC for the upcoming track season, my emphasis was definitely on doing whatever it took to keep the rubber on the track. I spent a bunch of money thinking of each expense as an investment in my safety. Stickier tires, rebuilt forks, Ohlins shock, steering damper, upgraded brake lines, and most recently tire warmers. Heck, even bought a SuperMoto bike to help improve my roadracing skills and safety.

My first time back out on the track since last year's violent crash was in February in Pahrump. I was definitely tentative and just tried to work on being smooth and smart.

The biggest investment in my safety of course was Spencer School. That's where the confidence definitely came back. Figuring out how to ride faster yet safer at the same time, by doing it the right way. HUGE difference.

Since then, two trackdays at Miller and two at Reno-Fernley have only added to my comfort level. Yesterday was definitely the peak of my riding career so far. It felt unbelievably good to be riding faster than ever, yet feeling in control and not getting carried away. Very, very few of those "HOLY CRAP

" moments that we're all familiar with.

The joy and thrills of this sport are just too good for me to give up so easily after my wreck. I know the risks are there (part of the thrill no doubt), but I'm trying to do all I can to minimize the risk while keeping the thrills. It's cost me a small fortune, but I'll probably sell the Sprint to help defray the cost, as riding on the street doesn't appeal to me much anymore anyway.

phobiaphobe · 05-31-2006, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA116

... Again nothing actually broken and no rash, but the fact that I had no recollection of what happened and therefore didn't know what caused it and how I hit the ground and wall made me really leery the next couple times out.....

THat's EXACTLY what I went through. Not having any recollection of the incident, I had no way of learning from my mistake.

Hammer · 05-31-2006, 6:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scout

Sorry man, just trying to help.

No bad intent meant. Keep the advise comming. I can tune out the sheep pretty good by now.

I think A good track school would help me agreat deal in alot of departments, except the pocketbook.

Baketech · 05-31-2006, 7:16 AM

Good thread Hammer...

I'm not usually a "demon" type of guy, but I think I struggled with a few this weekend as well. Have been really trying to think about it and figure it all out...very complex issue...