I have off-days, by that I mean my road riding isn't up to my usual standard, by 'my' I mean what I expect myself to ride like.

At your atage of riding you should be thinking about nothing but the road ahead, I mean nothing. look at the junction, side road, driveway, parked cars, kids playing, dogs, old people, yuppies on thier iPhones, anything that has the potential to become a hazard.

Think about your road position, are you in the right possition for the next turn, bend, hazard etc

Can you stop in the distance you can see to be clear ?

Here in the UK we are lucky to have further training available to further your riding skills on the road, BikeSafe is run by the local Police Motorcyclists, and then there are the Advanced Motorcycle Organisations to help you further. There is a book called Motorcycle Roadcraft, available here in the UK that will show you the do's and don't, how to address risks and hazards.

As you concentrate on your riding, it will just fall into place, bad days will become the days when your riding is average, the rest of your time you are aware of everything and your riding (the technical part of making the bike go) will just happen, all by itself.

Use a system of Motorcycle control to get you thinking, throughout your next ride subject everything you do to a riding plan, plan for the next junction, plan for the next parked car, for the next traffic light, the next chils, the next dog, cat, elephant, muddy puddle, turn, twist etc etc

1) Position, are you in the right position? can you see what's happening?
2) Speed, is yuor speed right for the hazard ?
3) Gear, are you in the right gear to deal with the manouvre?
4) Acceleration, use the throttle to accelerate from the hazard.

Throughout the whole system, use information around you to adjust your riding plan.

Information - TUG. Take Use Give.

Take in all the information around you, start to look for places you can see a little better, under the lorry to see whats ahead, views to the inside, the out side, look through corners, look for clues (for instance mud on the road could indicate a tractor, or road maintenance vehicle ahead).

Use. All the information to build a picture of what is around the next corner. Most of the time the information is there, you just need to look, and learn. Use the information and adjust your riding plan.

Give. Giving information is as important as taking it, let other road users know what you are doing, lifesavers indicate to many drivers (who might also be a biker?) that you are about to do something. Hand and arm signals to backup an indicator (blinker/flasher) can help if the driver hasn't noticed your flasher in the sun. pulsing the brake light when you are stopped to get the attention of the approching vehicle (behind)

I could go on all day!

The point is, when you think ahead it gives you more time to plan, so you end up riding to a plan rather than a reaction - makes you nice and smoth on the road.

I think this should apply to every rider, not just a newbie...

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www.seeyouwhenwegetthere.com

I think when learning anything new you hit plateaus when no progress seems to be happening, but I think during these times you're developing "muscle memory", being able to carry out actions without concious thought, freeing up brain space for all the other things you need to be considering. If it's not happening, leave it and come back later.
Three deep breaths can sometimes help!

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Anything can happen in the next half hour

Everyone has off days - just look at any sport and players/athletes hit a good run of form then have a bad one once in a while. It happens because we are human. Dont stress over it.

Just take it on the chin and if you're having an off day ride well within your limits and dont push it. A few people have mentioned that voice inside your head... listen to it, it is your friend!

Of course it should say 'stage' not 'atage'.... bl00dy keyboard!