Resources for fearful new cyclist

[fallstoclimb]

My fiance has gotten into cycling over the past few years, and we are about to move away from his regular cycling buddy. I'd like to start riding with him, both so we can spend more time together and for my own health, since a bad knee has forced me to mostly quit running. My problem is that I'm terrified of getting hit by a car - I'm scared for him when he goes out, I'm even more scared for me the few times he's taken me on roads (we usually ride on paved trails when we go out together). Are there any resources for new road cyclists who are nervous around cars? It just seems like there are so many ways to get hurt - hit by car, doored, caught in pothole/grate, slip on a gravely curve - but maybe if I felt more confident I wouldn't be as worried.

(I assume this is one of those things where you're more likely to get in a car accident when you're driving a car rather than cycling, but I worry about that too! This is why running was more my speed, until my body let me down.)

[indysteel]

Google League of American Bicyclists and see if they're offering any bicycle education and safety classes in your area. They're just what you're looking for.

Beyond that, it primarily takes practice. I started off by riding on country roads with little traffic and that got me used to being on the road. Bike handling is certainly part of the equation. You need to be able to ride a steady line and to look behind you without veering all over the place. Well-placed mirrors can help with that, although I don't ride with one myself. Learning out to ride defensively in traffic is also part of it. That's not all that different from driving in a car. You have to be watchful at all times. Knowing the rules of the road as they pertain to cyclists also helps, as does wearing high viz clothing and using a good taillight (and other lights if necessary) is also helpful.

[PscyclePath]

Like IndySteel said, check this link and look for a Traffic Skills 101 class near your community.

http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/education/course_schedule.php

The big thing you get out of the course is several hours of coached riding in traffic as well as handling and avoidance drills to make you more confident with your bike, whether you ride streets, trails, or both. Most LCIs will offer "service after the sale," e.g. follow-on coaching and assistance if you need more help going out to dance with the cars ;-)

Tom

[Becky]

Practice, practice, practice. The LAB suggestion is a great one.

Learning how to position yourself in the lane can help too, especially when there's no shoulder. It sounds counter-intuitive but, by riding out into the lane just a little more (maybe a third of the way from the edge), cars will give you a wider berth. If a rider is hugging the edge, a driver may think that they can squeeze by without moving into the oncoming lane, and that's scary! If the driver has to move into the oncoming lane, they'll often give the cyclist a little more space.

Sometimes I'll even "take the lane" (ride right in the middle) if traffic conditions warrant. Like so many other parts of cycling, lane positioning is dependent on conditions.

Good luck!

[Grog]

This web site is fantastic for desk-based education:
http://bicyclesafe.com/
but I strongly support the LAB suggestion as well.

Enjoy!

[MommyBird]

I started road biking again after a 20+ year absence last Fall. My husband started me slow. We would meet at a state park near our house. The park gave me a low traffic area with all the basic elements I would eventually encounter on the country roads around my home. I feel that the park was superior to using a parking lot for this reason. Keep in mind that I still rode a mountain bike all the years I was without a road bike. I did not start from square one.

My first two times out I used platform pedals. Then I got used to my pedals in the park. After that we ventured out on the "real" road just outside the park to extend the ride.

Once I felt confident, we headed out on the "real" roads right out of our driveway. We are blessed to live in the country. The city dwellers have to drive to a park on the edge of town to bypass the traffic and ride on the roads around us.

Now, I go out on my own. I like to be seen so I use front and rear Blackburn Fleas on the flicker setting. I shy away from clothing options that blend in with the surroundings. No green, blue or earthy colors. I prefer hot pink because I have a theory that drivers will be even more careful if they know a rider is female. It's my little delusion but it makes me feel more confident which translates to steadier bike handling.

When my husband, who has been a rider for 20+ years, asks me what color he should get in a jersey or jacket, my standard answer is "does it come in hi-vis?"

Some things my husband and I do to compensate for the disparity in our riding levels...
He goes out for a long ride and comes by the house and I take a shorter loop with him.
We leave together the day after he has had a long training ride and just wants an easy spin.
He takes the lead and I draft the entire ride. If I get dropped on a hill, he doubles back and climbs the hill again or sprints.
We make sure our ride includes a road with a 7 mile stretch of flat rollers that even I can maintain 20+mph on.

I wish we had a bike handling class in our area. I would definitely take one if there were.

I wish I could say that road biking is completely safe. But it is not, just like so many other activities that humans choose to participate in. I have a crazy husband and two boys, I have had a kept a mindset that risk is part of the equation when you choose to do these things. My guys did motocross for years and I can't count the times people asked me why I let my boys do it. I felt sorry for the kids with parents with that type of attitude.

My 17 year old son has just started road biking. I rode with him for the first time this past Saturday. I admit that I prayed a lot but I was also thrilled to be out there with him.

Get out there, develop your riding skills, you will soon get comfortable and suddenly find yourself loving your time on the road.