Getting over fears

[bikefam2]

I love cycling but my fears are getting to me... :( Has anyone experienced fears of downhills and traffic?

[Kerry1976]

Traffic for me, as I'm a newbie on my first ever road bike who is learning to clip in and just learned how to ride a bike whereon my butt doesn't sit in the seat at the same time my feet touch the ground. So starting/stopping is new, too.

[Biciclista]

oh yes. Took me a long time to relax on downhills. Drove my DH crazy. (DH= Dear Husband)
I'm still not fast on downhills, but i'm not squeaking all the way down the hills anymore either.

Welcome to TE Bikefam2!

[Catrin]

Welcome to TE!

As with most things, exposure is the way to deal with fear - in a considered day. Is there someplace you can ride that is low traffic, like a park with roads or access to country roads? Do you have someone who can ride with you from time to time? These things do help.

[Melalvai]

I'm interested in this topic because after I went got past my panic attacks related to my daughter's wreck, next I thought "I wonder if there is a way to not be afraid of bridges or spiders?" I kind of looked on the web briefly but didn't see anything obvious right away. If you know of any methods for that, I'd love to be able to see a spider without yelping, and to be able to go across a bridge on my bike without trembling.

[marni]

on the southern tier cross country I did, there was a woman who was terrified of bridges, to the point where she would wait for the SAG wagon to catch up and transport her across. We finally designated a different rider each day to ride across the bridge with her, both singing at the top of their voices. By the time we were half way through texas, she was riding the bridges on her own.

Is there any point in singing yourself across the bridge, something upbeat and cheerful? Might that help?

[channlluv]

I actually laid my bike down trying to avoid a truck once -- I was clipped in and turning left onto a bike path, he was turning left into the lane I was about to cross, I couldn't stop very well - still learning clipping in and out at that point -- and I just fell over. He didn't hit me. I got up and walked my bike over to the sidewalk while the truck and car behind him waited on me to move out of the street.

I was embarrassed and a little banged up, but it made me focus more on stopping and unclipping at traffic lights and stop signs.

Roxy

[Catrin]

I am not afraid of "regular" bridges, but I am terrified of the mere thought of riding over one of those iron bridges that don't have a concrete or asphalt deck over the metal. I am unsure if I could even make myself ride over one, though I suppose that when I am finally faced with one that I will have no choice...Thankfully there are not many of those around :o

All of that being said, I have never ridden over a high-traffic bridge.

[Crankin]

Melavai, it's called exposure therapy, or desensitization. Look up specific phobia disorder.

I still get nervous when 1) I am riding in an unfamiliar area and I don't know what is coming and 2) downhills. I am better than I used to be, and I just force myself to go. Sometimes that means I am the last person down a hill, but at least I know I'm not going to be the last person up the other side :).
Once I decide to do something, I do it.

[bikefam2]

Thanks to everyone, I'm so glad to hear that I'm not alone! :) I'm rode around a slightly less traveled road yesterday and made myself conquer my fear of traffic. I admit I was a bit shakey, but told myself to do it! And I did!!! I wasn't able to tackel the downhill yet, but I'm hoping that I will get enough courage to go for it!!

This Saturday is my very first ever 'shop' ride, it's an easy route, I'm nervous but excited all in one! Wish me luck. :D

Thanks for the welcome, to TE, what a great place to share our experiences and have support!!

[indigoiis]

I have never had any problem bombing down hills - to the point where my husband, a seasoned rider from way back, considered me reckless. Since I am such a scaredy cat about other things, his comment made me back off a little on hills. But my feeling is, no matter if you are going fast or slow, when you fall, it's going to hurt.

On the other hand, I am a complete wimp on my mountain bike. Last year because of a fear I made a stupid mistake and ended up getting hurt because of it. So fear can sometimes cause you to over-react which can be problematic.

I think you have to take it in small doses and embrace it. Shove that scaredy cat girl out in front of you and promise that you have her back. Take little bites. When in traffic, take a lane and make bold hand signals. Nothing gives you more confidence than communicating via hand signals to a driver you can see and who sees you. Then ride home, and try a little more tomorrow.

On hills, start with small ones and practice getting out of your seat, crouching like a cat, using your knees to stablize the top tube, kinda like a Pilates crouch where your body is weighted evenly over the bike, tuck the head a bit, look straight ahead, and go for it, feathering your brakes evenly.

If you do that, I promise not to screech so much crossing sand on my mountain bike. :D

[Karma007]

Traffic in suburban neighborhoods. 2 years ago I was hit by a car, and even now, riding in suburbia- driveways, cars parked on the side of the road, intersections etc. make me a little nervous. Riding with other people and going at my own pace helps. It's taken a long time, but now I would say my 'nervous' vs 'timid'. Just keep riding, it'll come.

[nscrbug]

This is my 3rd full season of riding, and I still have a slight fear of certain roads that we ride. One road, in particular, is a 2-lane in a wooded area with a very narrow (if any) shoulder. I've ridden this road countless times without any problems, but it still makes me nervous. If it weren't for the fact that it is the only way to get to the better riding roads, I would avoid it. It's not so bad when we are heading out, because it's very early and traffic is light. But when we are on our way back home, it's later and everyone is out by then so traffic is much heavier. Of all the roads that "go through" to get back home, it actually seems to be the safest option compared to the other roads.

[indysteel]

I'm okay in traffic for the most part, but I can get freaked out on technical or fast downhills. I did a long downhill in Tennessee in the rain a few years ago that I swear took a year off my life. It was all I could do to coax myself down, I was shaking so hard.

You might look into whether the League of American Bicyclists is offering a Traffic 101 class in your area. That's a good way to gain some confidence and skills.

[lawnchick22]

But my feeling is, no matter if you are going fast or slow, when you fall, it's going to hurt. :D


Now, that's just funny...true too!

That's my mentality.

[jelee1311]

Hi and welcome to TE! I used to be afraid of hills due to a biking accident when I was a kid. I got over it by just riding them over and over,and getting on bigger hills as I got more confident. Now going downhill is like dessert and I love them! I'm still a little nervy about roads with no shoulder when I'm by myself but I'm getting over that too. Riding on newbie rides with a local club helped me as well. The more you ride the easier it gets.

[Biciclista]

. But my feeling is, no matter if you are going fast or slow, when you fall, it's going to hurt.
:D

Maybe ignorance (of physics) is bliss? I've seen the difference between falling at over 40mph and falling at 10mph...

[bikefam2]

Great to know that you didn't like going downhill either and now it's like dessert. Love that! :)

[westtexas]

I LOVE going downhill. It's the best part of my ride everyday. Right before The Big Hill back to the road to my neighborhood, I get to ride down all the hills I struggled to get up at the beginning of my ride. I've gotten up to speeds of 35mph on them. It is wicked fun. I highly recommend it.

Traffic, however, is another story. I think trying to make yourself as visible as possible is the key. I don't wear cycling jerseys (can't really afford them anyway), so I always choose t-shirts that are very bright in color. I have reflective strips on my shoes, my helmet and my shorts. Even when the sun is still up enough that cars don't have their lights on but it is setting in the west, I turn on my rear and front blinkers, which are ultrabright. I always look behind me before make left turns and I always signal. I have a lot of respect for riders who follow the rules of the road (and thus make drivers respect us more). I ride on a 55mph, 70mph and 45mph road, as well as cross a 60mph major highway (at a light) during my 12 mile ride. The more you do it, the more fearless you become, within reason of course!

Good luck!

[bikefam2]

My very first shop ride was this past Saturday and I was nervous, but after the first 10 mins I started to relax and WOW, was it fun! It was a beginners ride, and I rode with awesome ladies who encouarged me all the way, but most of all I went downhill!! :D I was proud of myself...the traffic wasn't too bad but still a bit scary...:eek: I also had a bike fit and now my seat is way up! I'm a bit nervous about that (not sure why?) but I thinking I have to practice clipping in and out again. Did anyone get a bit freaked out when you had a set adjustment, or raised a full 2 1/2 inches! :confused:

[clarkbar]

I'm afraid of hills and traffic plus I have a hard time with left hand singles. Afraid cause the bike wobbles. Suggestions?

[bikefam2]

I'm not to thrilled with downhills and traffic either, and find that I have a hard time with the hand singles. It does cause the bike to wobble. I'm getting a lot of advice from people around me who are serious riders & racers and they say to practice practice practice!! So I'm riding in an area where I feel comfortable...plus I have to get use to my new bike fit....:o

[Velocivixen]

I have increased my doses of downhills slowly. I literally talk myself through them. I tell myself to hold on to the hand grips, relax my shoulders, breathe (not hold my breath), scan ahead for rocks, sticks, potholes, etc.. I remind myself that there is no reason why I will crash (my fear is that I'll lose control and crash!). I tell myself, "see, you're doing fine, no worries, this is refreshing". When I'm smiling at the bottom of the slope I congratulate myself on a job well done! Hey, whatever works right?

[linzq]

Oh, I'm so glad to see this thread.

I'm a bit nervous of riding in traffic - mainly it's the clipless thing and the thought of falling INTO traffic!

And I'm glad this is a safe place to admit it -- I've been feeling a bit "girly" about the whole thing! Thanks for the tips. I'm hoping that soon I'll be able to advise others too!

[Catrin]

Oh, I'm so glad to see this thread.

I'm a bit nervous of riding in traffic - mainly it's the clipless thing and the thought of falling INTO traffic!

And I'm glad this is a safe place to admit it -- I've been feeling a bit "girly" about the whole thing! Thanks for the tips. I'm hoping that soon I'll be able to advise others too!

You could hold off on the clipless thing until you are more comfortable riding in traffic. There is no shame in platform or BMX pedals - just a thought. That way you only have to adjust to one thing at a time, not two :)

[Ruby]

Slowly working through my fear of clipless pedals also. First ride in my clipless yesterday through town traffic-I was very nervous!! Rattled myself a few times- first set of lights I had to stop at, I clipped out fine, but I had trouble pushing off again and couldn't get my foot back on the pedal, let alone clipped in! tried twice, wobbled around and looked silly, then got off the bike in the middle of the intersection and walked it off to the sidewalk to collect myself. Was very proud of myself for not falling off. Felt really nervous at roundabouts and intersections after this however, and mostly pulled off to the side and waited until there was no traffic before I pushed off again. Will be getting up nice and early tomorrow when there is no traffic to practice these same roundabouts and intersections.

[Roseisarose]

I'm afraid of bridges, hills and other cyclists.

The hills are either trying to kill me when I'm going up because I start to wobble, or they are trying to kill me when I'm going down because of the flying.

I love riding over the bridges in Portland, but during rush hour I'm so pokey and there are all these flying cyclists and I'm in the way so I'm afraid I'll fall off the bridge.

I'm just going along though with the fears.

Rose

[Bethany1]

So glad I found this post. Nice to know I'm not the only one who gets scared. I've only been biking for a little over two weeks so everything is new.

My son can go down hills at top speed leaving me to eat his dust. He can do 35mph on one of them. I haven't been brave enough to attempt going down that hill. Most I've ever done is 21 mph down a hill. Usually it's about 12-13mph as I panic when going through the neighborhood intersections and almost come to a complete stop. To be 15 again with no fear like my son would be nice.

I'm getting better at hills since my entire town is built on them. I may be going only 5mph and having to stop to rest, but I figure as long as I'm not walking with my bike up the entire way, it's all good. Some of the hills are a 1/2 mile in length so it's a long walk if needed.

I have two major highways intersecting town with semis/trucks/cars going 60mph so it was scary the first time I went down into town. What really scared me was that my son didn't tell me the overpass bridge narrowed to nothing leaving you open in the right lane. I had to wait until it was safe and pray that I could go fast enough not to terrify drivers or myself. I made it and was really proud of myself, but don't plan on doing that ride until I'm faster. As you get closer into town, the roads narrow again leaving no space for a bike and a vehicle to be in the lane. I just have to go off into a side street to get home.

Today I made it to 18mph down the highway back home. I just said "get over it" and went.

Biggest issue so far is that my mountain bike sucks in town and does great out on the graveled rural roads. There isn't a decent middle ground yet.

[Reesha]

Best way to deal with a downhill no brakes? Scream "WOOOOOHOOOOOO!" at the top of your lungs as you descend. Start on smaller hills first though and work your way up!

Totally works (and I'm STILL overcoming my fear of downhills)

[Sky King]

I have been riding since before some of your were born and I still have to practice deep breathing and relaxing my shoulders when I come down a hill that has railroad tracks at the bottom. I have never crashed on tracks but my DH lost his front wheel going over tracks many years ago and my daughter just destroyed her rear wheel when it slipped into the rail in the rain last week. Fear is healthy sometimes as it keeps us from getting to complacent. Good luck, you will do fantastic.

[maryellen]

Nice to know I'm not the only one who gets scared. I've only been biking for a little over two weeks so everything is new.

Bethany, what you are doing is amazing for 2+ weeks!

[Lavigne]

I'm so glad I found this thread. I thought I was the only newbie having to learn how to clip in, start, unclip, stop, turn, etc. I actually had to LEARN to remember that I have brakes. My biggest fear right now is making a u-turn on a street without a shoulder. I was successful at it a couple of times in my neighborhood on my second ride, then I tried it on my third ride and hit the concrete (got some road rash on my leg AND my beautiful Orbea). I'm not ready to ride in high traffic areas yet and I'm no where near ready to try hills (which we don't have many of in south Louisiana).

My husband bought a bike for me so I could ride with him. I have a total of 63 miles in four rides so far. Each time gets a little better, but I have a long way to go.

Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone. ;)

[Antaresia]

I'm new , I'm afraid, but I'm doing it anyway.

I read the "crazy drivers" posts. Whenever I tell someone about my new bike they relate to me the time they got hit by a car, or how their buddy died. A good friend of mine lost control of his bike once and ended up with some pretty serious nerve damage. I think someone beeped at me in traffic today, but ffs I had to take the center lane (I didn't cut anyone off) because I *live* here and I know the right-turn-only lane disappears after the intersection, and I'm NOT tuning right fu fu fffffuuuuu...

My friend, who had the really bad accident, is still riding. He's really encouraging of my new found zest for biking. For me, it is scary, but it's *worth* it. Oddly it helps me to think "well, I could die of some other thing tomorrow, might as well live it up".

And I have never met a down-hill I haven't breaked on.

[Dogmama]

Traffic - as Westtexas said - wear very bright clothing. Yellow is most visible against black streets - be very bright. Hot pink, lime green, bright reds.

Signal all of your intentions. Act like a slow moving vehicle. Ride WITH the traffic, never against it. Think about how you drive. When you come to a stop sign, you look left because that's where the traffic is coming from. More cyclists get hit because the driver isn't expecting anything coming from their right.

In a bike lane, ride closer to the LEFT of the lane rather than hugging the curb. Drivers merging into your lane will see you easier (they often won't crane their necks all the way over to the curb. Also, you stay out of the debri = less flat tires. Any trees or other shrubbery blocking their view of you will be less likely to do so.

Coming up to an intersection where you have the green light or right of way - if I think somebody is going to do something stupid (I can see the driver is texting, eating or otherwise not looking at me), shift into an easier gear where you are pedaling faster and slowly apply the brakes so you can stop if you need to. Drivers think bicycles = slow but if you're pedaling faster, they think you are actually going faster. Be prepared to stop.

Unclip - I always unclip with my left foot. That way, I can't fall into traffic.

I took an Effective Cycling course through my community college that taught me these things & lots of other tips. I recommend it.

[MollyJ]

This thread could have been designed for me.

When I got my new bike, I avoided my favorite down hill for at least TWO Months. Just went down it in the last week. Frankly, I did a lot of braking. It's a faster down hill (I live in Kansas--how bad can the hills be) that curves.

Nonetheless my ED experiences give me lots of bad mind pictures and so I know that my fears are not groundless. Road rash with asphalt in it. and oral-dental trauma. I HATED oral-dental trauma as an ED nurse having spent more than my fair share of time in the dentist's chair.

But what is that with bridges? Like a river monster is going to grab you pull you over the bridge's edge? But me, too, and my fearless DH too.

In Kansas the wind is strong enough to push you around.

My motto is breathe and push through. Do the things that scare you under the most optimal conditions possible. Low traffic. Dry roads. Reduce your speed but like some other posters, low speed can make things worse so keep moving.

I would love a safety oriented bike ed class but doubt that my little LBS sponsors such things.

I need to do a ride with other riders which I could do through the LBS. Believe it or not, that's one of my fears. Riding with other riders so that I know where my puny self measures up. I am not a competitor but I have gotten to where I am by improving compared to myself. Competitive people crush my spirit and led me to see myself (when much younger) as a not coordinated, non-competitive person. All of that is true but it crunched me down so much that I didn't try to be physical and everyone has to try to find a way to be physical--our bodies are meant to be in motion.

So this thread has helped me to see the way ahead. Yep. It's a group ride. I also have a goal to ride to a nearby town but my two flat tires have made me see that I have to have a someone who can come and get me if my bike goes wheels up (or I do). My other bike _never_ had flats and I felt I could ride anywhere and be okay. Silly, lucky me.

Great thread.

[Bethany1]

I have a new fear. The rickety straight plank bridge near my house. It's the best shortcut to my house but yesterday I got the back wheel stuck between the planks and nearly crashed face first. I think I'll take the longer way around instead of trying to be cool. It's at the bottom of the a hill so it's hard to get the angle right.

I'm thinking of dumping the clipless pedals. I nearly fell into traffic trying to stop yesterday and forgot I had my feet in. I LOVE the shoes and the idea, but the pedals suck, even if you have normal pedals on the side. Can I just take out the cleats on the shoes? Hate to waste the 80 bucks I spent on the pedals though. That would mean a 20 mile trip up to the LBS just for 5 dollar pedals. Ick.

The last is the fear of frustration. DH says I push myself too hard, but it's no fun going out a mile and having to come back so you can make it up the two/three hills to get back home and you've been doing it for weeks. And those are the "gentle" ones.

I'm seriously considering an a) electric bike or b) buying a gas engine kit to put on my mountain bike. My neighbors would just love to have me riding around town sounding like a lawn mower or weedwacker. The guy I met at Taco Bell in Lincoln yesterday has one and loves his. We talked for about 10 minutes about engines and how to put one in your bike until my DH showed up for our lunch date.

[Owlie]

Bethany, what kind of pedals do you have? If they're the platform/SPD ones, just take the cleats out of your shoes. If they're "regular" clipless pedals, swap them for platforms next time you go to your LBS, or if your bike came with the toe cage-equipped pedals that you swapped out, take off the toe cages (they're held on by a couple of screws.)

As for the hills, I understand. Give yourself permission to walk. They'll get easier as you keep riding. It may not seem that way, and it may take a while, but you'll be able to ride up those hills eventually.

[MollyJ]

Bethany, I am beginning to understand why bike "nuts" have more than one bike. Apologies to any one who might fit this description. But today I rode my beautiful bike on paved roads in the county. I even passed a lady who was far more fit than I. I went the furtherest on a bike I have ever gone. I rode 38.5 miles. It was windy because this is KS. I had a great ride. And my clipless shoes help me work with my bike in the most amazing way. It's why I got the bike I got. I told the guy I wanted a bike that would let me go further in less time. Ta-da. It was perfect.

BUT if I did most of my riding in town, I'm not sure the clipless shoes would be worth the hassle. I have had my new bike for probably two months now and I'm really starting to feel at home on it. It really took that long and I'd say I'm not there yet. I have to be pretty conscious about my clipping in town.

And conversely, this bike isn't the bike to run errands on. It's expensive enough that (even though I have a bike lock) I worry about it getting ripped off.

How can I be thinking about "another bike" at this point in my love affair with my Madone, and yet...

Bethany, if you don't have a trip odometer on your bike get one. They help you notice how you are getting better compared to yourself. I also have a Polar FT7 Heart rate monitor and so I also monitor my heart rate and calorie burn on my rides.

And, I spent two years riding my ancient Raleigh down many of the same roads I rode today. I have come a long way from someone who thought an 8-10 mile ride was pretty good (and it was when I first did it).

So trick your bike out so you are doing the kind of riding you want to do. Think about what kind of riding you want to do and where you want to do it. And do that. But track your miles and your tolerance and your average speed. If you keep at it, it will get better.