*ALMOST* did it...

[LovesFrance]

OK, I took a short ride yesterday (only about 10 miles), but that included what I really went out there for: a MEGA hill. [To put this hill in perspective: You know the Wall in Manayunk at the US Pro Cycling Championship? Well, I live in that neighborhood so this is not quite as steep but similar. The whole area is filled with hills like this!]

So I started up feeling strong and great, until the cars started to pass. I'm in a fairly easy gear, and I hear DH yell, "Car," (he knows how skiddish I am about traffic), and I'm pedaling my arse off on this narrow road and I'm feeling out of control to begin being in this gear and I start to panic a bit about the car. This throws me off and I chicken out. Long story short: I walk about 1/5th of the way up, but get back on the bike and finish the steepest hill I've ever climbed. So, semi-victory!

Now, to keep working on the car fear!

[chrisanna]

Hey France - GREAT job out there!!

Your first experience on that hill was every bit of what I went thru last year . I got nervous on the hills, too - And then, while you're in the middle of this a car shows up!!!

Each time you do that hill, you'll get stronger and learn more about your skills/breathing...and the hill that proves tough this season will be a mere humpy--dee--hump to power up and over next season!

ps - I have found that when I know a car is approaching, I concentrate on: the road directly in front, my relaxed breathing and maintaining cadence. Sounds like juggling, but it all comes together quite well.

Chrisanna

[annie]

LovesFrance,

You did great! It's more than you had done before, right? So that's a really good accomplishment.

I have a hill I have to go up if I come home from a certain direction. It's a narrow road, steep hill and, I swear, every time I get to the blind curve in the road, there's a car behind me. I stay as far over as I safely can, hold my line, listen really hard to hear if there is a car coming in the opposite direction, and just try and relax and spin. As long as the car can see I am moving predictably, not swerving out into the road, I feel I am safe as I can be. Remember, you have as much right to be on that road as the cars.

annie

[ChainsOflove]

You are very brave. I am terrified of cars. good job!

[Dogmama]

Awhile ago, I took the Effective Cycling course. They said that cars hitting us from behind represent 7% of all accidents. Intersections are much more dangerous.

The biggest cause of cycling accidents? Cyclists running into each other!

[ChainsOflove]

I dont know, I heard of a hideous accident that happened in Manhattan. Driver was real nasty.

[Irulan]

a kid on our local road team was jr. olympic material. On one of the training rides, (signs on rural road warning cars that there were bikes on the road that day) and gramma came up from behind, knocked him into the air , and he died in a week. The first riders to get to him were a neurosurgeon and racer, and a nusre. The LOL ( little old lady) was fined $250, no murder charge.

Cooper Jones (http://www.baddlands.org/cooper_jones/jones.htm)

It's been very interesting how his parents have chosen to turn this into an advocacy "share the road" awareness campaign.

Irulan

[Dogmama]

In Tucson, if you hit and kill a cyclist, the fine is $1,000. If you just hurt the cyclist, the fine is $500.

I believe the fine for killing elk out of season is more than that.