terrified of hills

[iowagrad]

Its not a race so go down at speed you feel comfortable. Now some of us are adrenaline junkie so we push it.

If you are scared by the speed, your ride isn't enjoyable. So slow down. Going down slow does not mean you are a less experienced rider or less fit. It may actually be that you are more prudent then the others. Adrenaline junkies are not prudent. I have shattered both collar bones to prove I wasn't prudent. enjoy your downhill ride at speed you feel comfortable.

smilingcat

So maybe this is a dumb question....but how do I actually slow down? I hit 35-40 mph at one point last summer on a downhill. I couldn't seem to help it. It was a VERY long, fairly steep hill. I was back in my saddle, judiciously braking, etc. I pondered getting off and walking down, but I felt like I couldn't slow my bike down any more to do that. I made it down alive, but I was scared to death. That was the worst one ever for me. I had some other hills that I hit some high speeds on, but I think they were less terrifying because they were straight and I could see the uphills that lay ahead for me. This hill curved at the bottom, and even though I'd driven the road a few times, I still felt like I didn't know what to expect as I looked ahead.

[KnottedYet]

Well it sounds like just about everyone rides a road bike, I don't. My bike is a cross bike of sorts, touring frame and mountain bike handle bars. I can get really terrified of steep straight down hills too and even did some hypnosis to try and cure it. I had some success with that. The fastest I have ever gone downhill is 28 mph. That's probably really slow for most of you and I will only get up to 25 mph most of the time on hills I know well. Any suggestions for me since I like to remain more upright in my decents.

I tend to be slower than that. It's all good, do your own ride and your own speed and tell your riding buddies to lay off.