How do you get past your demons?

[bike4ever]

Long story short, one of my good friends crashed very hard about 10 days ago on a trail I ride regularly. I cleared three water bars (small jumps) then looked for her behind me. She wasn't there. She seriously landed on her face. I didn't see her go down, but I ran back up the trail to her week calls of help.

I got her to the ER with many stitches on her cheek, chin and inside her mouth. She crushed her helmet. She had a concussion and took staples in her arm.

So this morning, I was leading a small group in the same area. I originally did not want to do the same trail - wanted to turn before the jumps. Since we were running out of time for one person, I lead us down the same trail. I figured I could push through the sight. I completely and totally froze at the 2nd water bar (the one she crashed on originally). I was so ticked at myself and ended up in tears by the bottom of the trail.

So how do you rid yourself of cycling demons? I'm thinking I will go backwards on this trail Thursday to climb her crash sight as opposed to descending it. Maybe I'll got up, down, up and down again multiple times. Suggestions?

[mimitabby]

You just have to keep trying. When a TE friend here had an accident I became rather phobic about certain areas and I wasn't even involved in the accident. You have to keep trying and eventually (if you WANT to) you'll get through it.
sorry to hear about your friend!

[singletrackmind]

Same way as you did when you first started riding things you don't like, keep at it. Ok, what mimitabby said. It comes back but sometimes it takes a little bit of trying and a little bit of having your mind happen to be off topic when you go through it to the point you don't really realize 'til you've already got by.

Like when you're chasing someone down the trail and there's no time to think.

Hope your friend is doing well.

[bike4ever]

Thanks for the help. I knew you guys would pull through. The stinker on this whole thing is my friend has no recollection of the events once she crashed. She doesn't remember the day until later that night after she returned home from the ER. I on the other hand remember everything.

[Tabby]

Yeah, I'm sorry to hear about your friend, too. If you aren't comfortable riding the area (even at a slower pace than normal), walk it. You'll get back to it in your usual fashion ... back to baby steps. That may seem rather symplistic ... I'm a beginner, but sounds like it would help.

Have you talked with your friend about it? How does she feel about getting herself back on a bike when she's better? Is it an area you gals can walk to together? I'm just tossing out questions as ideas. Keep us posted on your progress.

[bike4ever]

Tabby - thanks for the suggestions. She a professional road racer so she's been back on the bike for a week now. She's off to Superweek tomorrow in Wisconsin. I've been riding since now also - just have issues with that one part of our popular trail.