Nervious Nelly scared of tiny hills

[stella2]

Not even hills really. I get very nervous and stop, dismount and walk my bike down even gentle banks

I have only been riding for 18 days. I never, ever, sat on a bike before then. I am improving a little each time I go out, but I always start out unable to even set off properly and go far without stopping. After 5 or 10 minutes, I can do it all again and, as I said above, I get a little better each time, but is this fear of riding 'down hill' usual? I don't like the feeling of the bike going 'under it's own steam' so to speak! My partner says it will come when I get used to going faster and coasting along faster on the flat. Maybe he's right and I'm stressing unnecessarily. After all I have only just got used to coasting without pedaling at all. Hell, I've only just learned to stop in a controlled way (without a risk of, or actually, throwing myself to the ground).

Anyway, I feel a little pathetic and I wondered if anyone here had this worry when they started out.

[redrhodie]

You are not pathetic! You're doing great! Soon you'll be reminiscing about when you were afraid to go downhill on one of those "share your accomplishment" threads.

Try coasting on the flat some more until it's comfortable, then conquer the hill when it feels right. It's not uncommon to be afraid of going downhill, but most likely, you'll think it's fun once you do it.

[OakLeaf]

Look where you want to go.

Don't look at the ground.

Don't go faster than you're comfortable with, but do learn how to handle your bike.

[Catrin]

What they said Congratulations on your progress in the last 18 days, and it will get easier! I remember being scared at the mere thought of going down-hill, but it does pass - and can even become fun

As Oakleaf said, control of your bike is the most important thing right now - and you WILL go where you look, so don't look at the ground... I just learned how to ride myself 8 months ago, so all of those memories are still quite fresh - and before you know it you will be going down hill without even thinking about it!

[ny biker]

Look where you want to go.

Don't look at the ground.

Don't go faster than you're comfortable with, but do learn how to handle your bike.

Don't forget to breathe.

[hebe]

You will be fine (says she who has only been on tiny inclines). You have a lovely Pashley, don't you, which will probably be a bit keen when gravity's with it. My heavy hybrid is the same, I use the brakes to slow down a bit if I feel the bike is running away with itself.

Well done on getting the stopping sorted!

[stella2]

Thank you girls I need to learn to be patient, never my strong point.

Oh, another thing I have made progress on is that I now do breath. I used to hold my breath for each length of a path I cycled! I was knackered