What they all said...repitition and looking ahead and where you want to go.

I'm getting better. I can handle about 35mph if I know the road and/or can see that the road surface is in good condition. Otherwise, I ride the brakes and stand in awe at the pros in the peleton that travel those speeds with other riders near by. [[Shudder]]

I rode on a trip with a woman who skewed to being one of the slowest riders in the group, if not the slowest. That is, until we came down the mountain pass. Nearly everyone rode their brakes on the way down, but not her--she never hit the brakes once. As a former downhill skier she had no fear and blew us all away.

I'm convinced it is all perception--if you think it is too fast, it is; if you think it is fun, it will be. I'm still working on the latter.