When I would go down very steep hills I would fear a groundhog or other small animal running out in front of me. When I finally really did crash, afterwards, it was very scary getting back on the bike. A walnut in the middle of the bikeway was enough to give me the hebbie jebbies! But I got over it. I had just one big crash and I have been riding 37 years. That's not a bad average. We have had several people die on our club rides. Some from natural causes and 2 from encounters with vehicles. Its a risky passtime but beats the heck out of television. (If you die on a club ride, you usually get a bench somewhere with your name on.)