Afraid of Speed

[Kano]

Jennifer mentions going the same route again and again to build speed. I gotta agree with that! I find that the more familiar I am with a road, the easier it is to go faster. It also helps when I can see for a long distance ahead of me -- someone mentioned keeping your eyes looking on down the road rather than fairly close to you, and she's right. It really does help! Like was also mentioned -- riding on a curve-y down hill stretch is harder too, since you can't see what is around the bend, but oh, on straight shots, where you can see for like a half mile, wow it's like flying!

The exception I've found to looking far far ahead of me while riding: going up hill. If I can't see how much hill is left, it doesn't seem so hard to climb.

Something totally different that I'm wondering about -- I have found that 7 miles an hour or so is really HARD to do! It makes me very wobbly when I'm riding at slower speeds, and it's challenging to keep my speed down that low, unless I'm using my really hard gears or climbing a hill, or there's one heckuva wind pushing at me! May I suggest finding a nice flat open area where you can see everything and trying a bit faster ride to see if you feel more stable, like I do? Gear down to some of the easier ones, not the grannies that are too easy and your legs get out of control, but something pretty easy to spin them fast like the ladies here talk about. You might find that you're much happier when you're going faster!

(I sure understand about a spooky feeling stopping when you're going down hill -- I'm trying, but that front brake scares me a lot!)

Karen in Boise

[7rider]

Gotta agree with SadieKate.
I have a friend who, well, when mountainbiking, used to call out "Pedal, pedal, pedal" and "Speed is your friend."
Speed puts the scary stuff behind you quicker, and on the downhill makes the next uphill easier.
You don't have to bomb down a hill doing a billion miles an hour, but as you get more comfy with the bike and how it behaves on the road, you'll get more comfortable expanding your limits.
Good luck and ...most importantly...have fun!

[CyclChyk]

My hubby likes to call me PuttPutt for that very reason. But I have managed to increase my speed to about 19 on average and 22-23 when I'm feeling froggy. I still break alot but I completely agree that its a comfort / familiarity level with your bike. I've had mine for about a month and a half and the more I ride it the more confident I get. I'll still be called PuttPutt in comparison to my cocky hubby, but give me a couple more months. I'll give him a run for his money!!

Give yourself time. You'll double your speed before you know it!

[mimitabby]

they call YOU putt putt and you average over 19mph!!

i guess that makes me a snail or a slug or something.

[eclectic]

My hubby likes to call me PuttPutt for that very reason. But I have managed to increase my speed to about 19 on average and 22-23 when I'm feeling froggy.

!

Just out of curiosity is that mph or kph? around here if you are doing 22-23 you could ride on the hammer nights!

[Geonz]

For me it can be a little like "being afraid of the ball" when you're trying to catch it. If you're in "fear" mode, you are looking for one thing to pay attention to, because it might hurt you... and pulling attention away from riding smoothly *forward* and being in the process of riding and anticipating. My few attempts at anything like mountain biking have been pretty silly because often you need to speed up to anticipate instead of slowing down.

[eclectic]

Just keep putting the miles on and the fear will eventually subside.

I got my road bike last summer and I was scared of it. I wasn't afraid to go faster on the roads where I could see a long ways and knew what was coming up. I always braked going down hills and any little gravel or debris on the road had me hitting my brakes. I HATED riding in town and would go out of my way to avoid busy streets.

Each time out I got a little more confident.

This summer I have put about 1800 miles on it and I was just thinking last week as I rode it how good and solid it feels now and how I am not afraid of it any more.

My top speed this summer was 40.5 going down a hill I knew well whoo hoo

As a matter of note - the only times I have fallen I have been going less than 5 miles an hour - go figure

[Kitsune06]

I used to be the same way. There are still hills that scare the bejezzus out of me... those are ones that are on gravel roads, with lots of loose, mushy gravel at the bottom. I might suggest using some of the mtn biker tips and tricks on descents until you feel better and more secure about your speed. i.e. move back a little and maybe even out of your seat a touch, with your pedals at 3 and 9. I'll be corrected if I'm wrong (I'm sure) but even though those are used to cushion blows and reduce the chance of endo, on descents they really do add to your ability to balance, and the way you 'feel' the speed, as well. I wouldn't necessarily reccomend it on a group ride, but while you're acclimating yourself to speed, I'd give it a shot.

[CyclChyk]

Please allow me to clarify as my thought process and typing were aparently on different planets (I'll blame it on blonde roots). I do about 17-19mph on average road; 21-23 on hills. My hubby is VERY competitive so he pushes me for all I've got. However my average speed for hills and road combined over a 12-14 mile run is only about 14mph. That's why I am nicknamed "PuttPutt".

[eclectic]

Please allow me to clarify as my thought process and typing were aparently on different planets (I'll blame it on blonde roots). I do about 17-19mph on average road; 21-23 on hills. My hubby is VERY competitive so he pushes me for all I've got. However my average speed for hills and road combined over a 12-14 mile run is only about 14mph. That's why I am nicknamed "PuttPutt".

Thanks for clarifying i thought WOW that gal is cruising and her husband is calling her puttputt! I'd never even show my face!

you wouldn't be nicknamed putt putt around here 14mph is very respectable

[CyclChyk]

14mph is very respectable

Thanks Electric - I needed that!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I've been riding for only about 3 months now. I too fear high speeds, especially downhill.
But I don't worry, experience will fix all that. I see little improvements in my riding every week. I just enjoy riding my bike.

Yesterday while I was breezing down an open sunny country road on my bike past a field of those wonderful giant hay roll bales. Suddenly there was a big highway dept flashing sign temporarily set up there on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.

As I pedalled past, the sign lights blinked at me threateningly:

"YOU...ARE...GOING...(blink blink blink)...13 MPH!" Too funny.

Had to stop myself from "slamming on my brakes" in an automatic guilt reaction.

[Looeez]

There are some really big hills on my way to work (5 miles each way) and I too am really scared of going fast download hill and brake constantly. I worry that even though I'm looking ahead for cars that they might not see me. I don't know what speed I ride. Working it out based on the distance and the time taken on my usual commute I would say it's around a snailspace of 8 mph.

I'm hoping as I get more experience and keep going I will eventually improve. I don't really want to push myself too hard to the point where I'm not enjoying cycling. I figure that after 20 years of not having touched a bike then just commuting to work is a pretty good start. I really enjoy commuting at a leisurely pace and it still works out faster than the bus I used to take.

I should probably add that my bike is definately not built for speed - it a cruiser sort of thing, that looks like the basic bikes everyone uses in Europe except the tyres are fat. I really love it and because it was cheap I'm not too precious about it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It is obviously wise to maintain a speed at which one feels they still have control over their bike. Higher speed comes naturally later on, with more skill and control. I don't worry about speed- I do what feels good. It's a yucky feeling to feel like your bike might skid out of control!

[RoadRaven]

When I first started I wouldn't go over 20kph on the straightest bit of downhill road...

Two years later, I take gentle curves and bends on the road at around 35-40kph, and on straight long stretches I pedal madly til I get over 50kph and then tuck right down and coast at times up to 65-70kph - my fastest speed down hill is about 73kph

Its about gaining confidence in yourself, and in your bike... its about that 'relationship' developing between the two of you and you knowing what the two of you can achieve together.

Going fast isn't for everyone, and I have probably reached my limit (my eldsest sons and my partner take my 30kph corners at over 50)

Just allow yourself time to feel how downhills are and if you feel ok, you will go faster - if you don't like speed, that is cool too.

You and your ride should be about you enjoying your ride - its that simple.

Ride hard - but have fun