I want to ride on beautiful rural roads.... but cars scare me.

[KnottedYet]

I use my dingy-bell from behind, then holler "one bike, passing on your left" when I'm close enough that they'll hear me, but well before my front wheel is anywhere near them. (I like my front wheels... I also like my facial bones right they way they are! )

Froglegs: congratulations!! Sounds like a lovely ride, and a very considerate car when your water bottle went AWOL.

[latelatebloomer]

As my buddy Trekhawk says, Good on you, mate! A toast to you for facing your fear and letting friends help you through it. MANY happy miles to you! (another little tip - yoga/stretching to keep your back and neck nice and flexie, so that quick look behind you is fluid, easy, and has a lot of range.)

[emily_in_nc]

froglegs,

Congratulations on your rural ride! I too have been struggling with this fear. I used to ride 1000s of miles yearly on rural roads with very little fear, but I had a serious accident (fractured my pelvis in three places) when two dogs ran out at me on a rural road about 6 miles from home in April '05. After my surgery and recovery, I was just getting back to tentatively riding again that fall, when my father died in an auto accident (also on a rural road near his farm) in Oct. '05. After that, I couldn't bring myself to ride on the road for a long, long time. I just felt way too vulnerable. I took up mountain biking in early summer of 2006, but didn't get back out on my road bike until August of '06, and the first few rides I was almost shaking from fear.

I still struggle with occasional anxiety when I am out there on the road, especially about the possibility of a dog or dogs running out, and to a lesser extent over cars and trucks, but I'm dealing with it the best I can. And the more I ride, the less I get overwhelmed by fear. I've definitely lost my innocence, but if that makes me a safer, more careful rider, then that is a silver lining in all this. I just can't let my life be ruled by fear, no matter how tempting it sometimes is! I'd just miss riding too much -- my passion for this activity runs very deep.

Emily

[RoadRaven]

Hey hey hey again froglegs!

Wll done, glad you enjoyed it, glad you had a go

I am a big fan of rural roads... pleased you have found them to be not soooo daunting

[elk]

I wanna go too...;-) You've inspired me.