True Confessions

[mimitabby]

i think a fear of ice is a good thing. a guy i know was going slow because he knew it was icy and he still fell and broke his hip.

[Veronica]

It takes time to overcome fear. I fell down a twenty foot cliff last June stepping off my mountain bike. Now I notice every "cliff", even when I'm riding on the road and have two big lanes between me and the drop off! I still get that tingle of apprehension running through my gut. It p!sses me off, that I can't just make the fear go away, but I think it's normal.

Give yourself time.

V.

[tulip]

You live in a place with lots of cold and ice. I recommend getting studded tires and putting them on a winter bike. They are fantastic. Nokian (NOT the phone company--common mistake) makes the best studded tires with carbide studs, but there are less expensive brands, too.

Not to add to your worries, but it's also best to stay away from puddles because you don't know how deep they are. The water could disguise a deep rut or pothole.

[Tuckervill]

Time will help.

I was attacked by a German Shepherd once--I went into his yard behind my brother, who didn't tell the dog I was coming. It didn't bite me, but it was in my face, snarling and it probably would have hurt me had my brother not stopped it. I have never been so scared in my life. For quite a while after that (years), I couldn't go near a dog that I didn't know, and any kind of bark that I heard would produce that feeling in my gut.

That feeling faded pretty well, and now I have 3 dogs in my house. Now I know what *not* to do with a strange dog, just like you know to get off and walk when there's ice. There's no shame in being safe, but it would be sad if you quit. You will gain more experience and the feeling will fade. Just don't give up.

Karen

[Melalvai]

I have a psychologist friend who says if you have a bad experience with something, it is important to get out and do it again right away before your brain has a chance to make a bad association with that thing. She ate a peach once that had maggots in it. She immediately got another peach, cut it open and made herself eat it, because she always loved peaches and she didn't want to hate them forever.

She did the same thing when she had a bad experience on an airplane. It had to make an unexpected landing.

I believe she has more balls than I.

[Geonz]

I would also recommend getting studded tires - but even if you don't, here's what I would do, which is what most folks' parents did to teach their kiddos to drive in the snow.

Go out to a parking lot and gradually test your courage where the cars aren't there. If you need to, get knee and elbow pads. (I bought 'em but actulaly never put 'em on.) Teach through experience that water does not pick you up and bodily hurl you to the ground.

I have to laugh at myself sometimes because I'll *have* to go through a spot that's got a layer of snow or ice... and I'll get used to it and plug right along. Then things will clear up... and when I see the next spot, NO!! I'm out there avoiding it like the plague... so I steel myself...

Falls can be life-changing... but fear of falling can cause a fall or an accident, too. (That's why I got the Nokian Hakkelpiittas... gotta go check that spelling again... ) I luv my studs. I had second thoughts after I dumped that hundred bucks on 'em during the one single solitary heavy snow we had last year. Snork. This year... I am *so* glad I have them. (Welp, I also sold my car between then and now, so it's the bike or the bus and the bike is cheaper and more fun.)

(Mountain biking? SNORK! I *once* did the easiest not even a mtb trail, just off road a little bit. My freak threshold is just too low... more power to you who try!!!! )

[Crankin]

Well, I think a certain amount of fear is good, but that's why I'm not a good mountain biker. I am also on the verge of "old age" and I already have osteopenia. I've had a few crashes that ended up being nothing, but a bad fall would not be good for my bones. But, on to your issue. You live somewhat near me and I can say for sure that roads are the worst I've seen them in 17 years. We went out for a 20 mile ride 2 weeks ago. There were a lot of puddles and pot holes like I have never seen. Not so much right around my house, but in the next town, which was particularly bad. I grazed one puddle which must have had a pot hole under it and my bike started shimmying and I almost went down. I was able to control it, but it was scary because we were on a main road, with cars. I was riding my hybrid, which is heavy compared to my road bike. I saw lots of people out on road bikes that day and I can't believe they were having a good time!
The advice given about the tires is good, but I would ask myself what are your limits for riding? Some days it's just not worth it. I would not ride on some of the roads around here when there was snow or ice on them. You have to decide what's important: riding no matter what or taking a bit of a cautious attitude when it's really bad out.

[invsblwmn]

Like others, I think some fear is healthy. If it prevents you from doing what you love, keep facing the fear with the new tires until you feel you have mastered the situation. I try to distract myself. I have had a couple of accidents in the last year. After the first one, I was sooo paranoid about trucks. I would sing, curse, and give the princess wave whenever necessary to deal with the fear when it rose its ugly head. I know when I can ride again, facing fear of every ped xing could be a challenge. As a former therapist and ugly accident survivor, all I know is to face what I fear with knowledge until I fear it no more. Good luck to you. Take care. Don't give in.