True Confessions

[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.

[redrhodie]

Half a dozen falls in 18 months is a lot! I'd be scared, too. Is it always ice related? Is it always on the same bike?

Because you haven't sustained serious injury so far is no reason to convince yourself your fear is unfounded. You've been lucky. You hit your head! I'm worried for you!

Also, those things you've mentioned that are making you feel like a wuss (not going through puddles, and slowing down to 10-12 miles an hour) are how you're supposed to ride on ice. Those are good bike skills. That's what you're supposed to be doing. It will add time to your commute, but if you were in a car, your commute would also take longer. Ice deserves your respect.

[mimitabby]

Also, those things you've mentioned that are making you feel like a wuss (not going through puddles, and slowing down to 10-12 miles an hour) are how you're supposed to ride on ice. Those are good bike skills. That's what you're supposed to be doing. It will add time to your commute, but if you were in a car, your commute would also take longer. Ice deserves your respect.

+++++

[shootingstar]

Mimitabby has made a good point, that perhaps even in car, your car, the big monster, could slide abit too if you weren't paying attention.

Since living in Vancouver I've fallen 3 times. The last one...was freakishly scary, a path that was sheer ice all the way around. I was damned if I tried stopping, and damned if I kept going.

So I kept on going and ...fell on the ice, in slow motion. towards the end of the path. Ironically this was in the new future 2010 Olympic athletes' village area that's under construction. I was not hurt much, just late for an art class.. It did bother me for a few hrs. Ice had melted off 4 hrs. later when I biked home.

I've been very lucky so far, each time I fell, it has always been black ice, where ironically I was going slow. Another time I fell on icy road while going up a hill.

I don't have tire studs. Do I plan to get them? no. Simply because in our area black ice and snow on the mainland at the foot of mountains...doesn't actually get much snow ...compared to other parts of Canada. When it does snow and there's ice, I won't cycle.

I know alot of highly experienced, strong cyclists who simply don't ride if their winters are often snowy and icy. this is very true in toronto, which has similar winters to Massachussetts.

As for my precautions that I take...I was hit as a pedestrian in the winter when I was a teenager. In front of a life insurance company. It is possible thereafter, I just take more precautions. I go through times where I forget about this accident, it is almost like denial that I could have permanently disabled, etc. If a small car hits you with a certain impact, you could be thrown onto of the hood..

[7rider]

Well, your sig line kinda says it all..."Never give up. Never surrender."

Sounds like you already have studded tires. Check out MassBike: http://www.massbike.org/index.htm - look at the "Skills" tab and also call them and see if they have any safe bike riding classes offered (I know WABA does from time to time).

Discretion is the better part of valor....sometimes it IS best to just walk it. But perhaps you can go back to platform pedals (if you have clipless) as a start until you have more confidence on the bike. Also...can I assume your bike fits you okay and isn't too big and unstable for you?

Good luck and take heart...spring is just around the corner!

[kfergos]

Thank you all for the encouragement and good advice. I feel much better. I do, in fact, have Nokian studded tires -- the skinniest ones available, with just a few studs. I've never slipped on ice with that bike and those tires; my fall last weekend was with my road bike and slicks, which was clearly a tactical error on my part. I guess I just don't know what's normal for riding in winter conditions, so I've just been doing my best. I have been meaning to ask, too, what you guys would do in the following situations:

1. Riding over a wooden (!) bridge in wet conditions or after it's snowed.
2. Riding over 5 steel plates in a row in wet conditions or after it's snowed.

[Andrea]

I had a painful fall last December while on a laid back group ride- I was drafting my training partner then let myself get distracted & started to half-wheel him. Seconds later, when he made a sideways movement, BAM! Down I went...
I thought I was fine except for some road rash. I went on training all winter- usually solitary or leading my local shop's "B" ride on the weekends. A few weeks ago, I go for my first "big" group ride since the wreck... all of a sudden, I find that I'm annoying other riders by letting a gap form between me & the person in front of me or by riding off to the side of the wheel in front of me. I try to correct myself but find that when I do, I get very nervous & tense and start grabbing my brakes at the slightest change in pace (an even bigger paceline sin!)
Being a racer, this is tough. I'm basically re-learning how to draft! My strategy is to start easy and very controlled. I go out with my training partner on a flat, smooth road. He pegs his speed at exactly 19mph. I get behind him and draft in "intervals"- I'll get very close for 1-2 minutes then back off a little for a mental break. We're now adding in turns & hills. We're also going to take our bikes out into the field behind my house & practice rubbing wheels on purpose. My first crit is in less than a month

My point- just like everyone else said- when you're ready, take baby steps, but work your way up to facing what you're ultimately scared of!