Downhill help! Yikes!

[alpinerabbit]

There are a couple threads on descent and technique on this forum. builds cofidence.

[mimitabby]

with age comes fear. You have to fight it every step of the way (well, some fear is good of course!)

[Chicken Little]

Ahhh, to be young again and not realize that you could actually end up in wheel chair with all your bones broken! I feel it, too. I have to concentrate on the fact that I might not crash.....

[Flur]

There are a couple threads on descent and technique on this forum. builds cofidence.

I did a few searches and couldn't find these. Can you please point me in the right direction? Thanks

[beccaB]

I used to not be afraid also, but I'm 46 now and have fallen a few times because of not getting out of the pedals fast enough at a stop. I now have stop sign phobia. Really. It doesn't stop me from riding, but it sure does make me feel nervous. That's why I was so impressed with that guy in Lansing who didn't take his feet out of the pedals at a stop, but just balanced on them.

[VeloVT]

Becca,
You will get over your stop-sign phobia. I don't know how long you've been riding or how long you've been riding clipless, but I'm guessing the pedals are new this year? It just takes time and repetition.

I had a few falls when I first got my pedals and for a month or two I was very nervous in them. It took me probably 3 months of regular riding to really feel completely comfortable and confident that I could get out quickly when necessary.

After two years of riding, I recently took a mountain bike clinic (my first time ever on a mountain bike) and decided to use clipless pedals. I had to bail multiple times (turns out I'm clutzy on a mountain bike !) and each time I got out of the pedals with no problems and no anxiety.

Extra-vert,
practice, practice, practice! pick a hill you know well and ride it often. Once you feel comfortable, start pushing yourself just a tiny little bit beyond your comfort zone each time, in a controlled way. Remember you can always pull it back...

[alpinerabbit]

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ghlight=curves

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ghlight=curves

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=18648

[beccaB]

Actually, I've been using the clipless sytem for about 2 years. I think I got complacent. One time a dog was chasing me and I got distracted. That was a pretty bad fall. I felt like I had been in a car accident. What was ridiculous was that it was a really small dog. I haven't had any falls this season, but a few times my foot didn't want to come out. The pedals are adjusted pretty loose. I think I get some dirt in the cleat part, or my toes are going numb and I can't feel if I'm getting out correctly. My husband says I don't use the pedals efficiently. It's kind of a new motion for me.

[Flur]

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ghlight=curves

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ghlight=curves

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=18648

Thanks

[extra-vert]

"Extra-vert,
practice, practice, practice! pick a hill you know well and ride it often. Once you feel comfortable, start pushing yourself just a tiny little bit beyond your comfort zone each time, in a controlled way. Remember you can always pull it back..

.

I know my fear is laughable when my brother loves to mention how crazy I can be on rollerblades down a paved road one day, and then a complete baby on my snowboard on the snow the next. Or as he puts it, "let's see...snow, pavement, snow, pavement...hummm."

But on the roadbike, I really need to work on the down hill fear, and fast, so I shall practice the same hill for a while, as you recommend.