new rider and kinda scared

[carolp]

I've been on this forum for quite a while, but as a tandem rider. Two years ago I had a serious crash on my single bike just after getting it-- a Bianchi Boardwalk-- and I've been afraid to ride.

I just took a how to ride class at REI and that helped a lot. But I want to gain more skills and confidence. I have ridden the Bianchi around the neighborhood with my husband since taking the class, but haven't conquered any hills-- up or down yet, and frankly, I'm kind of scared.

Any suggestions or hints to get me more comfortable?

thanks
Carol

[indigoiis]

Is there a bike path or trail you can use - fairly flat and friendly - to start out slowly? I found that riding on the bike path (not on weekends, but early morning or evening midweek) helped my teenaged daughter get more comfortable on her bike.

[HappyTexasMom]

If not a bike path, maybe some of the less-major streets in your area? We have some streets that cars don't travel on often, but they are major bike paths. Being a street is nice because it's still nice and wide, but there isn't a lot of traffic to contend with (especially if you avoid rush hour).

[Kalidurga]

Have you figured out exactly what you're scared of? Sometimes analyzing what's causing our fear can go a long way towards defusing it. Crashing is certainly an understandable thing to be afraid of, but you survived the first one and got it out of the way. There's no reason to assume that you'll ever have another crash again. And if you do, you already know that they're survivable, albeit painful.

The only way to gain skills and confidence is by riding. You've started out gently with rides around the neighborhood and that's smart. Can you extend those rides just a bit further each time until you get to a point where there's a hill? Then just do what you can. If you have to, get off and walk the bike, then try the hill again the next time.

And breathe. That's one of the most important things.

[Jiffer]

One way to gain skills and confidence is to ride with more experienced riders. You watch them and do what they do (if and when you are comfortable doing so).

Try to find someone with experience to ride with, but who will ride your pace and only go in easy to ride areas. Someone who will allow you to ride at your comfort level where there's low traffic, the least amount of signals, etc.

Is there a club in your area? Ours has a women's only ride on Sundays where the pace is easy and so is the route. That sort of ride would be perfect for you.

The more you ride, the more comfortable you'll get.

[Grits]

+1 on the trying to figure out what you are scared of. When I got back into cycling, I found that I was dreading riding with clipless pedals, so I didn't. I put my regular old pedals on the bike and rode for months like that just getting comfortable riding again. If it is traffic, avoid that. Stay on paths for a while. Just start where you are comfortable and stay there as long as you need to.

[carolp]

thanks for the suggestions. I ride with my husband, who is very experienced but he takes it easy when he rides with me. I won't ride alone. I think a lot of my fear is not feeling confident. I want to be comfortable, and so far, I'm not. I'm so comfortable on the tandem and I have to get used to multi-tasking on the bike. I think I just need to remember to relax.

[Biciclista]

the only way to fight fear is to do it.
Keep riding where you are comfortable, and then go a little further. You will find that a lot of us fight fear all the time.