Downhill fear

[OakLeaf]

I'm too fearless on descents on the bici , but I can totally relate to your post, because a couple of years ago I completely lost my confidence on low-speed maneuvers on the motorcycle, and as you say, it's really taken all the fun out of riding.

I'm not sure of the solution, either. I know intellectually what's going on, I'm panicking, freezing up, looking at the ground and tightening up my muscles - when what I need to do is be loose and look up - but it's the panicking part that's hard to conquer. "Practice" isn't necessarily the solution for me either, since it just tends to reinforce frustration and fear.

I guess the one difference is that in low-speed maneuvering, if you panic, freeze and look at the ground, you WILL fall... whereas descending, you can control your speed with your brakes to a level you're comfortable with. I guess that's what I'd try in your position - work on the self-talk, pick your eyes up, look where you want to go, forearms loose, shoulders loose, weight in your quads rather than hard on the saddle; on the curves, inside foot up, outside foot weighted, still remembering to look where you want to go; and just every time down your nemesis hill, go one mile an hour faster.

Definitely DON'T unclip... right there you're losing a lot of control over your bike. And remember that you DON'T have to hit 50 mph if you don't want to!


ETA: I will say that riding a moto is the main reason I'm so comfortable descending on the bici - because it's all about looking where you want to go and being comfortable with the speed. Short version is that I burned out on the bici, rode a moto for 12 years, then came back to bicycling and my very first day back on a road bike I was descending gleefully at speeds that used to terrify me when I was racing. I wonder if you're being sloppy with your eyes when you drive your car? Maybe that would be an exercise you could do without panic... practicing your awareness skills when you drive the car? When you know how to look where you need to look when you're going 70 mph (or faster ), 50 doesn't seem so scary even if you're not wearing leather.

[tctrek]

You may want to try to practice on some smaller descents. Although I have always loved the fast descents, I actually had a class in descending from Carmichael Training that taught me a technique that is safer and repeatable. One thing I learned is that if I have better access and light control of the brakes when I am in the drops. I can lightly feather my brakes while descending so that I don't slow down to a crawl, but also I can have better control of the descent. Sitting back on the seat, relaxing upper body and feet firmly planted (definitely both feet clipped in!).

[Becky]

You may want to try to practice on some smaller descents.

+1. This is how I worked on my fear of descending on the mountain bike. DH and I found a moderately steep hill with long straight run outs in a couple of directions, and I rode that darn thing at least 20 times, working to stay off the brakes and just roll until the ground leveled out. When that felt ok, I started turning at the bottom and trusting the tires as I rolled through the turns. I'm still a little timid on descents, but I'm much better than I was.

Interestingly enough, wearing contacts has improved my descending as well. My vision isn't awful (I can legally drive without correction), but with correction, I can see clearly further away and I think that makes me more comfortable, especially at speed.

Good luck!

[Biciclista]

I am your basic timid rider. The key to getting over timidity is repetition.
so i go down a hill at 15 mph.. next time i let go of the wheels just a second, maybe i'll get up to 16 or 17. i build over time. I NEVER go really really fast, my top speed is in the 30's on my bike.

On the other hand, you are reacting like you are phobic. It could be much worse than my simple timidity. You might need to talk to a counselor about this.My mother is phobic and is so terrified of some things that it is debilitating.
Try our suggestions, but you might need professional help.
and welcome to TE!

[Soleil6]

Try our suggestions, but you might need professional help.
and welcome to TE!

Thanks! I find this site already very firendly and welcoming:-)

[Zen]

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ownhill+Weenie

It's worth a look.

[bacarver]

I don't know how I thought to try this, but it helps distract me from my body's urge to become one tight muscle when I'm riding downhill. It's similar to the technique that equestrians use during shows.
I don't actually "bounce". Rather, I just raise my body up a slight bit and then back down. Then I continue my downhill for a beat and then repeat the up and down. I continue to do this till I reach the bottom of the hill. This lessens my focus on the paralyzing fear.
Anyone watching me wouldn't even notice. The fear is initiated by the mind and transfers to the body. This simple activity works for me. Otherwise, I'm thinking only about crashing and losing skin. I had a horrible wreck in 2005 and I know how much it hurts. I still have good days and bad days with descending, but I can decrease the panic to a tolerable level so I can enjoy my rides.
Hope this helps. Barb

[Dogmama]

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ownhill+Weenie

It's worth a look.

Zen should be crowned, "the TE librarian!"

Me too - hate downhills. Nope, don't need medical help*, not phobic. I'm afraid of heights and it translates into riding As somebody said, I'm OK if I'm on rolling hills but going downhill off of Mt. Lemmon - not a happy camper. I'd rather go up. My bike doesn't shimmy, rock or roll. Wheels are trued. I feather the brakes. I don't brake in turns. My top speed is 30mph.

Once a tandem passed me doing 65 mph (according to their cyclometer.)

*There are those that say riding a bike in traffic qualifies somebody as insane!

[Soleil6]

I actually had a class in descending from Carmichael Training that taught me a technique that is safer and repeatable. .

Do they still offer classes on descending? that sounds great!