Downhill fear

[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!