Downhill fear

[OakLeaf]

Sounds like maybe you're like me, shootingstar. I'm not afraid of heights at all, but I have a phobia of falling. I can be in sheer terror climbing the open staircase to the top of the lighthouse, then happily sightsee off the rail at the top. Airplanes, roof of the Rockefeller Center, no problem; climbing 4-foot rocks, big problem.

I've been able to reprogram my head to believe that a ladder is a safe place, which sure makes it easier to do all kinds of work; but apparently the lesson only applies to ladders.

[Pedal Wench]

Sounds like maybe you're like me, shootingstar. I'm not afraid of heights at all, but I have a phobia of falling. I can be in sheer terror climbing the open staircase to the top of the lighthouse, then happily sightsee off the rail at the top. Airplanes, roof of the Rockefeller Center, no problem; climbing 4-foot rocks, big problem.

I've been able to reprogram my head to believe that a ladder is a safe place, which sure makes it easier to do all kinds of work; but apparently the lesson only applies to ladders.

Me too! Hang off the guard rails at the Grand Canyon, and whimper at open-grate staircases. Can't seem to mtb over even the smallest bridge without diving off the edge. And, it's usually only climbing down things -- scampered to the top of the pyramids in Mexico, and spent two hours trying to get back down.

[featuretile]

I definitely go downhill slower than most of the people in my group. We have some pretty steep hills and I don't see why it is necessary to go so fast that I feel unsafe. The only time I really rip down a hill is on rollers when I see a big hill that I am going to have to climb, and I want to get as far up as possible. Besides, I know the hill is going to slow me down.

I have noticed that as I continue to improve my riding, I am comfortable going downhill a little faster than I used to. So, just gradually increase the downhill speed in increments when it feels ok. Don't try to make it a mental block or force yourself to do something that would be unsafe for you. Everyone's comfort level is different. It would be way worse to hurt yourself and be unable to ride. Anything under 20 mph feels fine now. Anything over 28 mph is downright scary (for me). I catch up in the flats and uphill.

[shootingstar]

Me too! Hang off the guard rails at the Grand Canyon, and whimper at open-grate staircases. Can't seem to mtb over even the smallest bridge without diving off the edge. And, it's usually only climbing down things -- scampered to the top of the pyramids in Mexico, and spent two hours trying to get back down.

I doubt I could do the pyramids' steep high steps without a rail. And going down..I can see myself crawling down..like a baby.

Featuretile- Agree, that we shouldn't spend oodles of time beating ourselves up because it's somehow incompetent or wimpish not to be zipping down a descent at 50+ kms. per hr. If we're not competing in racing in a competition..

After descending long hills and accidentally hitting potholes, gravel patches, black ice patches, I'm still learning my limits. But going fast enough to make it easier for me to mount the next hill ahead. One, just hopes there isn't a red traffic light halfway up on the ascent or a car cutting into right hand lane.

Now what should I be prouder of for myself...plunging down long descents at 50 kms./hr. (did once, and the bike started to shake on a smooth rd.) or still cycling regularily for nearly the past 18 yrs.?

[Crankin]

Ha, Pedal Wench, I climbed up the pyramid at Chiken Itza (sp) when I was senior in HS. I also spent about 1-2 hours going down *on my rear end,* because I could not stand up on those steps! I have to hold on to a railing going down any steps. I go down a very steep escalator twice a week at the train station. I hold on for dear life. Sometimes, I walk down the moving escalator, but I have to look down at the steps and hold on.
My fear of downhills is becoming more like panic as the years go on. I can get up to about 25, but if there's curves, forget it. My natural inclination is to put the brakes on. At one point, I got close to 35 mph on a downhill a couple of years ago, but it's weird. I often start out the season going faster. Then as the the months go on, the fear becomes more pronounced.
My bike fits and I can comfortably reach the brakes in the drops. But I feel like I have no control when I descend in the drops and often have to slow way down just to feel OK with it. I have no problem riding in the drops on the flats, in a headwind, etc. So, pretty much I just deal with it. The only time it bothers me is when I am on a group ride and that isn't very often.
I catch all of them on the uphills...

[HillSlugger]

Not sure if it was already mentioned, but try keeping one knee on the top tube, or clamp it between both knees, to keep the bike from shimmying.

I happen to love fast descents, but when I'm on one I don't know well and can't see exactly what the road is doing I have to remind myself to relax my upper body and keep my elbows loose and bent. I'll also gently scrub off some speed by applying light pressure on and off with the brakes.

[kimikaw]

Glad I'm not the only one. I'm ok on downhills (at 25moh or under) but discovered over the weekend that I'm not so okay riding across a high bridge. Hubby and I rode the Natchez Trace last Friday, and had to cross what felt like a 300 foot high bridge (in actuality 155 feet above the road below).

Going out I was maybe 1/3 - 1/2 of the way into the car lane, despite a wide shoulder. Just kept looking at the rail and thinking if I fell, I'd tumble over the side. The return was worse. Pretty significant descent from that side heading into the bridge.A pretty good crosswind had blown up. I was convinced the wond was going to pick me up and toss me off the bike at any moment. Rode almost to center of road, just could not force myself over. Unsure what i would have done if a car came up behind. Realize now that my death gripe on the bars didn't help.

Stopped on other side and took these pictures. And found out hubby was equally freaked by the crosswind (he was behind me, so don't know his line across).

[Ritamarie]

try keeping one knee on the top tube, or clamp it between both knees, to keep the bike from shimmying.
.

Isn't something wrong with your bike if it is shimmying? I've regularly gone over 40 mph downhill on my road bike and have never had it shimmy. I'm not super brave on downhills either, mostly because I am afraid of wildlife running out around here (I almost got run over by a deer the other day!) or I imagine blowing a tire mid-descent, but I never worry about losing control of my bike due to it behaving unpredictably. I save that worry for when I'm on my horse.

[Crankin]

It's not so much that my bike is shimmying. It's that I find it hard to follow the road at high speed. Like, I have to fight not to end up on the wrong side of the road. Yes, I keep my leg down, press against the top tube and try to look where I am going. It's that the feel of everything is different when descending at speed. I start shaking and that's it... I might add that this problem is mostly when I have to turn/curve right. I am much more comfortable with left hand curves.
Pretty sure that this has something to do with my astigmatism that is not corrected. I also feel awkward just turning right.
Mostly, you wouldn't this if you saw me ride; you would just think I was a very slow descender.

[Zen]

Isn't something wrong with your bike if it is shimmying?

Not necessarily. Shimmying is otherwise known as speed wobble