Getting over fears

[jelee1311]

Hi and welcome to TE! I used to be afraid of hills due to a biking accident when I was a kid. I got over it by just riding them over and over,and getting on bigger hills as I got more confident. Now going downhill is like dessert and I love them! I'm still a little nervy about roads with no shoulder when I'm by myself but I'm getting over that too. Riding on newbie rides with a local club helped me as well. The more you ride the easier it gets.

[Biciclista]

. But my feeling is, no matter if you are going fast or slow, when you fall, it's going to hurt.

Maybe ignorance (of physics) is bliss? I've seen the difference between falling at over 40mph and falling at 10mph...

[bikefam2]

Great to know that you didn't like going downhill either and now it's like dessert. Love that!

[westtexas]

I LOVE going downhill. It's the best part of my ride everyday. Right before The Big Hill back to the road to my neighborhood, I get to ride down all the hills I struggled to get up at the beginning of my ride. I've gotten up to speeds of 35mph on them. It is wicked fun. I highly recommend it.

Traffic, however, is another story. I think trying to make yourself as visible as possible is the key. I don't wear cycling jerseys (can't really afford them anyway), so I always choose t-shirts that are very bright in color. I have reflective strips on my shoes, my helmet and my shorts. Even when the sun is still up enough that cars don't have their lights on but it is setting in the west, I turn on my rear and front blinkers, which are ultrabright. I always look behind me before make left turns and I always signal. I have a lot of respect for riders who follow the rules of the road (and thus make drivers respect us more). I ride on a 55mph, 70mph and 45mph road, as well as cross a 60mph major highway (at a light) during my 12 mile ride. The more you do it, the more fearless you become, within reason of course!

Good luck!

[bikefam2]

My very first shop ride was this past Saturday and I was nervous, but after the first 10 mins I started to relax and WOW, was it fun! It was a beginners ride, and I rode with awesome ladies who encouarged me all the way, but most of all I went downhill!! I was proud of myself...the traffic wasn't too bad but still a bit scary... I also had a bike fit and now my seat is way up! I'm a bit nervous about that (not sure why?) but I thinking I have to practice clipping in and out again. Did anyone get a bit freaked out when you had a set adjustment, or raised a full 2 1/2 inches!

[clarkbar]

I'm afraid of hills and traffic plus I have a hard time with left hand singles. Afraid cause the bike wobbles. Suggestions?

[bikefam2]

I'm not to thrilled with downhills and traffic either, and find that I have a hard time with the hand singles. It does cause the bike to wobble. I'm getting a lot of advice from people around me who are serious riders & racers and they say to practice practice practice!! So I'm riding in an area where I feel comfortable...plus I have to get use to my new bike fit....

[Velocivixen]

I have increased my doses of downhills slowly. I literally talk myself through them. I tell myself to hold on to the hand grips, relax my shoulders, breathe (not hold my breath), scan ahead for rocks, sticks, potholes, etc.. I remind myself that there is no reason why I will crash (my fear is that I'll lose control and crash!). I tell myself, "see, you're doing fine, no worries, this is refreshing". When I'm smiling at the bottom of the slope I congratulate myself on a job well done! Hey, whatever works right?

[linzq]

Oh, I'm so glad to see this thread.

I'm a bit nervous of riding in traffic - mainly it's the clipless thing and the thought of falling INTO traffic!

And I'm glad this is a safe place to admit it -- I've been feeling a bit "girly" about the whole thing! Thanks for the tips. I'm hoping that soon I'll be able to advise others too!

[Catrin]

Oh, I'm so glad to see this thread.

I'm a bit nervous of riding in traffic - mainly it's the clipless thing and the thought of falling INTO traffic!

And I'm glad this is a safe place to admit it -- I've been feeling a bit "girly" about the whole thing! Thanks for the tips. I'm hoping that soon I'll be able to advise others too!

You could hold off on the clipless thing until you are more comfortable riding in traffic. There is no shame in platform or BMX pedals - just a thought. That way you only have to adjust to one thing at a time, not two

[Ruby]

Slowly working through my fear of clipless pedals also. First ride in my clipless yesterday through town traffic-I was very nervous!! Rattled myself a few times- first set of lights I had to stop at, I clipped out fine, but I had trouble pushing off again and couldn't get my foot back on the pedal, let alone clipped in! tried twice, wobbled around and looked silly, then got off the bike in the middle of the intersection and walked it off to the sidewalk to collect myself. Was very proud of myself for not falling off. Felt really nervous at roundabouts and intersections after this however, and mostly pulled off to the side and waited until there was no traffic before I pushed off again. Will be getting up nice and early tomorrow when there is no traffic to practice these same roundabouts and intersections.

[Roseisarose]

I'm afraid of bridges, hills and other cyclists.

The hills are either trying to kill me when I'm going up because I start to wobble, or they are trying to kill me when I'm going down because of the flying.

I love riding over the bridges in Portland, but during rush hour I'm so pokey and there are all these flying cyclists and I'm in the way so I'm afraid I'll fall off the bridge.

I'm just going along though with the fears.

Rose

[Bethany1]

So glad I found this post. Nice to know I'm not the only one who gets scared. I've only been biking for a little over two weeks so everything is new.

My son can go down hills at top speed leaving me to eat his dust. He can do 35mph on one of them. I haven't been brave enough to attempt going down that hill. Most I've ever done is 21 mph down a hill. Usually it's about 12-13mph as I panic when going through the neighborhood intersections and almost come to a complete stop. To be 15 again with no fear like my son would be nice.

I'm getting better at hills since my entire town is built on them. I may be going only 5mph and having to stop to rest, but I figure as long as I'm not walking with my bike up the entire way, it's all good. Some of the hills are a 1/2 mile in length so it's a long walk if needed.

I have two major highways intersecting town with semis/trucks/cars going 60mph so it was scary the first time I went down into town. What really scared me was that my son didn't tell me the overpass bridge narrowed to nothing leaving you open in the right lane. I had to wait until it was safe and pray that I could go fast enough not to terrify drivers or myself. I made it and was really proud of myself, but don't plan on doing that ride until I'm faster. As you get closer into town, the roads narrow again leaving no space for a bike and a vehicle to be in the lane. I just have to go off into a side street to get home.

Today I made it to 18mph down the highway back home. I just said "get over it" and went.

Biggest issue so far is that my mountain bike sucks in town and does great out on the graveled rural roads. There isn't a decent middle ground yet.

[Reesha]

Best way to deal with a downhill no brakes? Scream "WOOOOOHOOOOOO!" at the top of your lungs as you descend. Start on smaller hills first though and work your way up!

Totally works (and I'm STILL overcoming my fear of downhills)

[Sky King]

I have been riding since before some of your were born and I still have to practice deep breathing and relaxing my shoulders when I come down a hill that has railroad tracks at the bottom. I have never crashed on tracks but my DH lost his front wheel going over tracks many years ago and my daughter just destroyed her rear wheel when it slipped into the rail in the rain last week. Fear is healthy sometimes as it keeps us from getting to complacent. Good luck, you will do fantastic.