Thanks for the book suggestion. Reading about other's experiences on here has helped a lot too. Sometimes I don't think my dh really understood the terror that comes over me facing a steep descent, especially when rocky, so I have been lurking here for a few weeks and it has made a difference already in my approach as well as how I communicate it to him. I no longer feel weak (he never made me feel that way, I just couldn't understand why it was so hard for me if it was so natural to him!) but I feel like it's just something I need to conquer and the fear of trying has kept me down too long!! I will choose a good low-traffic place for my first road ride. I am very comfortable on the bike trails with my regular bike so it's just the matter of moving that comfort to a new bike and new terrain.