Quote Originally Posted by Crankin View Post
I often have a free floating anxiety at the beginning of a ride, and once in awhile it lasts awhile. With me, it's more related to fear of the unknown, riding an unfamiliar route, a long or hard ride, etc. It happens when I am with someone or a group, and not usually when I am alone, because I don't ride alone much; when I do, it's usually a short familiar ride. I feel the same way when I am in the car and I don't know where I am... .
God bless ya Crankin, sounds like you have what I've been suffering with my whole life. With the help of therapy, and getting down to my family history crap, I am starting to get down to the root of my anxiety. It's a long road to this point, but at 49yo, I can say I feel a whole lot better than I have for most of my life. ... and as for the thoughts and evidence... I learned there may not be current evidence to my anxiety, but there sure was a heck of alot int he past

That being said, about the biking with pedals to the OP. It would be easy for me to say "oh just put on the pedals, and screw the fear", or "if you don't face the fear it gets worse", but that's not any better than the people at work telling me to continue to take the bullying at work from another peer because it's just a "job". I finally did something about the bully, I went to HR last week... reprecussions to come I guess this coming week, and maybe if it bothers you so much that you're still fearing the ride with the pedals, it's time for action.

So!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's start here...

1) The biggest question of all... and this is key, and you have to answer it honestly yourself. Do you, with all honesty, not have the fear when you are riding without the clipless pedals? Depending on the answer, is where you need to start to take action. If it's really about the pedals, and falling, you can conquer it if you want to. If it's really about the pedals and you want to ride with clipless, you can make it happen. There are different clips you can buy, you can loosen your clips to the point where they pop out very easily, you can loosen only one pedal so you can pop out on one side very easily. You 'can' get to the point of comfort I'm sure, but there might be some work involved... and if it's not about the pedals, you can deal with that too.

I love riding with clipless. It makes me feel 'locked in' which I have come to love. I have a tremendous amount of control over my bike than I do with regular pedals. I can clip out pretty easily... however, I can guarantee you if a car hit me from behind, I doubt very much I'd be able to clip out. If a dog ran in front of me, chances are I'd probably not be able to clip out fast enough. I know that, I know the risks of riding on the road with dogs, cars, holes, etc... and I accept it. There are times that I'm alone on a road, and I feel fear. I feel the fear and go forward anyway. I weigh the risks and if it's a crazy risk, "I" don't do it... but the next guy might. I do what I can, as best I can, and I do try to never let fear stop me.

If you want to get to a place of comfort you can, you just have to be honest and you have to do some work

but I think the keys points are 1) do you want to continue to ride with clipless or not? If not, then you're done... if so, you're on to a great journey of learning about yourself and fear and the many ways you can deal with it... and you'll learn that you can conquer it... if you so desire... if you have the willingness... but it takes honesty and work.