Scared To Ride

[Bethany1]

About a month or two ago, I nearly fell off my Fargo while crossing the highway. All I could think about was having a semi come at me at 65 miles an hour as I desperately tried to get across. I haven't been back on a bike since. I've just used the cold to explain why I haven't. I figured if I told my DH he'd never let me on a bike again.

He doesn't want me going on the bike trail alone during the day either. No one really uses it, 6 miles of the trail run through cornfields and the other 4 miles go through a heavily wooded area. If anything happened, no one would be around.

So, how do you get over the fear? I'm not afraid to ride the trail. There are no cars to worry about. It's quiet and peaceful, but he's right in that if something happened, no one is around. I lose phone service in some parts of the trail.

I just look at my bike in the garage, try to fight off the fear but end up walking by as fast as I can.

A stranded cyclist sort of helped when I picked him up after seeing him walking his bike along the highway shoulder. He was about 10 miles from Lincoln, his phone didn't have service and he had a flat tire. All I could think about was what if that was me.

We actually had a good conversation while I drove him the 10 miles home. He'd been cycling for about 30 years and said not to give up when I explained how new I was to cycling. I almost wanted to ask why he didn't have a spare tube if he was that experienced, but figured he'd been through enough. It still blows my mind how many cars had driven past him w/o asking if he was okay.

[OakLeaf]

It sounds like you're letting your DH's fear get into your head?

If you have the carrying capacity, get a SPOT device. That should alleviate both of your issues.

[goldfinch]

You might be surprised at how many people use the trail. Even if people rarely use the trail it sure sounds like a nice place to ride.

For me, the health benefits and simply the joy that comes from biking far outweigh the risks. I am in south Texas alone. My husband just left for his own adventure and I won't see him until the end of March. We do this every winter. Like Muirenn, I rediscovered fearlessness. It is a better way to live.

[jyyanks]

I like oak's idea if you are really worries about no one finding you. It's a great confidence booster knowing that you have a way to call for help if you really need it.

Another suggestion is to form a meetup group at meetup.com
I've considered forming one in my area for beginner women cyclists who want to ride the MUP together because I do not like riding alone either. It's a great way to meet people who are also beginners and provides you with people ro ride with so that you are not alone.

[Owlie]

You might be surprised at how many people use the trail. Even if people rarely use the trail it sure sounds like a nice place to ride.

For me, the health benefits and simply the joy that comes from biking far outweigh the risks. I am in south Texas alone. My husband just left for his own adventure and I won't see him until the end of March. We do this every winter. Like Muirenn, I rediscovered fearlessness. It is a better way to live.

Indeed. I'm finding that I'm so much better about fearlessness when riding if DBF isn't around. Or is that just personal growth?

Anyway, I often ride alone, and have had things go wrong that spooked me. These all happened when I was living in an urban area of Cleveland, so it wasn't like I couldn't get home (I could have walked or taken the bus) and I had friends in the area. Riding was the only thing that got me over it. Do you have a friend who could come with you?

[Grits]

Why did you almost fall? If it had anything to do with clipless pedals (I don't know if you use them or not), then get rid of them and at least eliminate that stress. If it was something else, then is it something that realistically might happen again? If so, what can you do to minimize that chance?

If you aren't crossing with a light, then wait until there is nothing coming for a good long way so you won't feel rushed. Be very visible. Perhaps find a place with less traffic to cross. Ride in neighborhoods until you get your confidence back.

As far as riding the trail, would you feel better if you carried some mace? Put a little air horn (get them in the boating section at big box stores, around $8, good for dogs, too.) on your handlebars. They make a lot of noise!

Keep riding somewhere!

[shootingstar]

Staying on a trail would be a great idea for now.

Your hubby needn't to worry.

[lph]

A stranded cyclist sort of helped when I picked him up after seeing him walking his bike along the highway shoulder. He was about 10 miles from Lincoln, his phone didn't have service and he had a flat tire. All I could think about was what if that was me.

Well, what if that was you? What do you think could have happened?

[pll]

Here are my two cents: the anticipation is worse than reality. The longer you postpone getting on the bike again, the more ominous the highway and trail will become. Just go out again, be careful crossing that highway, and have a ton of fun. Falling on the highway is an event with a very low probability. I am guessing you have crossed it hundreds of times before without a glitch.

That Spot device sure looks intriguing. Do you carry a RoadID on your wrist?

[missjean]

Tell your husband that you already do something that is more dangerous than any of the other things that you report on in your post. You got into your car and you drove. Driving is one of the most dangerous activities anybody can do!

What is the crime rate like where you live? It sounds like it is pretty rural, and, granted, rural areas have crime, but how high really is the risk in your area?

Start small, sit on you bike in the garage; pedal down the driveway; ride around the block, then ride around two blocks, then around three blocks and before you know it, your off on adventures again.

And, chances are that nobody stopped to help the bicyclist with the flat tire because they were scared of a stranger. How’s that for some irony?

[soprano]

A stranded cyclist sort of helped when I picked him up after seeing him walking his bike along the highway shoulder. He was about 10 miles from Lincoln, his phone didn't have service and he had a flat tire. All I could think about was what if that was me.

Well, what if that was you? Ten miles is about a 2-3 hour walk. Big deal. You were out for exercise anyway.

If you don't feel like walking the whole way, just go until you have cell phone service, and then you can call for a ride. But, I have to tell you, it's far more rewarding to get one's own self out of a jam. Great confidence booster.

Re: your stranded cyclist not having a tube: I've been stranded by a flat despite having a patch kit, tube, pump, the works. It was not the end of the world. These things happen. I deal with it.

[Bethany1]

I did it. I got her out, put the original tires back on and took her for a ride with my son and his friends. By the time I got back from a check-up from the LBS as my tires weren't aligning right, my son and his friends walked in and wanted to go.

About 2 miles out my son's crankset broke and we all just walked the rest of way home. Hopefully it's under some kind of warranty as he's had it less than year. He's got a Specialized Rockhopper and he busted something else about the crankset over the summer and got it fixed. The whole thing fell apart on him while he was riding. I'm just glad he didn't crash.

My Fargo keeps having shifting problems as the chain won't catch right on some of the gears. I had my LBS go over it earlier, but if I start going up a hill, it chokes up on me grinding gears as the chain tries to catch. Any help on that would be great.

It was nice to be out on a bike again and more fun with other people.

I had hoped to go out on the trail, but it's closed until deer season is over in the middle of January.

Thanks for the encouragement. My DH is totally supportive of cycling. He doesn't have a problem with me going alone, he just worries. He wasn't upset when I told him why I haven't been riding. He just said to ride when I felt like it.

[goride]

It is good to read that you went out and rode your bike. That really is the best way to get over your worries (personal experience speaking). I agree that the SPOT is a good suggestion. I don't often have it with me when I ride, as coverage in the area where I ride is pretty good, but I take it along when I hike, snowshoe, or XC ski.

[Melalvai]

Did your bike shop replace the chain? If they replaced the chain, and it hadn't been replaced in a long time, the cassette may have worn down to match the chain, and doesn't fit right with the new chain. Or it may just be an old cassette, they don't last forever.

[OakLeaf]

My Fargo keeps having shifting problems as the chain won't catch right on some of the gears. I had my LBS go over it earlier, but if I start going up a hill, it chokes up on me grinding gears as the chain tries to catch.

Do you only have trouble when you're climbing hills? Are you trying to shift under load? There's a little bit of technique involved in shifting while climbing - you need to get enough momentum to carry you forward, then soft-pedal as you shift, so that you're moving the chain through the derailleur across the gear teeth, but NOT putting a load on the chain. If you're pedaling hard, the derailleur isn't going to be able to shift right, because shifting involves moving the chain sideways and through the rear derailleur springs (which tension the chain regardless of whether you're shifting front or rear).

I think the best way to learn is to start by getting most of your shifting done at the bottom of the hill, before you're pedaling hard. You'll gain familiarity with the technique, though while you're learning, you'll have to spin up the hill in a lower gear than you'd probably like. As you figure out the muscle skills, you'll be able to shift under progressively tougher conditions.