Fear of going fast downhill

[Kathi]

Living and riding in SW Ohio I loved the hilly terrain with the rollers. I didn't give down hills much thought until I moved here. My first ride down a hill near our house (with 2 intersections) freaked me out. Then I tried riding down a mountain pass in the LaSalle mountains in Utah. I was so freaked out I nearly killed myself. I ended up walking 2 miles to the bottom then sagged to flatter terrain. I got a very well fitting bike and practiced riding in my drops with my feet in the 9-3 position on the pedals. Even though I had ridden for years it was so scary to take my hands off the handlebars and put them in the drops so I practiced on small hills. I found I have more strength braking from the drops. I read every hill now and determine if I need to be in my drops or handlebars. Now I fly down the hill next to my house because I know I can stop when I need to.

Every fall we do the Mickelson Trail Trek in S. Dakota. It's an unpaved trail with some long down hills. There's the usual crazies flying down the hills but there are just as many insecure riders. They have their pedals in the 6-12 o'clock position and hang to one side. Some have their bottoms off the saddle which puts them in even more of an unbalanced position. With my feet in the 9-3 position I can stand on the pedals if the trail gets rough and comfortably ride down the hills.

A wise friend once said to me, "trust your bike, it wants to stay upright". That's what got me through that scary downhill in Utah.