Always happy to be alive after a ride - fear of riding?

[gabriellesca]

I did my training and century back in 2008 in my sneakers and cages. But last summer I switched to clipless and every single time I ride I feel an underlying constant fear. Fear of not being able to unclip, fear of falling, crashing, dogs, flat, dropped chain, a car hitting me. You name it. Embarrassing to admit, but I actually ride around the town I grew up in, which is beautiful and a tiny bit hilly, just because I know the roads so well.

I think it all stems from going clipless - but just wondering if anyone else has gone through this and is it just a matter of confidence and riding more often? I rode every week last summer and that fear still isn't going away. And I don't even have anything that spurred it other than falling over in an empty parking lot when I was trying out the new pedals.

Any advice?

[KnottedYet]

Do you love your clipless pedals?

Are they worth it to you?

I ditched mine. While I thought they were fun, they interfered too much with my riding. I'm much happier without them.

[wannaduacentury]

Do you love your clipless pedals?

Are they worth it to you?

I ditched mine. While I thought they were fun, they interfered too much with my riding. I'm much happier without them.

I don't use them either and plan to take them off my shoes. My pedals have clips on one side and flat on the other. I just don't like being clipped in and want to be able to put my foot down instantly if the need arises. Jenn

[Marquise]

Great thread! I have more general anxiety than I need when cycling and in many other activities but not as bad as some have indicated. I abandoned clipless pedals last summer after a couple of falls when I was starting out but tried them again about a month later and stuck with them. I got more and more comfortable with them but didn't lose the nervousness and the feeling that eventually I'd fall again. It's better this year and I think about the potential for trouble less and less. Confidence grows with experience. For me, it was a matter of knowing I wanted to use them so I tolerate the anxiety, which has by no means disappeared completely. Maybe someday. Nice to have options.

[skywalkerbeth]

It's funny that someone mentioned this. Now that I went clipless (stupid term by the way! Who came up with it) I definitely have an subtle sense of fear when I'm riding - primarily as I approach stop signs on the trail, I'm not too bad when I'm just riding along it with no stop signs. I have to plan when to slow down/unclip/stop, which means I am SCREWED if something ever happens quickly. Seriously screwed. I can only unclip one side easily - in fact I just posted a thread about "how many times have you fallen" in the general bike forum.

This morning is number two - in one month. I was trying to practice unclipping on the left side as I am favoring my right side... down I went. Second time unable to unclip on the left side.

To be honest I'm not getting the dividends from changing out to the clipless. I don't feel my mph is any more than it was. I hate to go back, because I feel like I really should master this - but with this subtle underlying "oh ****" feeling, I'm not sure if this is the best idea. As my rides get longer I definitely am racking up the stop signs and each one has me a little nervous. I literally have to think step by step what I need to do to get through the stop, re-start, and through the intersection without getting killed.

[Owlie]

I did my training and century back in 2008 in my sneakers and cages. But last summer I switched to clipless and every single time I ride I feel an underlying constant fear. Fear of not being able to unclip, fear of falling, crashing, dogs, flat, dropped chain, a car hitting me. You name it. Embarrassing to admit, but I actually ride around the town I grew up in, which is beautiful and a tiny bit hilly, just because I know the roads so well.

I think it all stems from going clipless - but just wondering if anyone else has gone through this and is it just a matter of confidence and riding more often? I rode every week last summer and that fear still isn't going away. And I don't even have anything that spurred it other than falling over in an empty parking lot when I was trying out the new pedals.

Any advice?

Knot's right, you are free to ditch the clipless pedals if you want to.

If you don't want to or are determined to master them...practice. Find some grassy (dry!) area to practice in so you won't get hurt if you fall. Practice clipping out in the event you have to stop suddenly.

I hate to admit this on here, but every time I ride, I have some of the same fears, especially if I ride on the road. You can't control what drivers, dogs, or the road will throw at you. What you can control is your reaction to it. I'm sure you know this already, but ride predictably and with caution, know how to fix that flat or that dropped chain (I'm sure you know how to do that, so maybe practice?), read up on what to do if you encounter a loose dog, and practice clipping out in an emergency. (If you decide to keep them, that is.)

[Kubla]

I have considered going clipless, but never followed through despite encouragement from those who endorse it. Between traffic and the other factors you mention, I'm not sure I'm nimble enough to unclip if necessary. I tried cages briefly as a compromise. That didn't feel right, either.

Looks like I'll be riding off into the sunset with platform pedals. Maybe you could try switching back to platforms for a while and see if your anxiety lessens?

[ny biker]

Seriously. You need to do what makes you happy.

[Catrin]

If they are limiting you, then there is no reason not to go to a good pair of grippy platforms like BMX pedals. I love my BMX pedals, but sadly I've a knee that is only happy with my Frog pedals - I've more knee pain with platform and SPD pedals.

I hear you about hills, I've this head thing about climbing a nasty hill clipped in, and will often avoid the hill...I need to get over that.

I think you also said that you've problem with your ankles? Your ankles might appreciate the greater freedom of a good pair of platform pedals, but that is your decision to make.

[jelee1311]

Do you always ride alone?I've found its been easier for my to face my fear when I ride with others. I do a group ride once a week with a bunch of awesome women. Feeling so comfortable has helped me get over been afraid of riding clipless and riding on roads with no bike lanes. My pedals are still SPD/platform in case I'm in a situation where I feel claustriphobic I can flip them. Clipless has helped me improve my speed and stroke but its not essential. Riding should be fun and for me is therapy as much as exercise,so do what feels good

[Crankin]

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...
I practice deep breathing when I start feeling anxious. It might help you to visualize a "good" ride before you start, or any other "happy" place. Your mind is producing what are called "automatic thoughts," in other words, you assume and believe that something bad is going to happen, when you have no evidence that it will.
I agree, there's no reason to use clipless pedals if this is really the cause, but I suspect it's a whole bunch of things that are making you anxious. The thing is, that everyone has had stupid clipless falls, there's lots of different kinds of pedals, so if one is harder to use, you can try another. Is there someone you can ride with, in a different area? A person you trust? Part of cycling is exploring new places, so it seems a shame to just ride in one place.
You can deal with this. You need to do it in small steps and use some of the relaxation strategies I mentioned.

[featuretile]

I have also been afraid to use clipless pedals. About 6 years ago I had a skiing accident and tore my ACL. It took almost 2 years to recover. I am afraid of falling and re-injuring my knee. I would not want to have to go thru that recovery again.

A while back someone on this forum suggested half toe clips. They do not have straps. If your feet fit snuggly in the toe, they stay in place, but getting out of them is like you don't have anything on. I am perfectly comfortable with these. I do not like platforms without the half toe clips. I feel that my foot slides around too much.

Club members keep asking me when I will go clipless because it would help with speed and power, but I don't want to. Guess I'll always look like a newbie.