fear

[goddess1222]

ok, here goes. as some of you already know, i am a fairly new road rider. i have been taking spin classes since may, and have been practicing at a local park clipping in and out. i feel i am ready to get on the road but here is my problem. i am so scared. so scared. i found a road with wide shoulders and limited traffic. there is only one small stoplight on the route. the thought of going through the stoplight makes me want to hyperventilate. i have been practicing my a$$ off. i worked so hard to buy this bike, not to mention the equipment along with it. now it is kinda just sitting there.
i am interested in how some of you ladies have gotten over hurdles similar to mine. what did you do? i need a little advice.

love to all,
goddess1222

[tammy]

Originally posted by goddess1222
ok, here goes. as some of you already know, i am a fairly new road rider. i have been taking spin classes since may, and have been practicing at a local park clipping in and out. i feel i am ready to get on the road but here is my problem. i am so scared. so scared. i found a road with wide shoulders and limited traffic. there is only one small stoplight on the route. the thought of going through the stoplight makes me want to hyperventilate. i have been practicing my a$$ off. i worked so hard to buy this bike, not to mention the equipment along with it. now it is kinda just sitting there.
i am interested in how some of you ladies have gotten over hurdles similar to mine. what did you do? i need a little advice.

love to all,
goddess1222

Do you have a buddy you can go out riding with? I get nervous riding on the road alone, even after six years. If you can gather up one or two other folks to ride with, it will make you more visible to cars, and provide you with some "instant courage" when you ride. Talking with your riding buddies will also help take your mind off your fear. Most shops have organized road rides for all skill levels - check around and see what's available as far as group rides. If you HAVE to ride alone, you're going to have to kind of force yourself to feel bigger and bolder. Sometimes talking to myself while I ride helps. Also make it a point to make eye contact with drivers, even briefly - that reassures me that they have actually seen me and are aware that I'm there. And if a driver is making you nervous, don't be shy - speak up! It's perfectly appropriate for you to yell "Wait" or "Rider coming" or something like that if you feel worried at an intersection that a driver doesn't see you approaching. Some riders use a bell, but I've found that the human voice invariably gets a driver's attention the best Another thing is to stand up when going through an intersection - it makes you bigger and more visible. The biggest thing, though, is practice. As you ride more, you'll gain more skill and with that, more confidence.

[Veronica]

If you are worried about having to clip out at the light, try unclipping a little early, since you know the light is coming.

For the traffic be sure to wear bright colors. I'm a bg fan of day glow yellow, which seems to be this year's color for men. And definitely make eye contact and signal your intentions. I've found that a lot of drivers if they know I want to turn left will slow down to let me make the turn.

Try to have fun and enjoy the scenery.

[pennys]

get a mountain bike?

Just kidding

I don't road ride anymore because of idiot drivers that seem to think it's humorous to throw firecrackers and water balloons at road riders.

Of course, mountain biking has a whole 'nother set of fears to deal with it.

One way of dealing with fears is to find a mentor that has BTDT in terms of your particular state of mind, and ride with them a lot.

penny

[jrhyne]

I've been there...began road riding 1 1/2 years ago. Previously had clipless pedals on my mountain bike, but fear on the road bike was very prevalent. On my first excursion on my brand new LeMond, I approached a stop light and could not get unclipped on either side and fell over. The pedals had not been adjusted properly. I was humiliated and sped home. Then I had my husband loosen the pedal tension and was fine from then on. I'm not sure what type of pedals you are using, but I would advise you to start out with double-sided mountain bike pedals such as Shimano 515 or 959. They are much easier to get into as opposed to the typical rear entry single sided road pedals. After a period of time, you can work up to the road pedals. I absolutely love the road and have had to overcome many fears, including riding in a pack. Stick with it.

[ayermail2]

I agree with the previous posters. If your fear deals with the clipping/ unclipping, just unclip early. (I still deal with this, it's been 5 mos since I went clipless)

I tend to unclip WAY early (or so I've been told it doesn't feel that early to me!), so that I'm pedalling several revolutions with my heel (I have mtn shoes, with some cleat on the bottom, wouldn't necessarily advise this with slick-bottomed road shoes...).

I am definitely improving, clipping in earlier and unclipping later. It just takes practice.

Whatever side you favor to unclip out of first, try to always unclip on that side first every time. And get in the habit of turning your front wheel toward the foot that's already unclipped, it can help prevent you falling over!!

[snapdragen]

Check with your local cycling club, or LBS - they might have a program for beginning road riders. Mine does, we take 'em out, teach them the rules of the road etc. It really helps with the confidence. I've read about some cities that have mentor programs to help beginning road riders too. Ask around -- once you get the confidence you'll be a very happy camper.

Oh...and the fear of falling while clipped in? It's my understanding it's a law -- you have to fall over at least twice, in front of a whole lotta people -- when learning to ride clipless.....


Janet

[goddess1222]

wow! i am so lucky to have such great support. thank you to all of you. i am taking ALL of your advice and will use it. the comment from snapdragon about falling over while clipped in being a law made me laugh so hard i almost cried. that brought a huge smile to me. i will let all of you know how the "maiden voyage" goes. it is supposed to be this sunday, nov. 3rd.

thank you to all of you for helping me.
much love,
goddess1222

[goddess1222]

oh, i almost forgot!! hey ayermail, you gave me that advice early on about turning the front wheel toward the unclipped foot. i have been doing that ever since you advised me to try it. it works like a CHARM. thanks, so much.

goddess1222

[jenren]

I can sypmathise with you completely ...I have only been riding two months and was worried about the cars/roundabouts/gears/clipless peddles etc etc ...I got some good advice that helped me start out. For a start I took the clipless peddles off for about 4 weeks (cost me $20 to replace) and just got used to the bike and the road and getting myself safely out and back home again. I also ride early in the mornings 5 - 5.30 am - less traffic so I feel more secure. I only ride later in the day or afternoons if I'm going with other people. I got abused by a rude driver one afternoon when I had only been riding a few weeks so that has still put me off. I am now much more assertive on the road and you will be too, just give yourself time.
I also went riding with someone more experienced who rode behind me telling which gear to be in & made me change more often than I was. Find someone who can help you with riding, most other bikers I know are more than happy to share their knowledge with you.
By the time I put the clipless peddles on I was more familiar with the bike so it was only the peddles that were new. I was told that I was overloading myself with too many new things at the one time and while I thought that may have been harsh .....it was true. After 8 weeks I'm competing in a bike leg of 40k's in a triathlon this weekend. You'll get there girl! Take it slow - soon you'll love it !! Good luck!

[zephyr]

I totally relate to what you're talking about.
When I was getting used to clipless (which was not *so* long ago!) this is how I handled stoplights (which were the most scary thing for me!):
Approaching a yellow or red light, I would unclip the side I was *most* comfortable with (my right) and then sort of coast up to the light, slowly tapping my brakes in case the light turned green--then I could just pop my right foot back in and pedal. If the light stayed red until I got there, and I had to stop, I would stop slowly then turn my wheel towards my right, put my right foot on the ground and bring my left foot (still clipped in) backwards up to the top of the pedalstroke and rest it there that way. Then, when the light turned green I could kind of gently push off the ground with my right foot and pedal with my left foot (easy b/c it was already at the top of the stroke, see) and gain momentum that way. So I had that momentum to keep me going if I had trouble clipping my right foot in. But my right was easiest, which is why I chose to unclip that one in the first place.
So I guess one piece of advice is to approach the red light rather slowly if possible--actually, do *everything* slowly and think about what you're doing so you're not rushing, getting flustered and confused about how to clip in and out etc.
And the other piece of advice is to gain a bit of momentum after being stopped and before attempting to clip your other foot in.
Whew, that was long, Sorry!
I hope this helps somewhat & isn't all completely self-evident.
Take care and good luck!! You can do it.

[singlespeeder]

Have you ever heard the "Graduation Song" by Boz Luhrman? It says do something everyday that scares you.

Traffic used to make me nervous and the first time was a little intense, then I started to get into this strange trancelike state that comes with riding. Me... My Bike.....Freedom, no phones, pagers, you get the picture. I love to just go, once you do it a few times, it will just click. Try riding with someone who will be fun on the first couple of rides. Someone who will talk or sing.

My motorcycle instructor once told me to never let a road stop you from going somewhere you want to be. Motorcyclists are often afraid of traffic and the highway. You just have to go out there with a smart head, then claim your place because you deserve to be on the road just like anyone else.

Try to get a copy of the song if you can, It is really quite inspiring when you listen closely.

[goddess1222]

thank you ladies. ohhhh sooo much. hey zephyr, you were not long winded at all. it all made perfect sense. the advice about doing everything slowly is great. i am taking all your advice and putting it to good use.

hey singlespeeder, i will definitely look for that song. thank you for such great inspiration. i like hearing that i have a right to be on the road just as much as the next person. i kinda wish motorists here were as polite in sharing the road as motorists in europe.

i will let you know how it goes.

have a great halloween.
goddess1222

[Dogmama]

I went through a community college class (over ten years ago) called Effective Cycling. I highly recommend it. Here are some of the tips I got:

Drivers think: Bicycle = Slow. When you're coming up to a stoplight, cross road, or any place where a driver might cut you off, shift into an easier gear and spin. You're feet will be moving faster, but your bike will go the same pace AND the driver will think you're moving faster. And always be ready to yield the right of way, just in case.

SIGNAL your intentions. Drivers will often give you a break if they know what you're going to do next.

DO NOT ride too close to the right side of the road. There are several reasons for this:
1. When a driver is going to enter a main road, they often pull the front of their car into the road, or bike lane, thus cutting you off.
2. When a driver is going to enter a main road, they're looking for cars, not bikes. Their field of vision isn't going to sweep far enough to the left to see you.
3. Bushes, trees, signs, etc., can keep them from seeing you.
4. If you're not squished against the curb, you still have some wiggle room to dodge glass, etc.

Wear bright bright colors. Best colors are day glo yellow, green and orange. Worst colors, grey, black, dark blue & dark purple.

There is a book called Effective Cycling that will give you lots of other tips.

Kim

[goddess1222]

ok everyone. I ACTUALLY DID IT. i rode my bike for the first time out in the road. me and my BF went early this morning, he wanted to take me when there was limited traffic. he road races a lot and rides on the track too, so i really felt looked after. he kept checking in with me, looking back to make sure i was ok, he rarely took his eyes off me, except to check the intersections. i did great. i didn't fall, and i stopped and clipped out beautifully at the stoplights. he took me down a little windy path, and i got a little tense, but i had sense enough to slow down, think and clip out before i fell. i didn't fall once. i was so proud of myself.

i would like to thank all of you for your kindness and encouragement. it really propelled me out there today. my fear is a huge hurdle, and i feel i have at least taken one step in jumping over it. i still have a long way to go, baby steps all the way.

thank you again,
goddess1222