A little nervous...

[Catrin]

I've always enjoyed riding my country roads, but after the dog bite I find it is a little more difficult to get started.... I still go, and have had several good rides since the attack, but it makes me a little nervous until I get going. Once I get started I am fine.

I am sure this is quite normal & to be expected, but for now it makes it a little more difficult to just head out and explore. I REALLY LIKE to do that, so I need to get over it. Now

[OakLeaf]

I do best in those situations if I push myself a little, only to where I'm slightly uncomfortable, and try to frame the incident as a learning experience in my head. If I'm terrified (I sure hope you aren't, but if you are), I don't think it's useful to try to push through it - it only creates more reluctance to go out the next time. If I'm gentle with my discomfort, explore it, poke at it a little, my head will heal.

It's been little by little getting my head back from my crash. I'm still wary about whose wheel I will take, and even if it's someone I've ridden with a lot and know to be highly skilled, I leave more space than I used to. On TOSRV, everyone I knew rode Saturday only - so on the way back, people I didn't know got one chance to kill me, and that was it. I dropped off a whole lot of pacelines that day ...

[Catrin]

That makes sense. It isn't terror, nothing like that. There is a little aversion to riding in new areas I've not ridden before because of the possibility of more war dogs...but I think that will pass as I push myself a bit.

I also recognize that it was a very specific set of circumstances that presented the opportunity for the dog to gnaw on my calf while I was riding. I was on my mountain bike for the first time, riding on gravel for the first time, my speed was quite slow, etc. The odds of that specific set of circumstances happening again are quite slim, so I am really not worried about a repeat. If I DO find myself on another narrow gravel road and see something similar then I will simply stop until they are past me.

I also think that it will help as I pass more dogs on my bike that do not try to eat me Obviously not all dogs are that aggressive. Right now I give all dogs the widest margin that I can - even the little tiny things that couldn't even reach my ankles on the bike

I would love to hit the roads in southern Indiana for some hill training, but I think I will give it a few weeks and see if I can find someone willing to ride with me the first time - I am slow so I don't usually seek a riding partner - but I thank that will help me to get over the dog fear. Club rides don't really count in this department as I still wind up riding solo

[Biciclista]

sounds like you need someone to ride with a bit while you are getting over your jitters?
what makes it worse is you know that dog is probably still loose.

[owlice]

Catrin, I hope you put foremost in your mind that you won, not the dog! He was hoping to have you for lunch; you didn't give him the opportunity!

Roar, woman, roar!!

(I'm partly serious there; roaring might really help you get past the jitters! Might get you to giggling, too, and that's always a good thing!)

[Catrin]

sounds like you need someone to ride with a bit while you are getting over your jitters?
what makes it worse is you know that dog is probably still loose.

Yeah, that would probably be good for a bit. The "good" thing is the route I was on is not one I would ever ride with my Gunnar, so I was away from my usual roads. Not by much, but hopefully enough

I will say that my hot and windy 30+ ride Sunday was fine, and while I did see a few dogs none of them were loose

[Catrin]

Catrin, I hope you put foremost in your mind that you won, not the dog! He was hoping to have you for lunch; you didn't give him the opportunity!

Roar, woman, roar!!

(I'm partly serious there; roaring might really help you get past the jitters! Might get you to giggling, too, and that's always a good thing!)

Yes, I try to keep this in mind - I did indeed WIN and got away from the dog even without beautiful purple chain-mail leggings This nervousness will pass in time as I get more rides in without repeats, and I think talking about it here helps. If I were to talk to my non-cycling peeps about it I KNOW what they would say and giving up cycling simply is not going to happen

I like the roaring idea

[tangentgirl]

Maybe you could get your own toy dog, like a small plastic dog or stuffed dog that you can tie to your handlebar for a bit. It will protect you from the bad dogs. Just a small trick to help you psyche yourself into the right mindset.

[owlice]

Or a little toy dog owner that you can run over several times before you head out....

(Okay, that was mean, but I wouldn't weep any if the owner of the dog that bit you had a little tire tread or eight showin' on his backside....!)

[Miranda]

I have not been the same either since my dog related crash. Besides the everyday pain to a varying degree and permanent damage done to my body, I can't 100% shake that re-crash aniexty.

Part of my brain never goes off alert during the ride. It's stressful. Logically I try to tell myself just keep riding. But having to be "on the look out" constantly for the next dog that might take me down unexpectly is exhausting.

The only time I take a breather and mentally relax a little is on wide open field stretches. Where I can see everything both sides of the road in view.

My crash happened on my favorite thing in the word to ride. Wooded rolling hills. Except for that one clearing at the crest with the farm dog in full sprint before I ever saw him.

I'm not sure what the answer is. Every rider I know who has crashed seems to never forget it totally. All have said to me you just need to keep riding. Easier said than done. Keep us updated.

[sundial]

My leg served as a chicken nugget for a dog on one of my rides. I wasn't going to let it stop me and I still continue to ride where the dog is and haven't had any more problems since. If you give off the vibes that you are afraid, the dog will pick up on it and react accordingly. I have found that a good squirt of water in the dog's face, slowing the bike, or getting between the bike and the dog while standing your ground helps ward off curious fear biters. It worked for me when a concerned mama pit bull came out to greet me.

Perhaps until you feel really confident about riding alone where doggies could be hiding, a riding partner will help alleviate some of your frustrations and concerns. If you want to arm yourself with some protection, get some bear spray.

Something else that I carry is a Find Me Spot that will alert 911 authorities if I need help fast. I can also program it to text to my hubby every 10 minutes that I am ok and includes the GPS coordinates should I summon his help.

[Catrin]

Everyone that is good advice, thank you! I think that I was just a little down this morning...and the more often I ride by dogs that don't try to eat me the more confident I will become. I am not going to allow this to take away my joy in riding

I do know someone who might be able to ride with me a time or two, but I think I need to not allow this to change my normal practice. Hey, if I can keep riding with a dog gnawing at me, then I can work through this little bout of nerves - and it only seems to affect me BEFORE I ride, once I am going and the wind is in my face then I am fine. I do find myself scanning specifically for dogs, and when I see an owner walking their dog I try to determine if there is a leash involved...

Miranda and Sundial, thank you for telling me a little of your experience - Oakleaf that is a good reminder that taking it little by little is best. Owlice I love your idea of riding over the dog owner a time or two with my bike...oooops...you said a TOY dog owner - my bad Not that I would ever do such a thing but after seeing a hint of the final bill yesterday from the ER...

Thanks everyone!

[WindingRoad]

We should go ride together soon. I think this whole experience will take some time to deal with so be patient with yourself. This is a form of post traumatic stress afterall.

[Roadtrip]

If I were a little closer I'd gladly be your wingman on your scary roads. We still need to figure out logistics on meeting part way. Looking forward to seeing your battle scars

Shannon

[owlice]

Catrin, I don't remember now, but did you report the dog? The owners should be covering your expenses for this; their homeowner's insurance will likely cover it.

You might want to consider that as you continue to ride, you get leaner, so are less tasty -- no fat for flavor!