Getting Back in the Saddle

Most of you reg's know that in late June I took a bad fall coming down a steep Mt. and that I am currently  in the healing process (still doing PT).

So, now I'm back on my bike again, but it's not the same. I am TERRIFIED of descents. I actually love climbing and it's really inhibiting my enjoyment because I'm avoiding climbs.

The other day I did a very minimal climb (3 miles 4-8% grade) and coming down it I was almost in tears....this is not like me. I used to LOVE flying down any decline I could find.

Do you think this will go away with time? Do I just need to keep doing it and the fear will subside? I've never dealt with fear like this before. I've never had an irrational fear take over me like this. Every-time I go downhill I just think about my crash and it scares the crap outta me. I keep thinking that my bike will fail me- even though I know nothing is wrong with it...ARRRRG!

I'm in new and unsure waters....and need some help EnF'ers!!

:Danni

This is good and bad news.

I'm glad to hear you are back on the bike, but sorry to hear it is causing you some stress.

I still haven't gotten over my scare and didn't even crash.
I used to love to fly down the hills, never had a concern about it.
Now I'm like a blue hair grandma coming down the hills.

I had a ride one day where I was blazing down a hill, and the whole day was wonderful.

I loaded my bike on the car and headed home.  When I got home I went to take the bike off the car and the tire blew.  It didn't just deflate, or pop, it actually blew off the rim.  It sounded like a gunshot when it happened.  It made me stop and think wow if that could happen with the bike on the bike rack, it certainly could have done it while going 40 mph down a hill.  I don't think the spandex and brain bucket would help you much if your front tire was to do that.  Ever since then I have been very leary of my descents.

I think some fear is natural, it's like a early warning-self preservation mechanism.  But you can't let it control your life.  I'd hate to see something like that ruin something that has brought lots of enjoyment to you.

Take care of yourself and give yourself time to heal mentally and physically.

Pick a date and let me know, you can come ride with me, or I'll head down and ride with you.  We can be scardy cats together.  Maybe Marie could blaze past us on the downhill while we are shaking in our saddles.

Then again she went down hard a couple weekends ago, so maybe she will be riding right next to us.

Scott

I am DYING to get back on my bike again!

I don't think I will be too afraid of descents though because I was actually not going that fast when I crashed. If I had been going faster, I bet I would have sailed over that stupid reflector, in fact!

I also saw someone at Vineman whose tired popped right in front of me at the bottom of Chalk Hill and she crashed and I had a similar thought about something like that happening at high speeds doing downhill, but when I'm on my bike, I don't think about it like that.

We'll see though...

Yeah but you were braking because you had gone or were going over the center line.
Had you been going faster, you might not have made the corner at all.

Scott

Well not THAT much faster. LOL.

I found my crash on my Garmin data and I was quite disgusted to see that the curve wasn't remotely steep at all. Ride with GPS says I went into the curve at 20+ mph which was actually reasonable and had gotten down to 15-ish mph at the crash.  On Garmin Connect is said 7+ mph and that was why I was thinking if I'd been going more like 12 mph or more, I would have had enough momentum to go over the reflector.

But if 15 mph is correct, then there really isn't anything I could have done.

Danni, go with Scott!   Like riding a horse you need to get back on asap, unfortunately you could not so it is best to be with someone that knows the fear!!  Don't let your accident take away the joy you have had and shared with us!!!  BELIEVE and live!

Thanks Ann, I'll keep riding till I'm over this fear!

In the Central Valley we just have small hills...I've never had to face that fact...Except one time.  I took my bike over to Pacific Grove.  Started down the main business street...Where you go flying past the cemetary.  I was going about 20-25 MPH with full breaks.  If a car had pulled out, I would have been toast.  I kept riding along the beach toward Monterey.  Then did the walk of shame up the hill...and did it again.  It was a bigger rush than any rollercoaster I've ever been on.  I know this is a terrible anology, but it's almost like the people who are cutters...to make you feel alive.
Use common sense.  You're doing this for you.  Enjoy the ride...However that may be. 

I forgot what I was going to say...

I love to go downhill. But even I sometimes have times when it's just not going well and I find myself riding the brakes a lot. So I think it's just a matter of doing it enough and getting used to how it feels again.

One thing that's helped me a lot is to attend bike skills clinics and to work on descending technique. With good technique, it's not as scary and also it gives you more confidence.

And you and Scott know the exact Mt. as you went up it where I went down!

I am signed up for a clinic this weekend, and I hope that it helps. I'm also thinking about getting a new bike...of course the one I want is 3grand...which I sooo don't have!

:D