Road Cycling - Confidence or lack of

In the past two months I have crashed twice ..both of which have caused nasty road rashes with colorful bruises . Also had a few new toe clip adjustment "tip overs" which were just mostly embarrassing. I do not bounce well. I skid amazingly well however.

I must admit a bit of fear and lack of confidence is creeping in and affecting my desire to get on my bike. Also the fact that everyone at work tells me constantly I am too old, going to kill myself, break my legs or knock my teeth out, have a heat stroke, run into a car, get run over by a truck, with all this bike riding nonsense.

Let me add that I am a 55 year old female and ride a wonderful Specialized Sequoia Expert ( of which I am not)and only have been riding constantly since last June. I traded in a Trek hybrid which I am sure was much safer but was sooooo boring.

Any advise,regarding keeping my confidence up, overcoming the fear of injury OR just snappy comebacks for when I hobble into the office on crutches???

The most basic thing you need to do is just get back in the saddle. Dont try anything too ambitious for a while, confidence builds slowly at first. Just go for a short ride and see how you feel and take it from there.

As far as clip on related falls (not crashes:D) there's plenty of advice around here somewhere. The thing I find most useful is to look well ahead and plan unclipping and stopping well in advance. Don't wait until you are virtually stopped to unclip at the last moment. I am usually unclipped when i start to slow to a stop - if the lights change or I no longer need to stop its easy to clip back in.

Just $0.02 from a newbie :D

Peter

Hey there ev5, I don't know if this will help or not or maybe just give you some confidence or make you feel like there is hope, but IMHO don't listen to those at your work who tell you, you're to old and all that junk..My mom is 72 and she's been riding tandem with me along with her single bike for other events for 3years now..Right now she's at about 1400 miles total for this year on the road, and just loves it..We travel around to events and do rides in our own home area..It's just great...So don't pay much attention to those who say all the doomsday stuff, they're just not expierenced at it more than likely..

Keep up the riding, as for the re-gaining the confidence, I've been thru what you're going thru also, after a crash on my MTB one year, it just takes, time and taking that bike out again and doing things on it that you did befor the confidence left you..

Stick with it, and best of luck to you..

Benjamin

Well, clip out problems can be helped by just practicing clipping and unclipping. It takes awhile to get it drilled into the nervous system. And it doesn't help that almost every clipless pedal known to man has a slightly different motion to get in and out.

Of course, the preceeding advice was good too. That is plan to clip out before needed. If you slow down and get your weight going the wrong way, you will go down. Most people always clip out on the same side, so if they start going over the other way, they will not clip out and catch themselves in time.

As for accidents and crashes. One thing is to understand why you crashed. Another thing is to have a good idea of what causes crashes. You could get "Effective Cycling" by John Forester. Forester found that crashes came from things that most people really did not think about. Half the crashes are caused by potholes and the like. Very few crashes are car/vehicle crashes and most of those occur at low speed at intersections or some idiot motorist pulling out from their driveway. Hmm, is idiot motorist redundant? I guess not it just SEEMS that way sometimes.

Interestingly enough, cyclists actually have about 1/2 the chance of death per hour that motorists have. I know it does not FEEL that way. There are about 800 cycling fatalities per year. 80% have a motorized vehicle involved. So although, vehicles are involved in very few bike crashes they are the big producers of fatalities. However, very nearly 50% of the bike fatalities occur at night and I bet those guys were not using lighting systems either. It is really smart to be a "stealth" cyclist. So if you don't ride at night without lights, you chance per hour of getting killed is about 1/4 of a motorist per hour. How can it be so low? Well think about it. How do most motorists get killed? Well they drive drunk. Not very many cyclists ride drunk. Another leading cause of traffic fatalities is falling asleep - again another thing cyclists don't do. I think the third big contributor is driving way too fast and cyclists might try this but seldom achieve it. A third thing, is most cyclists are pretty defensive as far as their riding - every near miss makes a REAL BIG impression because you nearly got hit by a huge metal thing and it was YOU and not your car's fender.

Also, when I looked at the fatality statistics, I noticed that no attention was paid to the experience of the cyclist. Forester noticed that the more experienced a cyclist is the lower their accident rate. He noted that commuters who ride on busy roads in all conditions have an accident rate so low that it can not be measured (at least not with Forester's sample size). I estimate that most of the bike fatalities are not experienced cyclists. I figure any experienced cyclist probably has a fatality rate of something like one tenth of a motorist.

Interestingly enough, it is more dangerous to be a pedestrian then a cyclist. I think maybe cyclists are in the flow of traffic and poor pedestrians tend to be trying to cross the road. At any rate, I know of 2 major annual cycling events that have had only one fatality each over the years. In both cases the cyclist killed was off his bike and off of the road when a motorist drove off of the road and killed them! Both cases were near corners. So don't stop on the outside of a corner.

Most crashes - caused by just going down sideways, produce road rash & bruises and are not that big of a deal. Severe crashes, which are caused by the front wheel turning dump you on your head and those are really bad news.

I know what you mean about lack of confidence. I have had two bad crashes in the last 2 years. Both were in pace lines at 25 mph+. Solo, I have no problems. Now I am avoiding pace lines.

Don't let the crashes get to you. Take them as a learning experience and remember why you are riding. There should be no/zero pressure on you to make you press too hard while riding. Also, everyone crashes...I have had 3 in the last 2 months. (one was somewhat clip related) Luckily, I was only hurt once. Everytime I crash or have a close call, I take a positive spin on it. I think about what happened and what I could have done different. Plus I've been reading thru many posts here and have learned alot. Additionally, I come from a drag racing background (10 + years)where my class I ran in was very dangerous. We ran in a series based on the World's Fastest Street Cars and were exceeding 190mph in 7 seconds. I always told myself & partner, the day it wasn't fun or I was not comfortable, I would pack it in. Well I've sold the entire operation (minus one car) and I'm enjoying riding big time!!!! I have lots to learn and my main goal is to have fun and be safe. Everything else is icing on the cake. Hang in there and remember that you are very active, regardless of your age!!! :)

P.S. I'm with the others here, I'm always clipping out sooner than I need to....just playing it safe!! Also, ride by yourself, that way you are on your on pace and really have no extra pressure on you.

EV5,

You're getting great advice on riding technique, and clipless
pedal technique so I don't have alot to add there.
You can also practice clipping in and out on a field, grass
is much easier to land on than pavement :D .
What pedals are you using? Do they need to be adjusted?
your LBS should be able to diagnose problem with pedals
pretty quickly (especially since this is a new bike).
Where are you riding? Your description of mud right after
a turn sounds mysteriously like the path to White Rock Lake
(spillover from creek?).
I'd also suggest getting into a group ride, there are newbie
rides at most of the bike shops (Richardson Bike Mart comes
to mind).

Marty

Been there done that. I bought my Specialized Allez Elite and put LOOKs on it. After practicing clipping and unclipping in the trainer, I set out to the parking lot to get a final once over. I pulled back to the shop with my sales gal and some other people from the shop were waiting by the door for me. As I ride up, I'm yelling out how awsome the bike is, suddenly completely blind to the fact that my feet are locked in. I come to stop and do the familiar seat dance with my arms flailing all over the place as I fall over. I've also had 2 nasty spills. You just have to keep riding. Once you start having more and more sucessfull rides, the percentage of bad ones becomes smaller and smaller. It's a numbers game. Nothing more. I don't see how your Trek would be any safer unless is came with training wheels and bumpers. As far as your coworkers go, I always laugh when I get advice on how to conduct my fitness from someone with a donut in one hand a Coke in the other. You have to understand that what you do creates a certain animosity among some people who would like to be active and healthy, but don't have the ambition or discipline to do so. Get out and ride.

Confidence comes with time on the bike. I've always found that getting on the bike as soon as I can after a crash is the only way I can recover mentally. If I can ride immediately after a crash, i.e., finish a ride that I started but crashed in the middle of, I will. And, as others have mentioned, learn from each crash. Look at it in hindsight and see if you can figure out what caused it and how to avoid the situation in the future.

As for snappy comebacks, I'd wait until you've ridden for a while and then start bragging about your heart rate in the morning. Or just tell a male coworker that you'll kick him in the nuts if he doesn't shut up.

to improve confidence, get a mountain bike. the front shock, bigger tires and powerful brakes will give you no fear. Put slicks on to keep the speed up. Also, the investment in funds will force you to ride.

As for the clips...are you still using toe clips? Get clip less, you will need to learn to clip in and out, but once you've got it down, you will be able to get in and out without thinking...and never have to adjust the clips.

Get out and ride.

Fogrider

Stick with the roadie bike. You don't need suspension, more powerful brakes, etc. on the road. You'll be fine.

I agree with ImprezaDrvr...Stick with the road bike if that's what you prefer to ride....I rode a MTB for 15 years and just got a Trek road bike a month ago and while it did take some getting used to the feel of the road bike, I don't feel less stable on it.

Teski

Hi,
I am about the same age you are. Having to re-learn how to ride was tough; especially with those fancy new pedals. It will take a while before you believe this, but you're past the worst of it already. Get Forester's book, it is very helpful. It's a bit expensive, if your library doesn't have it, interllibrary loan it.
What I learned from this period is that Bell has a great helmet replacement policy:rolleyes:

falling is no fun at any age.. but at our age it takes a while to heal
so you have very right to be scared. fear is good.. use it and practise getting in and out of your clips listen to your body.
ride with friends ride alone but please get back on the bike and ride that is the only way to get your confidence back!!

K

I've found that since I haven't crashed in a while, I'm more afraid. I used to spill on a regular basis when I was new to biking. I always got back up and looked at my scratches and bruises as badges. Now that I haven't wrecked in so long, I'm actually afraid of falling. I take turns slower, use my brakes more often, and don't go as fast as I used to. Weird.

Originally posted by ev5
Also the fact that everyone at work tells me constantly I am too old, going to kill myself, break my legs or knock my teeth out, have a heat stroke, run into a car, get run over by a truck, with all this bike riding nonsense.

Everyone at work is simply envious of your health and happiness. Nothing against your co-workers, but if you listen to them, work would be the only thing you do. Too many people cannot fathom that a co-worker could actually have a life outside of work.

Avoid clip-out mishaps by setting your pedals to the lowest tension, if they are adjustable, and by working on your balance so that you have yourself leaning toward the unclipped foot when you stop.

As for the hybrid, I doubt that it was safer. My only crash was at slow speed on wet pavement on the hybrid. Go figure. A safe bike is one that fits you and that you enjoy riding.

I'd use regular flat pedals.No clips,cages,just plain pedals for a year.Then think about changingLet your co-worker get old and die young.Keep riding and you wont.

all my friends think i am crazy having 4 bikes and riding them so much. ya know what though, just do what you enjoy. i think confidence just comes with building it up over time. don't push yourself as hard and pay attention to your surroundings. as many people say, ride like your invisible to cars. i have had WAY too many incidents with agitated drivers and their lack of skills. one resulting in the guy threatening to kill me. the more you ride the more aware of your surroundings you will become. i have fallen off my bike one too many times. i think i endoed about 3 times in a race last year, but i got up and kept going. i broke my finger last year mountain biking, but i am still riding today. i definitely do get scared after close incidents with cars and it shakes me up a bit, but i just get back on my bike the next day and ride it off. a lot better blowing steam running or riding rather than getting in a car. i would suggest staying with shorter rides maybe and knowing the ins/outs of your bike with braking and how it handles. if there are local clubs or bike trails in your area, maybe try riding those instead. i hope this helps. don't give up though. biking is too much fun.

In July, I had a very shaky crash on some fast gravel switchbacks on my mountain bike.

In fact, I endoed (still clipped onto the bike) and slid while somehow taking a bar in the stomach. I snapped a set of carbon fiber Eastons, got trail rash and multi-colored bruising down my left side-shoulder to knees having to pick rocks out of my skin and deep tissue bruised my abs. My boyfriend made me take a day off riding.

I was immediately back on the bike physically. Mentally, however, I've just started to recover and lay off the brakes, and it has taken me about 5 bloody crashes since then. I had to learn three of the most valuable cycling lessons ever-
1. Crashes are going to happen.
2. Relax. Crashes happen more often when you're tensed up.
3. It's all going to be over soon, anyway.

My level of riding has come up a level since I've relaxed on my bike. It's amazing. If you do fall, get up as quickly as possible and get back on, brush yourself off, and chuckle.

:love: Glad to hear there are other people out there that are over 50. I didn't take up riding a bike until I was 45, rode horses for 20 years, but I enjoy the bike much more. My bike is a touring frame with mountain bike components and handle bar. I am in more of an upright position than on a road bike but it works for me. I could never get use to having my hands so far out and I couldn't reach the brakes on a road bikes well enough to stop, I have small hands. I haven't ridden clipless pedals for over 3 years and just today I rode in them (Candy SL). They are actually mountain bike pedals but I like the idea of a small platform so in case I am not able to clip in on the first try I can just keep pedaling until I do get clipped in. I will clip out well before I have to stop and in any areas where there is the least bit of question as to whether I should be in or out, I stay out of the pedal until I am sure I can be clipped in safely. I know I still have a long way to go with the pedals but this time I am really going to try and make it work (I have tried other clipless pedals twice before). I think that riding is pretty much a mind game. For awhile I would worry about everything, crashing, things in the road, cars jumping in front of me--anything and everything. Finally I figured out that I just needed to forget it all (which is hard to do) and try to look around more and enjoy the ride. I ride by myself on Sundays and Saturdays I only ride with my husband. He knows that I go at a much slower pace then him and he doesn't mind it at all. If you can find a slow paced group to go with, by all means do it. It will take your mind off the crashes and you will start enjoying the riding more. Be sure and look well in front of you, not directly down in front of you. Don't worry to much about things in the road unless you see something that is fairly good size you would have to avoid. Most of the small stuff you can roll over. I know it has taken me several years to get my confidence up to the point where I only worry about 2% of the time and that has made for a much more enjoyable ride.
Don't let anyone tell you your to old to ride -- bull stine!! I am the fittest person at work and second to the oldest. (I'm going to be 52 next month). One guy calls me Miss Fitness. All the other people don't know what exercise it, they think it's walking across the street to go get some junk food to eat. I have found that exercise has been great, it's helps me feel better about myself and the way I look, I couldn't be happier. Every time I climb on my bike, it's like a mini vacation for me. I might come back sweating and tired but I always tell my husband what a GREAT time I had. People who don't bike just don't understand and never will.

You may be experiencing newbie problems with your pedals or they may need to be adjusted. On the other hand, are you sure you're not internalizing your co-worker's critical remarks and your self-confidence..and maybe your riding...is suffering as a result?
I'm a 50 yr.-old female who also recently replaced my hybrid with a Specialized Sequoia (the Sport model). I ride farther, faster, and more frequently than I ever did on my hybrid and I'm having a blast. I have fleeting moments when negative thoughts run through my mind such as, I'm too old for this, it's too dangerous, I'm going to brake a hip if I fall, etc., but the moment passes and I ride on. I have a couple of friends who worry somewhat about my safety, but they're also quick to add that they think what I'm doing is great.

Your co-workers do, indeed, sound envious of your vitality. Ask them when was the last time they tried something as exhilerating and fun. You sound like you have a great sense of humor and I bet you can think of some snappier comebacks if you try. Seek out positive people who support what you're doing. And keep riding...:D :D :D

Does your bike suffer from toe-clip overlap with the front wheel?
Are your pedals clipless or toe clips and straps. The advice would be different for each style.
Does the new bike fit you properly. Lightspeed meentioned that he switched from drop bars to flats because they were too far away. Bike shops oftenm setupo "road bikes" as "racing bikes", but unless you rode them as a teenager, or youre an agile and flexible persone, the competitoin racing position is hard to adopt. That doesnt stop people riding with drop bars in a touring position.

Looks like you have no end to some great advice. Forget the "to old" part and keep pushing the cranks. Co-workers wish they had the drive to get on a bike and ride. Let them stay behind and eat pizza and get old. I ride my race bike to work on Fridays which is a 60 mile R/T ride, meanwhile my co-workers are eating pizza and telling me I'm nuts.

Crashing isn't fun we all do it. 2 years ago I went MTB riding with some friends and did a bad spill. I'm a hardcore roadie and failed to get honest with some friends about my MTB skills. It caused me to require surgery on a shoulder and repair of my ego. I couldn't even ride for 6 months so my racing season was killed until this year, and on a limited basis at that. But, I got back on the MTB, I still train my heart out on my road bike, I learned my limitation on the MTB. Keep doing what your doing, I hope to be racing at 60!

I am 51 and started riding at 49. I decided to start biking for fitness and bought a Trek hybrid. I then joined a group that rides on a fitness trail. That was a real confidence builder. This past year I went from platform to clipless, joined a road group, bought a rode bike and completed a MS150. I am no more confident than you are. I just make make myself do it! I have some scars from falls, but when I lose my confidence I take a few steps back and re-evaluate. If you need to get used to your new bike, take off your new pedals, put on platforms and get used to your bike. Or, if you have a place you can ride and feel confident with your new bike and pedals then just ride there for awhile until your confidence is back. Just decide for yourself what you need to make yourself more confident and take that step. Don't worry about taking back steps, they will get you further in the long run.

As for your co-workers, don't pay any attention to them or anyone else that tells you are too old to start a new endeavor. My co-workers thought I was a little nuts at first, but are now very supportive.

Thanks for posting this. I too am a newbie. A Fred. Whatever you call me I'm a baby to cycling. One thing I've realized is that everyone has experienced this at one point.

When I got my clipless pedals the guys at my LBS told me, "You will fall, but don't worry because everybody falls. Even the pros." I was so happy my first day out, I didn't fall. My second day out I fell three times, the last one really shattered my confidence, and I was visibly shaken. I didn't ride for about a month after that due to weather, and traveling, and life stuff; so when I did ride again, I was afraid of clipping in. in fact, it was so bad that I rode with one foot clipped in on a couple of short rides.

My SO, a noob too, coaxed me on my rides and basically told me that the only way to overcome my fears was to get back on the saddle and ride. He helped me a lot, we went out on short "confidence" building rides where I'd practice clipping and unclipping the entire time, and this really helped.

The idea of being clipped in still freaks me out, when I actively think about it. It's scary, and I know that I will fall again. I know that I will crash. I've had to come to grips with this, I just hope that when it does happen I don't hurt myself too bad or mess up my bike. Anyway, I learned that the longer I waited to get back out there, the greater my fears became, and the harder it was to clip in and have fun.

Thanks much for posting this--people have given some great advice.

I know exactly how you feel. When I first got clipless pedals, I felt completely "trapped" in them. After being able to clip out of them, my fears got less, but I was still VERY nervous and would clip out 500' before I needed to and anytime I had to turn a corner. It took some time, but I eventually did get more confident. I did get stuck in my pedals once, where no amount of twisting my foot would free me, over I went. I didn't get hurt, it was all slow motion because I had come to almost a complete stop. I tried other clipless pedals and finally settled on Crankbrother Candy SL, which I love. I'm completely confident with these pedals, easy to get in and out of and if I can't get clipped in right away, I can rest my foot on the small platform and try again, no problem. Close traffic will make me nervous, but after about a half hour and eating a Cliff Bar, I settle down and can enjoy the ride. I'm still not as confident as I would like, but most days I do okay. I didn't start riding a bike until I was 45 and sure wish I had ridden a bike instead of a horse for 25 years.

ev5, everybody has given you great advice. I completely love what Pat and Prosody told you. I'm a 45 year old female cyclist, I've been on a bike for 5 years already and believe me, I know what you've been through. I've fallen hard off my bike, really really hard, so much that one time my helmet broke in two, but nothing happened to my head only scratches on my thigh and thorax, but I got up, checked that by bike was in more or less conditions to ride back home and there I went, I left my confidence on the ground where I fell, LOL.

And I've had several falls after that one too, but the secret is to go always back. Don't stop. Listen to what the guys and gals here tell you. Cycling is the most beautiful sport ever.

I bike in Tijuana and in San Diego, CA, in the middle of horrible traffic sometimes, some others I take nice bike paths in San Diego, and I guess that's what has built my confidence up to the top, but I watch out all the time, it's not good to be OVER confident either, we always have to be careful and watch out for crazy car or motorcycle drivers, even watch out for careless pedestrians, but hey, cycling is my passion, so NOTHING is going to stop me from mounting my bike, NOTHING!

Go back to your road bike, and good luck, girl!

ev5, lot's of good advice here. I'm 54 myself, been riding 5 years now, and there is no way you are too old ...utter nonsense. I'm not sure what caused your crashes, but the advice to learn from them is good. I crashed last August (milled pavement, gravel...basically shouldn't have turned onto that road) and broke my collarbone, and all I could think about while recuperating was getting back on my bike! Well, that's not all I thought about..I went and bought a serious racing bike I'd always wanted. Getting back out there is the key. I definitely understand the nervous feeling, but what I've learned is that riding is the cure.

Oh, and you did say toe clips, right? I definitely would suggest getting some clipless pedals. Easy to get out of (once you're used to it) and much more comfortable and efficient to ride with. The 0 mph fall is not so much a rite of passage as it is just a part of cycling. Just don't try to break the fall with your hand (good way to break a wrist) and you'll be fine.

I'm not sure what caused your crashes, but the advice to learn from them is good.

Absolutely right!

:beer:

As pilots say, any landing you walk away from is a good landing.

My wife and I have a tacit agreement: 1st broken bone and she gets to start complaining about my cycling.

You have to ask yourself, why are you riding beyond your ability and crashing?

You're a middle-aged person (like myself) who is riding for fitness and fun. Is crashing fun? Are you training hard for a serious Master's race or something?

If not, then you shouldn't really ever crash. Ride slower downhill or in dodgy circumstances. Stay within yourself. Get home in one piece. Unless you're trying to gain skills to race, there's no excuse for riding recklessly. Your growing reluctance is just good common sense. And the best way to address it is to ride in such a way that you avoid crashes. You wouldn't drive your car recklessly for the fun of it, would you?

I've been riding road bikes for over 35 years. I'm 48 and haven't crashed since I was 18. Don't listen to people who tell recreational cyclists that "crashing happens." That's nonsense.

Use two layers of clothing!
This really protects your skin. I've fallen at 30mph and had almost no road rash, just bruising, simply due to the three layers of material sliding over each other over my butt. They make crash materials like this and they work marvelously.