Advocacy & Safety - the willies

i had a nasty fall early in the season, practically my first ride. I was on my Kona (road bike was being tuned up) and when i turned i slid on some gravel and fell. Needed stitches in my elbow, tetanus shot, wound was infected, antibiotics, lots of discomfort, pain and blood. Huge hematoma on my hip. Nothing really serious, my bike was fine. I was too sore and beatup to ride, then the weather was crap, then family stuff intervened and then i just figured I'd wait until i got my road bike back.

Of course I've had falls and accidents before like everyone else. I got hit by a car a few years ago, which ended the season for me (it was late october anyways). But for some reason, this time I've really had the willies since I got back on the road. I'm just not myself and it seems to have rattled my confidence. It's totally unlike me! Usually after a fall I'm back on the bike in a couple of days, or just keep going. I suppose if i raced I'd be forced to get back on the bike again. Even when I got hit by the car I didn't have this problem....except at the intersection where I was hit. It's like I don't trust myself anymore, probably because i fell when turning, which is just so stupid...it's like walking into a wall or something. I've been on rides but I still don't feel like myself...admittedly, it was one of the nastier, bloodier falls I've had.

Has this happened to anyone else? Please don't judge me and call me a weenie! How do i get back to normal???

A&S just makes me feel that way, however after 5-10 minutes I feel at home on the road. Meh.

This probably happens to everyone at some point. The last time I went down, a car pulled out in front of me between other cars so I never saw him until the last second. I went down hard, but nothing broken, just some good bruises. I managed to ride home but the next day and for a couple of weeks afterwards I was scared silly that someone would jump out in front of me again. It took awhile but I kept plugging along and finally regained my confidence. Sometimes if I get overly confident, it seems like that is when I have an accident. Your confidence will come back, as you age it may just take a little longer.

yeah maybe....i'd probably be further along by now if i'd been able to ride more...but the weather has been sh*tty...and no i'm not going to ride in that weather, with these bad roads. After i got hit by a car i was really scared of that intersection, with good reason- it was a really badly designed one and lots of people got nailed there. However,they've since redesigned it. But at the time I had to face it so i went through it...only i made sure to avoid it during rush hours and take another route. I also called the city and told them they really needed better signals there, which they actually did change. They must have gotten a lot of complaints about accidents. So at least some good came out of it. I wasn't really badly hurt either...just a broken finger, bad contusions and a f*cked front wheel...

i had a nasty fall...I got hit by a car a few years ago...for some reason, this time I've really had the willies since I got back on the road. I'm just not myself and it seems to have rattled my confidence...

How do i get back to normal???
The only way to win over the fear is to ride. Face your fear.

You have to re-teach your brain. The emotions are too strong to reason with them, you just have to reconnect with the good emotions of riding, and that means just getting out and riding, and enjoying yourself.

It might take time, but you will gradually overcome it. Remember, it's not what you think that counts, it's what you feel. You can't argue with your feelings, you just have to establish more good feelings. That's the only way to communicate with that part of your brain.

And don't try to tell yourself there's no reason to fear. You'll never believe it. Admit you're scared, but that you also love cycling and that you can't live without it. In time, your good experiences will make your bad ones shrink back into their true size.

:)

very good advice....i guess i'll eventually get back to normal. I'm trying the visualization thing...i remember it worked when i had to go through the Intersection of Doom (where i got hit).