rykoala

After reading more of this thread since my last post in it, its come to mind that my favorite ride ever was a planned morning ride, but I just went with the trail and never stopped, and didn't have a set turnaround point or anything. I just WENT. No serious amounts of planning or anything, I just got out and rode. The less planning (not to be confused with preparedness) the better for me. The more I plan, the more I psych myself out and get all nervous. My best rides are the ones where I almost autonomously get on my bike and start riding.

Litespeed

I was always and sometimes still do get nervouse before a ride, worried about everything that might happen. One thing I found was very helpful was to make sure that I eat enough about an hour before I plan to ride. Seems like if I make sure I eat a power bar that really makes a big difference, my stomach has something else to concentrate on besides being nervous.
I have also just gone to a hypnotist yesterday to confront my fears while on the bike. She gave me an audio tape to listen to every night before I go to sleep. She says that it takes a transition period of about 21 days to complete and the "healing" just keeps building on itself. Yesterday after my session, my husband and I rode our tandem. Usually I am very scared on the tandem at different points but I did better then I had ever done before, staying very calm. You might even want to think about hypnosis if it really becomes a problem.

Rowan

Sell your car (if you have one), get another bike as a beater bike or back-up... and start living the car-free lifestyle.

Then you will totally rely on your bike as transport, and you won't get anxiety before a ride. You will be riding so much, it will be second nature to grab the bike and go. Your planning will be a given (how long to take, what to take), and you will become skilled as a rider (in traffic, for example), and know a bit about roadside repairs to get you home. All great ways to reduce anxiety. The day you spontaneously reach for your bike and helmet instead of the car keys, you will know what I mean.

Having said that, I still get a little anxious when setting off on long rides (tours or randonnees), but not so much anymore because experience... counts.

Chris L

My take on this comes from a quote I heard from a coach in another sport last year:

"if you're nervous, allow yourself to be nervous. If you're not nervous, don't try to invent it."

I think there's something in that. To be honest, a little anxiety only really becomes a problem if you allow it to distract you from the ride itself. I think worrying about whether it's "right or wrong" to be nervous before a ride will probably just create more anxiety than the ride itself."

giorgios

It sounds to me that you have pre ride jitters. Theese are your endorphins that are getting ready to dance and fill your body from your head to your finger tips to your toes. It's that natural high that you experince when you exersise. Use it to your benifit!?!?

The Rob

When off the bike, I tend to dwell on worst-case scenarios (getting hit, making a mistake and then getting hit...). When I mount up, that sense of disquiet falls away immediately. I suppose it must be a form of performance anxiety, but in any case it's useless because I'll always ride anyway.

Usually the only occasions wherein anxiety comes along for the ride is when I ride with my wife, and that's simply natural; the anxiety manifests in my perceived need to watch out for her as well as myself. (I say 'perceived' because of course she's not a child and can fend for herself just fine thankyouverymuch, but you know...she's my wife!)

mguisado

If you are having negative thoughts, then there's a reason to feel a little nervous.

If you are not having negative thoughts, but as you prepare for a ride all of a sudden you start getting butterflies etc.

It maybe the case that while preparing for a ride, your body starts preparing for exersise, your hart rate goes up, breathing increases etc. These may be very slight changes that you don't really notice. But your brain does notice them, and can't attribute the changes to anything (you're not exersising yet). These autonomic nervous system changes active the "flight or fight" response, which, in turn, increase your heart rate etc. Along with the "flight or fight" reponse also comes anxiety. This might be what you are feeling. It's simular to panic attacks.

So you might want to try breathing and relaxation exersises when you start feeling nervous before a ride (if it's really a problem).

This also explains why if you just jump on the bike there are no problems, you don't give your body time to prepare for the exersise and don't activate the response.

Funny thing is that this happens to me sometimes before playing team sports. Knowing what is happening, doesn't change any of the feelings. But at least I know there's nothing wrong.

juf2m

Well, I have a road bike that I use in the countryside (a Lemond Reno) with clipless pedals (and yes they still make me uneasy) and in the city I have a Trek hybrid. I guess it's the traffic that contributes to the city nerves. But my clothing, I have no problem with. I have the helmet, gloves, glasses, bike shorts, jerseys, cycling socks...the whole kit and caboodle!

You know, the problem with cycling is that it takes so LONG to get ready! You get the snack, waterbottles, emergency kit and pump, emergency money and health cards, lights...then you top up the tires, unhook the locks...this whole process takes me forever and contributes to the whole nervousness I think....

juf2m

Well, the thing is I don't have a car...and I never learned to DRIVE! *gasp* Living in the city with public transit the need never arose. But now that I will be moving to the US from Toronto for awhile, I really need to learn to drive. So yes, dealing with traffic and not being sure of myself is a definite contributor too.


Thanks again for all the comments guys, this is all very interesting!

Rowan

Instead of *gasp*, wear that statement as a badge of honour. You're already there, a member of a unique group of people in far-Western society. You should be proud of it.

Do you really need to learn to drive to move to Toronto? I think there are enough Canadians on these forum/fora to give you some guidance so you don't ever have to worry about a driver's licence.

As to getting stuff together taking so long... when you settle on using just one bike for whatever type of riding you do, and you have everything already attached to it... well, it takes me all of 30 seconds to get on the helmet, gloves, jacket and get out the door. Mind you, I also have my bike in my living room, which helps a stack. If you've got a Lemond, I would suspect you would, too.

One of the things I have done is acquire a traveller's wallet. It's an outdoorsy/surfy type of wallet made of fabric, and folds in on itself and shuts tight with Velcro. If I'm wearing bike shorts, I slip it down the waistband over my right hip. The lycra keeps it in place, I know where it is ALL the time, and I don't have to go changing cards, cash and other stuff out of a separate, unwieldy wallet all the time. So, that takes care of the cash/documentation.

What else? As to water bottles, topping off tyres and stuff, just do it all the night before. The go have a few drinks, go to bed and have a good sleep.

Routine is the solution to your nervousness. Do it often enough, and it will all happen so fast, you won't even think about it.

juf2m

Hi Rowan, very good advice!

To clarify, I live in downtown Toronto, which is why I never needed to drive, we have tonnes of public transport. But I will be moving to the US for six months and I will be in a smallish town, and you REALLY need to be able to drive to get anywhere over there...that's why I need to learn now....