Conquer Fears?
05-18-08, 09:06 AM
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Conquer Fears?
Last spring I was going all out on a trial, and up ahead was some deep sand... I thought to myself, no worries just get light and fly over it; about 2 feet from hitting the sand it hit me that I was going too fast and the sand was too deep... Yup front wheel jammed right into the sand and I flew over the bars and a good 5-feet before landing (luckily) into the sand pit. I could barely finish the course afterwards, every downhill freaked me out, and every climb seemed impossible.
About 3/4 of a year later I still cannot go all out on downhill sections. I'm on my brakes slowly navigating the trail instead of flying through the corners. Every time I see a sandy portion of the ride; I end up slowing down to 10mph and slowly driving over it, which never works because once you lose momentum in the sand you're a goner.
How do you conquer fears? Is it just more trail time?
About 3/4 of a year later I still cannot go all out on downhill sections. I'm on my brakes slowly navigating the trail instead of flying through the corners. Every time I see a sandy portion of the ride; I end up slowing down to 10mph and slowly driving over it, which never works because once you lose momentum in the sand you're a goner.
How do you conquer fears? Is it just more trail time?
05-18-08, 09:13 AM
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Just say no to brakes.
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...pretty much. The more you practice, and MAKE yourself scare the crap out of you by going a little faster each time, the easier it will get.
05-18-08, 09:51 AM
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Lean back on the sand and take your weight off the bars, keep pedaling. Turn the front wheel or stop pedaling and you will get stuck!
As far as hills, etc, just put your helmet on tight and go down the hill. You won't be scared after you do it a few times. Lean back going downhill too!
As far as hills, etc, just put your helmet on tight and go down the hill. You won't be scared after you do it a few times. Lean back going downhill too!
05-18-08, 09:58 AM
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Last spring I was going all out on a trial, and up ahead was some deep sand... I thought to myself, no worries just get light and fly over it; about 2 feet from hitting the sand it hit me that I was going too fast and the sand was too deep... Yup front wheel jammed right into the sand and I flew over the bars and a good 5-feet before landing (luckily) into the sand pit. I could barely finish the course afterwards, every downhill freaked me out, and every climb seemed impossible.
About 3/4 of a year later I still cannot go all out on downhill sections. I'm on my brakes slowly navigating the trail instead of flying through the corners. Every time I see a sandy portion of the ride; I end up slowing down to 10mph and slowly driving over it, which never works because once you lose momentum in the sand you're a goner.
How do you conquer fears? Is it just more trail time?
About 3/4 of a year later I still cannot go all out on downhill sections. I'm on my brakes slowly navigating the trail instead of flying through the corners. Every time I see a sandy portion of the ride; I end up slowing down to 10mph and slowly driving over it, which never works because once you lose momentum in the sand you're a goner.
How do you conquer fears? Is it just more trail time?
The only bicycle advice you'll ever need.
Ride with other people and watch what they do. That's one of the best ways to learn. In addition, get out and ride more. Some things are best learned on less challenging terrain first. Find some mellow spots that have things you have trouble with and practice until you've mastered them.Here's a good description of how to do sand and other stuff.
Ride. It gets better.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
05-18-08, 10:07 AM
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You never conquer your fears, you just control them.
With some riders no matter how much they ride or who they ride with they will never get past their sticking points when it comes to something they fear. The only way to do it is head out there with a friend or two to help give you confidence and then it is up to YOU to control your fear and go for it.
Start slow and slowly increase the speed. If you find your self grabbing a fist full of brakes just yell at yer self to NOT GRAB THE BRAKES.
If you do not try you will never learn no matter how much advice we give you.
DBD
05-18-08, 02:11 PM
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moral of the story...walk sand
there are ways to tackle short bits of sand but if it is deep and long just save yourself the trouble and walk.
there are ways to tackle short bits of sand but if it is deep and long just save yourself the trouble and walk.
05-18-08, 02:19 PM
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Surly Pugsly Futhermucker
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05-18-08, 02:51 PM
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Wash your mouth out with soap, little man!!
Quit being a pansy and keep your fingers off the brakes. If you hit a patch of sand...lean way, way back...you shouldn't go over the bars. (unless it's quicksand) Your technique needs a little bit of honing.
Quit being a pansy and keep your fingers off the brakes. If you hit a patch of sand...lean way, way back...you shouldn't go over the bars. (unless it's quicksand) Your technique needs a little bit of honing.
05-18-08, 09:43 PM
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05-19-08, 07:44 AM
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Besides, if you walk everything, mountain biking just becomes hiking in bad shoes.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
05-20-08, 05:34 PM
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I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
05-20-08, 08:02 PM
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I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
lol sand reference
05-20-08, 08:48 PM
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Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil.
05-20-08, 09:12 PM
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There is no emotion; there is peace.
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no passion; there is serenity.
There is no death; there is the Force.
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no passion; there is serenity.
There is no death; there is the Force.
05-20-08, 09:47 PM
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Easy.. beer will help you conquer your fears. Contact Scrublover for instructions on drinking during the ride.
Very impressive.
05-22-08, 10:34 PM
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I am sort of in the same boat as the original poster, though I have bigger problems.. The point is though, as much as you can push yourself, just remember that once fear sets in, logic goes out the window. Also, fear and sheer panic go hand in hand. Keep that in mind. Once you panic, its all over. Do what you are comfortable with. What works with others may not work with you. I personally, will never do, what alot of these other DH types do. I am what you call a 'wannabe' and a 'noob'.
You have in a sense however stared 'death' in the face, and lived to tell about it. You realised your mistake, now you should learn from that mistake. Moving passed your fear of crashing, will NEVER go away and will forever haunt you. In a way its a good thing. Maybe now you wont kill yourself. But at the end of the day, it all takes lots and lots of time. Just like a physical wound takes time to heal, mental wounds can take 100x longer to heal, and most never do. You just have to find a common ground between your new fear, and your ability to have fun.
You have in a sense however stared 'death' in the face, and lived to tell about it. You realised your mistake, now you should learn from that mistake. Moving passed your fear of crashing, will NEVER go away and will forever haunt you. In a way its a good thing. Maybe now you wont kill yourself. But at the end of the day, it all takes lots and lots of time. Just like a physical wound takes time to heal, mental wounds can take 100x longer to heal, and most never do. You just have to find a common ground between your new fear, and your ability to have fun.
05-24-08, 03:52 PM
#21
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Ride it again and make it 3 feet through. Then ride it again and get 4 feet through. Then ride it again and get 5 feet through. You get the idea, right? Keep at it.
