keithnordstrom

one word: breathe. holding your breath is the easiest way to induce panic. breathe slowly and deeply and push your boundaries, only very slightly each time. but do it many many times! and you'll be descending like a champ.

Maelstrom 

Never thought of it this way. I usually pul my finger off the brake lever and scream out loud "You can dooo it" (Adam sandler movies anyone)...and ride until it hurts...

BigHit-Maniac

Just listen to your nuts, and NOT your brain for once

When I'm about to do something crazy, I'll just say to myself "Fuggit! Here goes nothing!"

hehehe.

killerasp

I know exactly how you feel. I just got my MTB not to recently and i was scared out of mind when i was riding for the first time. I fell soo many times when i started to ride. It was because i felt so uncomfortable using clipless that it was severly affecting my confidence. I thus switched to platforms and never looked back. I have more confidence in taking drops, moving through rough terranin and even doing some small stunts. Knowing that im not clipped in when i fall, makes me feel alot safer. Not to mention i got shin pads and full face helmet, it helps alot. But i know that i cant hit 10' hucks or catch major air, but im moving slowly and eventually i will.

Just take it slow, if you think your equipment is holding you back, switch it if its withing your budget. If not, dont do that hill or trail that you feel that you can handle just yet. People wont make fun of you beacuse you realize your limits. The stupid thing to do is not realize them and do that 10' huck when you can barely pedal in a straight. Oh. When in doubt, LEAN BACK!!!!

Raiyn

Some people get real mellow after rockin' the ganga

Although I wouldn't think about riding after a few bong rips. (man it's been a long time)

Maelstrom 

...a trip up the gondola proves that time and again. A little buzz really dulls what is a going big and what isn't.

chip

I think the best way to overcome fear Is threw understanding...I conquered my fear of the dark threw understanding?Just use your head and reason the thing out
Animals can see better then we In the dark,It ain't a Issue with them?It's just that the sun Is on the other side of the world for a little while thats all

mjw16

Don't give up. Mountain biking is a fun and rewarding sport, especially when you learn to conquer those obsticles you thought were impossible. I was kind of in the same boat as you: I've been athletic most of my life (and fearless bmx'er as a kid) and love the outdoors too. When I really got into mountain biking I couldn't believe people rode the logs, logjams, drops, rock gardens, jumps, and other obsticles that are out there. I loved the dirt, hills, and mud but would chicken out on the harder stuff (trying to stop short, often causing a crash). It wasn't until I met up with some random guy on the trail that I realized I could do these things. Following him up and over just about every logjam and drop at speed, I realized that if he could do it so could I. I copied his technique and just went for it. I realized that, although they vary in difficulty, most obsticles are meant to be ridden-not impossible, it was a huge confidence booster. Now they are fun and challenging, not scary. Sure, sometimes I'll get a bad feeling and chicken out, but I force myself to go back and ride the obsticle and usually realize that it wasn't that bad after all. And sure, sometimes you will crash-you are on two wheels doing difficult stuff after all-but it's really not that bad. Ride within your limits, work on technique, learn from others, and continue to build your confidence. Soon you'll say to yourself "man, I can't believe I used to chicken out on that stuff".

fatman

Hey thanks you all very much for all your encouraging and supportive words. Today I went to the trails and I wish I can tell you that handle all obstacles like a pro but I didn't even though I fell much more confident and for the first time I really enjoy it.

I will keep dong this as long as I'm able to do it!!!

Best regards

Steve (A.K.A. fatman)

Dannihilator

That is good to hear.

mikeym

i found out for decents and tricky stuff... the better way is lower... i get so freaked out going down a 50 degree drop with a seat thats freaking 3 feet off the ground and myself hovering over the bars... what i found out was that lowering my seat and leaning back made it crazy awesome... and i got over my fears fast, now i'm jumping down those decents... good luck bro...

bentrim

You have fear? Congratulations, you've just joined the human race.

Fear is a self-preservation mechanism. It is your brain telling you that there is danger looming and for you to be careful thereby triggering hormones like endorphins.

People who don't have fear, or "adrenaline junkies" are actually the ones who are psychologically weird.

However, fear that is crippling or irrational (like phobias) can be problematic.

The easiest way to overcome fear in sports is through progression. Start out slow, master the basics before the complex, and create realistic target objectives and expectations.

You can also try psychological techniques like systematic desensitization, and visualization. They are basically self-hypnosis techniques that train your mind and body to relax in a given situation; rather than tensing up with fear. You can find various techniques in psychology books, or on the net.

Get in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and relax maintaining steady breathing and a slow heart rate and relaxing every muscle in your body with each breath until you are totally relaxed. Now visualize a small branch you will be riding over on your bike...keep getting your body to relax more and more as you visualize. Then when you are comfortable with that, visualize yourself going over a small log...relax...visualize...then onto a bigger log, etc. If you feel yourself tensing up at anytime, go back to the branch or a smaller object. You see where this is going? You're basically training your mind and body to relax in a given situation rather than tensing up with fear.

The trick is to build up slowly. Visualize a branch then slowly work your way up to a big drop but make sure your body is always relaxing. It won't come in a day. Do this exercise for 10 to 20 minutes everyday...just don't fall asleep!

Andy_07

Hi guys. Im not so much new to mountain biking as ive been riding them most of my life but only xc riding. Im now trying to get into enduro and DH as a group of mates i ride with have a booked a trip to morzine next year.
I am petrified of heights and when im mountain biking drop offs are a killer for me...ill talk myself out of it before i even start the run up to them. Sometimes i can be stood there 45mins to 2hrs contemplating whether to do it and then back out.
Im really struggling to get past the fear...Any ideas of what i can do to help conqour the fear or even control it? I have my mates ride with me and they really help me but still i cant bring myself do do a drop off thats not even 1ft in height. any advice would be amazing.

gsa103

Find a good curb in your neighborhood. Start just flying off it (no traffic area of course). Practice keeping the bike centered and getting a nice smooth landing.
Once you're comfortable with a curb, move up to something a little bigger (2 steps?).

Drop-offs are a tricky thing. Hitting a ramp and getting 2ft of air, no problem. 2 ft drop to flat, much scarier (for me).

osco53

I went through that.

I'm better now but do not feel the need for super dangerous double black diamond stuff and pass on many single black diamond trails..
I can have just as much fun on less dangerous trails..

Ride up to those scary technical features, pull to the side off trail, get off your bike and watch people ride them.
Study the lines they choose and how the bike reacts, how they handle things..

When you first get up or down a tricky challenging feature then make it your own. Do It Over and Over until Its easy.
If you have trouble on something simply spend an hour working on it, Let the rest of your crew ride on...

I promise you this, you WILL crash,
But It's far better than staying home on the porch

unterhausen

just remind yourself it will be a lot of fun if you live.

I don't do drops of any size at all. I'm old and gravity impaired. Maybe when I feel more comfortable. If I'm not comfortable doing something, I walk it. No shame and it gives me motivation to work on that later. There are a couple of rock gardens near here that would be so much easier if I would just go over some of the larger rocks, but that just freaks me out. Working up to it. I have endo-ed a couple of times recently, so I'm gun-shy. If I really wanted to do this, I would find a drop where the runout is downward sloping and then flattens out easy and do it over and over again. That's how I got over my fear of rock gardens, just walking back and trying it over again.

This is one of the oldest threads on the board. Funny

osco53

Another thing about that Fear thing. Think of It and use It like the animals do..

Fight or Flight response, google that one...
Your Vision becomes super clear, You focus on your next move, nothing more, your muscles relax and your body stance drops some and you get loose......

Think about all the Other trail features that once scared you and now you ride them with ease.
Go to one of those that's still a little bit of a challenge and This time when you ride it get after it hard.
Ride that feature for all It's worth, Ride It like a wolf Is on your tail and hungry.
Attack The lines, ride them all on that trail and ride them as hard as you can....

Focus on doing everything with a relaxed body and at the same time perfection In execution...
Get low over the bike,
Bent elbows and knees,
Get Low over the bike,
Light grip with only one finger covering the brakes,
Get low over the bike,
Eyes down the trail,
Get Low over the bike.

Carry that state of mind to the new feature that scares you.
STILL STOP at the top, get off your bike and visualize your perfect smooth flow down this daunting feature...

Then,

Drop your saddle and go for it..

madbrad

Lots of good advice. For me taking something new as slow as i can helps and then going a little faster the next time helps build my confidence. For me i dont have any shame in walking my bike up/down something i have never seen or attempted before.

osco53

Smart rider,, but let me Influence your line of thought just a little.

The Gyroscopic effect of spinning wheels has a strong stabilizing effect on the bike and letting go of the brakes on a properly set up bike will give you gobs of traction and control.... IF the rider has the skills to stay out of the way of the bike~
IF you have learned to ride 'Light' and stay loose then you must learn that speed Is your friend.

Stopping at the top, watching other riders, walking a feature a few times, good stuff,
Going very slow down not too steep stuff Is also fun and helps teach you balance,
But once It gets real steep and the other riders are doing warp 2 down a drop, You need this skill.

Go after it on smaller steep drops.
Pick a real steep drop in of only 5 feet, then find a 10 footer,,, follow me ?

The first time you do a two story drop hitting 25 to 30 mph or more on the way down and compress a G-Out getting up the next climb with all that free speed you will know that speed Is your friend not your enemy

fietsbob

Super Bowl Sundays are a good time to take a Bike Ride.

C_Heath

Ok who dug up a 13 year old thread? lol