Originally Posted by merlinextraligh

Then, just relax. Riding afraid, and with a death grip, is more likely to make you crash. Loosen up, and make sure your elbows are flexed. The bike wants to stay up right, and if you don't fight it, it will recover from most minor disruptions.

Also watch for gravel, sand, painted lines, disruptions in pavement, and try to turn before or after them, not on them.

But mostly ride more, and you'll get more confident.

I saw a study a few years back that accidents per mile dropped dramatically for cyclists who rode more than 1000 miles a year, presumably because their competence rose with more mileage.