DnvrFox

Uh .. Err . .

You ARE posting in the 50+ forum. You are saying you are scared of yourself?

Or, maybe you need to define "Old people" - careful now . . .

CitiZen

My biggest fear is loose gravel. Oh, mama!

ModeratedUser150120149

Municipal buses and school buses. Followed closely by other cyclists.

I routinely ride the highways. Most motorists not only are watchful they are courteous. Occasionally one or the other of us will mess up and it is a close call. Such is life. But, I've been brush passed by several buses. 18 wheelers can figure out how to get by me without a problem but, for some reason, bus drivers can't. Does give some adreniline energy though when a school bus passes and its' mirror is about a foot from one's head.

I've had one moderately serious collision when another cyclist looked right at me and ran into me. A few stitches and some heal time and I was right as rain. He paid the bills but I had to pay the hurt. A second time I put the bike down to keep from hitting a small child on a path. He was given bad isntructions by his parent which resulted in his riding in front of me.

Numerous times there have been bicycles pull out of driveways, alleyways, from between houses, or are riding while texting, or are just riding without looking ahead and are startled to see me coming. Sometimes I think we are our own worst enemy.

ahsposo 

The thing I fear the most is...

Fear itself.

JohnDThompson 

I've got the opposite problem: each day, whether I ride or not, I'm that much further from 50!

crtreedude 

Cows - no I am not kidding. Since we live on a very rural area in Costa Rica, it is not uncommon to have someone yell "Ganado Bravo" which means get the heck off the road, there are a bunch of cattle coming that haven't seen too many people. I have been known to jump a fence when I hear that. (and no one laughs, either) Generally speaking though, they give you plenty of warning.

Weaving in and out of cows waiting to be milked is an experience as well, not some much fear of being kicked, but toxic waste, if you know what I mean. Ole bessie lets loose while you are passing behind (with no space to go anywhere) it is like being caught in a yellow fire hydrant... yes, I have experienced this.

Artkansas 

Meh. Each day I go out for a ride, I'm that much farther from 50.

The Weak Link

Squirrels. Demonic flesh-eating squirrels like they feature over at FearNet. Even the non-demonic ones get this weird look in their eyes sometimes........

love2pedal.com

My biggest fear is the new project for me my wife has dreamed up that is waiting for me when I return.

xizangstan

Happy bliss? Where do you ride - through a nudist resort?

xizangstan

Man, you live in a tough neighborhood! I've had squirrels wait until I'm right upon them, before they decide to dart out in front of me. I'll do all sorts of crazy stuff to avoid them, as I like squirrels. At one marina in California, I kind of adopted a wild ground squirrel. She would come up to me as I sat down, climb a leg and sit on my lap while I fed her popcorn or some other treats. Yeah, 'flesh-eating squirrels' - you need to move!

trackhub

Not really sure. I guess two things, both of which are hot button items:

-That a bunch of trailer trashers, in either an old beater car or a pickup truck, might be out looking for a cyclist to attack, and decide that "I'm the one".

-That a suburban mom type might be coming along in her Lexus SUV or Lincoln Navigator, be totally engaged in her cell phone conversation, and just run me down without a nanosecond of thought about it.

I used to worry about "Donna". Those of you from the Northeast surely know "Donna". "Donna" is a female, in her early to late 20's. She drives a camaro or firebird, and has probably spent more on makeup and hair products
than the GDP of some third world countries. Donna is a file clerk, hair stylist, or is employed at the local mall. Donna can snap her gum like a true champion. But, Donna seems to have vanished from the local landscape. Not sure what's replaced her.

Kind of got carried away there, sorry about that.

maddmaxx 

I'm not all that afraid of anything. I am concerned enough to carry the equipment I need for most repairs and a cell phone for when I can't fix it. I ride mostly alone, sometimes far enough out on the trails that it could be hours before anyone happens by. The cell phone is on so they can find me if I'm down and I let my family know where I plan on riding and when I plan on being home.

c.miller64

#1, I'm a few short of 50.
#2, I live in Florida where you're not considered old until you can't change your own diapers.

ahsposo 

Oh, and spiders.

Actually got over my fear of spiders while riding a trail in Central Florida. I had a "all terrain" bike because there are no mountains in Florida and was riding (illegally) on hiking trails in the O'leno State Park and rode into a orb weaver's web and also picked up the orb weaver.



Only slightly larger than life. No kidding.

I panicked and ran into a tree.

When I got myself sorted out I felt like a total fool because I know these spiders are harmless and running into trees is harmful. Lesson learned. Went on with my ride and encountered several more webs and spiders and just brushed them off.

JanMM

There ya go! I ain't afraid of nothin', neither!
Except, well, the obsessive fear I dwell on the the summertime involving dead possums or raccoons swollen and festering on the roadway. I fear that, just as I am riding past one of those critters, a car will come along and run over it and spray me with hot, nasty possum/raccoon fluids............................

Happy Halloween!

Allegheny Jet

At least you were not a slow learner.

ahsposo 

My wife would disagree...

Dchiefransom

I should have clarified that I worry less about getting hit be a car when riding than when standing at the back of my mail vehicle getting out mail. The bumper is knee high. Had a carrier get rear-ended like that and he lost both legs, then had a heart attack from the major operation.

Dchiefransom

I'd be worried about backflow.

vtc12ip

Don't worry. If we don't let you in, you'll never become 50.

Sculptor7

What I fear most is anything that might induce me to give up riding. I try to replace fear with constructive and proactive "worry" such as checking my bike over each time I go out particularly the tires, rims, spokes and brakes. Nothing so far has exceed my bike's ability to shed years and keep me in touch with and part of the vibrant world of health and well-being.

xizangstan

Let me guess. You're a sales manager at a bike store!

Sculptor7

Hardly!

ModeratedUser150120149

Hmmm, hadn't thought about fear of animals. Now that y'all bring up the subject; I have had a close call with a moose.

Then there was the brown bear with cubs next to the road as I drove by in my truck. I'd passed a touring cyclist a little while before. I wonder how that turned out.

Once in awhile there is an overprotective dog. But, they don't seem to know what to do when I turn and charge into them while screaming like a banshee.

No, I think the moose is the worst; a lot faster than they look and BIG.