crtreedude 

Once upon a time, a physics class taught me about kinetic energy. It has really helped me understand the world...

And yes, cars are a problem, for the same reason. That is a lot of kinetic energy.

The faster you go, the more it is going to hurt, and the more severe the damages, statistically. Your experience may vary, of course. Heck, people survive not having a parachute opening too, but I wouldn't count on it if I was you.

staehpj1

I don't know the roads you ride or the groups that you ride with, so I will not speculate if that is the case or not. You need to do what works for you, whether that means going very slow on descents or learning to descend faster.

cyclezealot

A factor in my descents, My road bikes have skinny tires. Skinny tires and debris. I was riding on skinny tires, when I screwed up my shoulder.

Indie

If you want to overcome your fear, you can, but that does not mean just jumping in and doing what you're afraid of. If you're afraid of going fast on your bike, chances are you're not yet able to mentally cope with everything you need to be thinking about at that speed -- intersections, road signs, changes in what's under your wheels, etc. Work up to it under controlled conditions until you're comfortable with being able to think that fast again.

Bekologist

bigger tires, cyclezealot, bigger tires. but it sounds like it's the club expectations that are hindering you as much as the speeds - maybe some solo rides to dial in your own comfort zone again without the guilt trip of the group dynamics added in?

try some 700x28s (hint, hint, Rubino Protechs) i think you'd be pleasantly surprised.

HandsomeRyan

If you don't like bombing the decents, find a group of fixed gear cyclists to ride with, they can't bomb the major decents so you'll be in good company.

cyclezealot

Maybe tires with more tread might be an improvement. Even cornering on the flats a race team would have fits. I slow down even then. Don't many non racers do the same.

Bob Ross

Getting your club to wait for you at the bottom of hills seems like an impressive feat of persuasion! I'll do a lot of club rides where we wait for people at the top of hills, and I prefer the cooperative nature of those to ones where we're dropping (and/or infuriating) riders left & right.

That being said, I'd rather wait for a slower rider at the bottom of a hill than be stuck behind one while descending a hill. So if you are going to descend cautiously on club rides, I would strongly encourage you to stay to the right so that other riders can pass easily.

I don't know whether any of us can advise you to overcome your fears -- or whether we can even suggest that your fears are unfounded. But I think regardless of what speed you want to descend, it would behoove you to learn to descend faster than 15mph...just in case you find yourself caught in the grip of gravity.

EvanWCbus

I need to ride this route.

Keith99

All the regroup areas spots I think of (excluding rest stops where there is food and water) have been tops. If the group regroups at the top and then has to wait for you again at the bottom I can see how it woul dbe annoying. If the OP climbs well enough that there is some wait after he arrives at the top starting down early would seem a good idea, at least for decents where passing is easy.

VenturaCyclist

I've been doing the Davis Double for decades and my looooong Motobecane with Brooks saddle is my favorite with 25 x 700C in front and 28 x 700C in the rear. In my brazen youth I would sit up (no hands on bars) on the descend to maximize the cooling breeze. Many people find a smaller tire in front and a larger tire in the rear does make for a lot of high speed stability, makes the bike feel solid while twisting through the curves.

Can you ride the same descend time after time? I would think that would steadily help you regain your confidence. I would think repeating and repeating the same descend where you fell, at a comfortable speed would find your comfortable speed steadily increasing.

Good Luck to you and stay in the saddle.

cyclezealot

Going up , I am pretty much with them. We'll the worst climbs we do; maybe within one minute. Going down. Not so. We all have our mini phobias.. Last nights dream did not involve bikes and heights.. But, terrorism and boats. Someone tried to blow up a bridge and I saw them and reported the attempt on my cell phone. They were chasing me afterwards for turning them in. I had to jump and got caught on some bridge cable watching the thugs down below being captured by some police boats as they were planting explosives on a bridge pontoon. ( Heah,I was Captain America.!) I woke up, so I don't know if I was ever rescued from the heights or not. And my bad shoulder did not prevent me from catching the cable as I was falling... - Elevation phobias. I usually don't recall my dreams, I did this one.... Yep. I need see a shrink.

Bob Ross

Don't sell yourself short: 22mph on the flats is pretty kickass for a casual tour!

JanMM

Going a lot slower downhill than on the level is just not right. This is not a mini phobia as it actually is negatively affecting your cycling.