Confidence, will it come back?

[spence]

Had the road bike a few weeks now but have only done half a dozen rides. Last Saturday I came off on some black ice on a slight down hill and had a nightmare ride/walk home on the icy/wet (in the shade) side of the roads. Went out this morning and was nervous as hell on anything that looked or was wet / muddy especially on anything remotely downhill. Spent far too much time on the brakes, almost coming to a stop some times.

Never had this experience on the mountain bike, crashed many times (probably says something in itself). Usually just dust down, check everything’s still points in the right direction and set off again. Rock strewn bridleways in the Peaks or big boulder drops on Welsh trail centres all OK. Don’t know if it the thought of coming off on the road with a car behind or what.

I guess it's mainly between the ears but anyone go any tips for restoring confidence?

 

[MajorMantra]

It's just a matter of time in my experience. My confidence took a really bad hit in November when I had an off on a roundabout (probably diesel) and tore my chin open on the road surface. I'm still not as sure of myself as I was before, but I was back on the bike within a couple of days and my confidence built back up steadily from then.

Matthew

 

[snorri]

Don’t know if it the thought of coming off on the road with a car behind or what.

If it is the thought of cars and ice, then that is the self preservation instinct coming into play, the instinct that keeps me off the roads in icy weather when I might want to be driving, cycling or walking.
Some loss of confidence after a fall would be expected, get yourself out on the next fine day and things should soon come back to normal.

 

[spence]

Thanks guys.

snorri, yes the ice last week probably was a bit daft but today was loverly. Most of the roads were dry but there's still a lot of run off from the fields and damp patches in the shade. Perseverance I guess.

 

[John the Monkey]

Get out and ride.

I rode nervously after my first off of the year (but did ride same day). And more nervously after the second (I think because I was off for 3 weeks because my elbow was knackered). Don't expect miracles, do take it easy, and keep to a route that you know well and like.

Ride, and the confidence will come, ime.

 

[Tynan]

yeah what they said

you learn pretty quick that the tyres will grip, the brakes will bite and you stay the right way up going over bmps and pot holes

 

[yello]

It's a cliché but, yes, get back on the bike. Proviso, if you want to. Just take it easy and let the confidence build back up. Falls are a learning experience. But the call is yours.

 

[HLaB]

3 years ago I took a 90deg left hand bend on a steep downhill only to find WVM coming the other way and cutting the corner. I lost quite a bit of confidence for blind bends on descents; I'm still nervous on descents but it is getting better all the time.

 

[Stange]

I know exactly what he means, after my "off" yesterday I completed my ride (I had only done about a third when i happened) but I was super cautious and a bit nervous. It seemed that I damaged my elbow yesterday, I was down the local hospital at 7 this morning in agony, after x rays I've been told that I have "severe muscle and soft tissue bruising" and not to use my arm for a few days (i can't anyway, it only moves about half as much as it should!). Nicest weekend of the year too.

 

[MrRidley]

Had the same problem myself after being doored last year but after about a week the confidence does come back.

 

[spence]

Again, thanks for the encouragement. Glad to hear (well not for you guys) it's not just me.

Going mud plugging across the fields tomorrow on the hardtail, I'll see how that is. Trailrakers on wet tarmac, now that is scary.

 

[purplepolly]

Went out this morning and was nervous as hell on anything that looked or was wet / muddy especially on anything remotely downhill. Spent far too much time on the brakes, almost coming to a stop some times.
..


I guess it's mainly between the ears but anyone go any tips for restoring confidence?

Just keep at it, it's only natural to be cautious after an accident, the main thing is that you have started cycling again. I returned to the bike last week after coming off at the start of the previous week and took it very slowly as well, especially the corners and downhill bits. One section's a steep curving downhill with an adverse camber which I did at a snails pace at the start of the week. By the end of the week things were more normal.

 

[fossyant]

Happens to us all...takes a bit to come back - my gripe is with left hookers from junctions - I jump two feet out without thinking at the moment...... and I've been riding seriously for 23 years...... I was hit two months ago by a car....

I was out today, roads slippy and muddy, but my back end was skipping out of line and spinning on slight hills - you just need to slow down sometimes....

 

[Randochap]

As others have said, just get back on the bike.

New Year's eve before last, I split my chin when the bike slipped out on black ice. Following morning, I turned up for the annual New Year's Populaire with 6 stitches.

Stuff happens. Try to ride safe, but don't dwell on what might happen. Being stiff on the bike will make it more likely you'll react badly.

 

[fossyant]

Being stiff on the bike will make it more likely you'll react badly.

This is the hard bit.........

If you brace...you'll get hurt....if you don't you'll get away with it.(ish)

Now this takes practice - I now know at the grand old age of 39 that I can do this, 'cos I got away without bad injuries recently....

As we all know, babies don't get to injured as they are floppy when they fall - that's what you need to re-learn as a cyclist...

I've had 3 off's last year - two were slow speed and hurt more as I'd braced - (one clipless moment and one slip of the tyre on a grid)......the biggie.....was 'oh....flip......let go.....I got up - hit side on at 30 mph....by a car...........

The process was... 'let go' i.e let it take you - I'd done what I could in the split second to avoid a major injury, then just went limp and let the impact take me.....

Had it been a less experienced cyclist, I feel the poor sod would have been in a very bad way - I got off, cycled home, but now have a slightly? foobared shoulder......

The old advice of 'going floppy' works.......just takes practice....but that's painful....