how confident are you?

[coffeejo]

I'd say I'm confident but not cocky in all conditions I've encountered thus far with the exception of going downhill at speed and having to navigate a succession of tight bends. Scares the wotsits out of me, especially on the road bike.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I'd say I'm confident but not cocky in all conditions I've encountered thus far with the exception of going downhill at speed and having to navigate a succession of tight bends. Scares the wotsits out of me, especially on the road bike.

Is that because of the brakes per chance? I still find it easier to ride downhill on the road faster on my MTB because of the hydraulic disk brakes.

 

[coffeejo]

Is that because of the brakes per chance? I still find it easier to ride downhill on the road faster on my MTB because of the hydraulic disk brakes.

Partly. I had a near miss on a narrow, bendy downhill a few months ago on the hybrid when I slipped on gravel and nearly went under the car I was braking to avoid. I'm just about getting my confidence back on that bike but the roadie wants to go faster than my nerves do and that, combined with the position on the bike, and the fact that it is so much less robust than the Marin makes me feel extremely vulnerable. I'm fine on straight downhill stretches, it's just the need to brake before sharp corners.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Partly. I had a near miss on a narrow, bendy downhill a few months ago on the hybrid when I slipped on gravel and nearly went under the car I was braking to avoid. I'm just about getting my confidence back on that bike but the roadie wants to go faster than my nerves do and that, combined with the position on the bike, and the fact that it is so much less robust than the Marin makes me feel extremely vulnerable. I'm fine on straight downhill stretches, it's just the need to brake before sharp corners.

I understand what you mean. I am in the same boat. The trick seems to be earlier braking

 

[XmisterIS]

I find that when conditions are good, I am actually more confident and faster on descents than when I was younger! I think it's because since I learned to ride a motorbike, I don't mind the speed on two wheels. That being said, I do tend to ride the ol' motorbike like a nutcase sometimes ...

 

[Dayvo]

My girlfriend said I drive a car the same way I ride a bike!!

I asked her what she meant, and she said that I drive round pot-holes, glass, debris etc. instead of going over them!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

My girlfriend said I drive a car the same way I ride a bike!!

I asked her what she meant, and she said that I drive round pot-holes, glass, debris etc. instead of going over them!

You are such a stupid driver

 

[Dayvo]

You are such a stupid driver

¿Que?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

¿Que?

Sarcasm my friend, sarcasm

 

[Dayvo]

Sarcasm my friend, sarcasm

Oh, it went over my head. Your smiley implied criticism - but I'm hard-skinned.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Oh, it went over my head. Your smiley implied criticism - but I'm hard-skinned.

Sorry it was meant to imply confusion and not cause it

 

[Night Train]

I am confident in my ability to ride with confidence and awareness, as much as I am when I am driving.

However, I am not as confident on two wheels as I have a habit of being wobbly and sometimes falling over as my balance isn't good especially looking over my shoulder and giving arm signals. Placing the bike where I want it for avoiding potholes, debris and narrow gaps isn't good either.

I am much better on my trike where I can't fall off and can push the trike nearer its/my limits.

 

[Willo]

Cycling pot holed roads in the dark has my confidence low enough to take any enjoyment out of my cycling so I ditch the 6 am commute to the stn in the winter.

 

[lulubel]

I've occasionally felt a stab of fear if I realise I'm going into a bend faster than I'm comfortable with, and it's too late to brake, but that's about all.

In fact, I recently had a near incident when a driver pulled out to overtake a bus coming towards me. Presumably she thought the cyclist was going to throw herself into the bushes at the side of the road to get out of the way, so she got a shock when I moved into the very middle of her lane, and stared her down. She managed to brake and get back in behind the bus. I laughed, and was still laughing later when I told my OH about the horrified look on the driver's face. (I did have an out if I'd needed it, but I was going to wait until the last possible moment to use it.)

 

[pepecat]

I can be a wee bit speedy down hills... the adrenaline rush kicks in and i'm off, and then when it's only when i get to the bottom that i have the 'if i'd hit a pothole and come off at 30mph wearing no protection......' and then i get a wibble. But i'm usually at the bottom by then!
If it's wet or gravelly then i'm more cautious than if it's dry and the roads are decent. On country roads i'm generally a bit more cautious as well, cos even though the roads are quieter the speed limits tend to be higher and you get some right numpties hurtling along.
I'm not scared of making my presence known in traffic though and often make eye contact with drivers on junctions / roundabouts so i know they've seen me and will take primary happily if i need to and not bother about if i'm pissing off car drivers by being 'slow'.

I kinda take the mentality that i have to think for myself as well as the other drivers and do the 'i bet he's going to do X' thinking all the time. I AM more risk averse than when i was a teenager, but i'm pretty confident on the roads.