I haven’t touched my bike in months. I’m scared to ride it. Here is the untold story of why…
It was three weeks before Ironman Cozumel and Kate, Nick, and I were going on our last ‘long’ ride of 45 miles before our bikes needed to be shipped to the race. We were riding safely in single file down MacArthur Blvd- a popular DC spot for cyclists.
We were desending down a hill - safely- all of us out of our aerobars and with our fingers tapping our brakes. There were cars in front, behind, and in the other lane so this was no time to try and fly down the hill.
We had been following a black Ford F150 for the past several hundred yards. He knew we were behind him. Suddenly, without warning, the F150 came to a COMPLETE STOP. He slammed on his brakes to make a left hand turn. I was the front cyclist and I had four choices: 1. swirve to the right into a ditch 2. swirve to the left into oncoming traffic 3. slam into the back of his truck 4. jump ship…er, bike.
I chose option 4. I tried to stop but as I saw myself getting closer to the truck I made the decision to hit the ground. I went down onto my right hand side and began sliding. I heard Kate scream behind me and then heard her crash.
All of the cars around us stopped. Except for the F150 who clearly saw us all wreck, and he proceeded to make the left hand turn, never to be seen again. I laid there for a second trying to see if any of my bones were broken…they weren’t. Luckily I was wearing long sleeves and pants because the whole right hand side of my body was scraped and the clothes were ripped. I can’t imagine what it would have been like had I not been covered with clothes.
When Kate saw me bail, she also had to bail but she had to go OVER her bike to avoid hitting me. She landed on her face- chipping her front tooth and hitting her chin on the pavement so hard that we all took a trip to the emergency room for her to get stitches.
Nick, who was behind both of us, said it was the scariest thing he had seen. He though both of us broke several bones and that we would be watching Ironman from the sidelines. By some grace of god, neither of us broke anything, but we were both severly bruised- Kate more so than me.
We were both scared to get on our bikes after that. In fact, the next time I rode my bike outside was during the race. In case you didn’t know- Kate and I both finished…bruised bodies and all.
But the memory of that wreck plays over in my mind often. So often that I have a very real fear of riding outside. I love my bike…I love riding it…but I’m scared that the next Ford F150 that comes along, I may not be able to walk away as lucky.
What advice do you have for me on how to get back out there? The weather is nice and my bike is starting to hate me for letting her sit inside all the time.
That is TERRIFYING!! I’m not surprised you are having trouble getting out there again. But really… the best way to get over it is JUST DO IT. Go out to a calm road with no twisty downhills and just ride. I’m sure the fear will go away once you’ve had a few successful rides.
I had a bad spill in traffic in DC once. I basically just forced myself back onto the bike as soon as I healed and it soon became a distant memory (except for when I see my scars that are still here 2 years later). With every ride you go out there, you will get more confident!
If our weekend in SF wasn’t already scheduled to the brim, I’d say let’s go for a bike ride! I definitely have similar issues with riding my bike now—mostly just scared of going down a hill with other cyclists/cars in my view. In fact, the first ride I did after Cozumel (in Marin County) I was riding 3mph down the hills because my whole body was shaking in fear. People must have thought I was pathetic.
I think a little fear is natural, and the only way to conquer that fear is to get out there and ride. Find a nice open road, without a lot of traffic, and practice going downhill. You’ll remember how great it feels to cruise down a nice hill while staying in control of your bike!
You’re an IRONMAN—rock it out!
Perhaps too obvious, but ease in with some nice trail rides! The Platte is perfect this time of year.
I totally know how you feel! I crashed last spring, and I swear I have PTSD. I know it’s not rational to have all of this fear because I know how to ride, but I can’t seem to find my happy place on the bike. If you figure out how to conquer your fear, please write another post so I’ll know what to do! ;^)
That sounds terrifying. Heck, I have issues getting back on my back after a spill on single track..where there is no chance a big car will come run me over! I spent plenty of time on my mtn bike and occasionally dream of having a road bike but the actual riding on a road scares me.
Maybe just head out onto some paved trails where traffic is far far away and work your way up from there?
Good luck and no one can blame you for being scared! That is terrifying!
Good luck! I decided not to do any tris this summer because of bike fear and because I never really loved riding all that much. I’m sure I could push through it if I needed to, but for now I don’t feel that I do. But I’m sure that you can do it and get back out there.
sweetchildofmine just reading your story terrified me. i’ll be straight with you, i don’t ride my bike very often and it’s 100% for fear of getting hit/falling/wiping out. i don’t know how to get over it, except to just force myself to go and ride. and i’m still not over it. i can’t believe you had to jump off your bike going that fast. that’s horrifying.
From my experience there’s no trick.. no way to forget what has happened and surely no way to make sure it doesn’t happen again. You simply have to make the decision to take that risk because being on the bike is worth it to you. And everything does have risk.
Start out on a trail or paved path that is specifically meant for bikes/running. Then, only ride on roads with bike lanes… after a month or so, take it out to normal roads and don’t worry about pace or distance, just focus on being present and gaining back that comfort of being surrounded by cars and such. I can’t imagine, though, the fear that must surround you. My fiance got in a bike accident last year, something similar to yours and thankfully walked away from it. Good luck to you!
oh muhhhh gawsssssh. that is scary!!! i’ve never ridden a bike… well… except as a child. so i don’t really have any advice. i mean. after my trail running face crack, every time i run trails i have to tell myself to suck it up & just do it!… so maybe that could apply?! glad you were okay! super scary!
good luck with everything! super excited for you to start PT school