Hi Antvin,

It's great to hear you're back out on your bike, after a bit of a break from it, and thoroughly enjoying yourself.

You mentioned about your two fears being speed and hills.

Hills
As far as hills are concerned, it is something which will become more of a welcome challenge to you than a fear when you get back into cycling a bit more. Well, it is a welcome challenge up to a point, then it develops into a simple loathing. So long as you give yourself plenty of time, you're in no big rush to make it up hills and you can stop part of the way up them for a rest if you like then go on for a bit and repeat as necessary. If it is a particularly tough hill then just walk whatever you can't cycle of it. There's no shame in having to walk along with your bike for a while. The more you cycle the less breaks you'll have to take so don't let hills bother you.

Speed
I'm not sure what you mean by having a fear of speed. Do you mean

• Speed of traffic around you?
• When you are cycling downhill and your bike is careering along very quickly?

OR

• Being a bit slower than you might like?

If you are worried about traffic around you, this is probably a pretty healthy worry to have. Most motorists should be pretty accommodating but you get some who aren't so much so. Just be especially careful and remember to keep your ears open for traffic.

If your concerns relate to the speed of your bike when cycling downhill, or the like, then pull on the brakes a bit (although not too sharply of course) and go at the speed you are comfortable with. As with so much in cycling, the more you cycle the happier you will become at speeds you might not currently welcome (I hope that made sense as it sounded a bit like me babbling). Basically, you don't have to cycle any more quickly than you want to and you are comfortable with.

Should your worries be in reference to your own speed and how long it might take you to get somewhere then that's unimportant unless you're in a race. If you are going to cycle somewhere then just work out how long it should take you, add about 20% (to allow for unforseen circumstances) and set off. It doesn't matter if it takes a while. If it is going to take a few days then you should be able to stay at a B&B, Hostel or Guest House no problem. Most places like this should have somewhere you can leave your bike securely overnight too. The longer it takes you to cycle somewhere the more cycling pleasure you get so revel in it.

I hope I was of some use there and didn't sound useless and/or patronising at any point. I have to admit I get a bit scared on my bicycle sometimes myself but I think it is best to have a little respect and fear about most things in life.

If there is any manner I can be of use to you, please do not hesitate to contact me by left-clicking here.

Edited by: Irish Chris  at: 4/10/03 5:33:02 pm