General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Help! Scared of Bike Rss Feed  
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2009-09-18 11:54 AM


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Subject: Help! Scared of Bike
Hi all.  I completed my first sprint tri two months ago.  I was fastest in my age group in the water and in the top middle of the pack on the run.  On the bike, however, even though I'm in sick biking shape from spinning for years, I was in the bottom three!  I attributed my slow time to (1) I only learned to ride a bike on the road recently and (2) I was on a heavy hybrid rather than a road bike.  After the race, I bought an entry-level road bike and, on only my second ride, I hit a seam in the road and crashed.  I skinned my arm really badly, jacked up my shoulder and whacked my head (thankfully beneath my fantastic helmet).  It scared the bejeezus out of me.  Now, I've got another sprint tri next weekend out of town and I've yet to get back on my road bike for a real workout.  I also have to ship the bike to the race venue, so I'll basically have 24 hours with it before the race.  Am I nuts?  Should I just ship my hybrid and deal with the slower times or should I bite the bullet and push through the fear, even though my skills are not what they should be?  I'm so confused.  Please advise.


2009-09-18 11:59 AM
in reply to: #2413851

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Subject: RE: Help! Scared of Bike
Personally...I say go with what you are comfortable with for now and work on your riding skills. I would not have wanted to be on a bike with hundreds of others around me when I first got my road bike...I was all over the road, couldn't work my gears, and fell every time out until this summer. (Clipless pedals) Why torture yourself. Get your hiney back on that bike in practice! Go for short rides on nice roads. Take someone with you that rides. After a few weeks of consistent riding you will feel much better. Go slow and take it easy. I had a water phobia. I had to make myself get in that water and stick my face in. I still don't love it...but I tolerate it. You need to do the same. Good luck!
2009-09-18 12:26 PM
in reply to: #2413851

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Subject: RE: Help! Scared of Bike
This close to your race, I would suggest sticking with what you are comfortable with.  Having said that, if most of your biking has been in spinning class, I don't know how well that translates to the road. Yes, you can work up a sweat.  But you are not developing any road handling skills (cornering, road debris, other riders, etc). The hydrid bike may be slowing you a little, but overall, it shouldn't be more than 2-4 mph.  The engine is more important than the bike. And the confidence that comes with actually being on the road, so you are more relaxed as a rider. 

I would suggest planning to do a lot more road work after the race.  Use your hybrid for bad weather riding.  Deliberately go out for short rides in rain (not thunderstorms or drencing downpours, but light rain) to build confidence in handling the bike in all conditions.  Ride in places with light traffic.  Oh, and I assume you've replaced your helmet, now that it's done it's job for you, right?
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