HobbesOnTour
Guru
- Location
- España
Really sorry to read your update and especially that you are thinking of selling your bike.
There have been some good responses,
I particularly like the "go slow/be kind to yourself/build up confidence" ones and two solid bits of advice are to consider a different kind of bike or undertake a cycling course.
The thing is, we're all different and what works for one does not work as well for another.
Have you considered getting a bit of therapy?
It's not at all unusual that after a big shock the brain and body has a problem processing it and filing it away leading to the original shock being relived at inappropriate times.
We can conceptualise the risk (95% of drivers are fine) but the 5% feel much more potent.
If had a problem with my legs or back I'd go see a physio. Why should a problem with my head be any different?
A few points
Then.......
Personally, I'd rather not have the anxiety of worrying about something bad that may happen than to have a "gotcha" for when it does.
First of all, you don't have a response yet, but already the glass is half empty. Is that "glass half empty" attitude affecting your attitude to riding?
It's perfectly understandable and very normal to want to have some control but I wonder if trying to control the uncontrollable is helping or hindering?
Possibly the best long-term solution is to try to divert that thought process?
An alternative would be a different kind of cycling away from traffic.
It would seem that you have the support of your other half to get back out there. Are there any other people that you might be fearful on their account?
I wonder at the urge to sell the bike. If it was me, I'd probably leave it in the shed and forget about it until I either needed to move it or had to include it or not on insurance documents. Can you explain to yourself why you want to sell the bike? Do you have a plan for the cash?
It's a very tough place that you find yourself in. There can be gains from "pushing yourself" but there can be costs too. Only you can decide on the balance that is good for you.
Best of luck
There have been some good responses,
I particularly like the "go slow/be kind to yourself/build up confidence" ones and two solid bits of advice are to consider a different kind of bike or undertake a cycling course.
The thing is, we're all different and what works for one does not work as well for another.
Have you considered getting a bit of therapy?
It's not at all unusual that after a big shock the brain and body has a problem processing it and filing it away leading to the original shock being relived at inappropriate times.
We can conceptualise the risk (95% of drivers are fine) but the 5% feel much more potent.
If had a problem with my legs or back I'd go see a physio. Why should a problem with my head be any different?
A few points
Well done! Not everyone does this (or can do this) so kudos to you and I hope you can give yourself a pat on the back.I've managed to get back out on my bike in the real world
Then.......
I imagine that is mainly for "after" an incident. Does adding a camera to your gear do anything for the underlying anxiety you may be feeling?I now ride with a camera
Personally, I'd rather not have the anxiety of worrying about something bad that may happen than to have a "gotcha" for when it does.
Is this "negative" feeling really the best thing for you, right now?Fully expecting this one to be a warning letter
First of all, you don't have a response yet, but already the glass is half empty. Is that "glass half empty" attitude affecting your attitude to riding?
It's perfectly understandable and very normal to want to have some control but I wonder if trying to control the uncontrollable is helping or hindering?
In a nutshell, you've outlined your thought process. It goes dark and very quickly.Anyway it ruins my day afterwards and just makes me think it's not worth it anymore and that I'm probably going to be knocked off again and maybe I won't be so fortunate to walk away next time.
Possibly the best long-term solution is to try to divert that thought process?
An alternative would be a different kind of cycling away from traffic.
Sometimes, our fears can be very well hidden, even from ourselves - we know they're there we just can't be sure what they are. And sometimes our fears are less our own and more somebody else's.Was looking at selling my bike last night and my other half told me to stop being dramatic, so I've come here for a bit of perspective I suppose.
It would seem that you have the support of your other half to get back out there. Are there any other people that you might be fearful on their account?
I wonder at the urge to sell the bike. If it was me, I'd probably leave it in the shed and forget about it until I either needed to move it or had to include it or not on insurance documents. Can you explain to yourself why you want to sell the bike? Do you have a plan for the cash?
It's a very tough place that you find yourself in. There can be gains from "pushing yourself" but there can be costs too. Only you can decide on the balance that is good for you.
Best of luck