Do You Get Scared At Times

[Doc333]

As a newbie of only a couple of weeks, I was wondering if its natural to get a bit scared on busy roads. I've tried to keep to country lanes but there's times it's impoissible to do and need to go on busy roads. Traffic thundering past making it difficult to hear anything other than traffic noise constantly and road rumble. Then there's buffeting from the wind as trucks and buses go past. There's times this last fortnight when I've wondered why I'm doing it, as it's obvious my vehicle is looked upon as boil on the landscape of motorised road users.

Not much fun turning left all the way home, as it would be suicide turning right

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Never Been scared once while out riding

 

[SLIMKIM]

It depends on the Area you live and Cycle I suppose. I'm quite confident on the road. it's about riding safe, use the road to your advantage on Junctions etc, and NEVER put yourself in a Vehicles Blind spot where possible.

 

[Frood42]

Scary? Certain roads when I first started could be.
For my commute I tend to find a route and then stick to that route.
On the odd occasion or at the weekend I will deviate from that, but for the commute I prefer to know the roads I will be on, just in case.
.

 

[snorri]

If you have only been cycling for a couple of weeks there is bound to be a lack of confidence stemming from your inexperience.

 

[Kies]

If you really can't avoid busy fast A roads, use the pavement.
I have one near me, that goes directly where i need to be, but i never use it on the bike and prefer the 2 mile detour down quieter streets

 

[fossyant]

Only when MTB'ing out of my depth on a black run and looking at a rather long fall if I come off. Commuting in traffic is easy in comparison.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Scarey moments, yes... Scarey roads no.
That stands true for life though, not just cycling.

“If you dont know how to be scared, you'll never really learn how to be brave.”

 

[Sittingduck]

Nothing wrong with a bit of fear, imho. It may help to keep you safe...

 

[robjh]

When I first started cycling there was a roundabout that scared me, until I read about road positioning and suddenly it became a piece of cake.

Since then, I've only very occasionally been scared just by being on a road, and have known then that it's the wrong one for me. A trunk road in Romania with no shoulder and international lorry traffic comes to mind. I might feel the same on the A14 here, but most of us avoid these roads, it's second nature.

 

[Markymark]

Without being patronising it might now be worth reading up on cycling in traffic. There's a good post on here somewhere some clever people wrote (maybe someone can link?). I bought cycle craft and found it invaluable in my London commuting. As said,there's no scary roads, you just need to adapt your cycling to the current surroundings, ride defencively and stay safe.

 

[Doc333]

How do you get yourself over to the crown of the road when you want to turn right. Do you just stick out your arm, wait a bit and then edge over? Traffic can be non stop on A roads near to me and it goes at a fair lick but nose to tail, so trying to get into the middle is like playing Russian Roulette.

 

[Frood42]

Bikeability Links

http://bikeability.dft.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/Bikeability_Delivery_Guide.pdf
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/cy...ze-Bikeability--Part-4--On-Road-Positioning-0
.

 

[coffeejo]

I found I was treated as trash when I started cycling and thought I was supposed to ride in the gutter on A roads but the turning point came when I started to ride assertively (note:this is not the same as aggression).

 

[ianrauk]

It's a very natural feeling when you are new to cycle commuting. Give it a few weeks and you soon get to learn your route and learn how your bike handles. It will then all become less stressful. It also doesn't help that you have started commuting in the winter. Dark, cold, foggy, rainy conditions can make for a miserable commute sometimes. Come the spring and you will be flying.

Keep it up. You are cycle commuting. There is no other better way of getting to work.