I am an (almost) ex-cyclist....

[Aperitif]

I saw nothing, your honour.
And you'll be fine - ride a bit slower, and a bit wider.
"Hey!" Christmas is coming - eat, drink and be Mary - that should help.
Cheers, Greg.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I was going to suggest something similar. Instead of your commute being a 'stress-buster', leave home earlier and potter along keeping your speed down to, say, 11-12 mph. Even do the route on that bike I gave you for Helen . You won't get the adrenaline rush that sparked your panic, hopefully. Good luck Greg.

If I do my commute on the bike you gave me for the lovely Helen I'll end up with borked knees! However, doing it on (one of) my singlespeed bikes or on the Brompton pootle-style could be an answer.

 

[Maverick Goose]

Eye of the tiger GG, eye of the tiger...

 

[Tim Hall]

Kill them. Kill them all.

Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius

 

[fossyant]

Get some big eff off lights GG. Then everyone runs.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius

Isn't that for the Cathars ?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Get some big eff off lights GG. Then everyone runs.

Then everyone runs into the back of you anyway and says "Sorry mate I didn't see you." Strange. But true. ime.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Anyway, egged on by @User13710 in another place, I dragged a slow bicycle out of the shed y'day and went, kitted out in civvies, for a short ride around and about the historic market town of da 'sham. For an hour or so whilst the lovely Helen was having a swim at the local baths.

I did have an up close and personal encounter with the passenger side of a 4x4 after which, at the lights, I stared straight ahead and pretended I couldn't understand what she was saying. But it seemed to revolve around her suggestion that I should not ride on the road but on the "track".

I didn't die tis true. But I think in saying that I may be setting the bar too low. Thobut.

Let's see what Sunday morning holds...

 

[mcshroom]

If you fancy trying a change of scenery, you'd be welcome to come up here and drop me on a few lakeland passes

 

[coffeejo]

A counsellor friend told me last winter that I should imagine that when I'm zipping up my jacket, putting on my gloves etc, what I'm also doing is sealing myself against the outside world and that as long as my feet are on the pedals, there's a forcefield around me, keeping out all the negative stuff coming from other people. In time of stress, visualise tightening up the zip, keeping feet firmly on the pedals, putting all your weight on your sit bones etc to make sure the forcefield stays intact. And if you're a fan of arcade games, also visualise the bad stuff bouncing off the forcefield.

Corny, yes, but it has worked for me in the past. Must use it more often.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

If you fancy trying a change of scenery, you'd be welcome to come up here and drop me on a few lakeland passes

I will remember "that day" in Scotland with you and Titus as long as I live

 

[Tim Hall]

Anyway, egged on by @User13710 in another place, I dragged a slow bicycle out of the shed y'day and went, kitted out in civvies, for a short ride around and about the historic market town of da 'sham. For an hour or so whilst the lovely Helen was having a swim at the local baths.

I did have an up close and personal encounter with the passenger side of a 4x4 after which, at the lights, I stared straight ahead and pretended I couldn't understand what she was saying. But it seemed to revolve around her suggestion that I should not ride on the road but on the "track".

I didn't die tis true. But I think in saying that I may be setting the bar too low. Thobut.

Let's see what Sunday morning holds...

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Or short pootle, if going by bike. Obv.

Can also provide help with getting the bar to the right height - this is easier if you have a quill stem mind.

 

[Brandane]

Back in August I lost the plot. Over a period of ten, or so, days I had a number of life-threatening encounters with angry men in cars. One of these is subject to an ongoing police investigation so I'll say no more other than I was assaulted and he got assaulted right back. One complete stranger on a bicycle over Dorking way took me out by undertaking when I was in primary and then swerving into me to avoid a pot hole. Physically he came off worse but my bike got trashed and he is being a dick about it.

A relatively trivial 'close encounter' with a motorist at the end of that month saw me throwing my bike into the hedge, literally, "OH FOR ****S SAKE!" stylee and sitting down on a kerb sobbing with rage and fear. I just want to get to work and home again not fight some ruddy road war.

I've tried to commute a couple of times since then but have faced panic and anxiety in unmanageable amounts within minutes of setting off. And have bailed as a result. My recreational riding is almost completely curtailed. I've tried off-roading but on Sunday my ride was ruined when I met up with Mr Shouty and his Shouty wife/partner on a local bridleway and was then, mere minutes later, nearly run off the road by a nobber in a 4x4. Sunday road rides in company leave me in a hot mess as I need a Falklands style exclusion zone around me.

What needs I do to get back on the horse?

Sorry to hear that, Grumpy one. I know we haven't always read from the same hymn sheet on this here forum, but I do hope you manage to overcome your cycling demons and once again reap the pleasures that cycling brings. I have lost my cycling mojo in the past, which I know is not the same thing, but always found that all it took was one good ride on the bike to find all those good feelings coming back. I also suffer from anxiety and panic attacks brought on by a wholly different situation, so I can sympathise with just how bad it has become for you. Good luck with getting back on track!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Sorry to hear that, Grumpy one. I know we haven't always read from the same hymn sheet on this here forum, but I do hope you manage to overcome your cycling demons and once again reap the pleasures that cycling brings. I have lost my cycling mojo in the past, which I know is not the same thing, but always found that all it took was one good ride on the bike to find all those good feelings coming back. I also suffer from anxiety and panic attacks brought on by a wholly different situation, so I can sympathise with just how bad it has become for you. Good luck with getting back on track!

Means a lot mate, thanks.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Thank you @Tim Hall for a lovely Sunday morning ride today.