Regaining Confidence After a Period Away

[Marshy]

Hi everyone,

I'm after a bit of advice about regaining my confidence and rive after a period away from cycling. Long story short I had a herniated disc in my back that took a long time to be diagnosed. Once diagnosed i had surgery and the road to recovery started. All together i was away from cycling for around 4 - 5 years. I did try cycling on and off during that period but nothing regular. I lived in an area that was country side and quiet but due to my job i had to move and i now live in a much, much busier place.

I've been fine for around 12 - 18 months now but am really struggling with confidence. I have found where i live, people seem to be impatient and fairly reckless with overtakes. I plan my routes to use quieter roads and do move off the road when safe to let cars past. I tried joining a cycling club but the rides are to long and i have a young family so don't want to spend 3 maybe 4 hours away from them on a weekend as that's the main time we have together as we all work and are in school.

I do have mental health issues and cycling was always my escape so not being able to do it and enjoy it at the moment is really beginning to get me down. I have a mountain bike and take my son but again my confidence and fear is there as i seem to be terrified of falling of the bike and injuring my back.

I have considered a gravel bike instead of my road bike but when trying to use route planners there doesn't seem to be many off road routes or I’m just terrible at using them and cant find them!!

Any advice on regaining my confidence and best route planners for finding gravel/off road type routes would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone

 

[13 rider]

A quick Google search founds these National routes around Telford not sure how local they are to you

I find early Sunday mornings is a good time to be out as traffic is at is quietest , unfortunately the only way to gain confidence is to go out and do it but route selection and timing is the key to make the ride as pleasant as it came be . The app cycletravel is very good at finding quieter routes

 

[Tenkaykev]

My wife is in a similar situation following an " off " on her new bike. She's been going out for short rides on quieter roads/ bike paths. Some days she says her confidence is getting better, other days she feels almost back to square one. I'd say don't try to force the pace, if it's not happening one day then head home and try again when you're feeling a bit more positive.

 

[Big John]

Whereabouts in Telford? I'm not far away in stafford and I know a few traffic free areas that might be within a sensible distance from you. Once you get a bit of confidence you're spoilt for choice over there. Ironbridge is close by as is much wenlock. If you get out to kynnersley you'll not see much traffic. A lot of nice lanes in Shropshire. Good luck.

 

[All uphill]

Building confidence on a bicycle is tough, imo, because the steps we need to take to mix with motor vehicles are counterintuitive.

Lower confidence often leads to riding nearer the kerb, which just encourages some drivers to 'squeeze past'. It can also lead to some hesitation and indecision in us cyclists which can confuse impatient drivers.

In contrast clear signals, putting yourself in a driver's line of sight, out from the kerb, and keen observation will reduce uncomfortable situations.

Are there any cyclability classes near you to help get encouragement?

 

[Marshy]

Thanks everyone for the above advice, I think im going to put my bike on my roof and find somewhere quiet to start off.

 

[Dirk Van Der Dirk]

Lots of good advice provided so far. What works for some may not work for others though, so it can be a case of give it at try and see what works for you. I am a cyclist of over 30 years, almost daily on the bike whether its commute, go to the shops on a hybrid with double panniers, road bike and touring europe. Even I have bad days when I hear the constant flow of motors outside and it puts the dread through me. Conversly there are days when I just think sod em. It depends on how I am feeling each day. I feel worse after being stupid and reading anti-cycling comments from the unwashed on social media..oh and avoid Road C.C's insta page which seems to thrive on posting instances of anti-cycling behaviour. Things like that can get in your head and make you not want to go out for a ride. Where I live you get the odd idiot but they are usually about at times I wouldn't advise cycling some roads in urban areas unless neccessary anyway (8am to 9am and 2.30pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday).

I agree with the advice about riding early on weekends, and also find that weekend evenings are quiet as well. I live about 5 mins ride from the 'countryside' which does help. I also ride thursday morning (i work 4 days per week) after the carnage of the school run and driving to work has calmed down, and find those days equally as enjoyable.

Get out there, and as people have said, ride in the primary position, be confident and bold, and dont react to the Sun and Dail Heil types you encounter every now and then. Oh and someone mentioned cycle.travel, defo get the app, it will help you find quiet roads and routes.

 

[All uphill]

Lots of good advice provided so far. What works for some may not work for others though, so it can be a case of give it at try and see what works for you. I am a cyclist of over 30 years, almost daily on the bike whether its commute, go to the shops on a hybrid with double panniers, road bike and touring europe. Even I have bad days when I hear the constant flow of motors outside and it puts the dread through me. Conversly there are days when I just think sod em. It depends on how I am feeling each day. I feel worse after being stupid and reading anti-cycling comments from the unwashed on social media..oh and avoid Road C.C's insta page which seems to thrive on posting instances of anti-cycling behaviour. Things like that can get in your head and make you not want to go out for a ride. Where I live you get the odd idiot but they are usually about at times I wouldn't advise cycling on the road in urban areas unless neccessary anyway (8am to 9am and 2.30pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday).

I agree with the advice about riding early on weekends, and also find that weekend evenings are quiet as well. I live about 5 mins ride from the 'countryside' which does help. I also ride thursday morning (i work 4 days per week) after the carnage of the school run and driving to work has calmed down, and find those days equally as enjoyable.

Get out there, and as people have said, ride in the primary position, be confident and bold, and dont react to the Sun and Dail Heil types you encounter ever now and then. Oh and someone mentioned cycle.travel, defo get the app, it will help you find quiet roads and routes.

Yes, if you look at social media, including some threads on CC, you'd never go out your front door.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

As suggested above find a bike-ability instructor and ask for some adult instruction to help regain your confidence. Good luck.

 

[Molteni Man]

Hi. I’ve experienced something similar through a double whammy of having a severe virus in my inner ear which has left me with some ongoing disequilibrium and fracturing my hip for a second time in a fall last summer having previously fractured it in 2016 through a bike accident. Put together meant I came very close to stopping riding all together, but I am back out, but taking things carefully. My disequilibrium still exists ( although is milder … mostly) but I still don’t fancy breaking my hip again!
*My best advice is not to stress yourself over it. You have been through a lot. I started very very gently on very short rides where I knew there would be very little traffic. Doing this route several times meant I slowly built confidence.
*My second piece of advice as mentioned by others was definitely not to force it. If you don’t fancy it on any particular day then leave it. There will be days where you just don’t feel right and that is absolutely fine. I did a ride one Sunday morning which in hindsight I should have given up on.
*What about a turbo trainer? I have a Wattbike and I am happy to just jump on there and have a good workout instead of going outdoors particularly if it is wet, or very windy. I get all the fun and fitness and it’s quick and time efficient too. With autumn and winter approaching this might be a better bet for now? I get the same buzz as you describe from riding…the world is always good if I can exercise!
* I have a friend who had an accident where she went over the handlebars for no apparent reason. She underwent some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which helped her massively to regain confidence. Perhaps do this over the winter as we approach the next spring with a view to getting out on the bike then.
* I started back out on my hybrid bike which is definitely the most stable and easiest to ride of all my bike. I just found it so much more reassuring than going out on the road bike. ( I’ve just swapped my old race bike for a more endurance style bike and that’s really helped too.
I’m enjoying my riding again now, don’t think about the hip hardly at all when riding, but know I will never ride with the same speed I used to which no longer matters. I’m enjoying it again, but am happy to jump on the Wattbike if I’m not feeling it.
I wish you well in this journey!

 

[Happy_Days]

I have found where i live, people seem to be impatient and fairly reckless with overtakes.

You’re not alone. I understand entirely. I’m coming back to cycling after being hit by a car that overtook me recklessly.

While technology isn’t the main solution, it can help nonetheless. I’m getting cameras. Cameras won’t stop anything, but they will give me a sense of agency because I can report any ultra-close passes.

I also like this L-Bow rear light to discourage close passes. Every little helps!


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzE1u24hDfk