Getting over fear

[Curlzilla]

Hi Ladies,

I am wondering if any of you have tips for getting over fear of trying stuff. I have a heck of a time "just doing" stuff when I'm not really sure if I will make it. I know that in order to improve I have to "just do it" but man....I find it so hard! I do find that for myself just riding a lot helps me get to the next level but I'm wondering if any of you have any tips for pushing myself a little bit harder. One of my friends uses visualization and it works for her really well. So far I have had limited success with it - probably because my visualization also includes me crashing (not very productive!). :crazy:

Any tips or tricks would be great! :kiss:

[SRH]

Hi Ladies,

I am wondering if any of you have tips for getting over fear of trying stuff. I have a heck of a time "just doing" stuff when I'm not really sure if I will make it. I know that in order to improve I have to "just do it" but man....I find it so hard! I do find that for myself just riding a lot helps me get to the next level but I'm wondering if any of you have any tips for pushing myself a little bit harder. One of my friends uses visualization and it works for her really well. So far I have had limited success with it - probably because my visualization also includes me crashing (not very productive!). :crazy:

Any tips or tricks would be great! :kiss:

I'm right there with you! I find something that scares me...and deep down I kinda know I can do it. But I just freeze up and stare at it. I'll look at it, ride up to it, walk around it a hundred times...and get all pissed off and go home angry knowing I could have done it. It really irritates me. What angers me more, is that I know that 6 or 7 years ago I wouldn't have thought twice about doing it...I'm not shure if it's my getting older and having a job and responibilities that might not get met if I'm incased in fibreglass or if I'm just a wuss. It frustrates me to not be progressing as much as I would like to from season to season...

[Curlzilla]

From Emerald Eyes:
Hey Gals :) i'm Dawn I live in nanaimo and learned last summer how to ride a bike and fell in love! I was starting to get pretty confident on my bike then this summer in whistler I crashed and fractured my hip and shoulder :( that set me back and I have been having trouble getting back out and the few times that I have gone since I have been to afraid to do any drops or ladders :( any tips on getting back? getting passed the fear?? i miss it :(

[SRH]

Sorry to hear about your broken bones. How are you doing now? I broke an arm and tore ligaments in my ankle...I found it hard to get back into the groove after. Both injuries were the result of just being tired and riding sloppy...so it's not like I got hurt doing something crazy. But it still affects me when I'm going to try stuff...I know how easy it is to mess up and have to pay for weeks and sometimes months.
Wow...I have a bad attitude...sorry :(

I should stop...that's all very discouraging. Not what we need here...

C'mon...Somebody has some good positive stuff for us...? Anyone?

[Curlzilla]

Yeah I know what you mean. I had a major injury a few years ago and I've definitely had more fear since then.

We need some hardcore DHers to come on here and give us some tips!

[TheGiggler]

i think fear is healthy and normal. everyone has it.

honestly, i think the ONLY thing to do is just keep riding and have fun. try to stay within your limits, ride in control and stay comfortable on the bike. the more you ride you will get more and more comfortable doign things that once were hard.

in my mind, when you have fear you are not ready for the particular line/move. when you are ready you'll know as you'll want to ride it and you'll be able to visualize yourself hitting it cleany. unless you can visualize cleaning it and commit 100% better not to "wing it". even then you will have some fear, which is normal.

[cheryl@nsmb.com]

Well I like to think of biking as a constant challenge against myself. I often see a stunt and I am very afraid. But then that stupid little voice creeps in and I know I have to do it. Stunts that are in my ability but are difficult and scary make me so mad. Often I have to put them on a list on my fridge. I write it like a grocery list that I have to build up my skills and supress my fears to get things crossed off. I have crashes that scare me or smash me up but then I know I have to get back into it. Once I am healed physically that mental scaring takes way longer to heal. But then I remember the sense of accomplishment I feel when I am riding I know I need to have it again.
Never quit, progress at your own rate and most of all....have fun.

[Curlzilla]

Hey thanks Cheryl! Yeah I have a list too! I joke with my one friend when I don't ride something that "I'm adding it to the list". ;)

[mtbgal]

I am QUEEN of Chickens, but may have advice...
I broke my wrist my first year racing, on a double on the 4x course in Penticton - and not from crashing - I broke my wrist when my front wheel cased the jump. I was FREAKED of doubles after that, but over the years i've definitely progressed and jumped much more technical jumps since.

How'd do you get over it? I think that it is just simply a decision.

Do you want to improve: yes.
Are you willing to take a risk: yes.
Do you think that you have the skills to pull off the move: yes.
Are you scared: yes (good, you should have respect for something new!)
Do the rewards out weigh the consiquences: yes. (something to REALLY think about)

If all these are 'yes', then it's time to step it up and face the fear, and be confident.

I've never done anything that's considered 'huge' in the mountainbike world, but I think that we all know that only we know when we are pushing our limits, so I think that this really applies to everyone that's trying to 'push' themselves.

Fear simply disappears with the more you ride and the more you see the stunt or jump. You also build up on smaller stuff that is similar so that you can apply all your skills and experience on the big stuff.

my fear advice:
Hesitation = devastation
More Time on bike = less fear

[Ramirifika]

Well said ol chap! Man those are some pretty thoughtful questions for sure.

My 2 cents:
Dont try and stifle the fear, let it go - hmmmm - I sorta let it go in a breath.
But fear can be useful at time so first I alway ask myself:
Am I scared bc I should be scared and this is too much for me?
OR
Am I scared bc this is something new and really I know I can do this?

Two types of fear in this world: one that warn you of something bad and the ones that just needlessly holds you back. You should try and distinguish btwn the two.
At the same time dont get too mental about it. That'll put you in brain mode when mostly you should ride in flow mode.
As for injuries, well I think it's wise take your time healing both physically and mentally. You'll know when you are hungry to push it again.
And as mtbgal said build up on smaller stuff and make each progression step attainable. Build your own stunts for in your yard, or make little jumps for yourself at the local jump park (ask the builder/organizer first).

Lastly ride with other women who are a lil better then you occasionally. I always feed off of this. If a guy can do it MAYBE that'll psyc me, but if another chick can do it, that'll get me motivated for sure.

[heckler]

Girly peer pressure really works on my wife. But also lots of hours on the bike. She also rides with the boys and that helps up her level.

One thing for sure- the longer you stare at something, the less chance you'll ever do it. If you know you can do it, then do it. Start with little things you know you can do and gradually build up.

The most important rule - do it, or don't. That means don't give something a try because you think you might maybe possibly be able to survive. You need to know that you can clean it before riding it. Don't "try". This only works if you progress gradually and at your own pace.


And buying her a new bike after breaking an ankle got her motivated to ride again.

[SRH]

You all have some great advice and kind words!!!
I know I will be coming back to this thread often when I get stuck.

My boyfriend doesn't ride...so when I get injured...he doesn't buy me a new bike. (I wish he did though!) He tells me I should take up tennis or knitting...that certainly motivates me to get out and ride again...ha ha!

[enduramil]

Part of getting over the fear is developing skills to ride. The usuall is get out and ride.

Every time you go ride pick something specific to work on. Ladders, turns, log hopping, etc. This gives you something to focus on while riding.

Get a couple of video's, I think the West coast School of Mountain Biking has one on west coast style. Another good one too watch is Art of Trials. Lots of good stuff in it that focuses on balance.

Get a copy of Brian Lopes book Mastering Mountain Bike Skills. Yet again lots of info.

When riding during the week play on stuff. Ride the curb fast as you can, then as slow as you can. Go to a parking lot and work on carving turns.

[Battlecat]

The best way to get over thing is just tell yourself, go for it. Dont do anything over your head. Be confident in yourself and your riding that you are able to do what you want to do. If you feel that you can do it then just go for it.

That is how I push myself into trying things

[Troup]

Like Nike says, Just do it

[enduramil]

Ride with others when you go out on the trails. Having others there when you try to ride something new helps. It helps to know that if something happens you are not alone. For some this is a break through in getting through a fear.

One plus with others riding with you, is that you can get them to spot you while you try something. They won't stop the fall but they can make it go better.

[bansheeair]

What Denise(let's ride) and I find when you develop a mental (fear) block on particular stunts and jumps in one area is take off to a new mountain. We find that we will do stuff when we have no preconceived notions of the consequences. When we return to the "block", we find it a bit easier as we did a similar stunt while on our roadtrip. If it is just a bit bigger, then we know that the mechanics are the same. It is easier to overcome the fear when you know that it is 'exactly' the same as something you do...just bigger. :rocker:

[Fluid]

The way that I normally get over the fear of doing new stuff on the trails is I will mentally superimpose another comparable (size and difficulty) stunt that I've done a hundred times from another trail over top of it. This makes me comfortable doing it because then this one doesn't seem so "new" anymore and that kind of fear of trying new stuff won't hold me back anymore.

Another thing that really helps me to "just do it" is to have someone tow me off stuff that I normally wouldn't be comfortable riding. It's got to be a comparable rider to myself, otherwise I might not trust that my abilities will match theirs in cleaning whatever it is that I'm following them down. I have found this to work amazingly well for myself and I'm always stoked afterward that I was actually able to ride the stuff. Once I've ridden something once, I will usually be able to ride it every time after even when I'm not being towed down.

Lastly, I hugely recommend doing group rides with other riders of varied ability. Preferrably with groups of people that I don't necessarily know. I've found that I sometimes fall into a "comfort zone" with my own riding group, or especially with my husband, in that I become just far too comfortable deciding to walk a bunch of stuff without even trying it because they'll always be understanding and respect my decision. Then I just get into a habit of always choosing to walk something rather than try it. If I'm with a group of new people, I will opt to try more stuff because I won't yet know what their tolerance is for how often I won't try stuff. This makes sense to me, even if I (obviously) can't put it into words for all of you to understand.

Getting out and riding as often as possible does also help. But each person has to find what works best for them to get over their fear of riding certain things. As Heckler said "You need to know that you can clean it before riding it" - this is most important. I only try and ride things that I can actually visualize myself successfully cleaning. I may be completely freaking out on the inside as I'm cleaning it, but I still clean it nonetheless.

Forgot to add that I have recently adopted the "don't stand at the top of something and stare at it too long" stance since I realised that this will almost always guarantee that I won't end up riding it! If I start to stare and over analyse, then I will shift my gaze up into the trees, take a few deep breaths and clear my head completely before trying the stunt. I also find that singing a favourite song in my head or quietly under my breath will help me focus and clear my head before trying something.

[Curlzilla]

I totally agree with everything that folks have said and it has reinforced some ideas I've been having and just have to act on. Like just going out and "playing" more. I definitely find riding in groups an awesome way to improve (depending on the group).

Fluid, riding with you has helped me improve the MOST out of anything else I've ever done!

[Fluid]

Aww...thanks! :scream:
I've also improved TONS since we started riding together last year, Curlzilla. I can't wait for this damned shoulder to heal up so I can come back out again.
XENA WARRIOR CALL!!!

[NooNer]

i just convince my self i wont fall. and if it high consequence i tell myself i cant fall, and once you're going its all good. commit everything you got into making the line and if you know its gonna be ok it usually is. my last ride i rode a new rock line. matt asked me if i was going to ride it, i said i was going to do something. looking at it from the top i was sketch, but figured i was good to go, told myslef not to fall, rolled in and it worked out exactly as planned. sometimes stopping and scoping what you want to do helps as well, personally i like riding new stunts with no preview. i still got my deamons to get over as well.

[Curlzilla]

Wow that's pretty cool. The whole "convincing myself I won't fall" part is sometimes hard. You are totally right though - usually when I just do stuff and don't sketch out, it's all fine! I build it up in my head more than it needs to be.
Maybe less thinking and more "just !@#$% doing" is in order!

[Knnn]

Hi Curtzilla,

Having only ridden for about 1.5 years now (and my previous bike experience was when I was 9, I'm now 46 ... sigh) I have been in your shoes a couple of times. Two things that helped me greatly were as follows:

1) Riding with patient friends, who I trust, and who were willing to ride slowly and to session a particular stunt, if it was something I was really determine to try and ride. When I mean session, they would ride the stunt 3, 4, 5 or even 10 times so that I could view it from many different angles and I could work out exactly what kind of line and speed was needed. Sometimes it was not enough to help me overcome my fear, but on other occasions it was just enough to tip the balance and then you get that, "OMG why did that stunt freak me out when it was so easy" feeling, which I think we have all experienced at some time.

2) I also got to a point were I could tell I was no longer progressing, I could not understand the techniques that were required to ride certain things like short steep drops or skinnies. So I decided to take a mountain bike course. In retrospect it was probably one of the best things I have done. I find that friends know by instinct how to ride a stunt but could not actually explain what I should be doing with my weight, body position etc. A knowledgeable and experienced instructor will not only show you how to ride different types of stunts they will also explain the physics of the process and what you should be doing on your bike. The course I did was with the REC Group (which sadly is no more) with a really superb instructor (Rick Loader if you read this, thanks again for making such a difference). You may wish to consider an all female course provided by Endless Biking or similar group.

Good luck and above all, have fun.

[Sparkplug]

All good pointers... Watching someone do it- watching the speed etc that is needed; comparing a stunt/new line to something you've done before is very helpful for me; also, I always like to look at stunts that are even well above my level of ability - not that I'm going to do them now but after looking at something reaaally big, the stunt that I'm thinking of doesn't look that bad after all. Finally, positive visualization - I've got to be able to see myself doing it well and giving myself a final confirmation of yeah, all you need to do is x and it'll go well. At least, that's the theory!

[mtbgal]

Do a skills clinic too; that always helps the confidence!

[newgirl]

I wanted to start this thread up again cos its so informative...

I think that YES its good to ride with people who are better so you push yourself mentally and physically, (but with a fairly level head), don't feel stupid about redoing the same section over and over (make someone show you how they do it and go for it!)

make sure you feel secure with your bike, the weather, your helmet armour etc. otherwise its always in the back of your mind;

start small but think big!

[heckler]

And the biggest secret of all that some of our girlie friends are slowly figuring out....


The more often you ride, the better you get. If you ride only a couple times per month, (or even worse every 6 to 8 weeks) you will not progress. Hours and hours and hours on the bike is what you need to "know you won't fall"

[RiotGirl587]

haha if u know ur gonna fall...well....do it up anyways as long as ur not gonna kill urself when u fall..

[DARTHYOGA]

One thing that really helped me out was learning how to fall. If you ever watch those bike videos where the guys bail off crazy hight stuff then jump up like they just one the superbowl, then you've seen someone who knows how to fall.
Its alot easier knowing that you can stay safe even if you bail than taking that risk wonder if your going to break something.
Personally, that and the positive internal dialogue ( usually ends up being "fuck Im already committed!") took me a long way on my dirty little Schwinn hardtail with only 2 inches of travel on the front.
Lame as it is I was so proud the day I could do the CBC with only a few save my ass stops.

[Smoke]

You never feel comfortable when prgressing. Hence the term...

Repetition is the key quite often. When you come across something that you want, but it's a bitt bigger than you're used to, try rolling up to it severla times (3 is my magic number). The first couple of times you want to plan to NOT ride off/over/all the way through it. Just roll up to the edge or the commit point and stop and get off under control. Get used to what you will see at that point. Maybe stand at the edge and take a mental snapshot of the landing/runout at that point. What you are trying to do is set yourself up for success and de-sensitize yourself to the move. After a few roll-ups, you should have a good sense of what's going to happen. Once you've got a good idea of where you're at, go back, take a few deep breaths, and visualize success.

Then pin it and hope for the best.

[JaBur]

Fear is healthy, everyone has it.

That said, I think it is dangerous to attempt a stunt if you have an excessive amount of fear going into it. Basically it boils down to hesitation. As has been said many times in this thread, know your abilities (ride lots), assess a stunt, and then either do it or move on. I always discourage people from standing around looking at it. If you catch yourself doing that, then move on and forget about it. And for gods sake don't worry about it! You're out there to have fun, and you'll find you are a better rider when you let yourself have fun rather than get angry and discouraged!

Regarding understanding your skill levels... get out and ride, the more the merrier! And ride with people who are better than you, so you have something to look forward to and an example to follow. The easiest way to do a stunt you are unsure of but think you're capable of is simple to follow someone else into it doing what they do.

Simple recap to remember on the trail:
1) Do it or move on
2) Ride with better riders than yourself
3) Have fun!

[newgirl]

I think smoke's advice is totally on the money

[Uncle Duke]

i think the way to get over fear and still stay healthey is..baby steps..develop the skillset..allow it to happen over a period of time , dont push it too hard. it comes down to time in the saddle, practice and repeat. go to areas like bike parks and work on small launches( for example)..start w the curb sort of thing..increments thats the key.

[rewoga]

One thing to add - get fit and stay fit. The more tired you are during a ride, the less confident you will feel and the sloppier you will ride. So, if you get as fit as you can, everything gets easier.

Progression and practice are key - for drops, find 2 footer you are comfortable with and go over it again and again and again - faster and faster. Pretty soon it will feel like a curb - so find a 3 footer etc.

Also - a good trick for drops and jumps is stair cases - if you don't clear the entire stair case, you land on the stairs - which are basically a bumpy tranny. I spent hours and hours a couple of years ago practicing stair jumps, and it really helped me get better at drops. If you know you can clear 6 stairs, you can easily do a 4 foot drop!

For Skinnies - ride curbs. This is something I do all the time, and has helped with logs, ladders and skinnies.

Good luck!