Fear of Cycling

Post Reply New Topic

I learned to ride it very late in life but then came to love it. It was better than a car in my college town. I became good enough at that I could slide around through the snow without falling down much.

This is an interesting topic, and I answered "It's OK" in the poll. I had a terrible time learning to ride a bicycle, and was afraid of it... I was at least 10 or 11 before I was able to ride! But there's a twist: Everyone who tried to teach me, just wanted me to go do it, and learn by falling, or whatever. That doesn't work for me, as I need to understand the technical side first. As soon as someone explained inertia, countersteering, and a few other basic physics involved in bike riding, I actually did just get on and ride; NO falls! And a year or two later, I was riding motorcycles (and bicycles) as proficiently as anyone who learned a decade sooner.

Charles

I'm the happiest and the most at peace when I'm on two wheels. I'm a competitive racer.

It did take me a looooong time on training wheels to learn to ride a bike. I think I was 5 or 6 when I finally learned. This might be typical though.

I enjoy riding a lot. I like the solitude of riding up a mountain or going for a long ride. I've never understood the cyclists who ride in groups and I get annoyed when other cyclists try to start a conversation with me.

But sometimes I get the idea stuck in my head that I'm going to get hit by a bus. I live in downtown L.A. so that's a distinct possibility. When I get anxious it will often last for quite some time and the only thing that gets me out again is forcing myself out on the bike.

I'm fine riding a bike, but I prefer driving.

I have a motorcycle, now what?

I quite like it. It can be scary. Some motorists are lunatics, I guess. Just be careful, innit.

Don't worry I curse up the yellow moon at crazy motorcyclist. They have done several crazy things even with me. I try to drive as safe as I can.

I think the biggest issue I have is the fact that the crazy motorist that ride the motorcycle have done so many crazy things, the cars and vans and trucks don't have any respect for other motorcyclist who are being safe and following all the rules.

My father had a hell of a time teaching me how to ride a bike without training wheels when I was a kid. My brother who is two years younger than me learned before me. Once I got used to riding the bike I started riding my bike in these tight little circles for hours non-stop in the driveway near our garage where no one could see me. Later on while in my teens I would zone out while riding in the street causing me to almost run into people or parked cars. Its a wonder I am still alive today because of my bike riding mishaps. Its one of the reasons I do not drive I am afraid of zoning out and running into a car or a pedestrian.

If I ever won the lottery I would have a circular track made behind my house so I could ride a bike without worrying about destroying someone's parked cars or creaming a pedestrian.

I started riding bicycles when I was maybe five or six, definitely by the time I was seven or eight years old. I spent many hours riding in tight circles on the concrete back patio of my family's house, switching directions ever so often.

As a teenager I went on thirty to forty mile day trips on a ten-speed. I started playing guitar when I was eighteen years old, and a few years after that I somehow discovered I could combine my two favorite activities by riding the bicycle "no hands" while playing guitar at the same time. I didn't know at the time why it was so compelling for me to do this, but I have since reasoned that it is a meditation in motion for me that relieves stress of my body and mind.

I figure my body goes on autopilot keeping me balanced so I'm not overwhelmed by sensory input, and my mind is on the music so it's not racing a hundred different directions at light speed. I have to be doing both though for this to work. Guitar by itself or bicycle by itself do not give me the peace I have found when bicycle guitaring.

I've ridden many tens of thousands of miles since the early 1980s writing hundreds of original songs. The following YouTube clip shows me in 2005 making up a new song while being filmed. I hadn't been riding much for a couple years before this video was filmed and was rather out of shape. I've ridden much more since then, especially the past three years, and I am now playing guitar and singing better than ever before in my life. I hope somebody will film me or record me now I am at the top of my form before I fade away.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-2h0kw5ank[/youtube]

^^ Have I seen you on Venice Beach???

No, there's some guy on roller skates who's famous there. If I had lived in Venice Beach or some other high traffic high tourist place perhaps I would be better known than I am. Please help spread the word about "The Bicycling Guitarist." Thanks.

I'm shaky on a bike and wreck easily. I'm really impressed by people who can do trails, ride with no hands, ride backwards, or play the guitar while riding.

If you want publicity... set up a Web site, Tweet, and post crazy Youtube videos. Seriously.

And move to a wacky place like Venice! Gawd Venice is awesome and scary at the same time. I love it, but it almost makes me want to hire a bodyguard to tag along.

This is the second or third time I keep reading the title of the thread: Fear of Crying instead of Fear of Cycling....

Cycle racing was the only sport I was ever good at.
Ive done three national championships, one of which was representing the Royal Navy.
Whereas all the other sailors would be out drinking and socialising every free eveining, I was out cycling 20 or 30 miles a day, around the beautifull countryside of Dorset where I was stationed.

Having moved onto Motorcycles however, on the rare occassion I do get my push bike out, I feel very unsteady and vunerable on the flimsey racing bike compared to a solid and heavy motorbike.
On occaisions when cycling, I have been hit on the shoulder by Lorries going past, and quite fast as well, as if I wasnt even there!

Cyclists now though in London are a menace, they hardly ever stop at red lights, Ive even seen them riding fast between people crossing at a Zebra crossing.