A few months ago I wrote an article for Pedal magazine here in Canada about the role that fear plays among female cyclists.

There are women who have ridden their way to the very top of the sport of cycling. They have broken records, won medals, and done things on a bike that many men would never dream of attempting. But generally speaking, fear plays a bigger role among female riders – especially beginners – than it does among their male counterparts.

I know that this is a controversial topic and that many women will argue that fear plays no bigger role for women than it does for men. But I disagree. I think this is an important topic area for women - especially those new to the sport - and I’d like to explore it over the next few days.

Danelle Kabush has competed professionally in cross-country mountain biking since 1999 and off-road triathlons since 2004. She recently finished 2nd at the 2006 World Xterra Championships. Kabush received a Doctorate in Social Psychology with an emphasis in Sport Psychology from the University of Ottawa and currently acts as a Mental Skills Coach with the Canadian Sports Centre. She says that, “There are always exceptions to the rule, but overcoming fear is usually one of the top issues that beginning female cyclists want to deal with.”

I interviewed Kabush while working on the article and she gave me some great tips for overcoming fear on the bike:

1. Face your fears head on. Ask yourself, “What is the worst thing that could happen if I followed through with this situation?” If you can live with the worst case scenario, you can go beyond the fear. If not, wait and spend some more time developing the skills you need until you feel ready to go forward.

2. Remember that fear can be helpful to you, alerting you to where you need to be careful and prepared. For example, if you’re fearful of riding in a race pack, gather as much information and simulated experience in training as you can. Too many unknowns only fuel fear. Taking responsibility for your preparation is key to replacing fears and building confidence.

3. Subdivide your skill progression. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the rider you aspire to be in the future, be patient with your present abilities and speed of progression. Try dividing your progress into small, manageable steps, and set realistic daily goals.

4. Seek out other riders who have had similar fears and ask them what they did to cope with them. Experience is a great teacher – so take advantage of the learning experiences of others.

5. Finally, don’t take yourself too seriously. Fears are created by feeling we have to live up to the very serious images we create of ourselves. Keep things light, learn to laugh at your mistakes and view them as learning opportunities, and keep focused on the fun aspects of why you ride your bike.