Fear...What with it?

Fear has always been a companion on the trail. Sometimes it whispers, sometimes it shouts, but it’s always there. For years, I thought fear was something to overcome or eliminate before I could move forward. What I’ve learned instead is this: fear doesn’t disappear. You carry it with you. And when you choose to keep pedaling anyway, fear can become one of your greatest teachers.

What Is Fear, Really?

Fear is one of the most deeply wired emotions we have. It’s the body’s way of protecting us, rooted in survival. The amygdala, the part of the brain scanning for danger, doesn’t know if the threat is a loose rock on the trail or the risk of failure in a new venture. To your body, both feel the same. Heart rate spikes. Breathing shortens. Muscles tense.

That doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means your body is awake, alert, and preparing for action.

The Myths We Believe

So many of us misunderstand fear.

• “Fear means I’m not ready.” In reality, fear often means you’re standing at the edge of growth.

• “Courage means no fear.” Courage is moving forward despite fear, not waiting for it to disappear.

• “Fear will fade if I just do more.” Fear evolves with us. New terrain, new challenges, new levels always bring it back. What we build isn’t immunity but resilience.

Fear’s Double-Edged Nature

Fear is both protector and prison.

• On one side, it keeps us alive. It heightens awareness, sharpens reflexes, and prevents reckless choices.

• On the other, it can shrink our world. It tells us to wait, to hold back, to stay safe. Left unchecked, fear builds walls until our lives feel smaller than they should.

The skill isn’t in eliminating fear but learning when to listen to it and when to challenge it.

Fear, Memory, and the Brain

Much of our fear is learned. A crash on the trail may leave a rider timid for months. A sharp word years ago can echo in our confidence today. That’s because the hippocampus—the brain’s memory center—links past experiences to present fear responses.

But here’s the empowering part: if fear is learned, it can also be unlearned. Every time we ride through a section that once stopped us, or speak up when our voice trembles, we rewire the brain. This process—called extinction learning—creates new pathways that say, I can handle this.

The Cyclist’s Advantage

On the bike, fear isn’t abstract. You feel it in your body—tight shoulders, shallow breathing, tunnel vision. But athletes have a unique advantage: we practice fear regularly.

Every ride gives us the chance to train resilience. We learn to loosen our grip, control our breath, and focus on the line ahead instead of the obstacles. And those lessons translate far beyond the trail. The fear of speaking in public, changing careers, or navigating r