Crash, Fear, Comeback: The Mental Battle of Returning to Cycling

What is it you are supposed to do if you fall off the bike? Overcoming a cycling crash and the fear that follows isn’t easy but it can be done. While the bike wreck may happen in slow motion the recovery may feel longer. How do you overcome that fear and ride again? Is it as easy as riding a bike?

Yeah, it isn’t always that easy.

The Comeback Mindset: Overcoming Fear Step by Step

Scrapes and cuts heal, and over time scars fade away, but that doesn’t mean getting back up on the bike after a bad crash isn’t a challenge. Sometimes, even after the physical signs of a crash are gone, getting back to a good place mentally can take a bit longer.

Jason Bahamundi knows all about that. Back in 2017 he was on a long ride with his club near Fort Worth, Texas. It was part of a group of experienced riders who he knew well, they were all comfortable with each other and looked after one another on the road.

As Jason made a move to the front of the group, a rider ahead of him slowed down, their tires rubbed, and Jason went flying directly into the pavement. Thankfully he didn’t break any bones, and his helmet saved him from a serious head injury.

“I didn’t slide much, and the impact felt like I just slammed into the ground and stopped,” Jason said. “I recall being frazzled by the entire episode. When I stopped to unpack everything I noticed that my helmet had cracked. Thankfully that was the worst of it all.”

Jason’s Journey: Rebuilding Confidence on Two Wheels

Jason jumped right back on his bike the next day in a controlled environment at Texas Motor Speedway in an effort to regain some confidence. He made it through that two-hour ride, but in some senses regaining that lost confidence took a lot longer.

“I was scared to ride in groups, nervous on descents and braking,” he said. It took a long time for me to get over the panic of riding a bike even though I did it. The nerves were always on edge and whenever there was a scenario of a rider coming close to me, I could feel the anxiety spike.”

“I had a choice of either slowing down or speeding up but I did not want another bike near me.”

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Beyond the Bruises: The Mental Toll of a Crash

Jason did his best to push through the mental hurdles. He continued competing on the bike, completing two Ironmans and a Half-Ironman over the next couple of years.

The crash was still in the back of his mind, though. He felt like every ride gave him “anxiety and stress”. It wasn’t constantly there, but he’d feel it in certain situations and would never feel totally comfortable.

He moved away from triathlons and focused more on ultramarathons and trail running, and by the time he was riding more again in 2022 he had finally become his old self on the bike.

“I am comfortable riding my bike in groups and face no mental hurdles when it comes to riding but it did take a while to get to that point,” he said. “The combination of the wreck and running removed me from cycling but when I got back on the bike there were no concerns or issues.

“And regardless if (I’m competing) in triathlons, I will always ride my bike. I love being on two wheels so much.”

The Crash: A Split-Second That Changes Everything

Luis Andarcia had a crash similar to Jason’s, and used personal motivation to get back on the bike.

While racing in the 2019 Oakland Triathlon Festival, Luis was looking down at his telemetry when his front tire went into a pothole with 20 miles to go in the bike leg.

With the help of bystanders, he was able to get up and continue, but in the transition area he was unable to put weight on his left leg. X-rays revealed a 4-mimllimeter crack on the left side of his pelvis, leaving him bedridden for several weeks while it healed.

After several months of physical therapy, Luis got back on the bike and resumed competing. 

The Comeback Mindset: Overcoming Fear Step by Step

After his accident and recovery, when it came to getting on the bike again, Luis felt like he needed to “fight”. Quitting would be easy, but Luis thought about the people in his life that had fought through adversity, including Luis himself, and he believed that getting back on the bike and competing again honored those people while also serving as an example to his kids, as well as the athletes that he coaches.

“My main goal was to show my kids (it could be done),” he said. “I have two boys, and (I wanted to show) them that you can get back up, and you can always come back.

“I also wanted to show my athletes that you can (have adversity) and come back even stronger.” 

Working to overcome the cycling crash and the ensuing fear gave Luis the opportunity to show that no matter how many times you fall, getting back up is important.

Moving Forward: Embracing the Love of Cycling Again

In sports and competition, the mental side is just as important as the physical. Needing time to get mentally past a bad crash is completely normal. Jason suggests taking these steps:

“Once cleared (to begin riding again), get back on your bike at your pace,” he said. “Maybe it is on the trainer at first because you want to get comfortable on the bike again. When you are ready to get out on the road, I would choose a familiar route that is short.

“The residual effects of a wreck are not just physical. The mental aspect may be the hardest part to overcome so don’t force it.”

Overcoming a cycling crash and the ensuing fear takes time. For some, that time is short while for others it will take longer. Understanding that we are all different also means that our recovery time is going to vary. Being on two wheels is a freedom that cannot be experienced in any other way so make sure you are ready to climb back on the saddle.

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