Starting this trip I learned about my own internal demons— fears of heights, bridges, steep downhills, and crosswinds. And while many of these are reasonable concerns, I managed to amplify them to F. E. A. R.- False Expectations Appearing Real. Many of these signs were powerful FEAR triggers for me. A great Cognitive Behavioral Therapist subsequently told me that stopping to take pictures of these signs was actually my way of subconscious subtle avoidance or delay, which reinforces these fears. The key is continued exposure leading to the extinction of the fears. New plan—no more scary sign pictures until I’m no longer scared of them.
Some bridges and tunnels without shoulders or bike lanes have a system where a cyclist pushes a button to turn on warning lights alerting motorists that there is a bycycle on the road.
Steel grid deck on a high bridge with traffic and/or crosswinds is my perfect storm for terror.
Although fully protected by concrete barriers in a dedicated center bike lane on this bridge over the Columbia River, trucks and cars loudly racing by on either side, combined with a light rain, made crossing this bridge out of Portland completely terrifying.
Scenic gravel roads are great but can be really difficult to cycle uphill on with limited traction.
Yes that sharp curve is hazardous for trucks, and if they roll over to the right…
Really long stretches between services
Why do they keep warning motorcyclists and not bicyclists— is it because bicyclists would be crazy to take these roads?
Warning sign for a switchback curve on a 6% grade coming off Rogers Pass-The Continental Divide
Really glad I saw this after climbing that hill!! 8% grade is crazy, and I know I would have worried about ‘can I make it’. Ignorance is bliss, and just pedal on.