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Cycling should feel like freedom. Fresh air, open roads, the quiet satisfaction of getting somewhere under your own steam. But for riders who experience cycling anxiety, it can feel like anything but. The fear of bikes is more common than most people realise - and more manageable than it might seem. Here's what's behind it, and three practical ways to move past it.
Fear of cycling rarely appears from nowhere. It usually has a root - and identifying it is the first step towards addressing it.
Fear of falling is the most common cause. A loss of confidence in your ability to balance, often gradual, sometimes triggered by a specific moment. You used to manage it without thinking. Now it takes concentration. And the more you concentrate on not falling, the more anxious the whole experience becomes.
Fear of traffic is the other major factor. Busy roads, unpredictable drivers, the feeling of vulnerability that comes with cycling alongside faster-moving vehicles. For some riders this has always been there. For others it builds slowly over time.
Both are understandable. And both can be addressed.
Fear of riding a bike is often less about the rider and more about the bike. A frame that's too large, a seat height that makes stopping feel precarious, an electric assist that surges unexpectedly - these things create anxiety rather than confidence. The right bike removes them.
For riders whose fear of cycling stems from balance, a low step-through bike or a tricycle can change the whole experience. The Balance lets you place both feet flat on the ground when you stop, without dismounting - removing the most common source of instability on a two-wheeler. The Easy Rider, Easy Rider Compact, and Thuja go further still, with three wheels that always keep the bike upright regardless of speed or surface.
For riders who want to cycle alongside a partner while they rebuild confidence, the Fun2Go side-by-side tandem is worth considering. Having someone beside you rather than in front or behind makes the whole experience feel more natural and less isolating.
If cycling anxiety is holding you back, the right bike is usually the most important first step.
Cycling for anxiety works best when you ease into it. Start somewhere familiar and quiet - a park, a canal path, a low-traffic residential street. Get comfortable with how the bike handles before introducing busier conditions. Ask someone to walk or ride alongside you if that helps.
The goal isn't to conquer busy roads immediately. It's to build enough confidence that each ride feels slightly easier than the last. Most riders find that anxiety fades naturally once the bike starts to feel predictable and trustworthy.
A test ride at a vanRaam dealer is a good place to start - a low-pressure environment where you can take your time and ask questions without any obligation to buy.
If fear of bicycles in traffic is the main issue, removing traffic from the equation is a perfectly reasonable strategy - at least to begin with. Most areas have cycling routes, canal paths, or quiet roads that make it possible to ride without the anxiety of sharing space with fast-moving vehicles.
Plan ahead, use cycling apps to find quieter routes, and build familiarity with your local cycling network gradually. As confidence grows, busier roads tend to feel less daunting.
Cycling anxiety is common, understandable, and very often temporary. The right bike, the right environment, and a gradual approach are usually all it takes. vanRaam's range is designed specifically for riders who want to get back on the road - or stay on it - with genuine confidence.
Book a test ride at your nearest vanRaam dealer and take the first step at your own pace.
Read customer experiences here:
Fear of falling is one of the most common reasons people stop cycling. Not always a dramatic fall, sometimes it's subtler than that. A wobble at a junction, a moment of uncertainty on a slope, or perhaps the gradual realisation that staying upright now takes a conscious effort. The good news is that the bike is usually the problem, not the rider. And that's a much easier thing to fix with vanRaam's bikes that doesn't fall over.
With an adaptive bicycle participating in traffic for the first time, is for many people an exciting moment. Cycling on a tricycle can feel uncomfortable at first. Also, some people fear that road users will not think of them when they are on an adaptive bicycle. But is this fear correct? And wat if you are afraid to cycle? What is the solution for that problem? In this article you can read some experiences of Van Raam bicycle users and read what the possibilities are when you want to participate in traffic safely with an adaptive bike.
As a cyclist, you are vulnerable in traffic. It is important to pay attention in traffic and to obey the traffic rules. In this article we would like to give you 7 tips for cycling safely on a adapted Van Raam bicycle.
You want to cycle safely and be mobile (again). To ensure that you are mobile and safe on the road, we have compiled 6 points in our video with article that you should check before you set off.
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