To my archnemisis: Don't read this!

When I ride my bike, I sometimes feel like a superhero. Dressed in my superhero outfit (no, that isn't me!), I can speed past many other riders on the trail. I feel good, like I can pedal forever, that is until I have to go down a hill.

If I was a superhero and I had an archnemisis, he could totally kick my butt by just by putting me on top of a huge hill.

Ugh.

Most riders love speeding down hills. My husband is one of them. He'll pick up to speeds of over 30 mph. Me? I practically stop. I get so nervous. "I'll meet you at the bottom," I yell to him as he flies past my wimpy butt. I squeeze my breaks and hold it steady, balancing myself and practically hold my breath until I reach the bottom.

This is where I do not look or feel like a superhero at all.

So what gives? Why can't I just take a hill like every other rider out there? If I were on a mountain bike, I know I would have no trouble getting down these hills. In fact, I'd probably even enjoy them, but this road bike is a completely different animal. I know it can go fast and I can make it go fast. What I don't know is how to unclip from the pedals and dismount fast enough not to fall, which is especially embarrassing when I'm alone. Falling is my biggest fear while riding this bike and it's not one of those fears where I can just fall and get it out of my system because I've fallen like six times in the four weeks I've had this bike.

I'm guessing it will just take practice to get comfortable on the bike. I'm proud of my accomplishments (I road 74 miles this weekend, almost half of the MS150 with 5 weeks left to train), but I need to get over this hump because it slows my time down and when I'm riding with my team (which I did this weekend too!) it really disrupts our line. I don't know how to do it except with lots and lots of practice. I will try any suggestions, so if you have any, please share. PLEASE!

My question to you is this: What is your fear and if you got past it, how did you do it?