Mountain Biking - riding alone???risky or not?

Hey I have a little problem. I found this new place I like to ride and I can bike there from my house but my one problem is wether or not I should ride by myself. I only have one friend who rides so i do feel guilty calling him whenever I wanna ride and plus its just easier to get out the door myself. I do have a whistle in my backpack but in an emergency I dont know what would happen to me. I dont have a cell phone either. Any suggestions???? it would be great to bike whenever I want

It's rather hard to say, since you didn't give much in the way of details.

Is it single track? Deserted desert? Fire road? Is there much chance of anyone hearing you toot your whistle, should you be bleeding out at the bottom of a ravine?

Paul

Although it's not recommended, sometimes it's nice to just hit the trails solo for some mind clearing riding. However, I tell someone (my wife usually) where I'm going, when I'll be back...etc. I do have a cell phone that I take with me.

You just have to be smart about what you're doing. Don't go trying that 10' drop you've been thinking about. If you ride solo, ride smart. Take it easier, don't push yourself too far, and bring plenty of fluids. If you do get injured to the point where you must be rescued, dehydration is always an issue.

Remember the guy that had to cut off his own arm when he got pinned by a boulder. He survived mostly because he had plenty of water! (not to mention BALLS).

L8R

Just be careful.... try and get a cell fone too.... they're always useful when biking

I ride along 60% of the time. I am not a fan of group rides as I don't generally like riding with people less technical than me and I also hate slowing people down. So I end up looking for people only slightly better than me.

I would definately follow a2's advice and not attempt anything death defying on a private ride though. That should definately be left for when you are with another competent rider :)

I not only think riding with someone is safer, it's more fun!

I hate riding alone, I get bored and go home within an hour usualy. Its amazing how many groups of people ride regularly. I have a couple people I call if I just feel like riding, and then there are atleast 2 or 3 groups that have regular weekly, bi-weekly, daily rides that Ill join in on. You push harder when riding with other people, and you stay modivated a lot better, atleast I do. If you talk to other riders in the woods, a lot of time they ride the same time every week and you can join them. If there is a local club you can usualy send out an e-mail saying I want to ride here at this time and people will go. Somtimes even peoples companies have biking clubs. Before you know it you will have a whole new circle of biking friends.

I go riding by myself a bit when my wife and/or friends aren't available or don't want to ride. Riding alone can be cool, but make sure you:

[list=1]
always make sure that somebody knows where you're going and how long you'll be out for - that way they can come and look for you if you're AWOL for too long
take a cell phone with you so you can call if you get into a bit of trouble
carry plenty of water
take it easy and don't try anthing death-defying
[/list=1]

Someone always knows where I'm riding, and if I'm having fun and want to stay longer, I call to let them know. Safer for me, more reassuring for them! :thumbup:

My advice is, if you want to ride alone, get a cell phone.

I ride along 60% of the time

So Mael, the other 40%, goin' over the bars?

I ride alone 95% of the time. Of the 5% I do ride with others it is because I ran into them on the trail (yes, some times literally but it is all good:D ).

I just make sure my wife knows which route I am taking and I usually give a time I will return. Word of advice though, if you expect to be out for 3 hours, tell whom ever 4 or 5 hours. That way, if you decide to just have a slow relaxing ride you have time to stop here and there and take in the sights.

Also, if you do not want to get a cell phone, at least get a pair FRS radios with a 5mi range. Leave one with some one back home. That way they have a way to try and find/contact you if needed.

Be sure to be prepared if you do bail and need to help your self. A good first aid kit is a must.

:beer: :beer:

Originally posted by dirtbikedude
Be sure to be prepared if you do bail and need to help your self. A good first aid kit is a must.


Good advice. I always have some basic first aid stuff in my CamelBak (e.g. butterfly closures, sterile dressings, adhesive tape), and a more extensive kit in the car.

If you do not have a cell phone, see if a friend or someone has an older phone that they replaced with a new phone and see if you can have it? As long as you have the battery charged and can get a signal you would still be able to dial 911 as a last resort. Another idea would be to get a prepaid cell phone with the fewest minutes possible, that way you could call a friend if you were in need of help, not a life threatening situation.

I like to ride solo, but definitely take it easy and watch where and when I am going, I may take more items (food, water, warm clothing, etc) with me if I am by myself and will leave word of where I am going and when I should return.

Just a note on mobile phones. I live in an area where signal is spotty at best. The trails behind my house are well... behind my house and thus close by so it's easy for me to open the garage door and dive right in. I often go alone. My mobile is useless in there but I do carry a small FRS radio. I'm sure I'm not the only person who has found that their riding areas have no mobile signal coverage. I've never actually tried using my FRS to contact my wife back at home but if I headed off to some of my other favourite spots which are much further away then it's likely I'll be totally out of communications range with my wife either via the mobile or FRS/GMRS. However, someone in that area may be monitoring the FRS/GMRS frequencies anyways so taking along one of those might be a good idea.

Hey,
I ride by myself all the time, but i have a few rules that i go by.

(1) I never ride a trail that i dont know i cant ride all of, or dont know well if i'm alone. Too dangerous and you could end up in a bad spot if you get hurt

(2) Always bring a cell phone(turn it off to save batteries), Drivers Lisencse, and medical insurance card in case you do get hurt you dont have to worry about where that stuff is

(3) Let someone know where you're going that way if you're out too long somebody'll know

Way to catch the typo dbd. Ok I ride alone 60% of the time haha...I don't run into people too often though ;)

I ride alone 90% of the time. I don't like it, but most of my friends are unavailable the majority of the time except for urban jibbing, where I'm almost never alone. On the trails I don't like to be slowed down or slow down other people, so I usually only ride with people within my skill level, and thus, usually ride solo. Most of the trails I ride are fairly populated and have options around the really gnarly stuff. Just ride within your limits. If you've been riding a long time you know what your limits are. Accidents happen, but the majority of the nasty crashes I've had I was doing something stupid or attempting something beyond my skill level. It's one thing to push the limits when you've got a buddy to drag your bloody ass back to the car, but when you're in the woods you could potentially die out there.

You actually used jibbing and meant it. I think that is a first for me to actually see that :)

i know this girl that hits the trails very often. she tells me that she hates going alone b/c its scary what can happen and worse if it does happen, she is alone. lucky for her, she met me and as soon as i get my new bike, ill be hitting the trails with her. :D

Me, 99.99 percent of the time I ride alone, I'm more at myself when alone, I am more productive alone than with another person or group. Plus I feel safer on my own.

I cant figure out wether you can dial 911 with a cell phone without service. does anyone know???? Buying few minutes is really expensive.

Originally posted by slickmobster
I cant figure out wether you can dial 911 with a cell phone without service. does anyone know???? Buying few minutes is really expensive.

Yes. You can.