Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - riding partners????????

does anyone here every ride alone? I do constantly and its getting pretty hard to say motivated

I get my bike this week, and I am a morning person. I plan on being out at about 5am... So I am not positive but I can pretty much bet that I will be on my own. So, I'll just have to make sure my I-Pod is well stocked with motivational music!

I ride for fun with my wife and ride for the workout with my son.

I have been riding mostly in the house because it has been snowing and raining so much. I have done a total of 2 rides outside this year. The first one was by myself and it was pretty hard. I did one on Saturday with someone much faster than me and I do so much better than at the beginning of the year. Just riding with someone faster, prompted me to go faster than I am used to and riding with someone is just more fun. I am thinking of joining a cycling club to ride with other people. I have signed up for Livestrong this year and will be doing it with my wife. My wife and I just need to get some time together to ride when the weather turns nice.

Ron

i ride with he wife but its not much of a workout i need someone to push me

I am a believer in group rides. When I started riding seriously 2 1/2 years ago I rode alone. After 4 months of that I decided to ride with a club. I got dropped so fast I could not make excuses fast enough. It became evident that solo riding did not work for me. I needed other cyclist around me to make me improve.
Anyway, I now ride solo occasionally for a change. Otherwise, I am enjoying myself riding with my cycling friends that push me to get or stay in shape.
Also, do not get discouraged if you get dropped when you first start riding with a group. Everyone in the group in front of you got dropped when they started. That is the way it is.
On some "no drop" rides you may be asked for some clothing you have worn. Their no drop only means they will send blood hounds after 24 if you do not show up. In other words, take care of yourself.
Ride safe.

The only group rides I do is with co-workers at events. Most of mine is commuting and weekend rides. I kind of like the alone time.

I have been riding a non-drop ride at the local bike shop on Saturday mornings. Other than that, practically all of my riding is by myself. I enjoy riding in a group, but everyone else is either faster than me or slower than me, so it's not something that works well all the time. The group ride is basically the same route each time, so while it's a fine route, it's not something I'd want to do everyday, either.

Riding by myself, I can vary the route however I feel like. I can ride at exactly the pace I want, stop when I want to, quit when I want to. I can take my camera and stop for pictures when I feel like it. So there's advantages there, too.

I also have been riding some of the charity rides (where you go pay $30 or whatever and ride with 800 other people). That gets you in a "group" of sorts, although you're not necessarily riding with other specific people. But it's still a change, and change is good.

Got close to 15,000 miles riding by myself stretched out over a nine year span. I dont do group rides, never did. I get plenty of motivation by being in the fresh air, pumping my legs and knowing I'm doing good things for myself. I dont use an I-pod as I need to hear everything around me. The silence and speeds that I hit on my road bikes are enough to keep me coming back for more and more. Its the greatest thing I've ever done for myself and I'm not going to stop.

For me, I just prefer to ride alone.

While I do ride a lot by myself because of my schedule, I've met a couple of guys who seem to follow the same roads/times as me, got chatting, and swapped phone numbers and email addresses. There is usually an email at the beginning of the week letting each other know the schedule and whether or not we can meet up on the road somewhere (certain intersection at certain time).

i mostly train by myself. once to twice a week i ride with someone else or with a group. to keep myself motivated i plan out routes and ride them like time trials. i make a base time and spend my time trying to improve upon it. i think i have 15 or 20 routes ranging from short to long. 6 of them i ride the most often. Well the ipod does help keep the wind noise from driving me nutts.

About 90% of my riding is solo. 9% is with my wife and 1% is with other riders.
For me I usually need somewhere to go I don't want to just ride in some circles. Most of the time it is work. Sometimes it is to the bike shop others to get my wife subway while she works on Saturday. I'll make a trip by bike I'd never use a car for just to pick up one or two items from the store.

Mostly ride alone. Ride with the GF now and then, but she complains about the butt pain and the wrist pain and the leg pain and the wind and the rain and the heat...you get the pix.

I occasionally ride with serious cyclists. It is OK, but I really must say that I prefer the solo thing.

does anyone here every ride alone? I do constantly and its getting pretty hard to say motivated

I know how you feel. Almost all of my riding is done alone.

Every year I tell myself I'm going to join a bike club so I'll have others to ride with and to push my limits, but every year I wuss out and wind up doing my rides alone (unless I can talk my wife into going for a ride with me, but she's slower than I am LOL).

About 80% of my riding is alone, about 2% is with my wife or daughter, 1% with the cycling club, and the rest is with a friend of mine. I enjoy all of the above. I would ride more with the club, but it seems like it is usually not worth the drive to meet up to ride with them.

wow i didn't realize this many of yall rode alone. i don't think i would enjoy a large group ride but 2 or 3 buddys would be fun and competitive. i just never rode with anyone besides my wife.

wow i didn't realize this many of yall rode alone. i don't think i would enjoy a large group ride but 2 or 3 buddys would be fun and competitive. i just never rode with anyone besides my wife.

It's kind of a loner sport. Besides, it's not too easy to carry on a conversation while moving at over 18 mph due to the wind noise. So most of us preferring to ride solo makes sense.

But...there is another thing. And, I say this with a small smile. But, other than the Clydes and some peeps across town in the over 50 crowd, it has been my experience, that most cyclists are Sasswipes. Cocky and arrogant, overly competitive snobs, being around too many of them tends to ruin a nice day.

Just say'n.....:innocent:

does anyone here every ride alone? I do constantly and its getting pretty hard to say motivated

I ride alone about 98% of the time, the rest with my SO. She doesn't ride much, although I wish she would ride more.

I prefer riding alone, it's easier that way if you stop to take pix, you don't have a riding partner constantly trying to get you to keep going,

I always ride alone ! No big thing duno if I would like riding with someone else . O my wife and I ride around the hood here together now and then about 3 times a summer but she is not really into riding . But Iam a jeans cargo shorts t shirt kina guy on a comfort bike or a cruiser . If I was a roadie I might ride with groups to train duno honestly .

Most of my miles are commuting which I do alone. My weekend rides are also alone. I'm with people enough when I'm not riding so I'm not sure why I would want them around when I am riding. It's my alone time, my time to think, day dream, do whatever I want to do.

It's kind of a loner sport. Besides, it's not too easy to carry on a conversation while moving at over 18 mph due to the wind noise. So most of us preferring to ride solo makes sense.

But...there is another thing. And, I say this with a small smile. But, other than the Clydes and some peeps across town in the over 50 crowd, it has been my experience, that most cyclists are Sasswipes. Cocky and arrogant, overly competitive snobs, being around too many of them tends to ruin a nice day.

Just say'n.....:innocent:

Not my experience at all. I've met some people I really like in the club rides. I like riding with a group because they push me to go farther and faster (especially when we go someplace I'm not familiar with and I'm afraid to get dropped cause I don't know the way:lol:) The fast guys drop me with regularity but it takes them longer than it used to.:D

My weekday commuting is always solo. On weekends, it depends whether my wife decides to ride with me. If she wants to ride, that's great, if not, I'll go solo. Her pace is slower than mine so I enjoy solo rides as I can push myself more. I will try to pace other riders that I happen upon (always from a safe distance - 50'+ so it doesn't appear I'm drafting). Somethimes I've got no problem keeping up, sometimes they drop me pretty quick.

I wouldn't mind riding with a group but I enjoy leaving when I'm ready and starting/finishing rides from my garage. Riding with a group would require scheduling and I really enjoy going where I want, as far as I want, as fast (or slow) as I want, when I want.

Most of my riding is solo. Commuting is solo due to it's nature. I've also been on 40-60 miles rides completely solo. It's really nice when you're in no hurry, and want to take pictures.

However, I recently helped form a friendly no-drop group ride. We ride once a month in any weather. We try to make it interesting with stops for food, coffee, or beer. The rides are usually 25-35 miles, but I just led one this month that was almost 50 miles, and really hilly. It was still fun, but we didn't stay together. Our group is River City Cycling Society (http://rivercitycyclingsociety.com/).

The "big" group in the area is the Louisville Bicycle Club. I'm not a member, and have never been on one of their rides, but I will probably check out some of their rides soon.

I ride alone, yeah
With nobody else
I ride alone, yeah
With nobody else
You know when I ride alone
I prefer to be by myself

Every morning just before breakfast
I don't want no coffee or tea
Just me and good buddy Cruser
That's all I ever need
'Cause I ride alone, yeah
With nobody else
Yeah, you know when I ride alone
I prefer to be by myself

I ride alone mostly for convenience of schedule, route, and alone time. During the nicer weather I try to do a ride with a friend one day a week and group rides once in awhile. I ride without Ipod because I ride on the road with traffic. When I first started I used the Ipod but found I like the quiet better. I find when I do group rides it increases my driving time and not my riding time. My solo routes are often random, the decision of what way to go at an intersection is made as I go.

I think that most people ride alone a vast majority of the time. I agree that motivation can become an issue for me after a while. Even with all of the different routes around here, it can become a challenge.

I usually start riding with a group once per week in late-spring. I like to ride on non-racer group rides. The point is not to race, or to talk while you are riding, but to work together in a paceline to ride faster together than you can alone. There is usually lots of conversation before and after the ride, or if somebody has a flat tire, but not while we ride. Some people are naturally chatty, but for most of the people that I've met on those rides, working together to ride faster and like a smooth unit is what it is all about. And the conversation while we consume beer/coffee/bagels/whatever after the ride. ;)

In the winter, I always end up going to spin classes at my local gym 3-5 times per week. The social aspect motivates me enough to show up more often than I normally would on a stationary bike alone.

Try to find a local group that rides at your normal speed or slower the first few times you go out, so that you can get a feel for it, and that has a no-drop policy (nobody left behind). I would also suggest trying a few different groups, to get the "vibe" of the people that show up. There can be a GIANT difference between different groups that are sponsored by the same bicycling club, around here. Find one that works for you.

[FONT="Verdana"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]I think that most people ride alone a vast majority of the time. I agree that motivation can become an issue for me after a while. Even with all of the different routes around here, it can become a challenge.

I usually start riding with a group once per week in late-spring. I like to ride on non-racer group rides. The point is not to race, or to talk while you are riding, but to work together in a paceline to ride faster together than you can alone.
<SNIP>
Try to find a local group that rides at your normal speed or slower the first few times you go out, so that you can get a feel for it, and that has a no-drop policy (nobody left behind). I would also suggest trying a few different groups, to get the "vibe" of the people that show up. There can be a GIANT difference between different groups that are sponsored by the same bicycling club, around here. Find one that works for you.


That has been mostly what I've done as well. I commute daily on a bike and therefore ride 10 times a week solo. I'll also do some longer solo runs on a regular basis, but it can get a bit boring riding around alone. I've done some rides with a co-worker, but her realy like to take his time and rides much slower that what I like to ride. Though fun on occasion, I realy want to feel my blood pumping when I ride.

After some suggesting from a supervisor (whose husband is an active rider) I finally tried out one of the local clubs. I tried it and the folks are all very friendly and I see none of the attitude that you sometimes come accross with hard core road cyclists. The funny thing is that at 38 I am one of the youngest riders. I belong the "reasonably fast" group. They have 4 rides every day of the week. There are 2 daytime and 2 evening rides both in the North towns and Southtowns of the greater Buffalo area. This way there is a ride bound to be somewhat close to where you live at least once every week. The Wednesday ride within 2 miles of my house. There are both longer and short rides each evening, most between 17 to 25 miles. The long ride usually attacts the faster riders. Once the fast group warms up I can't stay with them as they will start to average 21 to 23 MPH, at that time a 2nd group usually form (the "reasonably fast" riders as I like to call us) and we'll average around 20 MPH. There is frequently a 3rd group that will ride slower. The folks on the shorter run will ride anywhere from 13 MPH up to around 19 MPH on average. So far I've found everyone to be very friendly. The evening group tends to ride pretty seriously and I happen to like it. We all rotate through the line so that we can take turns at the front. There is no way I'd find it possible to push myself as hard as I do in a group ride. The nice thing is that when at the front I'll ride right around my upper limmit, when I get a little tired I'll go to the back and enjoy drafting the group to allow for some recovery and then be ready after a while to lead again.

I do like riding solo some of the time, but group riding with a friendly selection of riders that pushes you to the limit is also lots of fun. It can also he humbing to work at at 100% just to keep up with a rider that may be is 30 to 35 years my senior. It also shows that one can enjoy cycling well into your 70's or later.

Happy riding Solo or in a Group,
André

To clarify: Not all riders are Sasswipes. And, yes, I find that the older riders are infinitely better behaved and easier to get along with than the young Lance-types. But, I have found my share of 40-somethings (I'm 46) that are always insisting that their equipment is the best and how much it all cost and blah, blah, blah...all that ego stuff that I find rather unappealing.

Thus, I ride alone more often than not.

I try to ride with exceptionally fit and attractive women all the time.

I have ridden with clubs, with groups of friends and alone... I prefer alone because it gives me the freedom to go at my pace, go where I want and enjoy the scenery or landscape. But I don't discount meeting friends and scheduling a ride 'cause I know that means I will get out. Just recently I took a mountain bike clinic. I met a gentleman there and he and I have now been scheduling rides together. He's a "newbie" but strong and I am enjoying showing him some of my favorite trails that I now take for granted.

One way to stay motivated is vary your route even if that means just going backwards. Or one day try and do hills, the next day flat. Or give yourself a designation like a favorite coffee shop, or bike shop or computer store... whatever you like.

If you want to try group riding see if there is a local club in your area. Or try and talk friends into riding. It may be slow at first but think of it as company as apposed to training. Alot of bike shops organized rides, at least they do in my area.

I'ml ike you - I prefer a small group of friends (which I am fortunate to have - all my firends ride) over a club. I belonged to a large roadie club for 12 years and finally got tired of all the silliness and crazy riding (running through lights, taken over the whole streets, pissing off car drivers etc). My best buddy who rides the most with me I met in the road club. We both got tired of that. My other good friend I met through mountain biking and leading groups. I've also met friends start stopping at a meeting place and striking up a conversation.

...
Riding by myself, I can vary the route however I feel like. I can ride at exactly the pace I want, stop when I want to, quit when I want to. I can take my camera and stop for pictures when I feel like it. So there's advantages there, too.

I also have been riding some of the charity rides (where you go pay $30 or whatever and ride with 800 other people). That gets you in a "group" of sorts, although you're not necessarily riding with other specific people. But it's still a change, and change is good.

Going back and reading what others wrote.. I could have written this myself. I also always carry along a camera and stop and take photos when I see something cool or pretty (it's wildflower season here so I am stopping alot). That's hard to do when riding in a group.

Event rides are also a great way to meet other riders. I have made life long friends from event rides I've attended.

If I'm not riding with Gina, 99% of my riding is alone. I don't play well with others!:D

I can never see myself as a club rider.

When I am very lucky my wife will ride with me.

Otherwise it is just me. I find that I like to ride places, very often I will put my bike in the pickup and drive to the place I am going to ride. Perhaps I am crazy, my wife thinks so most of the time...

I try to ride with exceptionally fit and attractive women all the time.

Funny you say that. There is a sunday morning ride around me that has all kinds of levels of riders. When certain women come out and play all of a sudden the riding level of 20 riders drops to 15mph and she is pulling the group:roflmao2:. It gets very wet riding through all that slobber so i head out with the break out crowd (all 6 of us at that point). My friend carol is usually with us and all the guys still hang back with the other women. Must be easier for 20 guys to hit on the hot chick at 15mph instead of 20mph:lol:. This is normally a 15 to 40 rider group on sundays in the summer.

I am surprised at the number of riders that always ride solo. It seems I am one of the few that suffers from a lack of self dicipline, meaning I simply cannot/will not push myself hard enough to get in as good of condition when riding solo as I can riding in a group.

There are three main reasons I ride. I ride for the sport (always enjoyed sports). I ride for the enjoyment (being out there with all the sights and people). I ride for the conditioning (or I would weigh 50 pounds more than my current 235).

The conditioning is very important to me. If I am going to put in the hours riding I want to reap the benefits of the exercise. The group riding pushes me much more than I am able to push myself.

Riding by myself, I can vary the route however I feel like. I can ride at exactly the pace I want, stop when I want to, quit when I want to. I can take my camera and stop for pictures when I feel like it. So there's advantages there, too.

I also have been riding some of the charity rides (where you go pay $30 or whatever and ride with 800 other people). That gets you in a "group" of sorts, although you're not necessarily riding with other specific people. But it's still a change, and change is good.
This, for me, too.

I know others have hinted at this, but have you tried commuting? I try to commute by bike as much as I can, so I ride alone, but it's an instant motivator. There is no cutting the ride short and once you've ridden in for the day you've got to ride all the way home.

I almost always ride alone but it's mostly because I'm an introvert. I would like to ride with others, but I don't feel comfortable in a group until I really know people well. I'm aware of the character flaw but I want my hobby to be enjoyable, not some anxiety inducing event or something that constantly reminds me of what's wrong with my personality, so I ride alone. I guess it's also couple with the fact that there are barriers that I don't want to look stupid trying to cross (I don't know how strong of a rider I am, I'm probably not good at pacelines or group dynamics, etc.). I went for one small group ride, and it went fine, but it's just awkward and nerve racking, not sure I want that. The difficult part is that I know I'm not a weak rider, so I'd be bored going to a beginner no-drop ride. Probably be the equivalent of "over-dressed" too with a road bike and bike specific gear. I just don't seem to fit anywhere.

Incidentally, that's why I thought the clydesdale ride we were trying to get together here in Colorado was such a good idea. Some people in the same boat who wouldn't be judgmental and we'd all be recent acquaintances. Unfortunately I couldn't make the ride.

98% by myself, I'm the only guy in town that rides a bike :(. I do get in on a few group rides every year and always have a blast!
I sure understand the motivation problems tho. It is easier for me when I am with others.

98% by myself, I'm the only guy in town that rides a bike :(. I do get in on a few group rides every year and always have a blast!


Well you know you can remedy that by moving to western WA! Seattle is filled with cyclists! ;)

I've only ridden with others once since I started cycling again last June. That time was mtb riding on some local trails with some friends from work that I basically shamed into going with me. It was fun but we haven't repeated it(economic reasons have us all on different shifts now).
There's a local club I've been aching to ride with, but a guy at a lbs told me some of the people are rather snobby if you aren't on the newest and greatest, and I don't want to be put off and have it negatively affect my riding. So until I get much stronger I'll just pedal along solo. Maybe I'll find a partner to pair up with, maybe not. I'm having a great time already!

I most prefer meeting up with other cyclists at the coffee shop, here in town, rather than on the bike trail. It seems that whenever two or more guys start riding together, the egos kick up a tick and a fun ride turns into the tour de France.

Originally Posted by 1bluetrek 98% by myself, I'm the only guy in town that rides a bike . I do get in on a few group rides every year and always have a blast!


Well you know you can remedy that by moving to western WA! Seattle is filled with cyclists! ;)

But, that would require him to buy a bike lock;)

Most of my riding is solo. The few times I have riden with someone else they usually held me back, due to a variety of reasons. I commute to work daily and on the weekends I ride alone.

Gas, .69 cents the price of a can of beans.

Due to job schedule, and my daughters school schedule, I don't know till after I and they get home if we will taking out the tandem or I am riding by myself. I do maybe 1 ride a week "with the guys" and we try to do the "Tandem Taco Nite Ride" on thursdays. I keep thinking I'll get involved with a medium road group to improve my speed/fitness/form, but haven't made it yet. Like many others mentioned, commuting is a loner experience.

100% alone. im too slow for some and the ones who think i ride too fast, are walking.

id be nice to ride with some others, as ive found the best way i train, is to be shamed into riding faster/farther. i havent a gf nor a wife and the friends i know that ride are all cat 2 fast. people have said if they were friends theyd train with me, but i dont think id like playing football with 9 year olds, so i understand.

i would like to find some attractive women, who would be willing to hurdle insults, belittle and mock me, while they rode off into the sunset, till i got fast enough to catch them, then i could find some faster women who would do the same, till i got even faster.

the point wouldnt be to actually ride with them, only for them to play drill sergeant and motivate me.

there are times to enjoy the sights and there is a time to train, i have to figure out how to do more of the latter and less of the former, or its going to be a very painful season.

Hi there,

iv been riding alone for the last six years,my problem is that i cant get in a group of bikers because of my work.In my opinion i dont find any problems,sometimes it is better riding alone cause there will be no commitments with other riders.

I wish somebody can help me in my diet,i eat lot of healty food but i have my doubts if im following the right diet for cycling.If somebody can help me a suggest to me a whole week diet or if there is a good book which i can buy regarding cycling and diet.

I will appricate very much if i get an answer.

Brgds
Etienne(Malta)

I am a believer in group rides. When I started riding seriously 2 1/2 years ago I rode alone. After 4 months of that I decided to ride with a club. I got dropped so fast I could not make excuses fast enough. It became evident that solo riding did not work for me. I needed other cyclist around me to make me improve.
Anyway, I now ride solo occasionally for a change. Otherwise, I am enjoying myself riding with my cycling friends that push me to get or stay in shape.
Also, do not get discouraged if you get dropped when you first start riding with a group. Everyone in the group in front of you got dropped when they started. That is the way it is.
On some "no drop" rides you may be asked for some clothing you have worn. Their no drop only means they will send blood hounds after 24 if you do not show up. In other words, take care of yourself.
Ride safe.

This.

I almost always ride with a group. It is the only way that I will push myself.

Mrs. Zoxe and I ride together. I feel much safer going with the buddy system. In the few times we've had mechanical trouble, the other has been able to ride home and get the pickup truck, and there's someone there with a cell phone if there's ever some sort of medical trouble.

For us it's more about being outside and seeing the neighborhood than counting the mph. I could get a better workout with a faster riding partner, but would never get as many rides in without the mental support and "c'mon, lets go!' that she provides on one of my off days (and me for her on hers).

...One way to stay motivated is vary your route even if that means just going backwards...

I know what you mean, i.e. going in the reverse direction. I'm virtually a total solo rider. Other than my usual 14 mile year round commute, I train for centuries by extending my routes. I feel I have exhausted all my possible routes, losing the novelty, but you are right that doing them in the opposite direction doubles the number of options. I recently mentioned in a PM:


...I'm thinking now about my annual training for a century, to begin in May. Those routes which seemed a drudgery in the summer sure beckon me now...

Nonetheless, what really keeps me going is listening to my radio, usually talk shows, and I don't have to feel impolite to a companion.

I try to ride with exceptionally fit and attractive women all the time.


Me, too. Fortunately I married a 5-foot-10 blonde with a Master's in Computer Science. And she likes to ride. (Got 45 miles in this morning.) I'm just one lucky Big Ugly Galoot. :love:

When I was young I rode with a large club. Weekday training rides, weekend tours. On a ride with 100 people, it's always possible to find someone riding your pace on that particular day. I enjoyed the comaraderie.

For many years my wife and I rode the tandem, pulling kids in a trailer when they were that age. I enjoyed the family time.

A couple years ago we had a morning ride group of 4-8 guys, and we pushed each other fairly hard. I enjoyed the competition.

Now I ride mostly solo. I enjoy the solitude.