I have done many thousands of miles of bike touring alone including a solo across Canada and back across the Northern US. My logic was this: everyday when at home I ride my bike alone back and forth to work or out on training rides. On a tour I'm taking the same risks but I perceive more risk when I am in more unfamiliar surroundings but are the risks really any greater? So, think of it this way, if you lived on Vancouver Island would you ride alone? If you would then why not while touring?

Certainly there are safety issues involved in any solo ride and you must take them into consideration. Having a partner can make you feel safer, and in some ways may be safer, but you could also plow into your buddy's back wheel while you're taking in the sights.

Lest you get the sense I'm some kind of fearless mo'fo' I'll add to this I always deal with a lot of fear on all my long solo tours. Everything from thunder and lightning to whacko drivers and things that go bump in the night can send me into wondering why in the world I didn't bring someone else along. But there are phenomenol advantages to being on your own out on tour. One of them being an extra sense of accomplishment when you return. You'll know yourself a lot better when you get back.