Originally Posted by kerk
If you really enjoy touring by yourself, then do it. Just make sure that you have a safety net to fall back on if you need it. Be prepared for all the problems that may come your way and you will have a great tour. Personally, I would rather share touring with someone so I have someone to talk to about it later. Alternately, I ride almost all of my training rides solo because I'm not far from home or safety.
Any kind of bicycle touring is a high wire act without a net. Even when you are touring with someone, you still don't have a safety net to fall back on. That's part of the alure. Touring should be about meeting the world with your wits and skills. If you want safety, stay home or get someone to carry your gear.
That said, touring isn't an activity that is that unsafe to begin with. I've toured in Colorado, I've toured in Virginia, I've solo toured the Colorado mountains a couple of times, I've soloed the midwest, I've toured in Scotland and in the Northwest US and I have never felt unsafe. When I was getting ready for my trip this last summer, a guy at work asked if I was afraid of riding out there, just the two of us. He asked me if I wasn't afraid of all the serial killers that wander America. After I stopped laughing and got up off the floor, I told him no. The people you meet out there are good people, whether you are solo or touring with someone, you meet good honest people who are usually facinated by what you are doing. They may think you are touched in the head but they are still facinated.
Ride alone, ride with others, but just ride. You won't regret it.