neilfein

Most of my riding is commuting, so that's solo time. I've gotten my wife to start riding lately, so we do a lot of weekend rides and grocery runs together. My touring has been on my own - except for the last tour, also with my wife.

Edit: Sorry, meant to say all my touring lately.

Neil_B

fp64

It's just easier to ride alone, no phone calls to schedule, driving to a meeting place, going whenever and wherever you want, for as long as you want, at your own pace.

I agree with the point that there's too many "serious" cyclists out there. You know the type, they've got the matching jersey, shorts, helmet, shoes, etc. And if you're really lucky, after you say hello or wave, they'll acknowledge your presence.

Neil_B

When I first began to ride, I wanted to ride with others. I wanted to be accepted by others and recognized as a cyclist. But I soon realized for various reasons I wasn't going to be any more than grudgingly accepted. I wasn't fast enough, or I stopped too often, or I rode the wrong bike and wore the wrong gear and my feet weren't attached to the pedals. And this bothered me for a long time.

But then I had several experiences on rides this past summer that set me to thinking. I had a couple of failed tours with another fellow, and a couple of successful solo ones. I missed riding with my bike club to a local horse show, but had a great time at the show without them. I've commuted and toured and ridden in PA, WV, MD, DC, and NJ solo, and in many cases I have photos that both remind me of the pleasure and pain of the ride and convey what someone here once called my "awe of the world." And so, while I enjoy riding with others, I'm happy riding on my own too. After all, I'm a cyclist. And even when I'm with other folks, my ride is my own.

baron von trail 

Historian, the way you are able to share your experiences with others...You are never alone!

Neil_B

With that thought in mind, I skipped the charity ride I was scheduled for today - Girls with Gears. Too early for me to ride around the Limerick area in the cold. I'll drive over and collect my t shirt, and then do a solo ride, one where I don't need to feel I'm in last place.

youcoming

I believe all cycling is serious and should be respected in all ways. I'm fortunate to have a job that allows me a lot of time off, which I use a lot of to train for cycling. The result of this is I am able to ride with various groups of various riding levels and I will ride with anyone. I love the slow paced casual rides just as much as the head down hammer fest. As a result of this I see the reaction of other rider in different eyes. Yes I've been in the casual group who wave at the fast riders and get no return wave and I've been in the fast group who have been scowled at because we didn't wave back or just plan was going fast. And here's my take on it, there are times in the fast group when you just aren't going to wave as you are struggling. O.K. here's a different way to put it. When I started out riding I struggled to keep up with anyone and hills were brutal, I couldn't have waved to my own mother if she waved at me while climbing same thing today in the casual group that I ride with, I'm not knocking them but for various reasons they are not real strong riders and hills require a hard effort, are you going to wave at someone at that particular time, not likely. Same goes for the fast group I've been on flats with a HR higher than when we climb some hills and in a paceline the only time my hands come off the bar is when I'm on the back grabing for a gel or water, believe me for the most part it is not disrespect. Keep in mind there are idiots in every group. I can just hear it when cars were first coming mainstream, I tell ya that guy in the fancy 4cyclinder with matching cap didn't wave at me today Just remember we are all serious riders, just a different explaination of serious. Hey in my case I may not wave at you one day but ride with you the next. One thing in common is all riders love bikes.

Neil_B

"There is nothing wrong ... with pushing the limit, but the business of bicycles and the culture of cycling is pretty much entirely built on marketing this or that as being better because it is faster or lighter or more efficient. And while it is not wrong to think about those things, I think it is wrong to only think about those things."

https://kentsbike.blogspot.com/2007/0...-per-hour.html

Barrettscv 

I ride solo.

I started as a commuter and my only goal was to reduce car usage and get to work on time. I now ride for enjoyment and exercise and have very individual ideas about when, where and how. I live in Chicago and will ride in the winter on better days. To do that I can't wait for a group ride event. I also use MUP's during low usage times and avoid them when they become crowded. I'll also ride on city and suburban streets but avoid rush hour. I also try to ride a mixture of long (75 mile) and short (30-45 miles) rides and a mixture of slower (15-16 mph average) and faster (18-20 mph average) rides. I'm convinced that no one or no group is doing what I want to do.

My companions are the bike, the earth, the weather and my trip computer.

Cycling can be highly individualistic. Why turn it into a group activity?

fp64

I say yo, or wave to every cyclist I see. maybe I'm the exception. the guys I referred to are usually the guys who give me a condescending look prob bc I have a $500 bike, and I wear a t-shirt, not an $80 jersey.