deacon mark

I thought the recent thread on how do you ride with was good so throw this out. I am runner and cyclist although years ago primarily a runner. From about 1988 thru 1998 I ran with a group each weekend. The moral was most want to sleep in and start later. I would go earlier and get a few miles in then stop.


So now that I ride more I find no longer can I tolerate a specific time start and mileage. I keep thinking I am anti-social but frankly I have to work and take care of a family. Since leaving the group and running when I want it is easier. So now cycling I do like to chat a ride with a group but in the end it just does not work. They start at a time that is inconvenient and at a pace I probably do not like. I put all my eggs in the time frame and decide I love to ride but if I want miles I have to be solo.


I leave my house never drive to a ride since I can be on the country roads in 3 minutes. This is more ride time. I then go in the direction that allows a full tailwind on the return or close. I go at the pace I want and my personality is all by feel, I feel good then push the limit, and I generally never like to stop unless I have to. No need for a break. So recently this weekend I went with a good friend who wanted to ride. I could not say no and glad I went. In the end I found I took time getting to the ride and then going his pace.


I guess in the end I like the solo ride but maybe it will bite in the end.

GlennR

I agree.

I telecommute so I get to ride when it's optimal for me. I ride my own pace and plan my ride depending on the weather and traffic. And if i'm felling tired, I cut it short. But if I feel strong, I extend it.

There are a number of local clubs that have weekend group rides. I check their websites and if one seems interesting, i'll take it. They are more social and i'll either ride in the front or the back so I can meet everyone and chat it up.

TimothyH

My friend, a Benedictine Oblate and BF member, calls his bike his "Two wheeled cloister."

Maybe you are a Carthusian hermit and don't even know it.


-Tim-

John E

Some people ride their bike to go somewhere. Others go somewhere to ride their bike. I am in the first camp.

GlennR

Since I mostly end at my home, I guess i go nowhere.

Garfield Cat

Nobody to resuscitate you when you have a cardiopulmonary episode.

osco53

I ride for me,
I ride alone when I'm alone,
I ride with Others when they show up when they say,,, I am never ever late to a ride.
When others are late It matters not, they may find me out on the trails,,or not, It matters not.
I like to ride with faster riders and It matters not If I get dropped but If I end up riding with slower riders I will not drop them, It's my way.

I ride for me, my way.

Funny though, I have lots of people who like to ride with me, I always ask them a single question and that Is, "So are we riding for just the fun of It or are we working out ?"

If they choose the last one I do my dead level best to make each one of them pass out or puke

Steve B.

I ride mostly solo as at least 2 days are commutes, 2 others I'm off during a weekday so go alone, but will then try to hook up with riding buddies at least once a weekend day, or on a Monday with a buddy who also works late.

I am fine with the groups start time and am flexible as well. We recently moved our group ride time to 7:30 as it gets folks home. We all seem to like the earlier start (it was 8:30), Sometimes we have time for an after ride coffee. I also enjoy the companionship of folks I've been riding with for 15 years or more, we are all mostly compatable as to speed, though some years one might have less riding time so we do shorter distances. Often the others might extend a ride and that's OK with everybody as well. Pretty happy group of about 5 people. It's easier to manage then the larger club rides and everybody is sensitive of others abilities on that day and are tolerant and patient.

I used to do the same club ride olndnslw2 sometimes does, which is where I know KaosJoe from. I just got tired of the big groups and consider myself lucky to have a great bunch of guys and gals to hookup with when time allows.

GeneO 

Not a bad way to go out though.

GeneO 

Solo here. Commuting is good for me because the trails are not very occupied at the hours I commute so I can go fast

OldsCOOL

I ride alone, yeaaaaah all by myself. You know, when I ride alone I prefer to be by myself.

2manybikes

I was waiting for that. Didn't take very long.

2manybikes

There's not a lot of traffic on the back roads I ride. However, there is enough, so that if I crash, in a few minutes someone will be along, and run me over.

OldsCOOL

I gave in to the temptation.

2manybikes

I think it was the right thing to do.

osco53

[QUOTE=2manybikes;19040902]I was waiting for that. Didn't take very long.[/QUOTE

Hahaha yeah so was I~~~ PMSL

aRoudy1

I ride solo because I'm S L O W.

Rick@OCRR

I ride solo when I'm commuting to work and back; doesn't seem to be anyone cycling along my route. Occasionally a salmon or sidewalk/salmon but rarely anyone else. That's Mon./Wed./Fri. and honestly, solo is fine with me.

On Tues. and Thur. we have club rides in the evening, so I drive to work, drive to the ride start and drive home after the ride. We have a good group though, so lots of conversation before during and after the ride (we usually go out to dinner somewhere close) so I enjoy the social aspect as well as the rides.

On weekends we usually go on climbing rides in the mountains and while there is usually a good number of riders in the group at the start, everyone (pretty much) climbs at their own speed so most become solo riders until we reach the summit or some pre-determined re-group location (usually with food and drink!).

Depending on how difficult the Sat. ride was, Sunday's ride may be a fixed gear recovery ride, a ride with my wife and her friends or whatever seems like a good idea at the time . . . so may or may not be solo.

Either way works, of course, but for me the variety of some solo and some group rides works best.

Rick / OCRR

indyfabz

I do both. Rode to work today. Tomorrow I will hop a train to Vermont to start a tour home to Philly. Toured in Montana back in June.

philbob57

I ride faster than 'Casual' and not as far as 'Moderate'. I'd like to ride with a club, and I've done it twice in the last month, but I'm better off alone.

No commuting...retired. Yippee!

bobwysiwyg

Likewise, which is why I use Stava's Beacon recently/testing. My wife says she likes it better than Life360, but either will give EMS a reasonably accurate location so they can gather up my remains.

TimothyH

Don't you just love relativism?

JGM411

I ride too early in the morning for anyone to actually want to ride with me. Dodging wildlife is plenty of excitement without having to dodge other cyclists.

canklecat

I enjoy both. Most of my rides are solo. I'm too disorganized to be a reliable riding partner. I like to stop a lot to snap photos, and some shots may take up to 15 minutes to finish if I'm lugging a tripod. And I'm just as likely to get the urge to ride on a Texas summer midday as at dawn or even at night. Just depends on when the mood strikes and I have the energy. This morning every joint in my body was aching so I skipped the pre-heat ride. But if I'm feeling okay later I may ride 10-15 miles tonight.

But I also enjoy the occasional casual group ride. I ain't fast. Neither are they. And it's good company. A little chatter on the road, some beer afterward.

I can see why group rides make some folks nervous, especially around inexperienced and wobbly riders. But it's easy to spot and avoid them and hang with the smoother and predictable riders. Usually I find the very front or back of the pack is safest. Just depends on my energy and the overall vibe of the group during that ride. As far as I can recall, dating back 30 years as well, I've never collided with another rider or fallen during a casual group ride, including the huge Tijuana-Ensenada and Mexicali-San Felipe crowds. My only collisions and falls were during amateur crits.

bobwysiwyg

candlecat, what sort of camera gear, including tripod, do you carry and how?