Like most here, I used to do a lot of organized rides. But as the years have gone by, and the cost of some of these organized rides has begun to creep up, I have cut back on the number of organized rides that I do.

I have now set a criteria for deciding whether I will do an organized rides:

1. If it is for a cause that is near and dear to my heart, then I will do it. I have done 5 straight TdC and I will keep on doing them. I have T2 diabetes; my Mom died from complications resulting from diabetes, so the TdC is MY ride. This year I may also do the local MS ride;

2. Keep the rides locals. I prefer rides that I can ride from my home to the starting point. For example I ride on the Cruisin' the Conejo ride because it is local to me and because it is put on by a local cycling club. If I get too tired I can just take a shortcut home and be done. It is just not fun anymore to ride a Metric Century, or a regular century, and then spend up to 3 hours on the freeways driving back home. The next days my legs feel pretty beat up, more than if I had just been riding my bike;

3. My friends talk me into it and we go ride as a group; or

4. The ride goes through new AND interesting locations.

I do most of my riding alone but I also can enjoy the company of others.

One question for all of you who do organized rides. Given the rising cost of organized rides, do you buy the event jersey or do you just pay for the ride. I have way too many jerseys and I don't see the point of spending anywhere from $70 to $100 on a jersey advertising a ride.

Funny thing is I only do one or two organized rides/races per year and I think they are awesome and exciting - but I prefer to ride alone 99.99% of the time.

Checking the math, even if you ride alone every day (but two), it's still only 99.45% of the time. (sorry- couldn't resist)