qpliu

Do they tend to be clockwise loops, counterclockwise loops, out-and-back, point-to-point, or other?

I generally prefer counterclockwise loops, since that usually means tailwinds for the segment along the coast.

woodcycl

This occurred to me a couple months ago -- more than 80% of my rides/routes are counter-clockwise!?! I have NO idea why ... just ended up that way.

Psimet2001 

Counter-clockwise loops. Not sure why, but a lot of my routes over the years have been counter-clockwise. Never thought of it until you posted this. There must be a reason.

...you think I would naturally pick clockwise so that it's all right-hand turns...





....Brilliant!

aballas

either counter-clockwise or out & back

nocondorfx

hmm. i guess the majority would be clockwise

MrCjolsen

Since over half of my riding is back and forth to work, and when I do go on non-commuting rides, I usually have a destination (ride 35 miles, have lunch with my wife and her parents and ride home) I not sure what category I fit in to. When I do a loop, whether it's counter or clockwise, depends largely on the wind that day.

oboeguy

I don't have any real tendency other than a general aversion for a straight-up out-and-back. If I do such a ride, I will usually attempt some small variation on the return.

not2fast

On Monday, I was on one of those MAGICAL bike rides.

You know, the ones that, no matter what part of your loop you are on, the wind is MAGICALLY in your face!

Nothing worse than getting to your turn point, thinking you will be grabbing a tailwind, and the wind is still there!!

urbanknight

Where I used to live, they were usually out and then a loop before coming back. Loops were usually clockwise now that i think of it.

Now, I generally go clockwise even though my most frequent route is an MUP which would be just as easy counter clockwise (hmmm, now I'm going to have to try that). My favorite climbing routes seem to be counter clockwise now, though, because I prefer to go up Sepulveda and then down which ever road I choose to come back home.

WheresWaldo

Where I live most of the organized rides are counter-clockwise. I usually reverse those loops and do them clockwise. Counter-clockwise loops have predominently left hand turns. Left hand turns usually means turning against traffic. So for safety sake I try to make all my loops predominently right hand turns.

scottmorrison99

Clockwise loops on group rides and out and backs commuting.

Dead Roman

Majority are out and back. I hate it, but thats the reality o where I live.

S_DOG34

Same deal here. It sucks hard, but I can throw a few different routes to vary it up a bit.

DXchulo

I'm an out and back kind of guy most of the time. Turning a route into a loop never seems to make it more exciting for me. Doing an out and back can actually be more exciting because you can try to beat your time from the first half.

If I find a good road I like to stick to it for as long as possible. Say you only use 3 roads for a given out and back route. If you did a loop that might turn into 8 roads. If you have multiple loops some of your loops are probably going to have a couple roads in common. That means that if you do an out and back you're seeing less roads per ride, which means more time passes from one time you see a road to the next, which keeps things a little more spread out and fresh.

I also feel like doing a loop confines you to a certain area. You're still in your comfortable little radius close to home. If you do an out and back you can get farther from home and you might see some different scenery than what you're used to. For example, if I do a century and go a straight 50 northwest to Michigan, I'll actually see some rolling hills. I'll never see that if I do 4 25 mile loops.

stea1thviper

LOL best post ever. this happens to me ALL THE TIME. Once I decided I had enough so I figured I'd do a straight line out and back, 50 miles roundtrip. Checked online and wind was to the south. I rode into the wind getting ready to turn around after 25 miles and enjoy the tailwind. Of course what happened was the wind started blowing just as hard in my face going back. I went online and checked the wind direction again. nOw it was to the north! how wonderful.

clausen

Clockwise. Easier to make righthand turns with traffic. Also some out and back sections.

BigFloppyLlama

Counter clockwise when I'm at home, clockwise when I'm at school. But seeing as I ride the same routes as I do at home (just a different start/destination) it makes sense.

mecheng

counter-clockwise. used to be out and back.

NomadVW 

All of the above.

ollo_ollo

Counter clockwise, unknown why. Perhaps it has something to do with the rotation of the earth?

iab

Clockwise and counter-clockwise. I like to do my loops in both directions to change the perspective.

Psimet2001 

I thought about doing that, but figured it might rip a hole in the whole Space-Time thingy.

iab

It is the risk I take.

webist

My most common daily ride is indeed a loop around the city. Most of the time I do clockwise but vary it on weekends. I also have several out and back routes I enjoy from time to time.

Machka 

I vary my routes!!

I have a short loop when I don't have a lot of time, and I'll ride it one direction one time and the other direction the next. I have another short out-and-back which I'll use sometimes if I'm bored or if I want to tack some more miles onto a medium or long route.

I have three main medium-sized routes when I've got a bit more time and I'll ride them in both directions, and then sometimes mix it up by combining them, or adding to them ... I'll explore interesting-looking roads connecting to them to see where they lead.

I've got numerous longer routes and I rarely ride the same route twice in a row.



Why stick to the same road, and same directions all the time when there's so much variety and choice out there? I'd find that too boring.