Coping with solo rides
#77
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 125
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I mainly ride alone, usually between 40kms and 120kms, and find that time goes really quickly on the bike. I'm usually concentrating on technique, and being a competitive kind of person I usually push myself to the point where i couldn't hold a conversation anyway. It's never boring, it's 'my time', I enjoy the freedom and the only person I'm answerable to is myself. If I ride well it's my fault, if I struggle and ride badly it's my fault too. I can stop when I want, go where I want and enjoy the experience without distraction.
#79
well hello there

Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,491
Likes: 390
From: Point Loma, CA
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
setting alarm right now for 5:00 a.m. tomorrow for solo ride.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
#80
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,172
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From: SoCal T.O.
Bikes: CAAD9-6, 13' Dawes Haymaker 1500
#81
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: SoCal T.O.
Bikes: CAAD9-6, 13' Dawes Haymaker 1500
#82
Sua Ku
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 2
From: Hot as hell, Singapore
Bikes: Trek 5200, BMC SLC01, BMC SSX, Specialized FSR, Holdsworth Criterium

There are a couple of 100km loops I ride, when I get bored of them I do cross borders. I don't like the causeway with the roadbike but a ferry to Desaru, Bintan, Batam works.
#83
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,875
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Bikes: Cannondale CAAD 9, Specialized Transition, Specialized Fate, Specialized Crux
#84
Do you really limit your rides to MUPs?
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#86
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,172
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From: SoCal T.O.
Bikes: CAAD9-6, 13' Dawes Haymaker 1500
#87
For some reason, I often find myself doing math problems in my head while I ride, like:
- How many pedal strokes will I take on this ride?
- That water stop just took 4-1/2 minutes...how fast to I need to ride to make that time up?
- If I need to be home at 3, and I am riding into this headwind at x mph, how far can I go and still make it home in time?
- How much further will the outer end of one of my spokes travel on this ride than the inner end?
I don't recommend thinking about these things on purpose...it's just where my mind goes.
- How many pedal strokes will I take on this ride?
- That water stop just took 4-1/2 minutes...how fast to I need to ride to make that time up?
- If I need to be home at 3, and I am riding into this headwind at x mph, how far can I go and still make it home in time?
- How much further will the outer end of one of my spokes travel on this ride than the inner end?
I don't recommend thinking about these things on purpose...it's just where my mind goes.
#89
#91
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Joined: Apr 2011
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#92
#93
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: SoCal T.O.
Bikes: CAAD9-6, 13' Dawes Haymaker 1500
Just came back from my solo ride. About 10 miles in I got bored and was about to turn back, but then I realized I had downloaded the FredCast Cycling podcast into my iPod. I started listening to it and it really made my ride enjoyable. I did another 20 miles and then I came back home because I had some work to do. Downloading some more podcasts right now for tomorrows ride or maybe later today. Thanks everyone!
#94
Member
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Lake Champlain/Adirondacks
Bikes: Madone 4.6,Salsa Casserole
That Plumb Hammer would make me turn back to get it asap. I've had mine (a 22 ouncer) since the late 70's. What a well balanced tool, can't find new ones like it. Great score........
#96
And that's a big reason why I ride. I spend all day working at a computer, and then sitting at my computer in the evening. Getting on my bicycle means getting away from all that and doing something completely different. And that's probably part of the reason why I don't use a Garmin, I don't carry a cellphone, I don't use an ipod, etc. etc. ... I like getting away from all that sort of technology for a while.
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#97
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11
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From: Long Island, NY
Bikes: 2013 Trek Mamba w/ Shimano M530 pedals
I just about always ride solo. I have a friend that rides with me occasionally and when he does I enjoy it, but it's rare. Regardless, I always have my iPhone equipped with music and podcasts (motivation/energy boosters). I ride because 1) I do it for my body and 2) I love to ride for numerous other reasons. So, with that said, I never get bored, no matter how far I go.
#98
Raising the bar
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 0
From: Newmarket, New Hampshire
Bikes: 2007 Specialized Allez Double (sold), 2009 Kestrel RT 800
Solo riding for me is meditation. I think about anything and everything. Last year I didn't like solo riding, but I like it a lot better when you stop riding for a month or two and forget how much fun a group ride is. Now, group rides are strictly for hard riding and long distances.
#99
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 1
From: Driftless
Bikes: Caad8, Mukluk 3, Trek Superfly, Gary Fisher Irwin.
I sing when I get bored, bark when I get frustrated. Otherwise my mind is inside my leg sacks.
Also found two spendy golfing clubs once, possibly useful for the most extreme repairs to bike or body.
Also found two spendy golfing clubs once, possibly useful for the most extreme repairs to bike or body.
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