Coping with solo rides
 

i am used to going on rides with friends, so I am used to chatting with whomever I ride with. But when I go on solo rides I usually can't do more than 20-30 miles because it get too boring.

What do you guys do on solo rides so you don't get bored? I was thinking about listening to music since I ride on MUPs with few riders, but it seems dangerous.

Just focus on your surroundings. Or ride harder, much harder and you will be tired enough that you won't be bored.

If only ride the MUP, maybe try the road? Cars will make you focus as well.

I usually ride by myself and i actually prefer it that way. Of course its fun to go with a group but i like doing my own thing usually.

same problem here. Once I get out on the bike I'm fine. But dragging my butt out out of bed for an early morning solo ride can sometimes be tough.

Yeah the hardest thing sometimes is just getting on the bike. For some reason my mind tells me it's going to be boring but it never actually is.

I try to race myself with the garmin trainer.

I would love to have something like that to make me push harder, but they cost too much.

HTFU?

I dunno, I ride by myself 99% of the time, and a 10 hour ride without speaking more than 2 minutes to a human is the best possible time I can imagine. Maybe try enjoying the scenery (you live in southern california!), or concentrate on your performance? Pick some fresh routes?

I like to ride alone too. I work in retail so i always deal with people, its nice to have time to myself without dealing with other people's BS. I usually just enjoy the scenery, think, just enjoy the ride, feel the wind in my face, fresh air, etc.

Being away from people is the best part! No stupid idiots constantly chittering away about their mindless opinions, nobody getting in your way, looking at you, judging...

Learn to be in the moment.

Imaginary friends help out. I suggest you keep at least three in your rotation. Right now, Cammy from SSF4, Felicia from MVC3 and Mr. Roper from Three's Company are in my rotation. You can mix and match for air conversation combos and devastating team combos.

Be glad you can get out in the sunshine. On my commute, I've not seen sunshine for months!

When I get out for weekend rides, I love feeling the sun on my arms and face and the fresh air in my lungs. I also employ the method of playing games on my route, such as seeing what speed I can carry up known climbs, standing sprint intervals, sitting time trial practice on flat sections, that sort of thing.

Worth a shot, I'd say.

I don't understand why a person would be bored riding by themselves. There is so much to think about ... work, school, family, friends, the scenery, the people in shop I stop in to get some food, distant future plans, the things I need to do in the near future, etc. etc. etc. etc.

My longest solo ride was 600 km ... a 600 km randonnee back in Alberta in 2007. I did have music for the first 7 hours of that, but then I got tired of the radio and did the rest of the ride with my own thoughts. :)

The story of that 600K: http://www.machka.net/2007/2007_600_RedDeer.htm

I prefer riding solo.

The scenery, the wind, the podcast, the music, the silence - all work for me.

I also "work" on my bicycle. Just me, my moleskin, my thoughts and 5-6 hours in the saddle - get's a lot done for me.

+1

music w/ right earbud just loud enough to hear

Do you cross the causeway for that? I just can't imagine where one would get 5-6 hours of quiet solo riding in Singapore.

Contemplate life's problems, figure out what I am going to eat when I get home, try to figure out why I have a headwind in all four directions...

talk to yourself.

Ride harder. It's hard to get bored when you are at 80-85% threshold. I have been listening to the velobeats podcasts (at a reasonable volume) on solo rides for motivation to HTFU.

Keep your eyes on the road and see what you can pick up.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...theroad006.jpg

I usually ride by myself and just lose myself in the surroundings and getting over the next hill or round the next bend.
Sometimes - especially when the footy is playing (soccer to most of you guys) I tend to take an MP3 player and just listen via one earphone (the path side) so I can hear traffic coming up behind. As long as you don't have it too loud you should be OK and safe.

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.

did you rob a hardware store?

iPod.

Also, plan a route that forces you to do whatever distance you are planning, so you can't bail even if you want to.

Yep ... I'm busy thinking math when I cycle too. :D I'm often thinking things like ... my goal distance is 160 km. 1/7th of 160 km is just under 23 km. Therefore, I am now 1/7th of the way through this ride.

And I've done rides into howling headwinds where I've calculated that at the pace I'm going it will be an hour before I get to the next town ... and half an hour later, I do the calculation again, and it will still be another hour before I get to that town ... and half an hour later, I do the calculation again, and it will still be another hour before I get to that town ..........

try podcasts or books on tape.

they tend not to crowd out environmental sound as much as music, the longer arcs tend to pass time better than 3 minute songs.

plus you can learn stuff/take classes/catch up on the news/events while you ride.

i live on podcast through base training period (november to march: lots of long 4 hour solo rides).

tons of great content out there these days

Along with what others have said, I would simply suggest, "Train instead of just ride!" Throw in some sprints or intervals or do an extended climb on a steep hill while focusing on breathing and cadence. If you start making yourself hurt a little more, you might begin to appreciate and enjoy the "boring" moments on the bike a lot more.

98% of my riding is solo, and I don't mind one bit. I never get bored -I use my time in the saddle to think and decompress. If I'm really pushing the pace the only thing on my mind is riding -cadence, technique, body position, focusing on the road in front of me etc...I guess for me I've almost always ridden solo that I'm conditioned for it. I don't mind a group ride, as often times it helps me push the pace and improve my bike handling skills.