Lone riding?

So it was hubby's turn to ride the group ride yesterday and he was racing this morning so I have not had the time or the inclination to go out. 

We took the kids out yesterday instead of me going out and now today I just have no motivation to go out on my own.

I think part of it is a fear thing i.e if something happened to me..

Poor planning on us, next time I will ride with the group. However all this got me thinking who goes out on their own?

Should I be worried?

Tags: female, group, help, lone, riding, single

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Crick on July 9, 2012 at 22:21

Thanks everyone I think as many said it was just one of those days where I was looking for excuses not to go out lol. I do get bored when am on my own.

Having said that just been out on my own in the dark... the things we do eh!

Permalink Reply by Lucas Pittaway on July 9, 2012 at 22:25

I'm one for music whilst riding, and if you bring along sweets then all five senses are in complete bliss.

Permalink Reply by Just another psycho-list on July 10, 2012 at 1:22

What a great idea!  Must try all that!

Permalink Reply by Daniel Lynch on July 9, 2012 at 22:29

I find lone rides the best to clear my mind, and you can also go at your own pace. When you're by yourself there's no shame is slowing down, stopping or picking up the pace!

You can also suss out new routes

Permalink Reply by Michelle Crick on July 9, 2012 at 22:38

Also think that's part of the problem, winter short of daylight so I'm not riding anywhere new... That changes on Saturday hopefully going up Lofty :-)

Permalink Reply by Paul Mc on July 10, 2012 at 0:08

I am looking forward to Lofty ride Michelle whatever happens we must make sure you can get to HC for the start, like you it will be my first time, I cant wait.

Permalink Reply by Steven Ellison on July 10, 2012 at 0:56

I suppose its about time I made a comment too! Many of the comments suggest that riders just go for a ride and end up riding a long way. Personally I am not as random. I usually have an aim or target that requires me to ride a long distance. It might be a target to climb a certain number of meters in one day, a plan to ride to an event, participate and then ride home. It may even, in some cases, be an attempt to emulate a ride done by someone else.

If I was aimlessly riding I doubt that I would do many long rides at all!  

Without the motivation then I would not do any long solo rides!

With a target in mind then I always consider what I can do to make my intended rides as safe as I can. As you know I may ride at 4:30am but the reason for that is safety! Sounds strange but let me give you this example:

I want to ride to Gawler to arrive by 7am so how do I do that, well if I leave at 4:30am the roads are quite enough that I can go the most direct route on Main South Road and Main North road. If I was travelling later then I would add 10 km onto the route and go via the Port River Expressway, Salisbury and Elizebeth to avoid heavy traffic adding maybe 1/2 an hour on the ride.

On that I would return via the SOB, Port Wakefield road, Port River Expressway and Tapleys Hill road adding the extra distance to make my trip safer.

Choosing my times allows me to choose routes appropriate for those times and allows me to travel more safely. Its always about doing it as safely as possible. 

After making these decisions it is then a matter of deciding what you need to carry to be as independent as possible. On some rides I even take a spare folding tyre but on most I do not. I usually carry two tubes but sometimes will take three on longer more remote rides.

You are the only one who can decide why you want to do it, you then have to find a way to fit it into your day. You then need to decide what you need to take with you and if you can not fit it all together then you are not going to feel safe!

Most of it boils down to motivation then fitting everything else to it to make it work!

I hope you find your motivation and enjoy some great rides!

Permalink Reply by Michelle Crick on July 10, 2012 at 9:20

Thank you Steve as always you are an inspiration :-)

Permalink Reply by Dstone on July 10, 2012 at 11:42

You make good points Steve. I like to sit down with my Garmin and Google earth on Friday and plan Sundays ride and look for the roads less traveled or how to link up old loops. So as much as I like to ride and chill i still have goals set and time frame to suit leave pass.

Permalink Reply by David B.o.R. on July 10, 2012 at 20:42
To be honest I am bad at group rides. I like the idea of group rides but have only managed maybe 4 in the last 3 years. I wish I did more, but just jumping on the bike and going is so much easier.
Permalink Reply by durian rider on July 10, 2012 at 21:02

I go out on my own all the time looking for new bunches to dominate on the bamboo rig. ;)

Seriously though, riding solo is the best thing for self sometimes. A long solo ride is almost equivalent to spending an entire day solo in a dark room in that it can help bring some issues to the surface that we need to address so we can progress to the next level in our life chapters. Unplug and click in. Go solo. Go long. Go way long.

Ive riden solo from Perth to the Tip of Cape York. My sports model gf has riden solo from Radelaide to Towoomba. Neither of us had any battles or bothers externally. ;)

Permalink Reply by heather on July 10, 2012 at 21:20

durian rider, these feats worthy of a separate discussion . . .

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