Billy no mates ... is it so bad?

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Billy no mates ... is it so bad?

65 posts & 42 voices | Started 1 year ago by gothandy | Latest reply from sambob

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gothandy - Member

Reading this months magazine editorial I found the talk of riding with mates gave a pretty one sided view of what people can get from their biking.

Sure when I was younger, no family and weekends to myself long rides with mates were the best. Taking the time to stop and chat. Doing a pub lunch after. All added to the feeling of being a mountain biker. Usually riding off a hangover. Didn't get that fit but really didn't care.

But things change. I now have 3 kids and run my own business. I'm fast approaching 40. I want different things from my riding. If I only have 3 hours to spare at the weekend for a ride, I want that ride to be fast. I want to push the legs and the skills. I don't do that stopping every 15 minutes to have a chat. Sure makes me a billy no mates but what can you do?

I just don't think the editorial got across how I feel about riding with mates vs. riding alone. For me at least I enjoy both. Each has their time and place. I do improve my speed downhill following mates but then my fitness suffers. But with a life full to over flowing with kids, work and biking the solo ride is going to be a big part of the day to day mix of riding.

Make any sense or just a lonely old man?

Posted 1 year ago #
ScottChegg - Member

A good balance of both is the optimum, I think. I too have an excess of kids and work stuff to juggle. So when I get a few hours, I go off at 10 minutes notice.

But the social side is another nice aspect; riding with your mates and sharing the good and bad bits. And who's going to laugh when you lob over the bars if you are alone?

Posted 1 year ago #
sputnik - Member

Well put. I swing both ways. Enjoy riding with mates, but equally enjoys solo for the same reasons you state.
How about you write a longer piece but in the same vain as above and submit it to the magazine?

Posted 1 year ago #
rOcKeTdOg - Member

yup, i like both, banter a messing with mates, solo when i'm time limited/want to blow off some frustrations from the day

Posted 1 year ago #
tron - Member

The banter is good, having someone about in case you brain yourself is good, but waiting for people to get their shit together before a ride...

Posted 1 year ago #
TooTall - Member

A bit of both for me. I like exploring more on my own - I don't have to apologise for heading up a dead end, changing my mind or ending up on a diversion up to my axles in mud. I do, however, enjoy taking people out on a sorted ride I've put together from those explorations - that is satisfying. I guess thats a different aspect of the fitness you are talking about.

Posted 1 year ago #
Saintly - Member

Makes sense to me and I don't have kids to fit in to the equation. I find that i am unable to get to most organised rides due to clashes with events, work or other social engagements.

I live right next to the fells so can quite happily get home and be out on the bike within minutes whatever time I roll home. This means depending on how I feel I can grab a quick hours blast and then on to something else or be out 3-4 hours.

I do enjoy social rides, and do get some of the social aspect at events so I guess I enjoy them both.

Posted 1 year ago #
hora - Member

Both rock.

Sunday I v'anted to alone. Bumped into another STW'er in the carpark and rode with them. Sometimes thats good, bumping into people you know unexpectadly

Posted 1 year ago #
Scienceofficer - Member

I like riding in small groups (say, up to 5) any more than that and it all feels a bit 'coach party'.

That said, I do show my face at the odd event, but I'll be there for the ride, generally not the social.

Posted 1 year ago #
simonfbarnes - Member

I refuse to ride alone, and the more riders there are the more fun I find it :o)

Posted 1 year ago #
hora - Member

Don't know why but sometimes I find facing the thought of riding in a group a stressful experience. Whereas sometimes I really need to ride in a group.

Posted 1 year ago #
donks - Member

I very rarely get to ride with anyone else as time is limited for me so I have to grab a couple of hours as and when I can...this means that making arrangements is almost impossible. I'm ok with this situation on the whole, and when the nippers are older I hope I can do some group riding again but that will be a few years off yet.

Posted 1 year ago #
Coyote - Member

Solo 90% of the time.

Posted 1 year ago #
simonfbarnes - Member

isn't solo mountain biking like solo sex ? All right if you're desperate but not the real thing ?

Posted 1 year ago #
hora - Member

I know how to pleasure myself whereas my mates always fumble around and then leave me at the back/shoot off the front.

Posted 1 year ago #
Coyote - Member

It's fine if you are comfortable with your own company and do not crave the attention and approval of others.

Posted 1 year ago #
Squidlord - Member

+1

I spend all week either in meetings or on the phone etc. It can be stressful. So I relish the solitude of being out in the forest, just me & the bike. I like the feeling of self sufficiency, and as I'm quiet I get to see quite a lot of wildlife.

Posted 1 year ago #
GW - Member

I take it you're a virgin Simon?

Posted 1 year ago #
hora - Member

I remember recently I was stood at the start of the descent on Mam Tor and witnessed a massive rain system barrelling down the valley towards Hope with blue sky above me. It looked wierd and stunning. I don't think I'd have had the opportunity to notice that if I was in a group pressing on.

Posted 1 year ago #
simonfbarnes - Member

and do not crave the attention and approval of others

that's an astonishing mischaracterisation! For me it's about sharing the experience

Posted 1 year ago #
b r - Member

I enjoy both - its all riding.

Posted 1 year ago #
trail_rat - Member

small groups less than 10 or on my jack jones (usually is my jack jones )

cant stand riding in big groups and cant stand all the waiting

Posted 1 year ago #
showerman - Member

i like riding on my own but seem to have a niggle in my head someone is out to get me and take the bike,so find i cut the ride short also do not like bigger groups than 5-6

Posted 1 year ago #
hora - Member

Hmmmm agree. I remember one Pootle took almost 7hours.

Posted 1 year ago #
Ho hum - Member

I have never been out cycling with other people since I started 3 years ago.

I cycle to improve my fitness and clear my head.

I reckon going out with others would spoil the clearing of my head and would probably show how crap I am as well.

Posted 1 year ago #
Scienceofficer - Member

Sometimes its about finding people to ride with that have a similar mindset about their riding.

Posted 1 year ago #
hora - Member

I would like to find a 18-25 girls group that I could ride with

Posted 1 year ago #
Squidlord - Member

Totally agree with Ho hum. There's always a lot of talk about fitness on cycling forums, but I ride mainly for my mental health.

Posted 1 year ago #
warpcow - Member

I do the majority of my cycling alone. Mostly for the reasons stated by many here (family, job, etc), but also because I enjoy it more. It's mostly about clearing my head although I also use the time to work through various work-related problems in my head. It doesn't really surprise me that I cycle more than double now than what I did a year ago

Once every couple of weeks I go out with a couple of other people but the pace tends to frustrate me a little. If I'm in front, I put in the effort to stay there and keep up the pace, but if I'm at the back I tend to get lazy and figure they'll just wait for me at the next junction/top/bottom.

Strangely though, I enjoy bigger group-rides of 30-odd riders a lot more. I guess because you can pick where you are in the pack rather than being tied to one or two people, and because it usually pushes me to do things I wouldn't on my own.

Posted 1 year ago #
mogrim - Member

But things change. I now have 3 kids and run my own business. I'm fast approaching 40. I want different things from my riding. If I only have 3 hours to spare at the weekend for a ride, I want that ride to be fast. I want to push the legs and the skills. I don't do that stopping every 15 minutes to have a chat. Sure makes me a billy no mates but what can you do?

Do most of your riding with fast mates? It's what I do - occasionally I go out with some other friends, but the continual stop-chat-start gets on my nerves after a while, I prefer the continual race to see who's the fastest up the next hill. Every now and then I head out with a bigger group, but the endless stopping for punctures, waiting for the slower riders to catch up...

Posted 1 year ago #
AndrewDrummond - Member

I have been riding with the "Muddy Moles" group on a Sunday and find it is the best of both worlds in many respects as the rides normally involve a fair amount of hill work in the mix and there is always some form of competiveness getting up the hills - either someone older or someone on a heavier bike passes you and so urges you on.

I burnt my legs out badly this Sunday

Posted 1 year ago #
simonfbarnes - Member

cant stand riding in big groups and cant stand all the waiting

I like that just as much as the riding - talking about what you've just done & what lies ahead, taking in the view, oggling the totty, making fun of each other. I hate it when it's grimly heads-down-lets-get-on

Posted 1 year ago #
gothandy - Member

oggling the totty

simonfbarnes I'm married with 3 kids ... last thing I want to be doing!

Posted 1 year ago #
warpcow - Member

gothandy - Member
oggling the totty
simonfbarnes I'm married with 3 kids ... last thing I want to be caught doing!

Fixed that

Posted 1 year ago #
hora - Member

Ho hum I hear you. I went through a dark patch a few years ago where I just couldn't face riding with anyone else at all. Went out on my own and found salvation.

Wierdly if Im not in a group-ride mindset and on a group ride I really do ride badly, really badly whereas when I am in the group-mood I ride great solo or with others. Depends how bad my week has been.

Posted 1 year ago #