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?

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?

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?

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

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…

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.

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.

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 🙂

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.

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

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.

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.

Solo 90% of the time.

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

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

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

+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.

I take it you're a virgin Simon?

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.

and do not crave the attention and approval of others

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

I enjoy both – its all riding.

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

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

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

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.

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

I would like to find a 18-25 girls group that I could ride with 8)

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.

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.

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…

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 🙂

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 🙁

oggling the totty

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

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

Fixed that 😉

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.

I ride alone a lot these days mostly because of everyones family commitments. I take the dog and off we go. It's better as I don't have to wait or be waited for, I usually see someone I know for a chat and the dog stays thin.

On the downside I have yet to train the Lab to call 999…

I hate it when it's grimly heads-down-lets-get-on

But that's the best bit!

Although as a happily married man with two kids, I can fully understand the oggling bit. Look-don't-touch-don't-get-caught-looking is fine.

Like both to be honest. Can't beat going out on your own. But then do love the jokes/banter with mates!
Some peaks pootles were crazy long!

I do both, if it's for fitness/training nearly always on my own. Have never understood the whole ride to socialise, why not just go and have a coffee or a drink and chat ? Look the person in the eyes ?

I ride with friends from time to time in smallish groups.

Big Group rides can be good fun, I had a great time with all the Spanish riders at Innerleithen last weekend, I love showing our trails to new people and seeing how much fun they are having.

I have also been on forum advertised rides (no naming any names not this forum) where the majority of the group were complete dorks, sorry I mean just not my cup of tea, so there are groups and there are groups.

my weekend rides are usually alone, and are usually my bigger rides too. my mate comes out with me at least 1 night in the week which is cool, we are proper riding buddies, time doesnt permit him to come out at weekends, which is a shame, but kids etc etc its understandable…..

i enjoy both, i used to go on major rides with some one as mainly as i didnt know the route/area well, or for fear of falling and killing myself alone….however as time progressed i know do these rides alone, and know the areas….i enjoy it immensely sometimes as i go at my own pace and push myself much harder alone, but on the flip side its nice enjoying descents with other people…..

either way it doesnt bother me, ill ride no matter what, whether its alone or with people. Not keen on big groups, but a max of 5 is ok, i like riding in groups of 2 to be honest!