[Closed] Hard riding on your own...

group , general messing about , peer presure etc all add up to a damn good days riding.

Both! Have been riding solo for years around the UK, such a challenge particularly when tumbles are involved 🙄

The STW Forum Rides though have been brilliant in a different way 8)

99.9% social. I would feel bereft not to have others to share the experience with!

More fun with a group yes, but harder and faster on your own..

Solo.
Group rides are a nightmare.

Mechanicals are your problem, no-one elses. The worst thing about having a mechnical is that you know you're holding everyone else up in a group.

Ditto other people's mechanicals, jesus christ it's a ****ing puncture, why is it taking you half an hour to fix?

Maybe if you actually rode more than once a month you'd be able to go at a reasonable pace.

People who are faster than me, what a bunch of cocks. Go on, ride off, see if I care. That's right, wait at the top of the hill then *immediately* set off as soon as I get there, I don't need a rest.

You want to talk for an hour about tyres? No, **** off.

Why won't you talk to me? I bet you hate me don't you. **** off.

Nah, riding with other people is just filled with problems. I want to have fun riding my bike and can't be arsed with all the other crap.

Solo, generally I can't stand all the stopping and faffing of a group ride, especially in the cold of winter.

Both, riding is fun in small groups of mates, a blast on your own...

...but IMO a PITA in huge groups where you spend lots of time making small talk and waiting for folk.

On my own.
I like riding with mates but we all have different agendas.

Samurai, are you sure it's not just that nobody will go riding with you because you're so miserable.

(I did smile at a couple of those lines though).

Both...

If I want to put in some miles at my own pace, when I have the free time to do so, without worrying about the various issues that samuri mentioned, then Solo is the way to go...

Waiting in a car park for an hour getting cold while others fail to be on time is also massively annoying...

Having said that riding with others is very rewarding in many different ways;
Normally you get shown a new bit of singletrack, line through an old run or something you've not seen before.
A bit of banter about bikes, riding or anything else, is actually quite nice once in a while.
Riding with someone fitter, more skilled now and then can stop you getting in a fitness/skills rut, giving you someone to gauge your performance against...
Riding with someone less fit/skilled than yourself can help the ego a bit and you get a warm fuzzy feeling by encouraging them and giving some helpful (but not patronising) tips...

It's all good...

samurai - clasic, made me laugh 🙂

I ride on my own almost all of the time and now find it difficult to ride in groups. I always try and ride quite hard as I sometimes think that lack of peer pressure might affect my "go-for-it".

Saying that if anyone is out and about at Christmas and in Wales then it would be good to tag along for a ride - I might like it 🙂

Like to ride solo when stressed clears the head. Most of the time go with the mates.

Mostly prefer solo because I get to ride what I want when I want. Only disadvantage is that I'm a little more reserved to avoid having a big accident and I don't have anyone to push me.

I ride mostly with the dog. Someone to talk to who doesn't complain!

I limit group rides to no more than 3 people who are close friends and don't ride with people significantly fitter than me as it just annoys them when they have to wait.

If I'm jumping or being stupid in other ways I ride with people as then there is someone to call the ambulance!

My favorite riding partner used to be my wife but she lost all her bottle when the kids were born and now is only up for a potter about.

The worst thing about having a mechnical is that you know you're holding everyone else up in a group.

doesn't bother me in the least 🙂

Samurai, are you sure it's not just that nobody will go riding with you because you're so miserable.

yes, I thought that!

You want to talk for an hour about tyres? No, **** off.

this is interesting - I'm not particularly sociable - but the great thing about riding together is you have plenty of shared interest in the ride and related subjects - and if the conversation palls you can just swerve to avoid an object or whatever, or if stationary find something on your bike needing attention and in one single bound be free :o) I know for a definite fact that without other riders to egg me on (and be likewise egged), I'd not bother going out in foul conditions and thus miss many exciting and enjoyable times!

I know for a definite fact that without other riders to egg me on (and be likewise egged), I'd not bother going out in foul conditions and thus miss many exciting and enjoyable times!

Yeah, helps to commit to a group ride before looking at the weather forecast too.

I know what gets said about the people who don't turn up when it's raining, and I don't want other people saying that about me!

2nd samuri. Everything the said.

And as for joining a club? Why would I want to be told what to do by some overgrown egomaniacal control freak?

I tend to ride solo most times of the week. Therefor i also tend to take it easy, as said above, there isn't anyone else there to push your limits. But its great fun when going out in a group! 🙂

told what to do by some overgrown egomaniacal control freak?

Now now don't be so mean about sfb.

I like it all, solo in the high hills, evening balls to the wall shop rides, giant teams of boggies, pootles with a few mates. It's all good

I also ride solo for 99.9% of the time as my working hours are different to everyone else's plus I find I am used to pushing myself hard. I have time in the mornings when everyone else is at work or my night rides start at around 9pm after I finish work which is the time that most group night rides are finishing. I hook up with a larger group once every two or three months where we head off to somewhere uncharted with one acting as a guide or alternatively if timetables match I sometimes head out with someone from our MTB team. But I treat the group rides as fun and not training which is quite an important distinction to make if you want to avoid the type of scenarios portrayed in samuri's post.

Solo.
I have no friends.
Although I do have some punctuation.

Trail centres are much more fun with mates - wouldn't go by myself. All day, epic, natural stuff I do by myself - mostly because I haven't any mates into all day riding / pedalling up mountains.

I do worry though, that although I always try to let someone know where I'm going, and when I'm likely to be back, I almost always end up changing my route. Sometimes I'll get to the start of a trail which looks fantastic on the map, only to find it's a non-existent boggy mess, or I'll see an irresistable trail and head off on a massive tangent.

Not a problem if I'm riding near home, but potentially lethal if I'm up North....

Why would I want to be told what to do by some overgrown egomaniacal control freak?

hmmm, you have described me exactly 🙂 However, it's my observation that most riders prefer to be relieved of the responsibility of leading or making decisions and are happy to follow someone who knows the way, and I see it as my responsibility to update the route taking into account the abilities and energy levels of the riders so that everyone has as much fun as possible. It's not so much the exercise of control as the intuition of the group consensus, eased by the fact that most people are happy or at least willing to do what the group does.

I love leading rides, and I think it would be a betrayal of trust to use them to satisfy my own preferences ahead of those of the other riders. They give me the benefit of their company and compliance and I give them the benefit of my experience and knowledge - a mutual contract

Both have different appeals and problems.
I tend to push hard solo just because no one pushes me harder than me.
Try to do at least one of each every week, however work keeps getting in the way at this time of year. Bah, humbug 😕

It is my experience, and that of others, that two is a grouping that will normally take the short way home.
One will bite the bullet and stay out.
One of my training partners with whom I occasionally manage to get out and ride as he lives 2hrs away, is both fitter, stronger, more trail capable and so a trail center such as Penmachno was a perfect 3hr blast.
It leaves me somewhat drained and a little out of my comfort zone.

I tend to push hard solo just because no one pushes me harder than me.

I'm the opposite. I'm very lazy and without others challenging me I'd just pootle around looking at clouds and rocks and trees all the time 🙂

I prefer to ride with others - but as my "riding time" at the moment is either during normal working hours or at night - it's a bit more difficult....

*makes a note never to follow Simon on any ride*

I only like riding with my mate Samuri.

I think its quite odd that people go out for a ride on their own?

I prefer riding on my own or with just one or two others who ride at the same pace. The majority of group rides I've been on move at about half the pace or less to what I'm used to so unless I feel like dawdling around I tend to give them a miss.

Kev

*makes a note never to follow Simon on any ride*

I usually lead from the rear, but fortunately I have a loud voice :o)

I think its quite odd that people go out for a ride on their own?

I think its quite odd that people wouldn't go out for a ride on their own.

I prefer riding in a group, but will happily go out alone. I definitely do less silly stuff when I'm on my own.

Not sure that I would do [url=

though.

simonfbarnes - Premier Member

Why would I want to be told what to do by some overgrown egomaniacal control freak?

hmmm, you have described me exactly

Sorry, not my words. Met someone on Darwen Tower on Saturday who uttered those lines. We'd only just met, so you must have made a great impact.

I'm with samuri. But don't tell anyone, it's our little secret.

I'm booked into these:
24hrs of Exposure - UK Solo MTB Championships
The UK's first solo only 24 hour race open to beginners and experienced riders alike.
And:
Montane Kielder 100
Britain's first 100 mile, single lap, mountain bike race being held at Kielder Forest.

You have to confident to ride and train on your own when you enter these events IMHO.

Riding with Mates is great. Its a good laugh, always good poking fun at each others shortcomings and the general camaraderie. However, every once in a while its good to just head out and ride on your own. No worries about pace, route or stops, just you, your bike and nature. Food for the soul.

Met someone on Darwen Tower on Saturday who uttered those lines. We'd only just met, so you must have made a great impact.

Yay! Fame at any price :o)

I think its quite odd that people wouldn't go out for a ride on their own.

I did try it a few times before I joined the Bog Trotters, but in comparison to a group ride I just find it lifeless. But it takes all sorts, and I admire those able to motivate themselves to ride alone while edging quietly away...

Sorry, not my words. Met someone on Darwen Tower on Saturday who uttered those lines. We'd only just met, so you must have made a great impact.

What bike were you on ? :p

I prefer riding in a group, and since I broke my leg over summer when riding alone I'm not going out alone again. I think people should think strongly about going alone unless you know there are plenty of people around/phone signal...

Ah I met Lowey this weekend what a great advertisement we were for the biking community eh 😉

Bit of both really I like group rides on the MTB but less keen on them on road bike as pace is more of an issue. Dont mind largish groups if you are all reasonably/similarly paced.
Tend to ride in group of 4 ish locally and more on trips further a field.
It can be a pain if you are massively mixed abilities or fitness levels.
I don’t require others to motivate me as commuting in all weathers makes you MTFU anyway.
Oddly I have ridden once locally with Lowey despite riding away from home loads of time with him [chain permitting 😳 ]...odd that.

lowey - Member

Sorry, not my words. Met someone on Darwen Tower on Saturday who uttered those lines. We'd only just met, so you must have made a great impact.

What bike were you on ? :p

Why? Was it you? Thought you were buddies with sfb?

I reckon the great thing about mtbing is that you don't have to depend on other people to get out. I tried to get involved in a club once, but they were arse-up, head-down XC racers whose idea of fun was 4 hours on a Wednesday at maximum pace. I knew it wasn't going to work when they shot past drop-offs and downhills and stopped to repeatedly try to clean technical uphills - the wrong way round, people!
I like going solo, and getting to stop to check out a view and pootle if I want. I agree that my riding probably hasn't evolved as quickly as a club rider's might, but the sense of freedom you get riding solo on big epics up here in the Highlands can't be beat - it's addictive.
I guess it depends why you ride, but for me rides are pure selfish everything-else-in-the-world-can-****-off time.
Maybe I just haven't met the right bunch of people to go riding with, though!

Thought you were buddies with sfb?

we have met a couple of times but I always make fun of him (and everyone else) and he's so jealous of my devastating charisma he invented a car breakdown to avoid meeting again 🙁

And anyway, I cannot blame whoever it was as the description is entirely accurate* 🙂

* except for the 'overgrown' part.

and his camera is no where near as good as yours either.

Prefer solo by and large, definitely for practical reasons. You need to mix it up now and again though, too much riding on your own and you get a bit stagnant. Helps to get new perspectives riding with others - different routes / fitness / skill levels etc. Particularly with respect to new trails, you can be riding the same area for years and think you know it like the back of your hand. Go out with a group and odds are someone can show you a new stretch of trail.

hard riding on your own = masterbation ❓

I only ride alone, and although I feel I'm missing out a bit on some things, mostly I prefer it. I want to do my own thing, without thinking about anyone else. Part of the fun of biking is getting away from it all imo.

It does reflect my personality away from biking though, I'm perfectly happy in my own company.

hard riding on your own = masterbation

hard riding on your own = masterbation

Hard riding in a group = ? 😯

Hard riding in a group = ?

= orgy :o)

Since moving to a new park of England (yorkshire) and away from all my usual ridding buddies, ive been out on my own a fair bit and starting to get used to it. I miss the whole "riding with my mates" side of things as i find MTB a very social activity and i'm not that competitive that changing routes or waiting for someone to fix a puncture bothers me in the slightest.

I feel like a bit of a "billy no mates" riding solo, but needs must and all that. Thanks to all you other lonely solo riders on here for making me feel less of a W@nker 🙂

[i]I only like riding with my mate Samuri. [/i]

**** off.

I only like riding with my mate Samuri.
**** off.

giggles :o) Some of us are so wonderful we don't need mates 🙂

[i]And as for joining a club? Why would I want to be told what to do by some overgrown egomaniacal control freak? [/i]

With an attitude like that I suspect you wouldn't be welcome at many clubs. Certainly not ours.

70% on own 30% with others, bar the big groups as there's too much faffing involved.

I've just come back from a (cold) solo ride and I was definitely going slower on the downs than I would be when I am with a group.
The thought of a bad accident and breaking my leg like Swalsey puts the fear into me, especially when it started to get dark.
I think I was going faster the rest of the time than i do with a group and much less stopping.
I think solo rides are better for fitness but its nice to out with mates having a laugh, even if you do have to wait for other peoples mechanicals and they have to wait for me on some of the ups.

Solo or group, I rarely ride "hard". I like to "beat" some hills, or nail some downhills, or sometimes stay out until I've nothing left. But generally I "just pootle around looking at clouds and rocks and trees".

Solo, buddies or forum rides are different experiences but all good.

With an attitude like that I suspect you wouldn't be welcome at many clubs

not ours! Most of the Boggies appear to think I am subcriminally insane (but useful) :o)

I like a mix, have no preference and enjoy riding within and not with a group it's good to have a balance of both. It's also good to ride with different groups with different abilities you can learn alot that way.

I don't particularly like riding on my own. For me riding is most fun when you're leading or following someone of a similar ability. But I hate big rides, 3-5 is the ideal size IMO. Occasionally I'll ride alone, but I'm not very good at reigning myself in. Once in a while you will have a stupid accident and I'd like someone there if I properly hurt myself.

Thought you were buddies with sfb

I worship the ground he rides on.

I rode with a club once many may years ago. What I thought was funny was that they always beat me to the top of the hills as I was so unfit but I always beat them to the bottom - even though I was a beginner, on a "beginners" hardtail. Only went out with them once as we were clearly not compatible.

I like riding on my own but with a group of SIMILAR MINDED, its ace, but it really p155es me off when their bikes break down due to silly lack of preparation.

Solo night riding is where its really at though. Now that IS exciting.

Always prefer to go solo. Nobody holding you up and no pressure to go faster, plus it adds to the adventure of the whole thing.

The same goes for sex 😆

I used to ride on my own all the time but now I can only ride in a group just because of the competition. With out them I have very little will to ride

usually out with various groups on night rides or weekend epics, occasionally on my own but worry about "offs".

However I do train with one other ex fell runner who bullies me to go further and faster till I puke

I honestly could not regularly inflict my rubbish riding skills and rubbish personality on people 😳

Bit confused by silverpigeon's reference to sex on the trails, thought you needed two people for that, no?

, thought you needed two people for that, no?

he was implying self-loving :o)

Well ... he didn't say that. I guess the trails are as good as anywhere for picking up people, you're sweaty anyway so what's a bit more? Sex on the singletrack, whatever next 😉

?
All I ever see are badgers, rabbits and .. well.. that's about it on a night ride in the Watford area.
It's too bloomin' cold at night to be hanging about and not riding.
Hanky-pany out on the trails?
Why does it always happen to other people?
Now I feel all left out. 🙁

G' damn it.
I view one more thread before bed and what do I get?
"My £12 waterproof bottoms from Decath were outstanding, as was the bird in the red Astra doing a bit of dogging in Bredbury"

Feeling very unloved. 😥

Daytime riding Ti29er?

(My Ti doesn't like the dark!)

Sweet dreams Ti29er 😉

Both. Day and night rides.
My Ti is a tough bit o' kit and doesn't mind being bashed about.
Were we to meet C.G., we'd end up with a Ti96 or a Ti69 I guess.
Keep it Ti!

don't mind us, guys :o)

I like both really. Though for more challenging stuff it's nice to have someone on hand to help you find your teeth.

50-50.

On my own I can session something that otherwise I would bumble thru and then not want to hold others up so wouldn't necessarily get any better at; if I feel like a death march of uphill, no-one is getting pissed off or holding me back; etc

Riding with others means seeing different ways of riding the same thing; a laugh and a joke; someone to have a beer/coffee/tea and cake with at the end; motivation to keep going; etc

Both have their place; but I'd rather ride alone than not ride cos someone else isn't around...

Mostly ride on my own or sometimes with Junkyard as I'm pretty slow. (junkyard isnt slow, he just doesnt mind waiting)

But the couple of STW northern rides I did with Lowey, Junkyard, SfB, DeeJay, Donk, Fatgit, Brian and about 20 others was propbably some of the most enjoyable riding Ive ever done.

When I started riding it was only in groups. Now most of my riding is on my own. But making the effort to ride with others more now. I am anti-social so think it is good for me to ride with others. I enjoy it most in a small group.

Now most of my riding is on my own

Because no on can keep up with you [img] [/img]

out on my own most of the time, though miss the big Mid Shropshire Wheeler group rides/races of the early 90's - those were the best rides ever