[Closed] Hard riding on your own...

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

Between work, missus and kids I'm glad of the peace and tranquility that solo riding affords. The odd clanking noise, stone on steel, the buzz of the tyres, birdsong/howling winds/raindrops dripping from trees, clicking knees, it's a symphony of solitude. On unknown trails I take it easy, the better i know a trail the more i let rip*.

*Within the boundaries of my abilities, natch.

"I am anti-social so think it is good for me to ride with others."
Care in the Community at work!

I ride faster on my own if not harder. I love going at my pace and not having to worry about waiting for people. That said I like the challenge of playing keep-up with the better/faster riders.

What I don't like is rides that are stop-and-start, which is usually associated with group rides. The before-and-after banter are great on a group ride, but as a parent of young kiddies I don't really get chance for the post-ride pint and chat.

On the road bike I definitely prefer riding by myself. Peace, solitude and reflection and totally, totally relaxing.

So, er, a bit of both for me then 😀

Both.

I ride on my own 99% of the time but find group rides very enjoyable. Usually for me that's a group of 4 or less, so faff is fairly minimal and it's good to get some conversation. It's also reassuring that getting lost in a group or getting injured won't be quite as bad.

However I don't know people who are quite as willing as me to spend time heading down paths that could quite easily become dead ends, and more generally just explore. And depending who you're with they sometimes don't want to do something as technical as you; or they aren't quite so willing to go on an average ride just for the nice scenery.

both, more solo in winter as its quite a distance to ride to meet points.
enjoy group rides/jump sessions too, banter a bit of laughter and some encouragement goes a long way.

pint after the ride aint so much fun on your own

What I don't like is rides that are stop-and-start, which is usually associated with group rides.

I'm grateful for the chance to rest 🙂

i love big group rides, and meeting new faces.
it is what biking is about.....even meeting barnes wasn't too bad. 😉