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I ride alone and run alone, its just to much trouble bothering with other peoples petty excuses. Its cold, its wet it looks like rain, he's to fast/slow, i'm not riding there cos its etc etc etc. Just ride the ferking bike will you.
However, when it feels like everyone else it wrong its time to start looking at yourself.........
I like both equally, that said, I've not been on may big group rides since I had the kids, as they seem to take up all day and cover the same distance I can cover in under 2 hours on my own!
I ride alone. Not by choice really, my friends aren't really active types.
If anyone wants a riding buddy in Bristol give me a shout!
Evening/after work rides tend to be on my own, since it's usually a case of nipping out as soon as opportunity (i.e. kids in bed) arises. If and when I get chance for a longer weekend ride I'd rather go with mates, but I do get frustrated sometimes by the hanging around waiting for others
I ride alone quite often.
Normally on route/circuits that I know well, for XC/race training.....
Oh and for burning calories.
I'll also ride alone for route finding. If it's a dead end it's my fault and only me who has to backtrack.
SB
I was not sure about the forum rides (strangers, stoppages etc) until I did them - they were ace!
1) loads of new people all very nice
2) loads of chatting incl sharing routes
3) no pressure at all, no silly ambition, just fun with like-minded folk
And I was so pleased to show visitors around the Mendip and they seemed genuinely pleased with trails. I felt good for having helped visitors have a fun day - Poddy said it was his "ride of the year"!
[i]John_Rowlands
I fired one at a girl behind me once[/i]
Yeh I often do that too.
Got it in one jojoA1.
I am Billy no mates 🙂 It's all good tohugh as it means more riding less chatter.
I ride by myself all the time, but then I'm a social cripple and realise that anyone who spends too much time with me wants to be somewhere else.
If I'm sorting a big loop and/or exploring a new route in the middle of nowhere I far prefer to ride alone. I plan ahead, carry extras, sort out where bothies etc are. I.E. bail outs, just in case. I love solo rides, esp night rides but don't get enough of them as I tend to ride with mates a lot and it's a bit difficult to tell them you want to do a solo ride...
I really don't mind what terrain I'm on- trail centre, open moor, High Alps, Middle of Iceland, they are all good solo. Weirdly though, once finished riding in any of these situations the cafe I would least like to visit is the trail centre one- too full of groups of bonding mates.
Enjoy both, but only one or two max.
Enjoy the Syfydrin at Nant-Yr-Arian solo.
Going for a week on Saturday, alone.
Will put in two laps on one day, just to test my old legs.
For me,riding with company has got to be with the right partners.
its just to much trouble bothering with other peoples petty excuses
I'm not sure of the relevance of this, what matters is not who doesn't ride but who does :o)
Meant to add- I look forwards too a three day solo trip each year. Mind you, 2010 promises a boys trip to PassePortes du Soleil. So definately NOT solo!
I ride by myself 100% of the time. Alps, road rides, xc pootles, I just like riding alone. In fact, one of the main attractions of riding for me is the opportunity to be alone in the countryside...
90% alone. Go where and when you want, stopping whenever you like.
Also... I don't know many people who'd be happy if I took them on a ride which turned out to be a 2 hour hike!
Late post - just back in from the pub (just to evidence that I have at least three friends!)
...99% solo...
- because it suits my sad, sad personality where I need an escape every now and then
- it fits in with the random family / work balance ... get the three kids in bed and then f-off up the hills for a couple of hours
- also do Mayhem and Trailquests solo. Not very well, but solo...takes the pressure off (all parties) - more of a personal challenge for a hefty 42-yr old !
I like both too, I do find I explore more on my own.
Then I can take the small group of regular riding mates, otherwise known as Team Raven, on the best trails with the minimum of navigation faff.
I also find I ride harder on my own at least on trails I know, no stopping, no discussions and few mechanicals
I prefer to ride alone as generally I don't like people. On the rare occasions I ride with someone else I generally don't enjoy it as I can't stand faffing, going slow
This is me. No problem riding alone and with a youngish family its difficult to stick to arrangements. Like riding quite hard and fast as I can but techy stuff is difficult for me.
Rode recently with some local guys. Great bunch but work commitments make a regular meet difficult.
Daisy_Duke is also great to ride with and knows some awesome trails in the Clywydians!!!
Only been back into biking for about 18 months. Started riding solo but then joined the Manchester Mountainbikers club and it's so much more fun.
At the start I was at the back all the time. I remember my first ride with them and I died on the first climb. I was so frustrated with my lack of ability as they rode away from me whilst chatting to each other! Really conscious that I was holding everyone up but everyone was really patient. Stuck with it and now I'm in the middle of the pack.
I find riding in a group so much more motivational and I feel much safer. I can go as fast as I like down a descent knowing that if I come off someone will make sure I'm OK. Really conscious of that when I'm on my own, and probably the main reason why I don't like going out on my own.
I am perfectly happy riding by myself, but I tend to push myself more when i'm with other people that have more talent or fitness.
I don't think you can (or should) make your self ride alone if you're not that sort of person - you won't enjoy it.
Ride by myself much of the time, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy riding with mates. Both have their place.
That said, solo loop of the woods at dusk, followed by sneaky pint = contentment. 🙂
Very surprised by the number of people who ride alone!!
I like a quick training type run on my own after work somewhere where I could walk back if I needed to or would be found if I was in the bushes with my helmet/head split open
I have had too many scares/scars to risk riding somewhere where I'm totally alone as a mechanical failure or unconsciousness may leave me stranded or seriously in danger.
Normally I ride in a pair, I don't like big groups- too much democracy in where we go and you're always waiting for someone- usually me.
Very surprised by the number of people who ride alone!!
In my faster running days I often ran in an (quite elite) group and the issue was often that the pace was relentless.
When the kids came along (Mrs Surfer also works) it became difficult to commit to meeting times etc so I started running on my own a lot. This has continued for me and I have no problem running/riding until my eye balls pop on my own.
Got used to it and although I enjoy company I can train daily for weeks without running with another runner, except my dog!
I prefer to be on my own, as I tend to hold up groups as I'm far from quick..and hate to think I'm slowing people up..
And always ride on my own on the road..
I ride both depending what day it is etc, typical summer week looked like this:
Monday - Road tour with club as part of a sprint championship (~15ppl)
Tuesday - Cheeky MTB session on my own for a hour or 2
Wednesday - Weekly general road tour with (~15ppl)
Thursday - Mtb ride out with Mr B for an hour
Friday - MTB solo session for a couple of hours
Sat & Sun - DH with mates at our bike park one day and normally the other day is a rest day unless I'm racing etc.
So just depends what on etc, enjoy both although not keen on bif MTB groups as it always seems like you spend a lot of time waiting around etc.
Winter is very different, solo night rides all week followed by a group road or MTB ride out Sat and Sun plus spinning one night a week from Nov till Feb 
suprised by the number of loners indeed.
however found some pretty nice cheekyness last night on my SS explorery, so once ive got a loops sorted, ill probably do it more as i dont have to stop and think about navigation.
much easier to roll out the door and know where your going, than have to check where the hell youve got yourself to every few miles.
side note: developed a knock last night, so turned bike over to inspect (and tighten rotor it turned out) and a pretty lady in a megane stopped and checked if i was ok.
what a nice lady 🙂
Alone, but mostly because my work schedule changes all the time and I don't like letting people down at short notice. Also, most group rides seem to start late. I prefer to ride straight after work or even come in early and knock off early to ride, rather than start at 7pm and not get home till gone 10pm.
Most of my riding up until a couple of years ago was with a couple of mates or a bunch of club members. Over a period of time things changed; 1) my mates either moved away or quit riding, 2) I began getting fed up with some of the clique attitudes amongst club riders, and 3) certain club rides were on days/times that just didn't fit in.
One thing that really pi55ed me off, and still does, is "leaders" or groups that won't listen to any input from other riders who perhaps know the area better and want to explore a certain area or have a valid reason for wanting to include a particular trail, etc. It's almost like they switch into robot mode and have to follow the trail that's in their head. Really annoying.
Hence most of my recent riding has been solo or hooking up with the odd person (including some who might well be odd) here and there. Thankfully I have no problem with motivation and can quite happily head out for a 2 hr quicky or a 4-5 hr exploration. For me it's about keeping fit, having a laugh, not taking things too seriously, pushing myself, exploring, taking in the scenery as the seasons change, find that new trail I've heard about, re-visiting an old-skool trail I haven't done in years, and generally appreciating life in a reflective kind of way.
That's my tuppence anyway.
SM
Im happy doing both.
Very rarely go out with more than 4 of us, just 'cos thats how it works out.
Enjoy solo riding as you can go at your own pace and not stand out so much, so you can engage "cheeky" mode without being so visible.
Any riding is good really, just happy to be out.
I should also add that over the years I've really got to know the area; mostly North Downs, but also a fair amount of the South Downs and other stuff inbetween. Hence I can vary my routes (and sometimes without even having to drive anywhere - IIR I've only driven out once in the last year) and not get bored.
Whereas I reckon if I had to keep lugging the bike in the car and trekking off (like I used to), or doing the same old loops, I'd get bored.
SM
And I also run alone. I've never really classed myself as a "good" runner (whatever that is) even though I often head out for 2-3hr runs (10-15 miles or so), hence I've not tried getting into the club running thing. Much prefer to go solo or at least take one of the furries.
I really enjoy group rides and treat it as fun but sometimes they can be trianing rides which I try to get fit enough to do-ask what the ride will be like and ask the leader would they mind if I slow them down or meet at a checkpoint.
If's a fast ride I won't be going as I know I'm not fit enough!
Riding alone can be fun and I use it for either chill out moments or beat the clock moments -you're riding so hard that you don't have time to worry or think of anything else etc.
I have a hectic lifestyle so having both options is great I just have to let the nice folks know I'm not always around but if I was I'd ride with them all the time.
Whatever rocks your boat/socks.
Always on my own these days, partly because I don't know any other MTBers round here, but also because I work for myself and tend to head off at a moment's notice when it suits me. I quite often run into another guy who rides the easier local trials on a road bike, we usually stop for a chat.
I like being able to go at my own pace and vary the route according to how I feel, but don't have anything against riding in groups, can be really good fun.
Also used to like solo mountaineering and still go walking / scrambling on my own.