Its funny I don't think twice about riding alone. I'm a within my limits cross country kind of rider so it's not a massive risk of self destruction. I rein it back a little further when solo than group riding.
What worries me more is when I'm out with my boys (both under 12). As morbid as it sounds if I'm out with them and the worst happens to me then the thought of those two seeing it and having to make the 999 call from halfway up a hillside on their own is worse than the thought I might end up relying on the luck of someone finding me. We've talked about an emergency card with a straightforward set of instructions on it and I should do that really.
Unless one of the kids wants to come out for a spin I'm always out solo. I did buy an elemnt bolt a couple of months back though for doing some unfamiliar routes and for the tracking though.
Road ID is a good app for the phone (although does send the emergency text if you stop for 5 minutes for a chat with someone just met). I don't go hard downhill when on my own, although in the past have ridden home bleeding with the odd broken finger. Luckily my big accident was out riding with a mate to call the ambulance.
Ride on my own most of the time have Strava beacon and the what3words app on my phone must admit I’m not out in wilds etc.
If you're using an Android phone Macrodroid is a useful app. I have a little macro set up to respond my gps location to a text containing the phrase 'where are you'. The idea being that if I was lying,knocked out someplace, it would still respond. Best turn it off before you get to the pub...
I ride solo 98% of the time. In my area it's not a worry at all, given how busy it is. But I am considering doing some long bikepacks in very remote country (like the Oregon Timber Trail) or in more challenging terrain so I'm considering the wisdom of riding those solo, although I'm a fairly calm, logical, careful person. I know people do.
probably 80% solo. i like to ride spontaneously so just jump on my bike and head out whenever an opportunity presents itself... but we have the regular group rides too.
i will 99% of the same stuff as i would with others. must admit there are one or two large drops near us that i tend to give a miss when alone.
saying that, i find i can ride the steepest techy stuff better on my own when im not under pressure to keep up/maintain the gap behind me! i take my time, pick my lines and keep my feet up... when im with the lads its basically an out of control high speed tripod!!
This year 100% of my riding has been solo.
In a “normal” year I’d say it’s up around 80% solo riding. This is all types of riding including bmx & pump tracks, trail centre, DH & natural trails.
I’ve come a cropper a couple of times - knocked myself out & broken a couple of ribs, but generally been ok. I always carry a phone but never used it.
As with some others, I used to ride MTB mainly with friends, though road mainly solo from home. With restrictions it’s all been solo, which I have quite enjoyed, just pootling along at my own slow pace.
I haven’t been out in the dark at all though, think it must be a mental thing..bit odd..
I haven’t been out in the dark at all though, think it must be a mental thing..bit odd..
It took me a while to find the mindset to do my first solo night ride. Worrying unnecessarily I concluded given how, what and where I ride. Looking forward to doing many more this winter as it'll be my only option. Expecting it will be mainly on the soon to arrive gravel/gnarmac bike from home.
I do almost 100% solo riding because the rides I was to do are longer than what appeals to friends or local club. Cycled home with a broken wrist last year which wasn't fun and blood pouring out my other arm after not seeing a barbed wire fence in bright light.
But today was on a road ride and a motorcyclist slowed down to have a go at me for not riding on the pavement. This worries me far more. There are so many idiots out there.
singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/solo-mtbing/page/2/#post-11642556
Thanks for that, I'll try it out tomorrow.
(Macrodroid that is) how do you quote a post?
Copy the text you want to quote, click the B-Quote at the top of the editing box, paste the text, click the B-Quote again to close the quotation.
Like this ...
how do you quote a post?
singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/solo-mtbing/page/2/#post-11643380
thanks!
Copy the text you want to quote, click the B-Quote at the top of the editing box, paste the text, click the B-Quote again to close the quotation.
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nearly!
Quite a few mentions of Spot trackers. It's worth considering a PLB as an alternative. Although developed for marine use they are now legal for UK land use. A more powerful transmitter than a Spot, and dedicated to distress calls. About £200 to buy, but no subscription, and about £80 for servicing and battery change after 6 years. Lots of comparisons online, such as here.
Do 50/50 riding by myself, items only the night biking that is probably a risk.
I did crash 6 weeks ago and cracked my ribs but I was 2 min from the car.
These days I’ve learned to just slow down a bit when I’m by myself. Especially at night.
I have find my friend and Garmin locate me set up for my wife.
A very wide variety of things being discussed here under the banner of 'solo riding'. Everything from local road loops to rides that could put you half a day's walk from where you could summon help, never mind that help arriving. And that's assuming you can walk.
Yeah, there's a couple of local loops I've ridden solo, at night, in Winter, where phone signal fails and a bad accident could potentially mean death from hypothermia. Even the simple stuff, like Glenmore to Nethy Bridge via Ryvoan, crosses some wilder countryside. A Burma Road loop might see you somewhere that no one would pass in a week.
I love solo riding, frankly with the rules being what they are at the moment, you’re on shaky ground riding with others in my area.
I’ve got FindMyFriend/phone set up with my Wife who will notice if I don’t turn up when I should and my riding mate who’ll know where I am and how to get there.
I’ve gotten into Solo Night Riding, but I stick to Trail Centres as they’re easier to get out of.
I do worry that a basic phone locate will tell you nothing at all if the phone is out of range, not even last position with signal. Has anyone tested it?. Things like strava beacon seem to be way more use if you ride into an area of no signal.
FWIW I've just renewed my SPOT subscription. There's a discount for subscribing/renewing by the end of the year. In my case it was GEN350FREE (Gen 3 device, see).
ampthill
Full Member
I do worry that a basic phone locate will tell you nothing at all if the phone is out of range, not even last position with signal. Has anyone tested it?. Things like strava beacon seem to be way more use if you ride into an area of no signal.
Doesn't strava beacon rely on mobile coverage?
scotroutes
Full Member
FWIW I’ve just renewed my SPOT subscription. There’s a discount for subscribing/renewing by the end of the year. In my case it was GEN350FREE (Gen 3 device, see).
No offer for my GEN1 - had to renew at full price! Still worth it though in my opinion.
Doesn’t strava beacon rely on mobile coverage?
Yeah, but at least you'll have history, so time of last signal and direction of travel.
@scotroutes - That is fine to a point but like I said on the first page, a 5hr ride in the Welsh mountains earlier in the year left me out of range of a phone signal for hours. It was incredibly remote and that ride really struck me as being a bit irresponsible as I had absolutely no way of contacting anyone for the vast majority of it. That is what prompted me to get a SPOT device.
Oh, I agree. But for many folk, phone coverage isn't that bad and they'll likely ride through any blank spot quite quickly.
I'm with Scottoutes here
Of course SPOT is way better and i have done loads of research on getting one today.
But Strava Beacon is way more than a phone is out if signal message. The difference between knowing some on has vanished in the lakes and seeing on strava that that a phone went out of range half way round the Borrowdale Bash is huge. Although you'd be unlucky to not be found be a hiker on that route
Most of my riding is solo, but in most of the places I ride, if I did have a serious off a fellow mountain-biker would probably find me soon enough.
I push myself a bit when riding solo but certainly try more stuff that’s on the edge of my comfort zone when I’m with others who are there to pick up my crumpled body and ask me if I’m alright (mate) / reassure me that my bike’s okay.
the majority of m riding is on my own, TBH I prefer it most of the time.
I share my location with the missus on google maps, not that she has any chance of working out how to use it, but it makes her feel slightly more reassured...
Mostly on my own,
Cwm Carn solo at night heightens the senses somewhat!
As does the first two thirds of Verderers in reverse at night
Having seen my friend's one the other day I've just ordered one of these:
https://oceansignal.com/products/plb1/
I didn't get it for riding but might take it on more remote rides. It's really light and compact and I like the maintenance free, no subscription element.
Probably overkill for much of what's being discussed on here but might be of interest to those who venture into the wilds. £220 from Gael Force Marine just now.
I think 95%+ of my rides are solo.
My Mrs knows roughly where I’ll be, and if we’re on holiday I’ll use the Garmin tracker so there’s a bit more security if it all goes wrong. I don’t push it too hard and hope for the best. A freak accident could happen at any time.
It helps that most of the time I’m riding on Cannock chase so there’s normally someone about an inch off my back tyre anyway 😂
When I was in my late teens I walked solo from the East Coast of Scotland just below Aberdeen to Fort William, and then to Ullapool (doing various side trips to Munro's etc). I was away from home for about 4 weeks, rang my Mum once and no mobiles/GPS's etc in the 80's.
I'll happily ride anywhere solo, Golfie for example in the snow on New Years Eve. My OH though has asked me to stop night riding in winter alone, after an Inners ride. Luckily I've others to ride with.
Stop overthinking IMO and just ensure you carry the right equipment - imagine having to sit a night out, could you?
Much the same really. Ride a lot solo but mainly double track bashing around the Yorkshire Dales where I’m fortunate to live. Tell are lass where I’m going, time expect to be back and have find a friend app on the iPhone.
When I was in my late teens I walked solo from the East Coast of Scotland just below Aberdeen to Fort William, and then to Ullapool (doing various side trips to Munro’s etc). I was away from home for about 4 weeks, rang my Mum once and no mobiles/GPS’s etc in the 80’s.
Classic positive reinforcement heuristic trap!
This thread has inspired me to look at the stats.
2020 - 81 group rides. Total rides 230. (65% Solo)
2019 - 110 group rides. Total rides 180. (39% solo)
2018 - 70 group rides. Total rides 210. (66% Solo)
2017 - 68 group rides. Total rides 219. (69% Solo)
Group ride = with 1 or more other person. I only ride MTB's. NO Road bike, Zwift, Peloton, etc.
Solo riding decreased in 2019 when I found more riding friends. I even made a statement at the end of 2019 saying "I rarely ride solo these days".
Then covid hit in 2020 and was majorly solo again as other riders refuse to come out during lockdowns!
I would say that out of about 150 MTB rides last year , only 10 were with other people. Generally due to a lack of friends who MTB and the fact that no one is free at the same time. My local patch is Bringewood DH area near Ludlow, so technically challenging, but I make sure I avoid the full on bits and ride within my limits these days anyway. The days of pushing myself technically are well and truly gone. Ive accepted that I'm never going to be Steve Peat, and now its just about the fresh air, exercise, fun and me time.
i was thinking about this thread/riding alone just yesterday. or was it tuesday? anyway, it was -20 with some fresh snow. it crossed my mind that if i fell an knocked myself out i’d probably freeze to death.
Definetely freeze to Death at this time of year
I came off in October when the outdoor temperature was 13C and I was lying/sitting around for half an hour or so and I was close to Hypothermia when the para performed a full health checkup
So definetely freeze to death if KO'd now
i was thinking about this thread/riding alone just yesterday. or was it tuesday? anyway, it was -20 with some fresh snow. it crossed my mind that if i fell an knocked myself out i’d probably freeze to death.
I take it you are not in the UK?
