The find a riding buddy thread

I don’t know if there’s any mileage in this, but I thought it worth a go.  Prompted by the thread below, it struck me that there are an awful lot of us who mostly ride alone, whether through choice or circumstances.  Often that’s OK, sometimes it’s not, but I think even those of us who mostly enjoy the peace and quiet of solo riding might occasionally enjoy some company on a ride.

I thought anyone who is open to an occasional shared ride might say on here what/how they ride, where they are and then anyone nearby who fancies meeting up for a ride can message them.  No obligation obviously.

So…

Old geezer, not the fittest or fastest by a long way

mostly ride natural single track and trail centres

Near Ludlow in Shropshire

This weeks realisation: I think I’m a bit of a loner.

Good idea. I mainly ride alone through choice but have a couple of close friends (who know I like solo rides) that I ride with as well.

A self proclaimed 42 year old expert on the rural pubs between Winchester and QECP, with a keen interest on the ones along the SDW and Meon Valley. 😁

Mainly XC bridleway riding with the odd trail centre visit.

Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

I was thinking of doing the exact same thing.

I ride most xc on a hardtail and occasionally do laps on the moor.

Keen to get out early at the weekend and after work  when the clocks change.

DM me if you fancy a heading out.

I mostly rode alone, but happy if anyone want to join me, mostly Purbecks, Puddletown, or local Bournemouth/Poole rides starting from the BH11 area.

The best rides involve techy downhill, beers and cake/pastys.

I’m not looking for riding mates but if anyone is visiting the Tweed Valley during week days I’ll gladly show you round.

Not bothered how fit or unfit you are or what your choice of bike is.
There’s trails here for everyone.

Sadly seeing my riding buddies winnowing away over time. 50s, super unfit due to a bunch of injuries and general whining. Love riding singletrack and “adventure” rather than jumps and berms. Been riding MTB since my teens. Dunblane local.

57, gravel mainly but getting back into MTB. Not fast, like cafe stops and scenery more than energy bars and gap jumps. North Worcestershire

45 live in Glossop, decent fitness, zero skills… Happy to ride with anyone!

Kinnell (near Arbroath), 54, slow and steady and never known to refuse a cafe stop.
Gravel bike and e-hardtail. Road/gravel/estate tracks/single track. Aspirations to get back into some laidback/tame bike packing.
Available anytime day or evening for riding, the bike variety 😉

Didn’t there used to be a way of making a static copy of Google Maps, sharing the link and then let people add Pins to show their name and details?

I am not suggesting you pinpoint your house but perhaps the town centre or somewhere near your house. STWers could then zoom to their part of the country to see who is around.

I am sure I did something like this years ago but I can’t find the feature now.

The current plan for getting the perfect riding buddy has been 11 years in the making, it won’t be long though until my son is waiting for me at the top of the climbs. But as things are, we have some great rides together.

46 year old, loves riding off road, not enough time to do the longer routes I love the most.  Average skills and fitness.

I think mtbing is harder to ride in groups compared to road and even gravel, as you not only have people with differing fitness levels, but also off-road riding skills.

The closest I’ve found to this is the local cycling club’s midweek gravel rides. They’re essentially easy mtb rides, they can be at a decent pace at times. Lots of fun with even a cheeky pint in the summer.

I’m the next strip of South Downs along from CobraKai and a smidge older, sort of start at QECP and east from there is my knowledge zone. Weeknight group rides cover a wider area.

Saturdays most likely to be found in / around QECP with one or both sons and maybe with a friend or two of theirs in tow.

I think mtbing is harder to ride in groups compared to road and even gravel, as you not only have people with differing fitness levels, but also off-road riding skills.

We have a bit of this in our Tuesday group.  The benefit of the South is the technical skills bit really only shows in 20/30 second waits at the ends of bits of Singletrack or downhill and the fitness by a minute or two on the climbs.

I think it really depends why you ride.  I want to enjoy riding and good company.  I don’t mind stopping to catch my breath for a few minutes and a quick chat.  If that’s the group dynamic then it’s great.

On current fitness I think I’d hate group road riding though. Not fit enough on the flats and ups and not confident enough descending to group ride, although it’d probably do my fitness good.

Conversely I think that MTB is great for mixed ability groups. All winch to the top at the pace of the slowest rider (usually me) and have a good chat and a laugh. Then descend each trail in an appropriate order of fast to slow, or leaving appropriate gaps, experienced rider to go last as a “sweeper”. All congregate at the bottom and then rinse and repeat.

The lonely pedals column… has to be a contender for ToTW.

I’m one of those who would like to find some buddies to ride with.

Did have a go at trying to organise something https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/anyone-based-in-leamington-warwick-kenilworth-area/(but didn’t really work out (mainly my fault..think I ended up bringing in too many to the group as posted in a few places and didn’t make enough of an effort).

However if any of those who responded or anyone else that lives around Leamington/Warwick is interested in meeting up I’d be interested.

45, live in Sheffield.  Although I do have some people I ride with, they are thinning out so the majority of my rides are solo. I’m happy riding dh,  xc, long all dayers, anything Mtb really! Happy to ride with anybody else in the same situation.

@rockbus.
I’ve pmd you.

let’s get a ride in!

Great idea @blokeuptheroad

I’m hastings based, 40, ride mostly XC, nothing fancy and 99% of my riding is at Bedgebury. Just got back into riding, so not as fit as I once was!

65 , Mtb / Gravel/ Road, retiring in 2months so will  be out in the week Oxfordshire

44, Scorpio, tubby Live in Reading Tend to ride Gravel bikes or Road bikes (can be coaxed onto an MTB) around Berks/South Oxfordshire/Hampshire relatively slowly.

Normally get a randomly assigned riding pass on a Saturday or a Sunday which probably makes me a nightmare to plan a meet up with.

mainly my fault.

Well, looking at the Whatsapp group you turned down every ride invitation except one – which you forgot to Strava so obviously it didn’t happen 🙂

Better luck in 2024 – fancy a trip to Newbold one day?

Well, looking at the Whatsapp group you turned down every ride invitation except one – which you forgot to Strava so obviously it didn’t happen 🙂

Better luck in 2024 – fancy a trip to Newbold one day?

Fair comment – all my own fault! But going to give it another go (hopefully starting Saturday and with Strava on!) and yes I’m up for Newbold trip.

Well @miky2341 , I’m also in Glossop. Moderate fitness and older than you as now early 50s so it might not be a perfect match! Will direct message you.

Funny, the timing of things on here sometimes….

I was only thinking yesterday that maybe I should make more of an effort to ride with other people.  I have groups I ride with sometimes, but usually just weekends because their weekday rides all start a bit too late for my routine. If anyone fancies a midweek late afternoon/early evening ( 4/4:30 ish) ride in the Forest of Dean area then drop me a message.  I tend to ride offpiste enduro style trails, faster than average downhill, a bit steadier on the climbs.  Also keen for weekend rides anywhere within an hour or so of the F.o.D.

Chuffed that this appears to have some legs, keep it coming 👍

The lonely pedals column

C’mon MODS, rename the thread, this is a way better title.

Quite seriously, this is a great idea. My local mtb club set up a tag along ride calendar. People with a regular ride would be listed and others would contact them to join in. I met several friends through that and still ride once a week with one of them that I met five years ago.

I don’t know if anyone can pin this thread (is that a thing)?

I usually ride alone as most of my riding buddies are mainly roadies and don’t do mud. Happy to meet new people in Saltaire / Shipley / Baildon area if anyone fancies a ride out; mostly on weekends but also trying to get out mid-week for quick evening rides.