Long training rides solo??

I too am a happy solo rider. My solo riding rules: Someone always know my route, I have my phone, I have changed enough flats to do it with my eyes closed and I always trust my instincts. Plus I'm a daily commuter so I'm very comfortable and aware in traffic.

Start your solo rides in more populated areas. That way your never far from other people, phones or a place you feel safe to stop. I can log a lot of miles with rides around town combined with the local bike path. Baby steps! The more comfortable you get with riding solo the further you will go.

On the other hand some people, like my daughter, who refers to herself as a herd animal, is not and never will be comfortable riding alone. You have to discover which you are. bikerHen

I do ride long rides by myself at times but I prefer to go with someone else. Talk to the local bike shops and the cycling group to see if there is anyone who would be willing to ride with you. I found that there were several riders that did not ride with the main group because they too were not fast enough or not riding long enough. I have moved through several groups as I progressed but have remained good friends with all of them. I now ride with the cycling group for the majority of my rides because I have worked up to that level. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by bikerHen

On the other hand some people, like my daughter, who refers to herself as a herd animal

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That was funny :p

I like riding both with others and alone, I train harder with others but like my own company a lot for the long haul. But I would really recommend that every rider know how to change a flat. It depends on your tires and where you ride, I'm sure, but in my neck of the woods I'm pretty much guaranteed a flat or two or three in the course of the road riding season. If not me, then someone else out there who could use a helping hand. I've been on group rides where 3 or 4 people have flatted, and not always been able to fix it themselves. But with only a little practice it's a matter of minutes to fix a flat, so I consider it right up there with knowing how to fill gas on your car.

Commuting I don't bother, because it's harder to fix my mtb and faster to hop on a bus and fix it later.

There are great instructions for learning to change a tire right here on TE.
http://www.teamestrogen.com/content/asa_levers

This is what I used to teach myself. I printed them out, took the wheel off my bike, sat on the patio and did it over and over until I could do it. I did use my levers though. They are a dandy little tool.

As far as riding solo, I do a lot. Like Indy, I am sure that I have my RoadID, cash, food and a cell phone. Even when I ride with others, the "others" are usually the guys, ie. DH and friends, and I'm still riding solo since I get dropped on hills and can't catch back up. I'm always just out of earshot of the conversation and they don't always stop and wait where I think they should:mad: But that's the subject of another thread. I sure wish I lived in an area where there are other lady riders.

I generally prefer to ride alone.

Folks may scoff at the big honkin' bag I always have on my bike, but I've got the stuff I need (and sometimes the stuff other riders I find stranded along the road need, too!)

Road ID, wallet, phone, regional bus pass, ALWAYS. If I get into a situation I can't get out of easily with those, I also have Better World. They are an auto club (like AAA only a lot cooler) with bicycle coverage.

Better World Auto Club not only covers bicycles, they also give a discount if you use mass transit. http://www.betterworldclub.com/

Oh, and if you consider yourself a family, they give you the family rate.

I like riding alone.
If I'm at home, I'm doing bike trail riding. I have my cell phone, food, various tools and a first-aid kit (as well as a spare tube and a small roll of duct tape) in my bag or on my person. I have my insurance card and driver's license in my jacket pocket (it has a zippered one), or in my camelbak pocket. I'm also in the process of typing up a cheat sheet of "basic on the road bike maintanence" There are also plenty of other cyclists on that trail, and most of the time, they'll help.

If I'm at school, someone (usually DBF) knows my route. I take everything mentioned above, plus my bus pass. I also tend to stick to doing loops on routes that are within walking distance of my building. A bit boring, but I don't know Cleveland that well despite being there for four years, and campus borders a bad area.

I'm with everyone else in the 'likes to ride alone' category.

I didn't start feeling that way overnight, it took some time (weeks, months? - that, I don't really recall) to get up the confidence to head out alone.

Like everyone else said, carry equipment to change a flat and know how to use it, carry a cell phone and ID (I wear a RoadID bracelet, and I carry ID, contact info and a copy of my insurance card in a small thin wallet in my back jersey pocket), and a bit of cash in case you need it.

Don't force it, give yourself time. Start out riding alone on familiar local routes. Sooner or later it'll become not a big deal, and you'll ultimately either enjoy it or not.

Self-sufficency is always a good thing, though.

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

If I get into a situation I can't get out of easily with those, I also have Better World. They are an auto club (like AAA only a lot cooler) with bicycle coverage.

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!!!!!

I was just going through some old piles of papers last night and I came across an ad for Better World that I had cut out of a magazine and then promptly forgotten about. And I put it in the recycle pile because, well, I don't know, I guess because I never hear anyone mention them so I thought maybe they're not all that good or have gone out of business or whatever.

But now less than 24 hours later you mention them!! Which means I need to look into getting coverage from them. I have Geico roadside assistance which is fine for my car but I wouldn't mind some bike coverage.

If any of you alls have ever seen the movie "Repo Man," you'll recognize this as a "plate of shrimp" moment...

I ride solo most of the time. I let someone know where I'm going if I'm not riding my usual trail; I have different friends who I will call to ask to be that day's "trailkeeper," just so someone knows which river or stream to drag for my carcass. :D And I call or text that person when I'm done with my ride.

I've done the one-trail/circuit-a-bunch-of-times thing, and also the out-and-back thing. I ride in a few areas that I'm sure some people would NOT feel comfortable in, but I'm very familiar with these areas and have never had a problem.

I take my phone and what passes for my wallet, so have my driver's license, ATM card, insurance card, etc., with me, and have a most impressive handlebar bag with a most impressive collection of Stuff I Or Someone Else Might Possibly Need in it; this has mainly been used to hand out band-aids to parents for their small children. Also the usual tools in a seat bag.

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Originally Posted by owlice

I ride solo most of the time. I let someone know where I'm going if I'm not riding my usual trail; I have different friends who I will call to ask to be that day's "trailkeeper," just so someone knows which river or stream to drag for my carcass. :D And I call or text that person when I'm done with my ride.

I've done the one-trail/circuit-a-bunch-of-times thing, and also the out-and-back thing. I ride in a few areas that I'm sure some people would NOT feel comfortable in, but I'm very familiar with these areas and have never had a problem.

I take my phone and what passes for my wallet, so have my driver's license, ATM card, insurance card, etc., with me, and have a most impressive handlebar bag with a most impressive collection of Stuff I Or Someone Else Might Possibly Need in it; this has mainly been used to hand out band-aids to parents for their small children. Also the usual tools in a seat bag.

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I like the idea of having a "trailkeeper" for the day, I think that most of my rides will be solo. Now I have to consider which friends to contact about this - a couple would be happy to do this but would totally freak out if something actually happened :eek:

Last year I started posting my rides on facebook before I started out. So if I disappear, someone can tell the cops where to look.

I road & mtn bike on my own.

For my dirt time, I have a 3G network phone as my other one doesn't get coverage on many trails. My dear knows where i'm dirt time & always text him when i return to the vehicle informing that i've not been swallowed up by trail gremlins. I ride on singletrack where I know the nearest fire trail that leads to X road.

I just go out n ride..At mtb races, i'm not out to win but rather out to beat my speed & food gremlins.

Just ride ride ride ride ride

I ride alone a lot. I stick to populated bike paths or known routes where DH would know to come look for me. I leave a note on the counter with departure time and anticipated arrival time (when I was single, I used to call my answering machine with the info!)

Like everyone said above, carry everything you would need. Even if you aren't comfortable changing a tire, don't expect a friendly cyclist to have your tube with them (air cartridges are much easier on the side of the trail).

I also ride with a DH who rides so far ahead, I might as well be alone. He can't hear me yell, and sometimes, doesn't answer his phone! He'll eventually turn around, but not before I could change it myself!

I like to ride alone. It lets me keep my pace and hammer when I want. It always seems that I wind up riding with someone along the way, and thats cool, meeting fellow cyclists. It's either that or pulling my 6'6" husband who insists on staying behind me...ugh!