Long training rides solo??

I did my first century in 2008 - but I've been totally off my bike (though spinning) since, but I REALLY want to get back into it this summer and sign up to do a few 50 milers.

Here is my dilemma - even though I've done a century my fitness level on the bike is super low - so I'm not sure about joining a cycling club. But when I do build up to longer rides (for me anything past 15 miles) I would like to have a group or partner to ride with. I don't like the idea of doing long rides on my own - even if I learn how to change my flat, etc.

How do you guys deal with your long training rides?

I really enjoy riding by myself. There's less to think about. I don't have to worry about am I going too fast or too slow... I can tootle along or hammer depending upon MY mood.

Veronica

I do almost all of my long training rides by myself. I usually can't find anyone who wants to ride the distance I want on the same day at the same time.

My longest training rides these days are approx. 70 miles. I have a 24-mile route that is a modification of a weekly ride that my LBS sponsors. The location where it begins and ends has lots of free parking, plus a decently clean public bathroom and a water fountain. I load up a cooler with all the drinks I will need for the entire ride, plus snacks and drinks for post-ride. So my car is the "rest stop."

I start early in the morning and load up myself and my bike with all the supplies I would bring if I were doing a regular metric century (i.e, no returning to the car until the ride is finished) -- 2 full water bottles, 8 packets of gu, etc. Then I go out and I ride the 24-mile ride loop for the first time. Back at my car for the first reststop, I refill my water bottles, then I hit the restroom and go out for the 2nd loop. Back at the car again to refill the water bottles again, stop at the restroom and then do the loop for a 3rd time. That makes a total ride of 72 miles.

I carry a spare tube, patch kit and pump on my rides in case of a flat tire. I have the phone numbers for several local cab companies written on the cue sheet in case I have any serious mechanical problems or can't ride back to the start for any reason. So far (knock wood) I haven't had to call them. I note the location of useful places like grocery stores and bike shops on my cue sheet in case I need to stop anywhere. I also note short cuts back to the start if I can't do the full 24-miles for some reason.

For other rides I do by myself, such as a hilly 30-mile ride that I can begin from home, I make sure I know the area beforehand. At the very least, I study google maps to familarize myself with the route, and I bring maps with me as a back up. I stick with residential areas so there will be people around if case of emergency. And I make sure there will be adequate places for refilling water bottles, finding bathrooms, etc.

So far it's worked out pretty well.

Good point Veronica - you must be very confident with fixing a flat and bike repair?

I figure if I want to do longer rides I could do the same 10 mile loop 4x - so I'm never more than 10 miles from my car - as long as its hilly enough to be a challenge!

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Originally Posted by gabriellesca

Good point Veronica - you must be very confident with fixing a flat and bike repair?

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Yeah... I guess. :p I've been riding for a long time.

Veronica

So far so good for me although I was commenting in another thread about getting bored. I live in an urban area near the beach so I have to be careful about crazy drivers and my safety in general. I agree with what the previous poster said about riding at whatever pace you feel like; don't have to worry about leaving others behind or keeping up.

I've been battling boredom by changing my routes. There are a few paved bike paths and beach bike paths around here. Sorry, have to brag....it's nice riding down Pacific Coast Hwy this time of year, being able to see the snowy mountains to the east and the big, blue Pacific Ocean to the west!

Enjoy getting back on your bike!
L

Riding alone can be great. I look at it as a time to clear my thoughts; it's almost meditative. But with cars, so not too meditative.

If you are worried about the tire changing, have an evening of tire changing practice. While you are watching TV or a movie (or not), sit down with your wheel and tools and just plain practice taking the tire off, taking the tube out, putting it back in, and putting the tire back on the rim a few times. It shouldn't take long to get familiar with how it works so that you can do it on the road easily. Also be familiar with getting your back tire off of your bike and putting it back on.

When I'm alone, I always have a phone with me and always let someone know where I'm going and when I expect to be back. The bf was gone last weekend and I did leave a note on the table with my route *just*in*case*.

Finally, Lizzybee, word on the SoCal riding and the beach and the mountains. Wait until you get into the hills!

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Originally Posted by gabriellesca

Good point Veronica - you must be very confident with fixing a flat and bike repair?

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You should really learn how to change a tire, and practice it at home a few times. Flats happen to everyone and they're generally not a big deal.

If you keep your bike in good working order, you shouldn't have many problems with major mechanical breakdowns while riding. Clean and lube the chain regularly. Pay attention to changes like shifting problems and unusual noises, and have them checked out at your LBS if you can't figure out and resolve what's causing them. Take the bike to the LBS for service (overall clean and lube) at least once a year, or more often depending on how much you ride. That should be sufficient to prevent most major breakdowns during your rides. Then have a backup plan if something does go wrong that prevents you from riding back to your starting point -- enlist a friend or relative that you can call for a ride, have taxi numbers ready, be aware of nearby public transportation options, etc.

I go for a ride knowing:

I can change a flat
I can deal with basic mechanicals
I have a flight plan filed with someone
I have a communication device appropriate to the flight plan (cell phone, SPOT)

I'm not good with a flat yet, oddly enough I have not had one in 5,500 miles. And I've said that out loud too and not had one. I just arrange to have a friend know I'm out and I try to do a loop where the friend would not have to drive more that 10 miles or so to come get me if something happens. I try to have the friend be someone who lives in the general direction I will be riding.

I used to go on 50 miles rides solo, but after a crash last year, I'm not so bold. I'll go about 30 miles these days. Any farther, and I find a group ride, and with my schedule it can be pretty difficult.

One thing I DO plan to try soon is to ride a riding/walking trail with no cars out and back, which will take me 50 miles. I'm a little more confident out of traffic, and it's still pretty urban, so I can get help if I need it. It wouldn't be such a big deal, but I work weekends, so my husband, etc. is at work when I ride solo during the week.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gabriellesca

Good point Veronica - you must be very confident with fixing a flat and bike repair?

I figure if I want to do longer rides I could do the same 10 mile loop 4x - so I'm never more than 10 miles from my car - as long as its hilly enough to be a challenge!

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I really like riding by myself. I ride in familiar areas and make sure to carry a cell phone, my Road ID, cash, food and sufficient water.

The fact of the matter is whether you're 5 miles from your car or 30, you need to know how to change a flat and make basic repairs. The same holds true for personal safety. Regardless of how far you're going, make sure someone knows where you're going to ride and what time you expect to be home. Ride safe, pay attention to your surroundings and know the area.

If you don't like riding alone, find someone to ride with.

I've had two flats. One happened as I was heading out on my final circuit of my favorite 5-mile route, and I was only a quarter mile from the car, so I just walked her back and fixed it at home.

The second happened about a half hour before my very first tri experience. I'd over-inflated my tire and it blew while Sparrow (my bike) was on the rack, waiting to go. Thank goodness the bike shop sponsor had a booth with mechanics and spare tubes at the ready, because even though I can change a back tire, I wasn't comfortable with the pump I had used, and it was 0'dark thirty and I didn't have enough light to do the job well, so I headed over to their tent and they did it for me.

I tend to do my long rides on closed circuit cycle-friendly routes around lakes and small islands designed for recreation. If I have a problem, there are usually lots of other cyclists who are available to assist.

I do it a lot like ny biker. I load up everything I'll need for a long ride (longest to date was 50 miles), and I ride the loop and come back to my car as a rest stop. It's much safer to me than riding on regular streets, although I'm interested in what beach-side bike paths LizzyBee is cruising on.

Roxy

From someone who has not had a car at home for many years:


I still am not good about changing a flat tire but nevertheless I still go on long bike rides by myself. Except for biket vacation trips out of town, all the cycling that I do is within my home city area and hence, quite urban. And in Toronto, where I used to live. But both city areas are huge...so I do cycle 45 kms. often... for 90 kms. occasionally by myself. One can devise all sorts of long, interesting routes without going outside of the suburbs into rural areas for either city.

Both cities have commuter trains/subway and local ferries which allow bikes. All of Vancouver's buses have bike racks...another reason why I'm not worried. Toronto only started to install bike racks on their buses last year or so. Yet, that never stopped me and cycled there for over 10 years before moving out to Vancouver.

Yea, sure I've spent time walking for 1 hr. or less ,with a flat to get home or to a bike shop. But rarely happens. I don't do long rides at night, so it doesn't freak me out to walk anywhere in either city. Shrug. It was never a situation where I was late for work or to meet someone when I had a flat.

Phoning my partner is useless: we don't have car. And there was period of 2 years where he and I lived in different cities.

It helps to become self-reliant and confident ..to have fun on your own.

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!