OMG I have done it now!!!

[Scarlet]

Well i was getting seriously over confident, after cycling 60 miles today (in very windy weather!!) I have gone and done it!!!!
Registered for a 100 miler............... (groans)
I really want to do it but no one to do this with...........
Will the others be nice to me , the people who I dont know?
I need some info on what its like to do an event but be "alone" so to speak please

thanks in advance

Scarlet xx

[Starfish]

I need some info on what its like to do an event but be "alone" so to speak please

Scarlet, it will be wonderful!! It is great to do these events on your own. I did my first century alone, and I just did my hardest ever century alone.

One thing that makes it nice to do these things alone is that you are truly free to ride your own ride. If you are tired, you can stop and rest immediately, without any thought for slowing anyone down, or whatever. Same goes for stopping to eat if you want, stopping for bathroom breaks, or stopping just because you are frustrated and need to pull yourself together at the side of the road. Whatever you need to do for yourself, you can selfishly do it!

Another thing that is fun (at least for me) about doing these things alone is that you get to use your own mind to get you through. If you are tired and feel like quitting, it is true that you don't have that friend pulling you or pushing you along. But, when you DO decide to keep going, all by yourself, simply FOR yourself, when no one but you would really care if you quit...well, it feels good to exercise your own mental toughness.

Finally, for me, doing things alone has encouraged me to be bolder alone out there doing other things in life. It is a muscle that gets stronger with exercise!

Have a great time. And, tell us all about it when you're done!

[Sheesh]

I just rode a metric alone because all the students who originally signed up to ride with me changed their minds at the last minute. At first, I was pretty disappointed that I was being ditched, but after a while, I felt pretty good about riding by myself. At one point, another woman pulled up beside me and started chatting with me, and we rode together for a while. When she pulled off to get water, I kept going. In the end, I'm pretty proud of myself for continuing the ride by myself and managing to finish 62 miles.

Enjoy riding your own ride and try to meet some people along the way to break up the monotony. Good luck!

[KnottedYet]

I've done a couple big rides on my own, and it was very cool the way other women who were also doing it on their own would find me.

We'd ride together for a bit, run into eachother at a rest stop, pass each other now and then.

You will have fun!

[chibiker]

I agree with the others... there is a certain freedom when you do these rides alone My very first tour ride I did alone... and it was great!! I remember that feeling of being so free!!, for so many hours I had yet to be on my bike.

You'lll do great... and you will meet up with people at the rest stops for sure. If it's anything like my rides, you'll have someone tagging along with you in no time anyway...

[Scarlet]

thanks everyone you have made me feel much much better, I was beginning to get a bit worried.... but now .............yeh hey again thanks so much
I love this TE

Scarlet x

[indigoiis]

You are never really alone.
You gots all of us!



My first is next weekend. I feel like a debutante.

[PinkBike]

scarlet,

absolutely, ride your own ride.

but if a group comes by and you can, try to jump on, it'll give you a little recovery time, especially if it's windy.

when i'm by myself on any organized ride, it seems every group or pair or single is going to say "jump on."

we really are all in this together. i've ridded with so many cool people just by joining up as they either passed me or i pulled up to them.

i like to stay with one group for a while, gage their speed (and their Fun Factor), then either break away to join the next group up the road or realize i am working too hard to stay with them and just fall off the back and enjoy riding alone for a while.

you'll do fine!!

[Tri Girl]

Oh you'll have a great time, Scarlet!
I almost always do organized rides alone. It's just fun that way for me. I go at my own pace, stop when I want (or don't want), talk to other riders and basically enjoy lots of "alone brain time."
You'll have a grand time! Can't wait to hear all about it.