Do any of you ride organized rides alone?

[gingerale]

This past weekend, my dad and I were heading down to Kerrville, TX, to ride in their Easter weekend ride. At the very last minute, my dad said he wasn't going. Well, I'm a 42 yr old woman and totally capable of doing this alone. So my mom and I drove the 7 hrs down with my kids and my bike on the back. They had several route choices, but since I was alone and wanted to get back and do things with my kids I did the shortest (25 mile) ride. This was a first for me to do anything alone. I've only done a couple other organized rides, anyway. I headed out with a group of other riders. Made it to the first rest stop where EVERYONE else proceeded to go left for the 46 mile ride and I headed out to finish up my ride....completely alone! Literally! I didn't see another cyclist for the next 14 miles. I was IT. I was so nervous and at the same time sort of exhilerated at being able to do it all by myself.

Now at least I know that in the future I can ride alone if I have to. Not my favorite thing to do but it was sort of a big self-confidence booster for me. I've been riding exactly 1 year this month. So I'd say I've learned a lot.

[sundial]

I'm impressed! You drove 7 hours to a ride only to do it solo. Wow! I wouldn't have done that my first year, let alone now. Congratulations to you and your awesomeness.

[MM_QFC!]

First, great job on riding anyway; I'm glad that you got beyond the alone-ness aspect and it sounds like you had fun! If it was a supported/organized ride, were there support vehicles out there somewhere too? If not, the total of 25 miles shouldn't have left you exposed or alone for too long, right?

I didn't drive 7 hours to ride in an organized event, but I did learn quickly (when I first started riding) that if I showed up @ 9/10 AM on either a Sat or Sun at a local park, that it was a popular starting point for weekend rides and many organized ones. If I wasn't meeting another newbie rider/friend to ride, I'd get to the parking lot ahead of time, get ready to ride and then wander over to gathering groups to ask about their plans (route, ride level, mileage, etc). Plenty of times, I got the cue sheet and map and followed everyone out at the beginning, telling them that I was fine on my own if I was dropped, but I also worked to hang onto the back as I gradually got experience and became a stronger rider. I only did this in the general Seattle metro area, but I also drove to many, many other organized rides with friends and, that was how I learned so many beautiful ride routes, that I've repeated many times over the years...fun!

[ny biker]

I do most of my rides alone, whether they're organized or not. Even if I start with friends, I wind up getting dropped. I've done some rides where there were lots of other cyclists around and some where I don't see another person for most of the ride. So I consider it icing on the cake if there's anyone riding with me.

I figure as long as I have a phone number for SAG/mechanical support, it's fine to ride alone.

[NbyNW]

Good for you!

I think I would be a bit nervous too, if I didn't see any other cyclists on the route. It's great that this experience has helped your self-confidence.

[gingerale]

To answer a few questions...it was really a 3 day holiday weekend ride. I only did the 1st day. They didn't have support vehicles out. But had "sweepers" that were there. But like I said, after I split off I didn't see anyone at all. No signs, either. Is that unusual?? They said they'd have them but on the route, I only saw 2 and they were up to the first rest area. Then nothing. Just had to go by the directions they handed us in our registration bag. Is that normal?

I would have ridden Saturday but it was 36 miles for the short one and I was afraid I'd be the only one on that one again. It wasn't a mass start ride, either. So people were just starting whenever they wanted. I did start out with probably 3 separate groups of about 20 or so in each. But got passed fairly quickly by several of those. lol!! Sunday's short route took me right on a major roadway, 4 lanes, but no shoulder for a large part of it. I was afraid of being on that alone, too. If my dad had gone, we'd have ridden all 3 days. But me alone, my courage was up but not that much.

[ZenSojourner]

I routinely ride alone.

The pack scares the living bejeezus out of me, so I hang back and start after they're all gone.

If it's later in the season and I'm fairly well conditioned by then, I'll overtake a fair number of the laggards. Usually I catch up to the main body by lunch, or at least not more than one stop behind them by then.

If it's early in the season or I'm NOT fairly well conditioned, I start at the back and stay there. On occasion I've been the last or next to the last coming in. On one occassion I was riding with someone who was even slower than me. The SAG finally took her in but I opted to ride the rest of the way in on my own - SAG was packing it up and they tried to talk me out of it, but the only reason I was THAT far behind was the person I rode with.

I did that last leg actually faster than any other, simply because I wasn't hanging back waiting for her. I decided after that that I do better on my own, not to be slowed down by a partner, and not slowing a partner down. I MUCH prefer to ride at my own pace. I can ride almost forever if I can go at my own pace.

[Aint Doody]

I've done it both ways, and I think I prefer alone, too. I just got back from Cycle Zydeco where I went by myself. Met some terrific people and rode with some of them--when I wanted to. I loved having my tent all to myself and deciding when I wanted to leave and at what pace. There were lots of people on the route, however.

[TxDoc]

Yes, I do a lot of organized rides alone - mainly because I forget to check-in with friends the day before and ask if anyone is going... and then often I meet a lot of people I know - or make new friends!

[fidlfreek]

Wow! I'm so impressed! This is amazing, but you and i were in the EXACT same position. Both going to travel into Kerrville to the to ride with our dads. SERIOUSLY.

I was going to come down from Fort Worth, but my dad decided he didn't want to go. So i wimped out and stayed home. Now I am SO proud of you for going no matter what. You go girl!