Riding alone out in the sticks

[DirtDiva]

I agree. Do the ride and tell someone who won't snitch on you where you're going and when you expect to be back. (If you're comfortable doing that of course - maybe you're not as naturally sneaky as I am... )

[Veronica]

I ride alone a lot, usually areas that I know well. Today, I'm moving out of my comfort zone though and doing a solo ride in Marin. It's not the boonies, really, but it's also not a place I KNOW. But I've made sure Thom knows my route. MP does too, since she helped me work out.

When I ride alone I usually e mail Thom when I leave and when I get back. He knows the general area I'll be in.

I'd give it a try. You know the route, you know what to expect. And I wouldn't be sneaky about - but I'm lucky that Thom fully supports my riding.

V.

[natheless]

I ride alone most of the time. I have a cell phone now, but that's new this year, and mostly in case something worse than a flat happens. I'd like to get one of those RoadID thingys - right now I just have a card in my bike trunk with emergency contact & medical info. I don't tell anyone my route (though that's not a bad idea.)

As others have said, bad things can happen anytime, anywhere. I just heard about a friend of a friend who didn't wear his helmet because he was just going to run an errand, and the poor guy got unlucky and had an accident (no one really knows what happened) and got his head bashed in within a couple miles of home (he's alive, but not in good shape.)

Frankly, I tend to feel like the middle of nowhere is safer a lot of the time, and that a helmet (and bright colored clothing) is your best defense. Most likely, the only problems you will encounter will be mechanical - since you can handle those, you're unlikely to get stranded... (but make sure you bring plenty of water, in case you do ever find yourself having to walk home!)

[SouthernBelle]

I too ride alone most of the time. And out in the boonies too. I actually feel safer there than in town.

As to dogs, go to a pet store and ask them if they have a spray for warding them off. I have a can clipped to the handlebars. I've only used it once. Most dogs just want to run along side and bark. But when one looked to be headed for my ankles he got zapped.

[Pedal Wench]

I ride a neighborhood loop by myself. I can get a decent 26 mile loop right out my front door. But it has lots of stops and starts.

There's a great ride that I absolutely love, but it's in a rural area, and it's just a bit too desolate for me to feel comfortable riding by myself. Not so much worried about someone intentionally hurting me, but if I swerve off the road to avoid a squirrel, it could be days before they find me. I need to get over that one.

The other ride I always did by myself was on a local bike path. After the beginning few miles, you could go for about 30 miles without an intersection and very, very little foot traffic. However, the news this morning is reporting a cyclist is missing after riding the trail. I'm not sure I'll be able to convince myself that I can ride out there alone now.

I live alone, and my BF doesn't live around me. I usually call him when I finish a ride, but he's used to be turning a short ride into a century, so he wouldn't send out the calvary for a few days.

[Tater]

I am a lone biker. I also do a lot of rides out in the boonies where there isn't much around except for sagebrush, whistle pigs and a few cows. I always wear my RoadID, carry my cell phone and hope I can get a signal. I also let Mr. Tater know where I am going to be and about how long I'll be out. As for the dog thing, I carry pepper spray.

[Kano]

I am a lone biker. I also do a lot of rides out in the boonies where there isn't much around except for sagebrush, whistle pigs and a few cows. I always wear my RoadID, carry my cell phone and hope I can get a signal. I also let Mr. Tater know where I am going to be and about how long I'll be out. As for the dog thing, I carry pepper spray.

I was just about to ask "Whistle Pigs?????" when I decided to do a quick Google...

Fun to spook the whistle pigs! -- though at our house, we call 'em rock chucks.

I been meaning to order one of those road id things....

Karen in Boise

[bcipam]

This has been an interesting thread. I also ride alone alot and it's good to know that others do as well.

I don't live out in the country but even so, I do ride up into fairly remote areas, after work, and often wondered what would happen if I had an accident. I don't always tell people where I'm going. I do tend to ride alot of the same routes, which my close friends know, so I guess if I don't show up for a few days, someone would go looking. They are some mountain bike trails I won't do alone. They are more technical than my normal routes and I could very easily get hurt which I wouldn't want to do while riding alone.

I think bottom line, you have to make a choice and/or take a chance. I do ride on some remote, barely two lane rides up in the hills, but there is so little traffic on those roads, and the roads are so narrow and twisty so traffic usually moves slower than I so I don't worry but if you are out on remote country road where traffic moves fairly quickly, I would make sure you are highly visible (wear yellow!), don't ride in the gutter or on the shouder - take as much road as possible, make traffic move around you. Also let someone know you are going out. I wish I were there to join you - sounds like a beautiful ride!

[mimitabby]

I admire you all for your courage. I have gone almost 20 miles by myself, on a busy route, mostly bike trail. i was rather surprised to find almost no one out that day which spooked me. I do much better with a group or riding partner.

[Aggie_Ama]

I ride alone. The lovely thing about my house is in about 10-15 minutes you can be on a quiet country road. I always call my husband or my parents when I leave and let them know about how long I plan to be out. If I happen to ride longer, I check in and let them know. If I had some mechanical problem, same thing. I really should email my mom a list of my normal routes, just in case.

[Trekhawk]

I road ride alone (mountain bike with a friend too scared of Cougars to go out there on my own) and I find it really relaxing. Having children means this is about the only time I get to myself. At first I was a little worried about being out in the sticks on my own but now I just let my husband know what route I will be taking and off I go. If I decide to change my route a little to explore then (if I can get a mobile signal which can be a problem here ) I ring him and let him know.

Do what you feel comfortable doing. If you decide to ride the route make sure you give us a ride report.

Happy riding.

[weathergal]

We have a lot of paved county roads around here, and I ride alone on them all the time. It's pretty wide open though, not twisty, and not many trees. I carry a cell phone and ID, along with plenty of water. Had a bit of a concern a couple of months ago when one car was passing another on a hill, and I was forced to bail into the ditch. Hopefully though if there had been a collision, one of the drivers would have stopped to help.

[SnappyPix]

Hi guys,

Wow, thank you all for your wonderful responses!
Have given it some thought and decided to just give it a go and enjoy the ride. Strange thing is, back in the UK, I'm perfectly happy to pootle off into the middle of nowhere on my own - I think the driving here is more aggressive and has made me more wary.
I've 'fessed up to my partner that I'm planning to go (can't do the sneaky thing), so at least someone will know to look for me amongst the possums at the side of the road!

Kiwi Girl/CrazyCanuck - yeah, part of the ride is around the Waitaks, out to Piha. Actually, in retrospect, getting out of central Auckland is probably more dangerous than the country roads themselves!

Thanks again to everyone - sometimes I think we all need to take a little step out of our comfort zones (as long as we're not planning to ride through Deliverance country and can hear the banjos tuning up in the background!).

[caligurl]

i ride alone.... hubby knows my usual routes... i let him know if i'm going to deviate so if something happens... he knows where to come look!

i used to not even go into the park... cuz no phone service... and little traffic... but i've gotten braver... cuz i like the low traffic!

i ALWAYS carry my cell phone! and i have dog pepper spray that i wouldn't hesitate to use on a person if i needed to!

[Trek420]

Live alone other than doggie, other than the commute I do not often ride alone.

Standard precautions: wear road id. carry cell phone, keep it charged, vary route, road id has numbers of "Maes friends", they have my families numbers.

Kids don't try this at home:
Non standard precaution: I have a second degree black belt in Aikido, I carry a small (very small, minute, tiny) knife. If my gut is telling me to leave...it will be in the back of my left glove.

Highly reccomend listening to your gut, if you feel it's unsafe...you're probably right. Leave. Other than that have fun out there, if we stop~they win.