Why ride with people?

[Kalidurga]

When I ride alone, which is most always basically, I feel comfortable doing whatever. Whether an intense straight-up all climbing ride, or an easy spin as this afternoon will be.

I've also always ridden alone, partly because I enjoy the solitude, partly for the same reason Cassandra gave above. The few times I tried to ride with the ex-BF, we were not on the same wavelength. Since joining the TE forum, I've made half-hearted attempts to hook up with other women in my locale, and I've thought about joining some of the group rides sponsored by various LBS's. I'd like to try riding with others to see what I can learn from it, but it's hard to take that step and give up my anti-social ways. When I ride, I don't necessarily want to make the compromises necessary to "fit" with others. I want to do what I want to do and enjoy it.

[Trekhawk]

I do the majority of my road riding on my own and I enjoy it. Its a time for me to unwind and enjoy the peace (three sons dont equal peace and quiet).
Its my form of meditation.

When I have ridden with others (really only on charity rides) I have enjoyed being with other riders and feeling that comraderie.

I always mountain bike with another rider but thats a different thing from road riding - no meditating on single track. I enjoy the chance to discuss the technical parts of the ride and how to nail them.

I would like to try club riding one day maybe when I go home as all the clubs around here are a little too fast for me.

[tomgrrrl]

I tend to ride solo most of the time as well. For one thing, it's easier...it's hard enough to manage my time (and my daughter's) so that trying to coordinate rides with others can be difficult.

I also tend to find that I enjoy the alone time. For me it really becomes a form of meditation. When I'm with another person (or rarely a group) I often spend a lot of time worrying about my pace, their pace, etc. When I'm alone I have only myself to worry about.

I would like to find more friends to mtbike with since when I ride solo on my mtb I keep to well-traveled fire trails. If I had a riding pal, it would be easier (and safer) to ride some of the more remote trails.