Quote Originally Posted by makbike
I feel safe on the road when I'm by myself but I'm also aware that at anytime things could change drastically and I could find myself in a nasty situation.
That's definitely part of the challenge. I hike, bike and kayak alone all the time and I take great pride in knowing that, whatever happens, I'll find a way to deal with it. Granted, I've been fortunate so far and nothing really extreme has happened, but the day I stop feeling capable and self-sufficient is the day I curl up and die.

This is a very interesting thread. In spite of my own comments, reading the comments from folks who do ride with groups makes me still want to give that a try. Is there a way to turn this into a poll?