Why ride with people?

[weathergal]

Except for charity and other organized rides, I ride alone all the time. Like caligurl, it's mostly because I live in a town with no LBC and very few cyclists. I think I can count on one hand the number of other cyclists I've seen around this summer, and I've been riding a lot. Plus, my schedule is crazy, so even if I did know other cyclists in town I may have trouble meeting up for a ride.

I do think that riding with a group would be helpful, though. I have very little skill with things like drafting and pacelines, and tend to weave all over the road. I also don't push myself as much as I could, mainly just tootling along.

[salsabike]

I love riding alone on my single bike. Don't have any desire to change that at all. It lets me work as hard as I want without worrying about anyone else's desires, welfare, skills, etc. I truly love it.

And of course I also love riding the tandem with Mr. Salsa. But for single bike riding, alone works great for me.

[tygab]

I do not like riding alone, but I do kayak alone. I can't say it's really relaxing unless I am on a low traffic road and I feel like I can look at the scenery, and with someone who I know will stop and wait if I have an issue. Almost all my rides have been with my husband and the remainder in groups with or without him along.

In the kayak, I am relaxed and just enjoying.

I would love to have some riding friends to go out with but right now I don't. I love that most of you like to ride alone, it gives me hope!

[Bad JuJu]

I love riding alone, but I tend to just twiddle along and enjoy the scenery when I'm alone. Nothing wrong with that, but I'd like to increase my speed somewhat so I can do longer rides in reasonable amounts of time. When I ride with others that are faster than I am, I work harder and therefore get stronger and a little faster. I'm already almost a couple of mph faster after only about a month of riding with a club--and not even making it to every club ride.

[Cassandra_Cain]

How funny JuJu - I say that because I'm the opposite!

The few times I have ridden with others, I tend to relax, not be in a rush, savor everything, converse, etc.

While alone, I am much more focused on riding hard, pushing myself, and all that sort of thing.

What I have learned from the responses in this thread is just how much variety there is in the collective motivation of all the ladies who responded. Some ride alone to relax, some ride alone to push it, some would never ride alone, some would only ride with groups, some would never ride with groups. Somehow, we all enjoy riding, in one way or another.

[Bad JuJu]

How funny JuJu - I say that because I'm the opposite!
The few times I have ridden with others, I tend to relax, not be in a rush, savor everything, converse, etc.
While alone, I am much more focused on riding hard, pushing myself, and all that sort of thing.
What I have learned from the responses in this thread is just how much variety there is in the collective motivation of all the ladies who responded. Some ride alone to relax, some ride alone to push it, some would never ride alone, some would only ride with groups, some would never ride with groups. Somehow, we all enjoy riding, in one way or another.

Roger that, Cassandra. And hey, the reason I work harder when I'm in a group is that they're usually all out in front of me and I'm working to keep up!

[ace]

I do ride alone sometimes, but much prefer riding with my local club for a bunch of reasons:

1) I'm a group exercise kind of person- I feel like I go faster and longer in a group

2) I've gotten lots of technique instruction, which is great since I'm a beginner

3) I can try rides harder than I think I can do because the group I ride with is no drop, so even if they have to wait for me pedaling 5 mph up the hills, at least they wait and I know I'll finish

4) It's inspiring- I've met some cool women who started out rank beginners like me a couple of years ago and are now doing double centuries

5) It's a fun way to be part of a community group. I'm constantly amazed by the mix of folks who ride with us

6) I have zero bike repair skills, so riding alone is scary. That one I gotta do something about!

[Trekhawk]

6) I have zero bike repair skills, so riding alone is scary. That one I gotta do something about!

Have a look here
http://www.teamestrogen.com/articles/asa_levers.asp

[CorsairMac]

Sounds like a country-western song;


I Ride Aloneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Anyway, I ride alone also. (actually it's me Cassie is talking about lolol)......I wouldn't mind riding with a club but 3 of the 4 clubs I know about in town are all racing clubs and the 4th one is a racing wannabe club. They don't have "no-drop" rides and while I agree riding with them would probably push my skills I'm A)not sure why I Want to push my skills and B)won't ride with a club that leaves ppl on the side of the road with a mechanical. (yup, they did it - twice, both times I was the only one that stopped and stayed with the person until the rider was back up and riding, good thing...the second time it happened the guy forgot his CO2 cylinders and needed to borrow my pump)

One thing I will say I've noticed tho (commuters can yea or nay say me on this): since I ride every day to work, my outlook on weekend rides does tend to be different than the weekend riders. Come Sat I've already ridden for 5 days so getting a ride in isn't as vital to me as it is to others.

For those of you that were wondering how to push yourself just a little further when riding alone: my suggestion would be to stop for a bit, have a bite to eat, maybe stretch your legs a tad and then hop back on the bike....I believe it'll help to push you past that point where you wanted to stop. The other thing I do is Tell people how far I'm riding, most of them want to know how my ride went and I would hate having to tell them I didn't ride the whole way! lol I also plan my ride so my halfway point is the farthest point from home, now the only way I can quit and go home - is to ride it back home.

I have enjoyed riding with Cassie and another friend I met on a club ride but I also really enjoy riding alone.

[caligurl]

I wouldn't mind riding with a club but 3 of the 4 clubs I know about in town are all racing clubs and the 4th one is a racing wannabe club.

the CLOSEST club is palm springs (and it's still an hour away!) but IF they did no drop rides.... we would probably make the trip on some/several saturdays.... heck.... we're down there shopping anyways! but they area all hammerhead recer wannabe's so i just tool around up here in the high desert... and go to organized rides and do my own thing! lol!

[RoadRaven]

I like a combination of both.

Riding alone gives me a chance to really work on the head stuff (like Corsair intimates), makes me focus on my rythym, lets me attempt Personal Bests. Riding alone is a great way to get stronger because there is no opportunity for drafting and every gust of wind builds your strength.

Riding with 1-3 males (my partner and sons) gives me an opportunity to be pace myself - that is I sit in their draft and they ride 2-5kms above what I could do by myself. This gives me a good mind-set in a race because I know I can ride at that pace so to ride a bit harder is an achievable goal. I can also discuss and practice technique (like riding in a paceline) and race strategy (like when to sprint) with my men, because they have much more experience than me.

Riding with 1-2 females (work-mates) gives me a chance for a steady moderate-paced ride, with lots of time to socialise and chat.

Riding with a bunch (I only do this in races) teaches me good mindset, focus, group skills and awareness of how never to assume that others know what is my head or I what is in theirs (that is, defensive driving skills). Riding in a race situation lifts my performance (like sevaral other have already said - for example, JuJu and Ace) and gives me benchmarks to measure my own performance against.