Why ride with people?

[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.

[HipGnosis6]

I ride alone. I don't have anybody to ride with.

One friend always says "yay ,let's go for a ride!!!" and flakes out every time. Okay, a lot of people do that. I quit asking after a while.

[snowtulip]

I usually ride alone. It's easier because of my work/school schedule and my varying levels of fitness throughout the year make it easier for me not to worry about keeping up.

The only time I start to creep out about riding alone is when the occasional mountain lion stories start up. But I do enjoy being on the mountain alone.

[bluerider]

When I first started a year ago, I rode alone because I knew no other female riders (or male ones for that matter). I felt I would've been too new, slow, etc. After riding alone for a year, I still love to do some of my rides solo. The ability to know that I don't have to wait on others' schedules, excuses, fitness level, etc, gave me a lot of flexibility on where and when to ride. I improved a lot on my own as well, gaining confidence on my bike, on the road to handle idiots, cars, dogs, etc. Without those solo rides, I don't think I would've been as confident about riding today as I am.

I then showed up at a predominantly guys' ride this early spring and challenged myself to hold on, with the hope of meeting other like-minded riders. So after riding with them for a great season, I've improved so much and have fallen even more in love with the sport. Drafting, group riding skills, and a sense of watching out for each other, plus a few laughs has only enhanced my riding experiences. Group rides have introduced me to new friends and new routes.

I only ride with the group once a week with the rest of my rides on my own. I think everyone should try both if the opportunity exists. Both give you a unique experience and I wouldn't say one is better than the other one.

[li10up]

I prefer to ride with others. Even though I'm not much of a talker sometimes, I like to listen to the conversations that take place. But here is a perfect reason to ride with other, at least for me.

I've been trying for some time to bring my average speed up to 15mph but can only get to 14.8 on a regular basis. Thursday I rode the "moderate" ride with the club. To my surprise I was able to hang for 10 miles. After that 3 of us dropped back. Long story short. At the end of my ride my avg. speed was 16mph! On a bike that is a pretty big difference. I was soooo excited!!! Every time I looked down at my speedo I was shocked to see how fast we were going. Too bad the hills knocked my speed way down. Now I'm thinking about riding with them more often.

[RoadRaven]

The only time I start to creep out about riding alone is when the occasional mountain lion stories start up. But I do enjoy being on the mountain alone.

I know its an easy thing for me to wish, and maybe if I lived near mountain lions I wouldn't make this wish...

But I wish my rides took me somewhere where I might see a mountain lion or two...

[Trekhawk]

I know its an easy thing for me to wish, and maybe if I lived near mountain lions I wouldn't make this wish...

But I wish my rides took me somewhere where I might see a mountain lion or two...

Ive often though Kiwis might be braver than Aussies (home of the Bungee jump and all) but now I know its true. One of the places I mountain bike actually has warning signs about Mountain Lions. I guess they could be in most areas I mtb but the signs freak me out each time and for awhile after I jump at every squirrel or rustle in the bushes. I would love to see a Mountain Lion in the wild from a safe distance with my binoculars but not while Im on the trail.

[CorsairMac]

ya'll are welcome to come on over anytime - I've got lots of room! Don't know if you'll get to see any mountain lions but it's ok if you don't....you can always see bear or deer or rattlesnake or coyote or.......................