Why ride with people?

[deedolce]

i prefer to ride alone. It's more stressful for me to ride with a group, watching for cars and pacelines, and chit chat, and wanting to go faster, or feeling too slow. I've started riding with a girlfriend, which has been nice, but went for a 50 miler myself and it was great! I like to just be in the moment, and not have to think or talk, I have to do lots of that in my job as a school teacher. I like to do my imaginary races, trying to catch people up ahead, or not let some roadie catch up to me before random finish lines in my imagination. I also like to leave my routes and milage open, depending on how I feel.

[RoadRaven]

Thanks Corsair - a bear or snake would be really interesting - though I'd be less inclined to meet a bear on a trail than a mountain lion...

We have deer here... but I'll keep the bear invite in mind and come calling if I'm over your way to go for a ride

[quint41]

I don't like riding alone, either. I tend to not push myself, I get bored and I just can't wait for the ride to be over.

I ride with my Wednesday group because we've all gotten to be friends. We're all at different levels, but the more experienced riders challenge me and I work harder and learn more. At the same time, we will never leave the slower riders in the dust. And we always go for pizza and beer after!

In between when I want a leisurely ride, there are certain friends who I will call because I know they ride at a slower pace. There are other friends I'll call when I want a challenge.

It all depends what I need on that day.

[Raindrop]

I ride alone mostly because of my schedule and because the DH really hates riding and has to have "perfect" riding conditions, (i.e. not too hot, not too cold, not too windy etc.).

Sometime I ride with my clients (I'm a personal trainer), if they choose to do an aerobic workout on the bike. Unfortunately, that opportunity doesn't happen near often enough.