Cycling on your own

[Aggie_Ama]

If you run low on water, and you are rural, stop at a farmhouse and use their outside faucet. The farmers don't mind.

I would NEVER recommend this in Texas. The majority of the people are wonderful and wouldn't mind but seriously we have some gun owning nuts out in the country. My in-laws have a neighbor that shoots at dogs/people who get on their property (she is either a bad shot or just out to scare them because no one has been hit). I think they have called the sheriff on her but as far as I know she hasn't done anything they can get her for. Call me paranoid, but I am not taking my chances. Plus most of the houses in my area are 1/2 mile or more off the road up gravel.

I have learned from the local cycling club here that many rural churchs have water spickets behind them. Sometimes a lonely looking little church is all I see for miles. Also many of these small towns have tiny community centers with a water spicket. These are also good places to take shelter for a sudden thunderstorm or just a break from the heat!

The thing I did when I rode alone more was have set routes my DH and parents knew. I called an told them "I am doing X route, you should receive a call from me at X telling you I am home." If I had a mechincal issue I called to let them know I was running behind.

[TexanCzexican]

I would NEVER recommend this in Texas. The majority of the people are wonderful and wouldn't mind but seriously we have some gun owning nuts out in the country.

Heehee, I was thinking the same thing, lol.

Anywhosits, I found a pretty good route map that starts off of my street. The short route is 14 miles, but it has an option to make it up to 26 miles

[denda]

I think you can come across some of those kind of people anywhere, NOT just Texas.

[Aggie_Ama]

I think you can come across some of those kind of people anywhere, NOT just Texas.

Well this is true, but Darcy seems to have good luck with the farmers in the Pacific Northwest. Maybe there are less people likely to shoot you up there (I have never been there). Poaching and fishing on private property is a problem for the ranches around here. I think think they are all a little tired of trespassers, at least some post a warning. Of course we get a lot of friendly waves and hellos when we are riding, I know we have a lot of nice people out here.

Paige- Sounds like a great route! Let us know how riding alone goes and I am curious about the Monster PMS ride.

[Look]

I ride alone most of the time. My group ride is more social and I do longer rides when I do have a buddy to ride with, but at least 3-4 times/ week I either go myself or stay home, so I go. It hadn't really occurred to me to be nervous, although I do make sure I know the whereabouts of my neighbor and or my husband. Worse case scenario, he works in the middle of most good routes and could rescue me if he had to.

I found the people I ride with in spinning class. After I started riding, a few friends from the rest of my life expressed interest in riding, but if I'd waited for them I'd still be waiting. So that's my recommendation, go to spinning and see if there are compatible level riders and groups there. My Y has several groups of different speeds who go out at different times so I have different levels of proficiency to shoot for.

[DarcyInOregon]

There is a difference between a farm and a ranch; it is farms where I bike, not ranches.

You can tell by the appearance of the farm house and outbuildings if it will be safe. For example, if there are chained dogs, then no. If there are acres of junked vehicles, then no. If it is all weeds and bare dirt around the buildings, then no. But if the farmhouse is all pretty with hanging plants on the porch and a sprinkler going on the lawn and somebody off to the side weeding a garden, then yes, stop and ask to use their water. It is also a safe stop at the corporate farms, where there are signs to show how many miles to the main office, and there are huge outbuildings just to house all of the equipment. Another indicator for safeness is if the farm has a stand for selling produce. Just use your common sense to tell if a farm is people friendly or not.

Darcy

[Aggie_Ama]

Darcy- I didn't mean any offense and I hope I didn't upset you. I think it is lovely that you have people like that around you. They are probably just as many around me but I am leary because of my in-laws experience. Their neighbor's house doesn't look like it would have a kooky old gun toting lady living there! And yes, it is mostly ranches around me not little farms.

I definitely would like to feel more comfortable riding alone and have gotten some great ideas. In the fall I won't have a choice but to ride alone as DH won't be home before dark.