Cycling on your own

[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.

[DarcyInOregon]

Hi Amanda,

It is really on a very rare occassion that a cyclist needs to get water from a farmhouse. One doesn't need water that very second, so over a span of a few miles the cyclist can make the best choice, or even take a detour to a nearby small town. As someone else said, rural churches are a possibility, Another choice I have is when crops or nursery plants are being worked by the farm workers, the farmers put out the porta-potties, and sometimes there is a location right next to the road instead of on the other side of the field. Some of these porta-potties have a big tank on one end with a sink and a faucet, and cyclists can fill up their water bottles there. And use the toilet too.

The trick is to always fill the water bottles whenever there is an obvious oppportunity, like at a rural store. I think most distance solo cyclists will agree that one never knows what will happen on a ride with respect to liquid consumption. For example, I know I typically drink about 12 ounces for every ten miles. Thus, if I am going on a route I've done numerous times and I know the exact miles, I should be able to tell how much water to bring with me. Wrong. Stuff happens, inexplicable stuff. Even if I hydrate well before the start of the ride, 5 miles into the ride I might be real thirsty for some reason, incredibly thirsty, and the 12 ounces per ten miles is meaningless. Or the temperature is a few degrees higher, and the sun reflecting back off the asphalt pavement makes my body lose more water than typical, and therefore I need more water to drink. Or I am 18 miles from the end of the route and a freaky very strong and hot wind starts up, so I am battling a high head wind that exhausts my energy stores plus the moisture is being zapped out of my body from the heat, and so once again the 12 ounces per ten miles is meaningless.

It is all fun, very fun. I am totally addicted to it.

Darcy

[SouthernBelle]

On Memorial Day I was out for a ride, my ice was gone and it was hot. I spotted 2 Bellsouth trucks. They always have big ice water containers. I stopped, asked and received.

[onimity]

Throughout the world (even Texas ) I've found that people are more kind than not. My rule of thumb is to expect the former, be prepared for the latter.

I like your style, Darcy. Our judgment can tell us a lot and you can meet some really wonderful people asking for help or just stopping to chat. Anyhow, the risk of dehydration is probably higher than the risk of getting shot?

TexanCzexican, I really like riding by myself, especially on longer rides. Bring a cell phone and enjoy yourself. But it's important to make friends too, you may find that you meet other cyclists on your journeys that you can ride with. Just be friendly and don't discount the slower group even if you only use the chat time to find a riding buddy. Also, I ride my bike to work and on errands and find that a lot of people talk to me because of it. (The helmet and shoes are a dead give away) People just come up and talk about bikes.

Good luck! I second the suggestion on the road id.

Anne

[TexanCzexican]

Update:

Last night I set out for the short route of 14 miles on my own. Had cell phone and all my flat stuff packed, except for mace which I need to buy. Sent the route map via email to my mom and said if she didn't hear from me in an hour & a half, to start calling.

The route was very nice, though lightning started so I had to turn around. Ended up with 8 miles for the night and am planning to try the full 14 on Saturday morning.

Oh, and I officially signed up for a charity ride in September. I'm only doing the 12 mile ride as it will be my first. I'll do another ride in October, it will be a longer 30 mile option, in Goliad, TX

And I will be doing the Monday night social ride.

[sundial]

Sounds like you have some great rides in the near future. Hopefully you will meet new riding buddies on your group rides who may want to ride with you on your long rides.

[Look]

Update:

Last night I set out for the short route of 14 miles on my own. Had cell phone and all my flat stuff packed, except for mace which I need to buy. Sent the route map via email to my mom and said if she didn't hear from me in an hour & a half, to start calling.

The route was very nice, though lightning started so I had to turn around. Ended up with 8 miles for the night and am planning to try the full 14 on Saturday morning.

Oh, and I officially signed up for a charity ride in September. I'm only doing the 12 mile ride as it will be my first. I'll do another ride in October, it will be a longer 30 mile option, in Goliad, TX

And I will be doing the Monday night social ride.

Paige, just a thought...if your September charity ride has a longer option that you are comfortable with, my guess is potential riding partners will choose the ride that suits them, not a shorter one. So choose the length that bests suits your ability and challenge and then you'll more likely meet others riding at your pace and distance. Don't cut yourself short by riding to less than your ability.

[han-grrl]

I often do my training alone. In fact MOST of my training is alone. I work odd hours, and if i want to get my training in, it means solo. sometimes its boring (especially the long rides), but to me its a matter of commitment to my training.

i find this topic interesting, its neat to know other ladies out there ride solo as well. Too bad we couldn't all ride together!

anyway, i make sure that hubby or someone knows where i am going and which route i am planning. i have my cell phone with, and i dont' ride with music, so that i can hear what is going on around me. i carry my ID with me, and stay on more populated roads, even if it means a bit more traffic.

Once i was riding, and i can hear someone riding up behind me, breathing away. he was coming closer, and i was starting to panic a bit. i practically got ready to punch him out when i hear "hi hannah" as my COACH (at the time) pedals by with another of his athletes. my response was a "AAAAAAAAAAAAH!" then an "oops, hi". It was pretty funny, but i think he should have said something a little earlier.

Ride safe!
Han