Do you mountain bike alone?

[ima_bleeder]

Some of the coolest things I've seen out riding, I only got to see because I was alone. And usually at dusk or at night. A lot of deer, a coyote, more recently a bobcat. So I love riding alone!

But I always try to be prepared, and I ride very cautiously when I'm alone. There are no maps of the trails, so I always ride areas I'm very familiar with, and in a pinch I've got the GPS. I save the technical stuff for rides with friends (and I try to get out with friends whenever I can). I've always got a lot of water and some food, a multi-tool, tube, and pump. As the days start getting shorter, and I'm pushing daylight, I'll start riding with lights. (I should always keep a small emergency light in my pack, but haven't gotten around to replacing the old one). I should also carry some sort of first aid kit ... I'll have to get on that.

I try to be prepared, but I don't spend time worrying about what might happen. I'm most likely to encounter wildlife, and the wildlife doesn't let me get very close, so these encounters are always at a distance. And when I do run across other people they're typically bikers, and there's a decent chance now (after mountain biking in these woods for a few years) that I'll recognize somebody in the group. It's a small town.

And, I'm just not much of a worrier. I try to be prepared, but I'm not happy when I'm worrying. And I like to be a happy person.

[dirtygirl1]

I also ride alone most of the time but follow a lot of the simple rules that have already been posted

1. I never ride alone at night or at dusk. All of the dangers mentioned in this thread are more prevalent at night

2. I ride in familiar areas. If I am new to an area I'll ride there first with my DH or a group of girls ... after that, I am ok riding it alone

3. I always carry tools and know how to fix my bike

4. I ride in places that have traffic (other people ride/hike there). I like riding alone but i also like to know that civiliation is close by when i am alone. I used to ride at a spot where i'd ride for 6 hours without seeing another soul. This started to freak me out after a while -- it was one of the few mtb spots around in that area. We've moved since then and my new haunts are all popular - I prefer seeing a few like-minded souls out on their bikes in the woods!!!

5. I always tell my DH where I am going and when I will be home

6. I carry a cell phone, extra food, extra water, and a few essential First Aide supplies

7. If the spot i am riding in is isolated I will carry bear spray

I think that's it!

All the best - enjoy summer on the trails!!!

[han-grrl]

I always carry tools and know how to fix my bike

OMG i can't tell you how often i found women on trails with flats who have no pump, and no idea how to fix it. I find that frightening, because a walk out would take HOURS from where they were.

[limewave]

I'm bumping this up from years ago. It wasn't too long after I posted this question that I got pg which put a halt to my mountain biking.

I'm finally back! And have some big goals for myself on the trail this year. And if I have any hope at all in accomplishing them, I HAVE TO RIDE ALONE.

So, alone it must be. There's some great advice in here.

This Friday I will venture out for my first solo mntn bike ride. I'm nervous, but excited. I'll be able to go my own pace without stopping every 1/2 mile to a mile. I'm planning to ride the 12 mile loop, but I know a short-cut at 6 miles in case I'm feeling like I need to bail early for any reason.

Will be bringing:
Map
Bike tools (&pump)
ID
Whistle
Pepper Spray
Emergency Blanket
Extra food
Extra lightweight jacket
First Aid kit
Compass
GPS computer

I've done a lot of adventure racing and backpacking, I'm feeling more prepared now than I did a few years ago. I have a lot of packable gear and more experience being out alone in the woods.

Happy Trails!

[moonfroggy]

i almost always ride alone but there is very good cell phone reception where i ride and i have only seen a creepy guy once but have occasionally met nice guys (i have yet to see another women mountain biking on the trails i ride solo) also the days i ride are days my husband is working from home and able to watch my 2 year old ds. i wear a road id and my husband always knows where i am. the days i have seen no other mountain bikers i have always seen rangers doing work on the trails. not lots of rangers just one but i figure if something happens i will get found within a few hours and if i am able to use my cell phone to call for help then a lot sooner. i love riding alone i love being surrounded by forest and nature and having that solitude it is something i get so rarely as a stay at home mom to a 2 year old. when i ride in a group i always learn a lot and i have fun but it isn't really relaxing and i just don't enjoy it the way i enjoy riding solo.

[lph]

This thread passed me by last time, so i'll pipe up now. I ride 90 % alone, commuting, road and dirt road, but these are not isolated areas and I have cell phone coverage everywhere. If I endo'ed and was knocked unconscious it would be a rare evening that someone wouldn't pass me in the course of 30 minutes. I carry some mechy stuff, money and bus pass if I'm riding somewhere more than an hours walk or so home.

But I was curious as to how several of you mention "creepy guys". What makes them creepy? This may be a very safe area (or country even) compared to many of you, or maybe I'm just blind to creepiness but I've almost never met anyone I felt threatening in the woods. Now that guy on the pier that Miranda (?) described - that was def creepy behaviour!

[zoom-zoom]

LW, something my hubby and I have noticed around here is that even when we don't get a good cel signal for making a phone call, texts seem to go through just fine. I think I know where you are planning your ride (it's one of DH's favorite places to ride and I always get nervous when he goes it alone, too). I can ask him how his phone works out there.

[Melissa71]

But I was curious as to how several of you mention "creepy guys". What makes them creepy?

I ride alone on biking trails all the time. I don't have any trail buddies, yet, and my husband doesn't enjoy riding like I do. What makes a guy "creepy" to me (and unfortunately I've been running into a few of them lately) is that they look completely out of place. Not like a casual stroller,biker, jogger or nature observer. It's hard to explain, it's more of a feeling or intuition than anything concrete. Usually it's in a remote location where there is no one around. That might make someone who normally wouldn't make me feel threatened, seem more sinister.