Do any of you ride organized rides alone?

[NbyNW]

Good for you!

I think I would be a bit nervous too, if I didn't see any other cyclists on the route. It's great that this experience has helped your self-confidence.

[gingerale]

To answer a few questions...it was really a 3 day holiday weekend ride. I only did the 1st day. They didn't have support vehicles out. But had "sweepers" that were there. But like I said, after I split off I didn't see anyone at all. No signs, either. Is that unusual?? They said they'd have them but on the route, I only saw 2 and they were up to the first rest area. Then nothing. Just had to go by the directions they handed us in our registration bag. Is that normal?

I would have ridden Saturday but it was 36 miles for the short one and I was afraid I'd be the only one on that one again. It wasn't a mass start ride, either. So people were just starting whenever they wanted. I did start out with probably 3 separate groups of about 20 or so in each. But got passed fairly quickly by several of those. lol!! Sunday's short route took me right on a major roadway, 4 lanes, but no shoulder for a large part of it. I was afraid of being on that alone, too. If my dad had gone, we'd have ridden all 3 days. But me alone, my courage was up but not that much.

[Brandy]

Great job on your solo ride!

I do all of my organized rides alone...unless I'm on the back of the tandem. I will hook up with pacelines, but I never plan to stick with a particular person or group. The more that you get out there alone, the more confidence you will gain.

[Blueberry]

It's rare for me to go to an organized ride alone, but I generally ride them alone, and frequently ride from my home alone. On the organized rides, DH usually does a different distance (and so, a different route), and he rides much faster anyway. I've spend 30+ miles alone *on an MS Ride* (I'm slow). The sweeps stay behind the last rider (I usually volunteer to do that for my local club). It's normal that you wouldn't have seen them - especially if you weren't the last rider coming in. When I'm sweeping, I usually try to check in on the last rider(s), but won't crowd them or ride with them the entire time (I don't want them to feel hurried).

Congratulations!!!

CA

[Zen]

See the post by NY Biker and put my name instead.

I do exactly the same thing.
I generally prefer riding alone; other people make me nervous. I do enjoy the camaraderie at the end.

[SadieKate]

Yep. Last organized ride was a 100 mi century around Mt Bachelor. Wait a minute, let's strike "organized" from that comment. The 2 "rest stops" were someone's pick-up parked on the side of a road with the tail gate down. With only about 100 riders total, I spent much of my time alone. It was nice that as I turned into the headwind two nice broad and tall pairs of shoulders showed up.

[shootingstar]

Great job on your solo ride!
.............................................................................................
The more that you get out there alone, the more confidence you will gain.

+1 You will become a far more adventuresome cyclist by learning to cycle alone on your own. Just imagine, one day soon you can lead a lengthy ride without problems. Seriously.

And this will increase the chances a great deal that you will stay cycling for the rest of your life without relying on another cyclist to accompany you.

[uforgot]

I do all of my rides alone. None of my friends ride. I've driven to all of the surrounding states to ride organized rides. I drive alone, stay in KOAs and ride alone. I've always had to have my space anyway. This summer I'm planning on hitting Austin and maybe Utah. Alone.

[sfa]

I've only ever ridden alone, organized rides or not. I met up with a couple of people while touring in the past, but didn't stick with them for long--I prefer riding alone and setting my own pace and stopping when I want to stop. I also like traveling alone better than with people. I love my family, but sometimes I wish they'd just go away and let me enjoy new places by myself!

Sarah, Curmudgeon-in-training

[uforgot]

I've only ever ridden alone, organized rides or not. I met up with a couple of people while touring in the past, but didn't stick with them for long--I prefer riding alone and setting my own pace and stopping when I want to stop. I also like traveling alone better than with people. I love my family, but sometimes I wish they'd just go away and let me enjoy new places by myself!

Sarah, Curmudgeon-in-training

A soul sister! I have friends who just don't understand. My family does, however. Have you ever read Party of One: The Loner's Manifesto?

[kjay]

All of my rides are alone, even my first tour, which was around the Big Island. Of course, once you get there, you aren't really alone, are you? There are so many others around, but you don't have to ride with them.

[Triskeliongirl]

My club sponsored the event, and I posted something in the regional section http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=30087. Too bad you didn't contact me, we could have met up. Maybe you missed it, but your map had an emergency number you could have used if you needed assistance. The fellow answering the emergency line (husband of our bike club pres) would have then dispatched a nearby sag to pick you up. There were markings on the roads, but not at every turn, more where there were splits between different routes. But detailed route maps and cue sheets were provided in the bags. I thought the route markings were adequate, with so many different routes offered each day it would have been impossible to mark every turn on every route.

I did the metric century on saturday. Great ride! You should have stuck around for saturday too. We did the eagle's nest. The first time I did this I had to walk for part of it, the second time I got up with mountain gearing and thought my heart was gonna pound out of my chest, and this year I sailed up w road gearing, passing others as I went. Cool.........

[OakLeaf]

No signs, either. Is that unusual?? They said they'd have them but on the route, I only saw 2 and they were up to the first rest area. Then nothing. Just had to go by the directions they handed us in our registration bag. Is that normal?

Route markings vary depending on the ride, but especially if you were told the route would be marked, I'd definitely let the organizers know about that. Lots of people (me included), might not be super careful with their maps/cue sheets if they believe the route is marked. Having helped mark routes myself in the past, I would DEFINITELY want to know if riders didn't think I'd done my job adequately.

To answer your original question, yes, most organized rides I'll start on my own. I'll usually find people riding a similar pace for a while, then there'll be a rest stop, etc. When I did the Lone Star Ride last fall, I was all alone for a good part of it (and since that route was also pretty poorly marked, it was a little bit scary).

Good job getting out there!

[gingerale]

Thanks for the info. I'll go ahead and email them about it then.