Do you mountain bike alone?

[Aggie_Ama]

I do not mountain bike alone mostly because I am a clumsy fool and prone to slow-mo falls. Once of twice we have gone to the local beginner to intermediate trail and beat DH there so he catches up. The trail is very well traveled so I guess if I wrecked bad someone would be along at sometime. I know how to change a flat and other basic fixes. Plus as I found when I broke my seat post, it doesn't take that long to walk out of the trail.

[tzvia]

My very first mtb ride was alone, on a trail I had never been to, on a brand new bike I had never ridden on clipless pedals I had never used.

Talk about being nervous.

Those first few pedal strokes in the dirt, back in '96 on Chesboro trail in Agoura were the hardest I ever took. I had no idea how it would feel or if I would fall in the sand or what would happen if I hit a rock or root. I did not carry enough water but I did have some tools and a spare tire and pump. I wanted to scream on the first little downhill (wasn't so little then )

Loved every moment- Went back over and over on my days off till I could ride all the way to the very back of trail. Got a Camelback for more water, and learned about how to make a splint from small branches and shirt tails .

Flash forward 14 years. I still ride alone a lot of the time as my schedule is not the same as any one else. I've gone on vacations alone and rode trails in places I've never been (now with the help of a Garmin on the handlebar.) I like the prep; taking the time to make sure the bike and the stuff I take is all good as I don't want to walk out (did once, due to injury, walked/coasted to trailhead.)

I've crashed, had rattlesnakes swipe at me and frogs leap about my tires. Been stared down by a coyote. Had to take shelter from 102f heat to collect myself. Seen a Mountain Lion. Sometimes, things happen when you are alone because you are not with a noisy group. Sometimes, the peace is truly golden.

[katherine]

Sometimes, things happen when you are alone because you are not with a noisy group.

I saw a group of mommy elk with their babies this past weekend, awwwwwwww.

[Skierchickie]

I'm loving this thread. Especially the creepy yelling guy in the ski mask!

So, I still ride alone most of the time, and still don't think to carry a cell phone. And don't even know how to text. And, as far as telling someone where I'll be and when I'll be back, well, ..... the last time I made a point to tell DH where I was going, he looked up, said "Huh? Why are you telling me this?" and went back to what he was doing. Apparently he a) trusts me to take care of myself, and b) can't imagine that anything might go so terribly awry that he'd have to come and find me.

I was, however, riding with someone last July when I broke my ankle - fortunately she knew the trails we were on, because I did not. I'm still not thinking to carry my phone, even after that. Probably because the chances of having service are pretty slim. I'm pretty sure that I'd be spending the night in the woods tonight if I'd had trouble - unlikely that anyone would have happened upon me (it's April - just not that many people riding yet, even though the snow is mostly gone).