Anyone train solo only for long rides?

[gabriellesca]

WOW - Thanks guys - great responses that make me miss riding with a team and also make me grateful I can ride alone!

I do carry my ID, cash, phone, etc. with me. I did do some on-line searches for area rides - but I think I have to get used to the fact that I was spoiled so much when I was on the Team in Training team. We had a SAG wagon for every ride over 20 - I had the greatest coach and mentors and tons of support.

But some good ideas here and I feel good knowing that training and riding 50 or even 100 miles on my own is totally do-able!

Thanks!

[Jill]

Thank you, gabriellesca, for posting this-- I am in the same boat. I am getting ready for 180 miles in 3 days in June (I was supposed to ride with my 70-year-old father but he got sick and doesn't want me to drop out because of him!). I am working on mastering the distance-- 60 miles a day is pretty intimidating to my nonfit-for-seven-years self-- and this week I finally joined a local bike shop's "D" level ride. They had to circle back for me twice, and although they were really nice about it I felt terrible, like an albatross or something. We ended with an 11 mile an hour pace, so I wasn't excruciatingly slow, but I still am loath to go back.

I'm on a hybrid so I can manage the country road conditions near my house, so it's partially an equipment issue. I can also see now that I'm laying off on the ascents of long hills. When I had to keep up with the group on the uphills, I quickly tired out and fell behind, and never felt like I had the juice to catch up for long.

It's hard to know what to do next. I'm riding to get healthy, and (to steal a line from my father) to complete the long ride "without praying for an asteroid or a forest fire." I'm okay with taking in the scenery at 11mph, but it seems unkind to inflict this on the bike shop people. They were kind to me, and everyone said, "You'll get faster/stronger," but my fear is that I really won't-- I'm working hard to be where I am right now. Any thoughts from those of you who have done this?

[ny biker]

Thank you, gabriellesca, for posting this-- I am in the same boat. I am getting ready for 180 miles in 3 days in June (I was supposed to ride with my 70-year-old father but he got sick and doesn't want me to drop out because of him!). I am working on mastering the distance-- 60 miles a day is pretty intimidating to my nonfit-for-seven-years self-- and this week I finally joined a local bike shop's "D" level ride. They had to circle back for me twice, and although they were really nice about it I felt terrible, like an albatross or something. We ended with an 11 mile an hour pace, so I wasn't excruciatingly slow, but I still am loath to go back.

I'm on a hybrid so I can manage the country road conditions near my house, so it's partially an equipment issue. I can also see now that I'm laying off on the ascents of long hills. When I had to keep up with the group on the uphills, I quickly tired out and fell behind, and never felt like I had the juice to catch up for long.

It's hard to know what to do next. I'm riding to get healthy, and (to steal a line from my father) to complete the long ride "without praying for an asteroid or a forest fire." I'm okay with taking in the scenery at 11mph, but it seems unkind to inflict this on the bike shop people. They were kind to me, and everyone said, "You'll get faster/stronger," but my fear is that I really won't-- I'm working hard to be where I am right now. Any thoughts from those of you who have done this?

I don't really get much faster as I get in shape, but the riding does get easier so you won't get tired so quickly and you can enjoy it more.

You might try talking to the person at the shop who leads the ride, a day or so before the next one, and discuss your concerns with them.