Overnight bike touring

[Crankin]

I wouldn't do it, either, but neither would my DH! We all have our limits. DH just wouldn't want to be responsible for everything, and he wouldn't camp at all. We did one supported (sort of) tour with camping and we found that while we like camping, we don't like it when it's combined with riding.
I don't especially enjoy long hours in the saddle by myself. My navigation skills are just OK, and frankly, I like to know where I am going, conditions, etc. I am always anxious in the beginning of any ride that I haven't done before, whether it's in my area or not. I've trained myself to calm down, but being on a group tour makes me feel safe. I don't necessarily ride with the group, but I am always with one person. I just don't like the feeling of being out there, alone.

[azfiddle]

I think I would be willing to go for a short distance, but would be more comfortable with at least one riding partner in case of a mechanical problem. I don't mind camping but it would depend on the area.

I've just done one 2 night weekend camping trip with my husband so far.

[ny biker]

I know some single women who do touring. Sometimes with an organized group, sometimes unsupported on a route they planned themselves. I'm pretty sure they're always with at least one other person, though I think that's as much for companionship as anything else.

I absolutely would not go on an overnight bike trip by myself, for safety reasons and also because it is just not the type of trip I would want to do without having someone else to talk to. I would not do any camping trip alone, related to cycling or not. If I was interested in a multi-day ride, I would do it as part of a group as long as I either knew the group beforehand or it was with an established company.

But honestly, I'm not interested in doing multi-day rides, at least not at this point in my life. Maybe down the road sometime.

[ridebikeme]

I'm headed on a solo tour tomorrow, and certainly understand what all of you are saying. I will admit that I would certainly think about where I am going a bit more when going solo, but it just didn't work out for my normal group of friends... and the last one bailed on me yesterday. So with vacation planned and the shop closed, well I certainly couldn't NOT ride.

[rebeccaC]

have a great tour ridebikeme!!!!

I do day rides by myself a lot. Some of my routes have other women riding alone too. I’ve enjoyed the adventure of camping multi-day rides by myself for a number of years, especially in Europe. On a few of those rides I’ve also come across another single woman rider to ride with within the first few days. I found a lot of women riding alone on Ragbrai when I did that with some friends. When camping I usually carry my hammock, which can be used as a tent when needed and has a rainfly, bug net and is less than 2 lbs.

I’ve done self-defense martial arts for a number of years as a confidence builder with the physical ability to quickly cause injury if I need to. Although I don’t think about it much I’m sure that it helps mentally and emotionally when I’m riding alone.

[shootingstar]

Good range of responses so far. During the first 8 yrs of returning to cycling, my partner and I did cycle tour with our own gear and camped 50% of the time on several multi-wk.long bike trips..trips he made up. I trust him alot because he is a well-informed cycling advocate and has strong knowledge of bike routes for several major Canadian cities and understands which roads to avoid, etc.

I could not imagine myself attempting to camp on my own because dorkus me, simply didn't even know how to put up a tent before I knew my partner. Camping in various wilderness parks where I live..means truly dealing with the reality of bears, etc. I think I could attempt an 1-2 day overnight bike trip that would blend in cycling, sea ferry ride and onto bike routes in Vancouver Island and some of the islands. But it would have to be hotel, b 'n b. More urban cycling instead of just wilderness cycling for days and days. There are some freakin' isolated areas ...and really, I wish that Canada wasn't so friggin' big at times!! Meaning lack of services for 100-200 km.

Do consider the reality of how to deal with going to the washroom on a big expanse of prairie ...with no trees. Just going 50 km. ouside of the city where I live, that's what it is.

I don't have great wayfinding skills...which amuses dearie to no end.

In all the cities where I've lived, I've cycled long distances by myself quite often. I don't mind it..I feel quite safe at any time during the day, because they are routes I've learned to stitch together after cycling them with dearie. I also know where I'm riding, that I'm not far from services, people to ask for detailed directions, etc. I don't ride at night solo often for just fitness/recreation...Night riding only happens for work commuting.

[Sky King]

I actually know several women who have done multi day tours by themselves. We had the pleasure of interviewing Leana Niemand this summer, she has been traveling for 7 years, primarily by herself.
Personally, I have yet to do an overnight or multiple overnights by myself - the opportunity just hasn't presented. I am also someone who enjoys riding with a few others, simply because I enjoy sharing so
the attraction of going off alone for extended periods of time isn't there for me.

Regardless, I think it is good to always be aware and be prepared. With today's ability to "keep in touch" via internet, phones, spots, etc. I think riding alone isn't "as risky" as a decade or so ago.