Motivation for mountain biking alone

[snowtulip]

Hi Everyone,
I usually ride with other people, but I plan on trying a race this year so I know I need to increase my riding time. In the past I hate mountain biking alone (I enjoy road biking alone) because there is no one to share new technical section techniques or to help push each other.
What might help me get out of this loathing of mountain bike riding alone? What do you do?
Thanks!

[Irulan]

don't race/train, but I do ride alone. I much prefer to go with someone
too as I find it more motivating, more social, more fun... but that isn't always an option.
On the days when I know that the only way I will get out is solo, I tell myself that it's either solo or stay stuck in the work room ( I work at home)

The personal reward is a whole different sense of freedom. I find the ride is much more of a meditation, and that I can customize it for me alone! Some days this might involve a real push, or maybe exploring a new trail, dawdling and taking pictures, or trying a technical bit.

I find once I make myself get out, I've never regretted it... the fresh air, the trail rushing under my wheels...

Irulan

[snowtulip]

Thanks Irulan! I am going to take my camera out with me the next time, I hadn't thought about that, but it is something that will keep me motivated.
Enjoy!

[Adventure Girl]

I like mountain biking by myself. I like being able to go where and when I want. If I feel good I can extend the ride. If I don't, I can cut it short. I have become quite self-sufficient riding alone.

But I also like riding with others. I've learned new trails and picked up a few techniques when in groups. Sometimes I'm one of the faster people in the group, sometimes I'm the one that the group is waiting for. I ride with others about 50% of the time.

If you're training to race, riding with others could be especially good if they are a little stronger than you. They'll pull you along. You will ride harder (trying to keep up). Riding with weaker riders won't be much help for your training if you're serious about racing. But those rides can be for fun & socializing. Also realize that you're helping them by pulling them along.

But if your group(s) don't ride often enough or hard enough, then it's back to self-motivation. And that has to come from within. Solo, I often ride the same loop and try to beat my best time. Other times I try new lines on certain sections. But I ride alone mostly because I really like riding.

What is it about road riding that you enjoy alone? Can you apply any of that to mountain biking? Or if you really don't like mountain biking alone, just road ride alone. That's great training for XC racing.

[Irulan]

I did a solo ride today. It wasn't supposed to be like that but my ride pal had some stuff come up. I was trying to work but it's gorgeous out..I couldn't work... so what the heck...

I rode 1/2 of one of my routes backwards, got about 10 miles of trail in. Got good and sweaty at some points, made it up all the climbs, down all the rocks, all in all a good day.

what I mean to say is, given the choice of going solo or not at all....

Irulan

[Irulan]

How could you NOT want to ride on a day like today?



I only took pics in the parking lot before I started the ride:



Actually, that's not true. I took some photos of the Devil's Drop when I got to the bottom. If I can do this clean I know I didn't forget how to ride over the winter.

upper section:



lower section:

[pedalfaster]

NICE! love the photos.

p.s.

I like to ride alone (road and mtb) and run alone and hike alone...alone has never been the problem for me. I started joining group rides to work on my social skills.

[snowtulip]

Today was my first scheduled alone ride, I did take my camera with me (thanks Irulan!). I tried to push myself with some intervals, basically I had locations I knew I wanted to take photos at, so I would push myself to go a little faster to make it to that point, baby steps all the way! It was so beautiful out!

Mountain biking is the only thing I find difficult doing alone. I love hiking, backpacking, etc. alone because I use that time to de-stress and focus on the beauty of the outdoors and sort my thoughts. It would seem natural that I should also enjoy mountain biking alone, my brain must be in social mountain biking mode.

But I love mountain biking so much that I'll just have to get over this little hump with some of the ideas you all have. Today was a good start, I truly enjoyed it, although I would come across a technical section that I wanted to share with people (I'll just have to share during the weekend).

Thanks!