Do you like talking on the road or not?

[hgrill02]

Just wondering what everyone's opinion was. I find that if I ride with someone that I can talk to (men don't get this) that I can go further, faster and have a lot more fun riding. I know there are a lot of very serious riders out there that don't like to "chat" on the road...what is your preference?

[KnottedYet]

I don't like to talk while riding.

If I'm on the bike I just want to ride, but at a rest stop I will talk up a storm!

Oh, but I do sing on the bike.

[kelownagirl]

Mostly no talking unless there's something important to say or to point out. I'm usually breathing too hard to talk anyway.

Now if we're just toodling along for fun, I like to ride side by side and chat all the way...

[MINIskirt]

I'm a talker. It really helps the miles go faster for me, and if I'm riding with someone who is just a little faster than me, I'll give it the extra push to keep up.

[RoadRaven]

Mostly I ride on my own, and don't talk to myself... but on slow-medium pace training ride (like Knotted I often sing to myself).

On a slow-medium pace ride with others, we usually ride in a pace-line so no talking. When with my partner, we often ride side by side and chat - one of the few occasions we are uninterrupted by children!

One of the women I train with most often prefers to ride beside me on and we "talk shop" alot - often our rides will be extended lunch breaks or if we can leave work early.

On medium-fast training rides, nope, very little talking... usually in a pace-line anyways.

In a race? Nope, just too busy trying to breathe!

[indysteel]

I'm not big on talking when I'm riding, although I'm otherwise a big talker. In a paceline, definitely not. On more leisurely rides, I don't mind having short exchanges here and there--usually comments about the rides itself--but I otherwise find it an unwanted distraction. As many group rides as I do, I actually prefer riding alone I think, or at least riding with someone who doesn't feel the need to talk my ear off.

I also have trouble hearing when the wind is rushing over my ears and I get sick of yelling, "what?" Frequently, I'll be on a group ride with someone who wants to chat. I'll explain that I'm having trouble hearing them, with the hope that it will shut them up. Invariably, it doesn't. Ugh. I've started to just tell people that I'm not much of a talker on the bike.

[7rider]

Just wondering what everyone's opinion was. I find that if I ride with someone that I can talk to (men don't get this) that I can go further, faster and have a lot more fun riding. I know there are a lot of very serious riders out there that don't like to "chat" on the road...what is your preference?

Depends on the ride and the riders.
When with DH, conversation is usually limited to "Are we doing the loop clockwise or counter-clockwise?" and "Did you see that?" (NO! I'm too busy staring at your rear derailleur trying to keep up!)
Like IndySteel, I have difficultly hearing over the wind noise. DH, who is usually in front of me, has an annoying habit of not turning his head to speak - and he's so soft-spoken, I never hear anything he says anyway.
However, there are rides where wind noise is not a factor, and the social aspect of the ride is key.

[SouthernBelle]

On long rides with someone, I go 50-50. There are periods where I just like to crank, and times where we hit a section where we can do some nice side by side chatty riding.

[SheFly]

On training rides, forget it. If you can talk, you're not riding hard enough . I rode with our women's group this week and in a paceline one of them was chatting up a storm! All I could think was that she wasn't riding hard enough, so I went to the front and bumped up the pace - that quieted things down .

There are rides, though, that are social in nature. Talking is ok on those rides.

SheFly

[li10up]

I'm not much of a talker on the bike... or off if, for that matter, if the other person can't help carry the conversation. I ride with a super nice guy that talks nearly non-stop. It helps to take your mind off of the pain if it's a tough ride. He makes fun of me if I don't at least grunt at him every now and then. I don't mind conversation on the bike if they are still paying attention and pointing out hazards. I usually just listen in though.

[10ch]

If I'm riding solo, I often talk to myself.

If I'm riding with friends on a MUP or country road w/zero traffic, I'm a total talker.

If I'm riding in traffic or on single track, I'm too focused for conversation and often annoyed when people get chatty.

[mimitabby]

I like to talk and listen too. It does make the time go faster. Of course, on the harder parts, i can get out monosyllables! but there are lots of other times where I have enough steam to ask and answer questions.

[roguedog]

I really like social rides but now that you've made me think about it... I think I like talk on the flats if there's room. Once we hit a hill, I gotta focus.

[mimitabby]

you gotta focus or you gotta breathe?

[SheFly]

you gotta focus or you gotta breathe?

Can't talk - breathing!