Pinkbike Poll: Solo Missions

Nov 5, 2013 at 1:23
by Matt Wragg  
Some days you just need to get away from everything. Those days when the problems come rolling in like waves, breaking around your head and pushing you down beneath the currents of life. When you need a little break from the world, a bicycle is far better than any life raft, it's the perfect escape vehicle.

The top of the Fernhill Loop.

It doesn't matter what bike you take, which trail you ride or how fast you go. Whether it's pushing the big bike up your local trail for that short, sweet hit, cranking out the miles on your trail bike, or even pounding the tarmac on the road bike. What matters is the escape. Leaving it all behind and getting lost in the feel of the tyres on the ground. In many ways, it's the purest way of riding. Freedom to ride at whatever pace feels right. If you feel like stopping to soak in the world around you? It's fine. Fancy hammering flatout until the foam froths at your mouth and your heart pounds in your chest like an out of control jackhammer? No worries. You can let the trail ebb and flow with your moods.

When you're on the trail there's not time to think about anything else. People who spend their lives talking about things like inner peace and spiritual harmony can search for a lifetime for Zen. The idea is simple, it's one perfect moment when all that fills your mind is a single thing, you are free from the rest of the world. As mountain bikers we're lucky, we can reach that state each and every time we drop into a good trail. Everything else is long gone, all that is left is the next corner, the next braking spot, your line choice, your foot position, your gear, the grip from your tyres... What better type of escape could there be?

Coronet sunset.

All of the bullshit around mountain biking is stripped away too. You don't need to worry about whether you look "enduro" enough for 2013, if you run enough spacers under your stem or that you have the correct colour frame for this season. Nobody is going to stop you at the trailside and demand you explain the relative benefits of whatever wheelsize, gear ratio or stem length you want to run. There is nothing but you, your bike and the trails you want to ride, no right way or wrong way of doing things.

Then there's the risk... If you ride with the right friends, you know they will always come back to search for you if you don't reach the end of the trail. Out on your own, there is no support. If you go down you're in trouble. Maybe big trouble. If you're being sensible that means you should ride well within your comfort zone, taking lines you know, speed you can control and skipping sketchier features on the trail. But for a certain type of person, that edge adds something to the ride. A tiny bit of the feeling you get climbing without a safety rope. It's hard to resist staying off the brakes a little longer than you know you ought to, chancing that line that calls to you each time you pass it. And when the bike slips, as it will sooner or later, there's nothing like the feeling of being so close to disaster, you'll never feel more alive.

Coronet singletrack. Photo by Luke Sergent.

Of course there is one, important caveat to all this: You should never go out into the mountains or backcountry if nobody knows you're going or roughly where you're going to be. Mountain biking, by its very nature, takes us out away from the world and if you don't show respect for that it can all-too-easily end badly for you. You do also need be aware of the risks you are taking. Between all of us here at PB we've got enough scar tissue and sore joints to be ineligible to preach sensibility, but you do need to think about what you're doing.


Story: Matt Wragg Photos: Luke Sergent



Do you ride alone?






Author Info:
mattwragg avatar

Member since Oct 29, 2006
753 articles

144 Comments
  • 172 0
 I wish i had friends
  • 66 0
 ill be your friend, snooky.
  • 44 0
 Awww ❤️
  • 87 0
 Screw you e-harmony, pinkbike is taking over
  • 5 0
 Where I live, no matter how far I go, I'm not getting away from anything, so I always ride with someone
  • 10 0
 Im now following you snooky - I think thats the best we can do to remedy the situation Wink
  • 21 0
 yeah none of my friends ride... i ride alone 90% of the time
  • 16 0
 Everyone be friends with Snooky, poor little mite.
  • 6 13
flag hardyk (Nov 8, 2013 at 11:02) (Below Threshold)
  • 2 1
 i always enjoy riding with friends. but of course i have no friends so im mostly riding alone, which is not that bad
  • 3 0
 hey snooky I understand you very well... I need some of them too Frown
  • 3 4
 Umm hi guys. My name is Patrick. I like to ride bikes and party. I really feel like I could be the man of your dreams. So if there are any single biker chicks in the lower mainland who want to "go for a ride" let me know. I'm sure we could work something out. Preferably under the age of 50 because I'm only 16 (almost 17) but a lil milf action can't hurt now can it Wink
  • 1 0
 #youredoingitwrong
  • 2 0
 well......that went in a weird direction.
  • 56 1
 Started riding on my own when my mates started coping out with the whole iv got the kids, im painting the house ect. Turns out the best thing iv found. No more getting up at stupid o'clock to pick them up, fixing there bikes, and waiting around when I just wanna get going. Then having to compromise on the route, cuz they wanna get back for football at 3, (no mention of this previously!) then trying to keep up on the climbs then getting stuck behind them on the decent. being the last one home after dropping them all of when I'm dieing for a wash/beer/bed
  • 14 21
flag savmeister (Nov 8, 2013 at 2:36) (Below Threshold)
 @ markg1150 .. im not surprised no one wants to ride with you if that what you think about your "mates" !!
  • 24 0
 I'm the one doing all the hard work and I'm the bad guy? It's not like the places we ride are close, it's at least 4 to 5 hours worth driving plus the ride. I get guilt tripped into if you don't drive such a body can't come (iv got a van) and It's usually some boring trail centre that gets the vote. Don't get me all wrong I do still enjoy riding with my mates, but all my fave rides that i remember are solo.
  • 9 0
 im feeling ya on this markg1150
  • 4 0
 When none of my riding buddies want to ride the venue/distance I do, I do it myself. I do it because I love it, yeah riding with friends is fun, but it's not the reason I ride.
  • 1 1
 sounds like you need new friends
  • 2 0
 ..which is what I was about to post. The one driving should make the rules (keeping it reasonable obviously), take it or leave it..
  • 43 0
 A great sport for sharing with mates, but its hard to beat a solo ride. When you have kids and busy life you have to just grab opportunities to get out when they pop up. I had a big enough OTB this week on a solo nightride, its amazing all the things that go through your head between reaching the point of no return and hitting the ground; my fork needs more damping, how far to the nearest road, will I have mobile coverage in this ditch, do I look enduro?
No point worrying too much about what could happen on a solo ride, as Matt says, maybe reign in the radness a bit. But if you let someone know where you'll be and bring a charged up phone you should be alright, most phones now have gps, you'd be an easy rescue!
  • 16 1
 Your "do I look enduro" comment made me laugh. hahahaha.....
  • 2 0
 Ace coment DMCM. I'm 40, have a full time job, own a house (a lot of work), have a kid, and a demanding spouse! My windows to ride are narrow at best and I got to jump on them when I can. That means a lot of solo rides but I savor every one.
  • 6 0
 In the same boat.. Kids, house, building a business.. Just makes riding even more essential for staying sane! Solo rides are the surest way to clear the head and regain focus. BTW.. If I look enduro in the woods alone and no one is there to see me am I still enduro?
  • 3 1
 It's not the enduro on the outside that counts. It's the enduro on the inside. It's like a beard relating to manliness, only the opposite
  • 2 0
 Love riding with a couple of friends, love riding solo. Not that I'm antisocial, but I most often pass up the typical rest spots where people tend to congregate to rest and chat because I want to ride more than talk. Of course as a family man and teacher, most of my riding is done after dark anyway, so not much competition for trails at night.

buspilot: what if I look enduro in the woods alone AT NIGHT and no one is there to see me...?
  • 1 0
 INduro?
  • 18 0
 Well, no surprise in the poll data. This will be the case for any non-traditional sport. Plus, as you get older, even getting people out to do any kind of sport or activity is like pulling teeth. But mountain biking is such a good feeling, that I don't give two flying sh*ts if I have to ride by myself. If I don't get a ride in every few days, I'm not the same person.
  • 5 0
 I'm actually surprised. I ride alone most of the time (and I love it) and I hardly ever come across other solo riders so I didn't expect the poll answers to be so stacked.
  • 1 0
 @gamblor: That is true. AAAand: No whining about bad weather and you get to do it anytime you want
  • 17 2
 I like to ride alone sometimes. Especially when I'm up in the mountains, I love seeing God's creation, It really reminds me of how lucky I am. When I do ride with someone, I ride with my Dad. We normally don't get along too well, but there's something about the bike that connects us and we're then great friends.
  • 2 0
 I do the same thing. I'm almost 30 and my dad is almost 60. I love to take in Creation by myself and pray/meditate while I ride, but having someone to share that with is very special, too.
  • 8 0
 I ride with my son, boss or solo for similar reasons. Solo is my favorite, but riding together helps build strong but casual relationships. Right now my son still thinks of me as his best friend but I know that is fleeting. Some day he will not think dad is cool. For those times, I hope we will have the common bonds of skiing and mtb'ing to pull us through at least until he hits full maturity and comes full circle. Much like skiing, hiking, and fishing did for me and my dad, our relationship is great now but it wasn't always that way.
  • 7 0
 i do the same, AaGro. neighborhood, trail or track my kiddo and i go. i never put a time limit on it either or set schedule. sometimes we drive to go ride and get there and he decides to cut it short or wants to ride for half an hour around the neighborhood and we end up gone for a 4hr rideabout. once he just had me sit and watch him dig a little jump line in a ditch we found for 3hrs. my hope is that he looks at time to be on his bike as always a positive thing he can use whenever. solo to relax, think, not think, pinned, explore...whatever. you're right it is a fleeting moment but i hope it comes full circle and he'll hit me up for a ride when he's the one driving. can't take anything for granted. ever.
  • 4 0
 Nice Fullbug. Just last week, we went to ride a new spot and he wasn't having fun so we packed it up, drove to his favorite spot and rode until the dark chased us home. I only ever want it to be fun for him. It is the only riding I do with my phone off.
  • 2 0
 got a hint of "dad's not cool enough" last week! we usually ride up to his school in the mrngs but he asked if i could just hang back a couple of blocks where his friends were meeting and got the goodbye hug and got waved off. crushed! it was all good after school cuz we enden up cruisin for an hour together. him on his 20 and me on a longboard. stoked!
gotta love bikes and the freedom you find with it as a kid cuz it definitely sticks with ya!
  • 1 0
 Could one of you adopt me?
  • 13 0
 I was having the shittiest day the other day and I broke out the single speed hard tail and rode my favorite trail backwards. It was amazing and led to the discovery of a new trail section I had never seen. Made my day infinitely better.
  • 2 0
 Some nice surprises are found when riding trails backwards...
  • 7 0
 I can only get a pedal stroke or two backwards. Mad props for riding the whole trail that way!
  • 12 1
 Yeah, I'd definitely ride alone way more if I had a 'secret' camera crew like this guy, documenting my journey and then calling the emergency services when I crashed. Essentially Bear Grylls...
  • 50 0
 yeah, he's not even a real bear.
  • 13 0
 But hey if I was to make a big enough f up of my solo ride, I might make it onto his series Escape from Hell. Severe nettle rash, unable to ride and stranded in the wilds of suburban England, having to fend off squirrels and birds by hurling various parts of my bike.
  • 7 22
flag WAKIdesigns (Nov 8, 2013 at 2:26) (Below Threshold)
 omenshredder - I can imagine those photos being taken by a camera with self-shutter on a tripod. I also deeply believe that laughing at Bear Grylls is not a sign of intellect - What do you guys think?
  • 8 0
 To avoid a totally pointless rant, I actually quite like the guy, it was a lighthearted comment. There are inevitably significant risks of being alone in the wilderness.
  • 4 19
flag WAKIdesigns (Nov 8, 2013 at 2:56) (Below Threshold)
 I did my best to keep it civil and not judge you, yet sending some message, I may have failed to make it clear. Sorry for makig you feel like you need to write a rant, I certainly failed.
  • 4 2
 @ waki this time a read your comment before i disliked it (like i do it usually) And this time i liked it!! i really did.
  • 8 13
flag WAKIdesigns (Nov 8, 2013 at 5:31) (Below Threshold)
 Maybe we should be able to get Comic Sans font option to mark when you are joking, because some people fail to spot it. I was joking with this intellect alright? I am fully aware that as soon as I write this, few morons are hurrying up to write something interpersonal, that can't take any effect on me and turns this place into a mess... negprop committee again, hau hau doggies rhau rrrrhau! Heel! Heeel!
  • 1 0
 You can always use /s to denote sarcasm where it's not clear enough... or at least that's how we do on reddit Razz
  • 1 0
 After reading most of it is staged, I just can't watch US anymore. They actually went as far as using a fog machine on a volcano to simulate highly toxic gases causing 'panic'. Problem was the real gases are indeed pretty dangerous but happen to be colourless.. Ray Mears' show does seem to be the real deal though.
  • 5 0
 I like riding solo, no pressure from anyone, go at your own pace, love it, but I always ride within my limits. There are trails I'll ride with my brother that I won't even contemplate riding alone, because the risk is just not worth it.
  • 3 0
 Yeah I started riding with a group and miss being able to send it more knowing that someone can get me to the hospital. That said I ride in a different style to anyone I know. Its easy to get someone for a crosscountry ride and I've met enough hard core dh and freeriders but I'm more aggressive all mountain light, freeride ridden like an urban bmxer. I've never met any one who stops on the trail to session a set of jumps again or goes back down the hill to climb a techy section without dabbing. No one I know wants to stop and do a little trail maintenance either.
  • 2 0
 sounds like how I ride trails actually. what's the point of riding all the fun bits of a trail once per lap!?
  • 1 0
 yeah, you always got to hike up the jump section a couple of times
  • 3 0
 loved riding alone until i had one of my worst crashes alone on a trail ride. got myself and the bike out of the woods, walked up to a cop, who was giving someone a ticket, to ask for a ride to the hospital. (i really wasnt too hurt, but i couldnt drive myself, and i was too far from any friends) of course, the cop couldnt give me a ride, but had to call an ambulance. i vowed never to ride by myself again. that was two years ago, and the last time i rode alone was yesterday. sometimes you just gotta ride, with or without anyone else, but i try to take it a little easier now if noones around. but i agree, being able to ride the trail however you feel like is a definite bonus
  • 5 0
 I ride alone all the time. I have been in some situations where it would have been beneficial to have a riding buddy. But in my opinion if you use commonsense, pre-plan and, leave notice with someone (family/co-worker/neighbor) your "epic" should turn out safe.

Here is a good example of Meeee not using commonsense.

Out on a ride... see a nice spot to have lunch. It's a ridge of an escarpment with a nice view of a lake, about 200m high. Now I see a ledge that looks like a cool place to be. I climb down and drop onto the ledge. Now here is the problem...when I dropped to the ledge I didn't realize in able to get back up I would need some footing or spots to place my hands to climb out. So there I was on a ledge 196m high with practically no way to get back up the rock face. I see a tree root protruding from the rock face just out of reach (even with jumping up). After several failed attempts I amazed myself on how dumb I was. Luckily I had my hydration pack still on and was able to toss it up and snag the protruding root. Which now gave me the length I needed to hoist my dumb ass up to some footings.

Lesson learned!!! Just because it LOOKS like a cool place to be doesn't make it a safe place to be.

Stay Safe !!
  • 5 0
 I'm surprised to see most of the people ride alone like me. I won't say which one is better, riding alone or riding with friends, because both are having their positives. What is perfect about mountain biking is that you CAN do it alone. You cannot play tennis or football alone, but fortunately this is not the case for riding your bike. I do prefer riding with someone, but I do appreciate how easier is to ride alone and this is what I'm doing most of the time.
  • 4 0
 I have to be honest, one of the the many reasons I ride a mountain bike is to get the hell away from people not herd with them, facebook the trip, photograph them, talk about what you did, social media what you did, strava the trip, etc... Get out there and do something by yourself for god sakes
  • 4 0
 Riding with friends is better, but with shifts getting in the way that's a bit of a luxury at times. Also, there's no better way to improve than going out on your own and sessioning stuff without fear of anyone else getting bored/frustrated/etc.
  • 2 0
 As much as I love riding with my friends, I agree, there is something special about the freedom of riding with only your shadow.
  • 4 0
 This! When I ride with friends I dont session as much, dont want to bore them. I can and will ride the same set of turns for a hour straight trying to get it right.
  • 1 0
 My shadow, a pesky little bugger, has tripped me up any number of times. Part of the reason I live in the overcast pacific northwest and ride mostly at night.
  • 3 0
 I used to ride motos aswell as mtb all the time by myself until I got unstuck on my moto and was stuck in the bush for 2 days . The thing is I loved being alone going for a ride but since then I've tried a few times and I can't ride at my fullest because I'm worried bout getting stuck again not the injury itself . But each to there own just have fun on your bikes wen you do ride
  • 3 0
 This article really hits home for me right now. I broke my tib/fib just above the ankle while riding with just my dog last weekend. Hit a relatively small and familiar jump, but washed out on the landing and my leg got caught between the bike and the trail. SNAP. I was lucky that it was less than a mile from my house and mostly downhill. Was able to scooter along with the good leg. If I had passed out, I would have been on that trail for a long time. I will never stop riding alone, but little stunts like that will require a lot more focus in the future.
  • 3 0
 The older I get, the less able I am to find friends with time or motivation (or without injuries) who can make it to ride. Being a shift worker doesn't help either. I enjoy riding alone for all the reasons that others here have mentioned. I'm also very cautious about it. I've helped out riding mates with trail injuries, including leg breaks. Another friend passed out after crashing while he was riding alone. Luckily, that guy was on a busy trail during the summer, and someone found him. None of the trailside injuries to my riding buddies occurred on radical sections.

Before going out alone, think about it. Are you riding marked trails? Busy area? Will someone find you the same day? Does your phone work in all of the areas that you ride alone? Do you carry food, water, air, tubes, tools, clothes, lights, and first aid supplies? Does anyone really know where you are? If you answer "no" to any of these questions, you need to be even more careful about how you're riding if you go out alone. Waiting for Search and Rescue is gonna ruin your day.
  • 3 0
 I prefer to ride alone, I tend to push myself more too on those rides when I'm trying to go hard. As long as you tell people where your going though and give them a time period to expect you home you should be fine. If something goes wrong they will be able to send help to your trail. I make sure I have my phone on me and luckily I tend to always have reception.
  • 3 0
 all my friends are gear heads and can't understand why anyone would want ride a bike rather than a fast car. I haven't a soul to go riding with. I actually in the years I have been riding have never once ridden with anyone else for more than 10 min. Everyone I bring to try the sport gets hurt or too scared.
  • 3 0
 I'd rather ride with a friend, but it generally never happens.
Once, I got a paralyzing leg cramp 17 miles into a really technical 25 mile loop, about 7 miles from my campground. Being exposed to the noon sun on a 100F day and stranded with no cell phone signal or other riders is a terrible, terrible feeling. It wouldn't have been that hot, but I wasted a lot of time and energy after patching a tube and refilling it with a shock pump after my air pump failed. Do you have any idea how long that takes?
Anyway, I never felt more alone and vulnerable than when being stranded and exposed like that. It definitely changed my way of thinking and preparing for solo rides.
I ride alone all the time, but it's not as much fun.
  • 6 0
 i wish i had friends that ride Frown
  • 3 0
 I have found mountain biking a great way to meet people. Moved to kelowna 6 years ago and knew no one. Lots of riders in my area and the community is very welcoming. Made some new good friends that way.
  • 2 0
 After riding almost all year alone, I do admit it's better haha. Just something about being able to blow through trails without waiting on people to ''have a drink'' after finishing trails etc, way less stressful and can generally be a bit better.
  • 2 0
 I agree with DMCM, once you already have a family and a job to do, time for biking becomes difficult, I mean deadlines, family issues comes on the way.However, When I feel stressed and beaten, I go out for a ride even if it's just an hour pedal. Helps me to clear my mind and resets my mood.
  • 2 0
 i did ride with my dad but he had an accident come off at high speed and broke some ribs and bruised his back i thought he broke it , again. he smashed his helmet off a rock and he was still knocked out. he did do brilliantly as i was on a full sus and he was on a cheap bike with awful front forks... safe to say he doesnt go with me anymore! moral of the story dont let your old man ride alone as for your self do it!!
  • 2 0
 MTB is nice couse its not like scooba diving or climbing where you really need someone to help. In the beggining I was XC alone than in the DH had all that cock suckers and hate it. After that went to live in the coutry side and rode trails with my DH bike and can say thay I touched the hands of god. So much fun riding alone doing your own destiny.
  • 2 0
 Solo rides. I decide the trail, the pace and choose when I want to stop. Bro rides. Crazy f.ing carnage. Flats, break downs, people bitchin about what trails to ride. I luv it all! Solo or wit da bro,s Its all good. Funny im an antisocial mother fcker.
  • 4 0
 Quite interesting results in the poll. A far cry from the 'racing is the ultimate fun on a bike and single riding is for loners' speel that most of the mags give us.
  • 2 0
 Ridding alone is one of the best feeling in the world as its just you and nature (as the article explains). But riding with mates is a different ball game, both amazing just for different times, places and moods.
  • 1 0
 A ride on a familiar loop? Sure. But exploring new and unfamiliar places always seems better with a buddy or within a group. In that case, getting lost can even be fun(if that buddy isn't your significant other). Lift access days are also too much fun to experience alone. It'd be like watching an awesome movie in the theater solo.
  • 3 0
 Me and my trail dog Denzel! Always good times although he gets distracted by the odd rabbit or squirrel makes me laugh all the time!
  • 2 0
 Same here, with my dog Haro. He covers about 3x the distance I do and provides some psychological comfort with respect to the bears and cougars lurking about, though I am not so sure how much help he'd be in a pinch. Prefer to have friends along but as many here have said working out the respective schedules is the problem.
  • 3 0
 There's no cougers or bears in the southeast of England to worry about thank fook! Trail dogs are the best mine loves it and goes bananas if I step anywhere near the shed to get my bike out.
  • 1 0
 You have more freedom going by yourself. You don't have to accommodate for your friends. I can focus way better alone. It's just the dangerous wildlife I often encounter that makes me think "safety in numbers". But this is not necessary true. Some people really freak out and start to panic in such situations drawing unwanted attention. A dog might draw unwanted attention too, or be a good thing so you don't get surprised? But the extra bodies are good for making more noise on the trail, first-aid and sharing the epic adventures.
  • 1 0
 Whats the best trail Dog? I've never seen a cliff a pit bull won't go down but they are banned here.
  • 1 2
 Haven't researched it but in my experience the Border Collies are great, though mine is young and clearly hasn't read his own Manual yet. Springer Spaniels are good too. A couple friends have the latter; those dogs seem to listen well, actually stay with their owners, and have great stamina. Mine touches base with me occasionally at best. As for pit-bulls: great as defenders re big critters but they scare other people so not recommended - plus they do disembowel the odd child and that can be a problem.
  • 2 0
 Mines a Parsons Jack Russell x boarder terrier, 13 kg though and very long legged, can run all day 40 km is his record, with loads of food and water stops. A mate has a collie, it just gets in the way trying to herd me back to his him! The dog is much more suited to Singletrack than bridleways, keeps up through the twisty stuff! He's even done an uplift day at the forest of dean too!
  • 1 0
 We have a group of friends that ride religiously on wednsday nights , that is my only guaranteed ride each week which is great because there is always a crew but when the opportunity opens to squeeze an extra ride in I go for it and often after riding solo I come back wishing I could do it more! No need to worry about keeping group pace and totally free to pick my own roué and connect trails I most want to ride . Just writing this I'm now scheming for an opportunity to sneak out today
  • 2 0
 when it comes to trail riding, I ride solo 99% of the time, and its great I can go at my own pace and I like the quite out in the forest. however at the dirt jumps, I always ride with a buddy
  • 1 0
 Most of my solo rides were when I was a teenager, now that me and my friends all work we plan on riding or golfing together every weekend, soon to be skiing. I find myself doing the solo evening nine holes more than the solo bike ride. Something special about a quiet golf course at sunset in New England.
  • 1 0
 I would prefer to always ride with friends. It just enhances the experience when you have somebody to ride/share/enjoy the trail with you, especially when it's EPIC. The being said, life gets in the way and consequently, I find myself riding alone once a week or so. When I do ride alone, I stay to places I know and always let my wife know when I start and when I'm done.
  • 1 0
 I enjoy riding with a few friends as well, but have recently (in the past 2 years) found that solo trips rate right up there. Took a solo trip to Montana summer before last, and found that the 5 solo rides 16~25 miles of high elevation backcountry rides and one shared ride improved my perspective for the whole rest of the year. Planned to repeat the solo trip last summer but an issue with my right cornea meant no riding. Can't wait to get out and away alone again before too long.
  • 1 0
 none of my friends in the uk ride really, not seriously anyway. i go to chatel in the alps every summer and ride with a friend who lives there. we partake in some bike park fun and he'll show me a new trail he's found down the mountain into switzerland. it's the most relaxed riding i ever do because there's no pressure, though some of the singletrack is gnarly as forks. and chatel bike park is SO much fun!!
  • 1 0
 I ride alone often because of my schedule (less than predictable) as well as being in an odd place for finding others to ride with.

I'm experienced (not fast, or even in awesome shape) but I can do more than those who don't ride much and I have decent bike handling skills. Those who are new or novice go too slow or choose flatter terrain than I'd like. That's one group of people I know. There other group of people I know are hammer heads that can drop a 6 - 8 hour ride and then go back for more. That's beyond my reach (schedule wise and often endurance-wise).
  • 1 0
 love riding with friends but i also enjoy them solo rides most of the time i love the ride too much to worry about riding with someone most of the time people have different responsabilities or things that come in between their riding as for myself no matter how busy or tired or what kind of weather im in i always find my riding time cause I love the ride!!!
  • 3 0
 So he had a photographer along with him on his solo rides?
That's core for sure.
I go on solo rides.
But I bring my dog Instead of a photographer.
  • 1 0
 Most of my riding has been alone. But in the last couple of years I have met a lot of riders my age. (whitehairs all of us)

I ride the same alone or with group. It doesn't really change my pushing it. I did find, I stopped crashing so much, once I took off my amour.

I do find, I get challenged more in some groups.
  • 1 0
 If you ride in a group of similar skills and fitness, and can rag on each other and horse around - it's the best. But nothing like being in the zone too when you're solo. I feel for you guys who ride with no one - it can be unmotivating at times, but go to events, rides, etc. and hopefully you'll hook up.
  • 1 0
 I love riding solo, but half the fun is getting lost so you can't tell anyone where you are going or when you will be back, catch 22!
Its good to have a riding buddy so you can get lost/ loose have fun carry less kit and have some backup.
Happy Trails Smile
  • 1 0
 i always ride alone, it's funny cause when i go at my local mountain i always see a bunch of people riding together iam always by self i guess i am anti social !! I even go to Whistler each year, When i get there for some reason i will ride with people ! YEAH WHISTLER ROCKS cause all anti social get together there hahahaha.
  • 2 0
 This is PB, we don't get outside and ride. We are busy debating of geometry, CrankBrothers, and suspension. But seriously, there are few things like a solo ride for true enjoyment of our planet.
  • 2 0
 Solo rides are cool here and there. Groups can sometimes ruin the flow. I think the best rides are the spontaneous ones with just you and a best friend. Its always great to share the adventure with someone else.
  • 1 0
 All my life I ride alone. The only sad thing is that I practically don't have pictures of myself on the bike BUT peace and quiet on the trail in the mountains is worth it. Riding with right people is fun but for me riding alone is just epic and I love it.
  • 1 0
 I used to ride solo a lot, still do, but its good to have a riding buddy or two as long as theyre in for the same reason I am and dont just want to play superheros or session a bank for an hour at a time.
  • 2 0
 I usually ride alone, but that makes the rides with friends even more special, epic journeys that always end at the nearest pub! :-)
  • 1 0
 the majority of my riding is done in solitude. dont get my wrong i love riding with friends but i find i push myself more when im alone. probably not the safest thing to do but oh well haha
  • 1 0
 Most of my riding is on my own as all my friends work weekdays and as a Paramedic working 4 on 4 off and a mix of day/night shifts there's often no one around for a 5am wednesday ride or mid week afternoon ride.
  • 3 0
 How's it feel like to ride with friends?
  • 2 0
 Can anyone please tell me where these pictures are from? I must go riding there.
  • 2 0
 Queenstown, New Zealand. It does look quite beautiful and serene!
  • 2 0
 In 2 weeks I'll be headed to Queenstown, NZ all by myself. Should be interesting to see who I run into!
  • 3 0
 STRAVA bitches!!! No need for friendsWink
  • 1 0
 Free racing with no waiting around, love it!
  • 1 0
 Riding solo is my favorite time of the week. Ultimate stress reliever and no waiting around. Charging up the lights, solo night riding is even better.
  • 1 0
 Sometimes with friends, sometimes SOLO, both ways have nice things.
My last SOLO MISSION here :-) www.vimeo.com/marccerdan/transpyrenees-hardstyle-ep1
  • 1 0
 I'm seriously surprised by the results, I would have never guessed in a million years it would be this one sided. I've ridden alone, but much prefer riding with friends.
  • 1 0
 I ride alone most times. Sometimes I come across other solo riders, we'd have the customary shop-talk (talk-shop??) and then off we go on our separate ways. Love it!
  • 3 1
 These sort of articles crack me up. I swear they do it just to start arguments Razz . Neither is better, just different.
  • 1 0
 É assim... " sujeito 1: - gostas mais de bater uma ou dar uma queca ? sujeito 2: - epá... talvez a queca ! Sujeito 1: Então porquê ?
Sujeito 2: talvez pelo convívio !
  • 1 0
 I'm a selfish rider. I go where I want, when I want. I stop when I feel like, and hammer when I feel like. Compromises are for work and relationships.
  • 2 0
 Me, my mp3 and my deamons.
  • 1 0
 depend what tipe of riding your doing, like where i ride the tracks are short.
  • 1 0
 As soon as I read the words "ebb" and "flow" I had a flashback moment to Life Cycles
  • 2 0
 Solo night rides, nothing like them.
  • 3 1
 I go alone because I HATE stopping and waiting for the sloths.
  • 1 0
 I basically always ride alone. It sorta sucks. But, oh well. I'd rather ride than not.
  • 1 0
 Lone rider, no one likes gettin up early! But me haha. Ride when i can , ride when you can!
  • 1 0
 Riding with friends ftw. Nobody can get me more stoked on bikes than my homies!!!
  • 1 0
 I only go riding by myself after watching 127 hours. It really gets me pumped to push it to the limits.
  • 1 0
 Only one of my friends ride, I ride enduro and he sometimes xc, we've rode like three times together and it was awesome
  • 2 0
 Too hard to get every one together at the same time!
  • 1 0
 the closest trail is in my backyard, so solo ride all the time…in no time!
  • 1 0
 That last picture looks like a dream land scape. Such a perfect looking trail and a beautiful sky.
  • 2 0
 I like to masterbike at least a couple of times a week...
  • 1 0
 One of the Better Articles behind the essence of true Mountain Biking! Great Read!!!
  • 1 0
 bring your phone! and a patch kit and pump
  • 1 0
 what i take are multi tool a water bottle and phone and i am riding on tubeless tires now i like traveling light these days.
  • 1 0
 My mtb motto:

"Me ride solo, no problemo."
  • 1 0
 Stunner photos. Anyone recognize the location?
  • 2 0
 Rude Rock Trail, Queenstown, NZ
  • 1 0
 Thanks!
  • 1 2
 I have never road with anyone. Its always been a solo effort
  • 6 8
 *rode
  • 3 1
 *ridden







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