Solo rides vs group rides

[Benthedoon]

I got my 1st road bike a few months ago after I sold my car and decided to cycle commute, it's not a long commute (only a couple of miles) but I did get into going for a decent ride on Sunday morning.
I was going out on my own and was able to motivate and push myself to several 25+ and 1 35 miler, having recently chatted to an ex cyclist he suggested that company on a ride makes bigger distances seem a lot less daunting. Would those of you with more experience agree with this or does 50 miles hurt whether you're solo or not?
Essentially, should I try to find someone to ride with or just grit my teeth and crack on?

 

[ianrauk]

Much prefer cycling with buddies and/or a group. The miles seem to go by much easier.

 

[Banjo]

Much prefer cycling with buddies and/or a group. The miles seem to go by much easier.

Definitely more fun in a group and as Ian said the miles fly by but I still enjoy meandering about on my own completely free .

PS 50 miles isnt much more than the 35 you allready rode. just pace yourself a bit and eat a bit on the way.

 

[lukesdad]

Depends on what you want out of it. I do both for different reasons.

 

[marzjennings]

50 miles seems to pass a lot quicker and it is a lot easier when riding in a group.

On the flip side I push myself a lot harder riding solo and I think get more benefit from solo rides.

 

[decca234uk]

For me it depends what mood I'm in. Sometimes I just want a blowout on my own, other times I like a group ride. The miles seem to fly by in a group but I push harder on my own. There's advantages and disadvantages with both. I'd definetly get a buddy to ride with sometimes.

 

[Crankarm]

Riding in a group or on club rides one can sit in the middle of the bunch and get sucked along whereas on your lonesome you have to do all the work ........... .

 

[Globalti]

It's great to have company because the miles really do seem to fly past. If you happen to find a riding buddy who you get on with, who has similar domestic arrangements and therefore time off and more importantly, who rides at your speed, you're very lucky.

 

[sadjack]

I rode on my own for ages until I joined the CTC a couple of years ago. Riding out with a social group has widened my experience and pleasure no end. I used to think a 20 mile ride was a long way!

Maybe I was lucky in that I joined a group of riders with my outlook, long rides for pleasure, we often refer to ourselves as ramblers on bikes

I would say that once you decide what you want out of having company, that is do you want to be pushed into fast training/racing or more laid back enjoy the ride and the craic, you can decide where to look for group rides, a road club or maybe the CTC.

Of course it cannot be guarenteed that whatever club/group you join is as friendly as the one I joined

But give it go, I am glad I did.

 

[ColinJ]

I like riding with other people which is why I organise so many forum rides round these parts.

I agree with Globalti that it is good to ride with people who like to go at your speed, the trouble is - at the moment, I don't even ride at my own preferred speed! My fitness is so far below what it used to be that everybody has to wait for me at the top of the hills and there are always plenty of them on my rides.

As the years go by, I'm finding it harder and harder to motivate myself to go out alone. The sun is shining today and I intend to go for a ride but I've been putting it off for over an hour and still don't feel that keen. The stupid thing is - I know that within 10 minutes of setting off, I'll start enjoying the ride. Having a riding partner is a great encouragement to get those first 10 minutes in!

Having said that, I've done many rides over 100 miles solo and those have been fine. I never attempt a ride that long unless I really feel 'up for it'.

It's the shorter local rides that I've done hundreds of times before over the past 20 years that can be boring without company. If I was really fit, I'd just ride very quickly and get them over with but I'm too slow. I'm averaging 10 mph on the hills where I used to manage 16 or 17!

So, I'd suggest a bit of both - do some of your rides solo, and make an effort to find riding partners for the others. If you don't fancy joining your local CTC or road club, just start a thread here on CC asking if anybody fancies a forum ride in your area (example). You should be able to find at least 4 or 5 people who are interested.  I did that up here when my former cycling buddy emigrated and I've ridden with about 40 CycleChatters since then, about 10 of whom are now regulars.

Make it clear that yours is a social ride and that nobody will get left behind but state how long the route is and give an estimate of what speed you are likely to ride at - it is best not to get a complete novice turning up to do a 50 mile ride when they get tired doing 5 miles, and you don't want people who expect a 25 mph chain gang ride!

Work out an interesting route with a good cafe or pub stop about 2/3 of the way round. Take photos on the ride, and post some on your ride thread afterwards with a write-up of how things went. You'll get people coming on the thread saying how they wished that they had been on the ride, and asking when you are doing your next one! 

 

[Tigerbiten]

My first group ride was the Friday Night Ride to the Coast in Feb.
Since then I've been hooked on them.

Apart from the night rides, all my cycling has been solo rides.

One trouble I have going out in groups is the fact I ride a recumbent trike.
So I go mountian bike speeds uphill but road bike speeds down.
So riders I can stay with going uphill, I easily outpace going down and riders I can stay with going downhill, leave me for dead going uphill.

Luck ..........

 

[alecstilleyedye]

if you have a local friendly cycling club (as opposed to one that is purely a racing club), not only do you get to go on regular group rides; you meet more experienced riders and learn lots of things, you can borrow tools to help you save money on bike shop charges, and you might even acquire a good s/h bike for much less than you'd pay on ebay. well worth the few quid a year it costs to join.

 

[Benthedoon]

Thanks for all the response, I get the feeling a bit of both is the way to go, a riding buddy is definitely needed for these autumn/ winter months when motivation is less abundant. I'll start making enquiries into social cycling groups whilst saving my solos for the more 'full speed ahead' outings.

Unfortunately reading this thread has got me in the mood for a little bit of a pedal but it's 10:45pm, oh well tomorrow it is then.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Thanks for all the response, I get the feeling a bit of both is the way to go, a riding buddy is definitely needed for these autumn/ winter months when motivation is less abundant. I'll start making enquiries into social cycling groups whilst saving my solos for the more 'full speed ahead' outings.

Unfortunately reading this thread has got me in the mood for a little bit of a pedal but it's 10:45pm, oh well tomorrow it is then.

You should seriously consider doing a FNRttC. Great introduction to large group rides.

 

[MarkF]

Always ridden solo, my friends (with bikes) are towpath only riders and unfit to boot & I get irritated with having to wait for them. I am too scared of joining club in case they have to wait for and get irritated with me.