I like set distances and relative time frames, so I usually ride different combinations of my memorized 5, 10 & 15 miles routes. Living in a major metropolis of @ 81k people, I have memorized a few routes that take me through quiet, less busy, less car-stuffed residential areas that eventually take me to a beautiful trail and/or paved parkway through a state park (single lanes, double yellow lines, with a 30mph speed limit). Drivers are quite considerate and the ride feels safe. Often see deer often along the way, watching life go by.
I don’t take rides less then 10 miles, but the five mile route let’s me as on just a bit more now and then. I’m not a long distance rider, so If I ride 20mi one day, I usually take the next day off.
I always ride alone and I don’t usually ride for destination, just for fun. I don’t feel comfortable locking my bike(s) up many places, so just like when my wife and I wold go sailing on our 16.5’ sailboat, it’s about the journey and not the destination.
I ride during nice weather only, which is fairly easy to foresee on the east coast the U.S., and limit my riding to days when the temps are between 4° & 32° (40°F & 90°F).
Now that I am 66 years old, I find if I ride when it is extremely hot outside, even if I am in the shade most of the time, staying hydrated, and enjoying a breeze, when I get home I often get headaches for 1 to 2 hours. So, I will just have to avoid the more extreme temperatures. As for cold, weather riding, when my toes get really chilly and my eyes and nose are watering constantly, it’s just not as much fun for me. But cold weather is certainly easier to ride in than extreme heats!
(I have read many tales on CC of riding in much colder & hotter temperatures, but that is not for me. So more power to all of you super beings!)
I love music. Almost every kind of music. Rock, reggae, classical, disco, folk, dub, punk, instrumental… Etc. I find that riding a bike solo and enjoying various types of music is such a great combination. Obviously it cannot be done safely with earbuds or headphones, but about a year or so ago I bought a small, great sounding bluetooth music box only 4”x4” that straps to my flat handlebars. It pairs with my phone and allows me to stream music while riding. Whether it’s the Grateful Dead, Bob Marley, the Clash, The Who, Jethro Tull, or Pavarotti, I can choose whatever fits my mood. My 5:30am rides (all summer) are enjoyed only with the sounds of natures on the backdrop of the rare sound of silence in a big city. But other times it’s just such a great combination. Anyone else find riding with music an enjoyable combination?
On solo rides, with just your own thoughts and the tunes of your choice, life is grand!