hoopdriver
Guru
- Location
- East Sussex
Totally agree. I could not imagine a worse way to tour...
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@DooDah, the 3 of us were/are the only non-French members of our respective clubs. One guy's in the Creuse, the other in Haute-Vienne and I'm in Indre. I don't think there's any resentment towards us, in my club most everyone was extremely welcoming. It's more a case of us feeling there's something missing... something like a cake stop!
Effyb4
Veteran
I mostly enjoy riding solo, although I do ride with either my husband or eldest 2 boys. My husband will try to keep to my pace and the boys ride at about the same speed as me. I have been on a few group rides. The local cycle club to me tends to go a bit too fast for me, but I have enjoyed a sky ride and the leisure rides that the club do.
jagman.2003
Über Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
Solo riding for me really. Don't think anyone else could fit in with my random choices of routes & frequency of rides. I have cycled in groups, although I find it difficult to get the right balance of riding styles.
I tried group commuting as well. But found I fitted in better with the neighboring company commuting group. Not sure what that says?
Appendix to previous statement (incase my wide sees this comment). I ofcourse like cycling with my wife on the odd occasion. The slower speeds give me chance to enjoy the scenery more.
Kiwiavenger
im a little tea pot
- Location
- Carclaze, St Austell
i dont like group riding really, i have done sponsored charity rides in the past (organised by me) and can handle 2-3 others but im rubbish at pacing myself and end up dropping them on the hills and then waiting around for ages.
im just a sadist and love to be able to taste my lungs and the burning in my legs more than company!
im just a sadist and love to be able to taste my lungs and the burning in my legs more than company!
martint235
Dog on a bike
- Location
- Welling
Varies really. London to Lancashire on my todd was very enjoyable. Just being able to ride at my own pace without worrying about leaving anyone behind. I also enjoy the large group based FNRttC and it's much smaller sibling the SMRbtH.
The thing I notice about long solo rides is that I'm more nervous before a solo ride despite being able to fix most things that I've suffered on a bike on my own plus the fact, as with the Nelson ride, quite often nothing at all goes wrong. C'est la vie I suppose
The thing I notice about long solo rides is that I'm more nervous before a solo ride despite being able to fix most things that I've suffered on a bike on my own plus the fact, as with the Nelson ride, quite often nothing at all goes wrong. C'est la vie I suppose
hoopdriver
Guru
- Location
- East Sussex
Calling your wife your 'wide' might be like pouring oil on troubled flames...
jagman.2003
Über Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
Damn my fat fingers, in trouble again!
I love smaller group rides, when I am with people who are a similar pace to me. But I quite often find myself doing long rides on my own. Most of my audax rides I have ended up doing mainly on my own, but occasionally riding alongside others, but I've never had a lot of luck in finding a group or person who I can happily match pace with and I find it becomes stressful after a short time. I am thinking of going on a group led cycle holiday (Skedaddle) in October, so I was a bit worried that this might mean needing to keep with a group the whole time, but I am assured this is not the case and they will supply gpx files of the route, so I can go at my own pace if I want.
Paul139
Veteran
- Location
- At the moment I'm here.
Alone for me too. I've tried group riding with clubs.but find it frustrating not being able to go at my own pace, whether that be faster or slower, and not being able to stop when I want. Bit of a loner anyway and find some of the ego trips a bit frustrating to deal with.
gavroche
Getting old but not past it
- Location
- North Wales
Definitively solo for me because I always come last in a group.
John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
- Location
- Crewe
Sunday rides, I like to do alone (I can't imagine ever riding in a group, but have quite enjoyed riding with one or two people I know well).
It's the whole gubbins of the group ride that puts me off, the rules, the fact that you need to know the rules, and so forth. Nothing against those who like them, but I'm not sure I can be bothered with the faff.
touring's better with someone else, I think, not least so that that person can say "Are you sure this is the right way[1]?" and "Isn't it time we stopped for a drink[2]?"
[1] I have almost certainly taken the wrong turning, let's have a look at the map.
[2] By golly, you're right. Fancy a cake as well?
It's the whole gubbins of the group ride that puts me off, the rules, the fact that you need to know the rules, and so forth. Nothing against those who like them, but I'm not sure I can be bothered with the faff.
touring's better with someone else, I think, not least so that that person can say "Are you sure this is the right way[1]?" and "Isn't it time we stopped for a drink[2]?"
[1] I have almost certainly taken the wrong turning, let's have a look at the map.
[2] By golly, you're right. Fancy a cake as well?
Not if you join the Fridays!
This year twenty two of us cycled to Bordeaux. Road Bikes, Bromptons and even a Mezzo. Age range - vast. Joy - vaster. Espirit de cour - galactic. Few of us could have matched the route we followed. No worries on organisation - just follow the cyclist in front and chat to the cyclist at the side. Simples, The number meant we could have a supporting van which made things easier and we could enjoy riding rather than carrying.
Then I went on alone carrying my baggage. Finding my own route, stops etc. Being alone in the most wondrous part of France immersing oneself in what it has to offer. To stop when one wanted, to leave when one wanted, to photograph, to drink without having to impact other riders. Bliss!
So the best of both worlds and in one overall tour more than the sum of the parts. Even the downsides had upsides - on the last day of the group ride we were riding a bit faster and stopping less in the intense heat than I would have chosen - but the next day alone I was riding a little faster and stopping a little less than if I hadn't been stretched a little by the group the day before.
Pumpkin the robot
Guru
When I started riding a few years back I did it on my own. I then did a charity night ride and decided to cycle a lot more. I joined a face book group, but found it a little too regimented. From that group a few of us formed or own group of 7. We would ride together twice in the week and then on a Sunday morning. It helped motivate us all, but then as we got fitter, because of the different ages and lifestyles some improved more than others and the group fell apart. That was a shame as we achieved alot in that year, riding coast to coast in a day and also doing London to Manchester in 15 hours.
This year most of my mileage has been on my own, but that is commuting. Sundays I have ridden in various groups and on my lonesome. I look at what rides are available to me and pick a route I think I will enjoy doing.
For me, the advantages of riding in a larger group is that you dont have to worry about where you are going, just sit in the bunch and let someone else worry about the navigation. It can be a socialable thing if you want it to or not, depending on your mood. The downside is the difference in abilities can lead to a lot of waiting on hills and there is an increased chance of mechanical failures.
Riding on my own I can go as fast or slow as I like, do not have to worry about others getting through a set of lights or being left behind and go wher you want. The down side is that if you have problems in isolated places you have to deal with them yourself and I think thats about it!
This year most of my mileage has been on my own, but that is commuting. Sundays I have ridden in various groups and on my lonesome. I look at what rides are available to me and pick a route I think I will enjoy doing.
For me, the advantages of riding in a larger group is that you dont have to worry about where you are going, just sit in the bunch and let someone else worry about the navigation. It can be a socialable thing if you want it to or not, depending on your mood. The downside is the difference in abilities can lead to a lot of waiting on hills and there is an increased chance of mechanical failures.
Riding on my own I can go as fast or slow as I like, do not have to worry about others getting through a set of lights or being left behind and go wher you want. The down side is that if you have problems in isolated places you have to deal with them yourself and I think thats about it!
