Touring Alone :(

[PBancroft]

I have been hoping to undertake a tour a little later this year (probably Lon Las Cymru, and probably the second week of September) but there's a good chance I'll be going alone.

It would be the first time I would have attempted a tour by myself. Obviously I've toured before, and I know how to look after myself... but what I'm not great at is self-motivation to just keep plodding on. Any tips?

 

[Dayvo]

I did a six-week trip through Europe with a mate in 2005, and a two-month solo trip in Australia winter 2009/10.

Both had their advantages and disadvantages and I will happily do solo and partnered rides again.

With regard to your question, if the weather is good and my form/mood positive, I can't wait to pack up the tent and set off as soon as possible.

The important thing to remember (IMO) is that it isn't the amount of miles you do in a day, but the countryside you see, the challenge of the ride, the people you meet, the rests at some idyllic beauty spot and finding a good place to pitch your tent for the evening.

You will always encounter other people who will be interested in your tour, and bound to meet fellow cyclists en route.

Just make sure you have what you NEED, have an idea of what you want out of the tour and just ride with a big smile on your face!

 

[psmiffy]

ditto Dayvo - I have never really had much problem motivating myself to keep going - partly I think because I have nearly always toured places that whilst I might be familiar with the country I have not been to the actual places - I tend to tour in a spirit of naive exploration - one of the reasons that I rarely tour in the UK is that due to my work I have visited vast swathes of it - the other motivation, unfortuently for me is often the need to get to the end - to get the connection so that I can get back to work on time - even on my last long tour when I had no job to go back to I had the feeling that I needed to keep going otherwise I was going to run out of reasonable weather

 

[Blowbags]

The good thing about a hobby like this is we don't have to rely on other people. I started going to the gym with two friends, it was good, it was nice to learn together and help each other, but when they became more erratic, I decided I had to resign in my head that I would be doing this solo most of the time. But it's a great hobby, if I'm bored I read up on it, any learning experience tends to be a mood enhancer for me, and not relying on others was the right decision.

That's the logic I'm using with cycling now, I'm only just starting but my message to my friends is basically "I'm doing it, feel free to join in" not "Let's go cycling around Europe next year!" I'd prefer the latter somewhat, but my head is definately not there, I am 90% sure I'll be going alone and that is how I am preparing for it in all regards, including mentally.

Motivational "tips" tend to be either in the form of encouragement ("it will be fine/better than you think") or sound like some corny motivational seminar line ("Believe in yourself!" *wince*) - I tend to think that when I have worried like this in the past, it's pretty much always turned out good/fine.

I guess I'd agree with what Dayvo says, although I don't have the experience, that both solo and 1+x will be different experiences, but both decent/definately worthwhile.

All about experiences... add a solo tour to yours

p.s - Im going to buy a Kindle I think - befriend a book or two

 

[snorri]

. but what I'm not great at is self-motivation to just keep plodding on. Any tips?

When on tour I've never felt I was " just plodding on"(unless there was a strong headwind ), when there are lows I just remember the recent highs and feel certain there will be more highs to come before the end of the tour.
I do sometimes need to set myself a target time for getting on the road in the mornings, or I can faff around for ages finding silly excuses not to start folding up the tent.

 

[NickWi]

I toured on my own for a week in late September last year in and around the Scottish Boarders (fantastic touring area by the way), but two things caught me out.

Firstly a lot of campsite closed on the 30th Sept which made me wild camp or B&B for a couple of nights.

Secondly, long evenings. The nights are closing in quite early by that time ofthe year and trying to read a book inside a tent using just a head torch sitting in a not desperately comfortable Therm-a-Rest chair conversion tests the moral fibre. The first couple of night are fine with a I'm on holiday, I'm enjoying this type bravado, but by nights four and five I’d had enough andsought out the nearest pub.

You don’t say if you’re going to be camping or not, but even an evening on your own in a B&B watching TV (and most don’t have Sky) isn’t the best way to spend you’re time.

As for the actual cycling on your own, it was the first time I’d toured on my own and initially I enjoyed it, but after a while I realised I missed having someone to share the experience with. At the end of the day us humans are social creatures and whilst some can sail around the world single handed personally, a few days and that’s me.

 

[cycleruk]

touring alone can get very lonely, but if you use village pubs etc then that may help with that,i myself am going on my first week long tour alone and iv made it so that i will stop at places where there are more likely to have people to speak to, another thing that i am hoping to do is take is a mascot (a small tiger tied to my bike ) so if it gets really bad then i can look at that and think "eye of the tiger", sad maybe! but cycling is not just about the physical side of cycling, its mental as well

 

[PBancroft]

The loneliness thing was a major factor I was concerned about as well. That said, there are plenty of pubs along the route, so that sounds like a plan... and then if I get really lonely well I'll just have to opt for a B&B instead of camping and bother the proprietors all evening.

OK, decision made, I'm going for it, whether I go alone or not.

 

[Tigerbiten]

This is day 100 of my solo tour around the UK.

The only days I found I had no motivation to keep/get going where either when the weather was very bad/good or I had hit a milestone.
I don't to start if its heavy rain + wind, etc, etc.
Keeping going in very hot sunny weather can be hard.
It can be hard to keep the motivation after reaching somewhere like LE or JOG, then having to turn around a retrace your route towards home, etc, etc.
But apart from that its been ok.

Luck ............

 

[T other dave]

I have just done 10 days across France solo and as someone stated its not just physical but a mental challenge. I do lots of things solo and always find someone along the way to talk to even abroad. Motivation, if you have a finish point then thats the motivation you need, to finish, to complete the challenge. Dont worry to much, just do it and enjoy.
Dave

 

[jags]

in january 2000 i gave up smoking, i remember lying in bed that night and saying to myself imagine i didn't have a cigarette all day, i haven't smoked since. going solo for the first time only a few weeks ago all be it for just 4 days i had the same feeling and it was bloody great.i do like company on tour but its hard to find the right person to tour with imho i guess if you can read a map and compass you will never get lost thats one worry sorted ,keeping yourself entertained at night is a problem, unless your a good sleeper (i'm not) or you like reading listening to some music to pass the long night hours.
yes i would say solo is the way to go but having someone that's on the same wavelength as yourself then i would prefair company 50/50 really

 

[Banjo]

The loneliness thing was a major factor I was concerned about as well. That said, there are plenty of pubs along the route, so that sounds like a plan... and then if I get really lonely well I'll just have to opt for a B&B instead of camping and bother the proprietors all evening.

OK, decision made, I'm going for it, whether I go alone or not.

Following Lon Las Cymru your bound to meet other cyclists along the way. At least you havent got to worry about falling out with your cycling buddy I have only ever cycle toured for a couple of days at a time but found that a bike loaded with camping gear is a bit of an icebreaker with people asking you where you are going/ comefrom etc.

Which way are you doing it ? South to North or vica versa?

 

[PBancroft]

Following Lon Las Cymru your bound to meet other cyclists along the way. At least you havent got to worry about falling out with your cycling buddy I have only ever cycle toured for a couple of days at a time but found that a bike loaded with camping gear is a bit of an icebreaker with people asking you where you are going/ comefrom etc.

Which way are you doing it ? South to North or vica versa?

North to South, partly because I have friends in Cardiff who I'm hoping to see at the end of the trip. I do need to figure out a sensible way of getting to Holyhead however...

 

[ufkacbln]

I do two tours per year.

One is with my wife, and one on my own. THe tour with my wife is planned, with overnight stops etc.

The latter is a different game altogether, as it is vague, unstructured and rambling with simply a start point, and an idea of where I want to end.

Apart from that I have the freedom to divert, follow a road I like he look of, investigate local history and then simply find some where to stay at the end of the day wherever I am

I personally find this very liberating

 

[Bodhbh]

I find it easier to stay motivated when touring on my own, if the weathers bad, your tired etc, you just get on with it. With my friend we tend to end up defaulting to the pub at the slightest provocation.