Touring Alone :(

[MarkF]

I work in a team, I like cycling with others, but touring, that's "my" time!

An opportunity to go where I want when I want, stop and start, when I want and change my mind about any of the former whenever I please, it is liberating. Lonely? You are only going for a week! Good luck, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

 

[scraynes]

As has been said already, there are pros and cons to being on your own or in company. Personally both are good.

The nice thing about being on your own is that you only follow your own agenda and timescale, but you may get periods where you are lonely, but the fact that you are generally on your own will make you more likely to talk to people along the way that may even become new friend - what a thing to bring back from you touring.

Reference the motivation, when I've been touring with my uncle we would often refer to the yin and yang of cycling, basically you cant have good without bad, happy without sad.....you can't have those lovely flowing downhills without the teeth gritting uphills.

So if you find yourself in a difficult part, just think back to the last wonderful bit, and remind yourself that each isn't possible without the other..

Spencer

 

[Shanecycles]

Copy/paste.....

"Whats it like/ why do you travelling alone? Travelling alone has many advantages and disavantages and isn't a path for everyone.

Disadvantages:

1. You see less, 4 eyes are better than 2.
2. You have nobody to share your experiences with in the future, you only have your own memories and photo's.
3. Travelling alone is more expensive.
4. Being ill is hell on earth if your alone, having nobody to care for you or get food, water and wc roll is not nice.
5. I sometimes get lonely, but not often.
6. After being alone for a couple of days, the first evening I talk to people again I loose my voice after 3 hours.
7. I have to do everything myself, cycle, cook, washing up, setting the tent up, shopping, dealing with people and problems etc etc.
8. Leaving my bike unattended when going into a shop, or going to the toilet etc. is always very exciting.
9. If I do something stupid, its my fault.

Advantages:

1. Total freedom to choose when, what, where, why and how. Without discussions (except talking to myself).
2. I come into contact with people more easily. Which creates situations you'd almost never get as a couple or group.
3. I dont have to talk to people, or be nice for days. Its not a problem if I haven't had a shower for 3 days
4. I can only blame myself if I do something stupid.
5. The freedom to be lost in my own thoughts for days on end (I'm sure they have medicine for that though).
6. Every barrier, hurdle or problem which I've overcome, I've overcome alone, this gives me an unexplainable inner strengh, sense of achievement, self confidence and knowledge that I'll get through the next problem life has to throw at me. This is a feeling which is impossible to explain but its so nice to have....

No 6, is the reason I love to travel alone, the inner strengh I've created in the last years is worth more to me than anthing else on earth. This may sound egoistic, but without trust in yourself how can you possible trust, love or help others. "

/End copy paste.

The "endless ploding on" is not a problem for me, I just find the evenings a little boring without someone to share a few beers/ bottle of wine with. But with practice this is becoming less of an issue, by the time I've set my tent up, had food and 1 beer i'm ready for bed, and luckily it gets dark early in Africa .


Other FAQ's

Shane

 

[mcshroom]

I find touring alone allows me to feel more immersed in where I am touring. When I go touring in a group we basically talk to each other, and go to the pub with each other, so travel in a little bubble through the tour in many ways.

If I am on my own, I talk to other people (and animals sometimes

), and seem to take in far more of what is going on. The downside is the time off the bike can feel a bit lonely sometimes, especially when wild camping.

 

[onlineamiga]

I toured last year alone. But it ended up being quite a high profile ride. My final destination was my home town, and started from where I had emmigrated to. My ride was for charity and in honour of my mother who has come through cancer with flying colours.

Suffice to say, I had plenty to keep me motivated. Including a live GPS tracker and 1000 hits on the website a day.


Having so many eyes on you really does help! But I did face the gruelling times. Climbs to 1200m in 35c+ heats. Strong head winds for days on end. Being alone.. difficulty finding decent food at the end of a days ride etc. However it was one amazing hell of an experience!! Your physical senses are on utter overdrive the whole time. I have never felt so alive! You have to turn anything negative into a positive thing. For example, i love the fact that I can now say "I battled those headwinds for days on end".

Meet people, use warmshowers.org. It really helps. One of the biggest highlights of my trip was to bump into a british team of cyclists in the middle of Spain. Set yourself major accomplishment goals on route, and be damned damned proud of yourself when you get there. I will admit to shedding a tear after just day 5 when I crossed out of Andalucia from Gibraltar. Next major goal france. When I was at that border line between Spain and France. I was like "OMG!! I have just cycled the entire length of Spain!!!!! Think, how many people can say that!!"

When youre on the open road looking at amazing views, and cycling. Just think of the freedom. Think about how much better this is than the millions of people who are sat gruelling away in offices and factories right now. Appreciate the fact you are fortunate to have an able working body so you can get out there and see places most wouldnt. I cycled through so many little towns and villages in Spain and France, in which most people would never see. Each had their own individual charm. Most will whizz past on the motorway or fly over on an airplane.


That is the sort of mindset to be in. Cycle touring shouldn't be gruelling. So set yourself a pace that suits you. Some may do 200km a day. Some may do 50km a day. The fact is.. It doesn't matter. Just enjoy what you are doing!

 

[peelywally]

i did a island tour on my tod earlier , it was great .

 

[superbadger]

I love solo touring; Don't get me wrong...im a sociable person and i 'life and soul' of any party but the open road with just me and my bike is heaven.... I don't suffer from being on my own,i have a mascot that i take with me and if things get tough i chat with him!!! .

 

[TheDoctor]

Just got back from a solo tour. Good fun, but ones with company are better IMHO.