MikeDeason

I have started upping my cycling game in preparation for my first "serious" bike with early morning recreational rides in and around our lakeside paths, park trails and the city bike lanes. I have been somewhat surprised by the number of large groups of cyclists, from more serious-looking cycle groups right down to casual groups. Without having tried a group ride I can confidently say that this group riding is not for me. It appears stressful and chaotic, especially on narrow bike lanes; the antithesis of the serene, introspective and self-motivational ride I strive for to enhance mental and physical clarity. I see very few lone cyclists on these early morning jaunts

Am I just an angry loner?

shelbyfv

Not everyone has the ability to get along with others. Don't know why that would make you angry.

seypat

Are you eating something before these rides? Maybe you're just hangry instead. A Snickers bar could help. Also, is your last name McQuade by chance?

Trakhak

The membership of the self-declared loner's club is, coincidentally, almost identical to that of the self-congratulatory loner's club. (I belong to both.)

Not all loners are angry. But if you have to ask, the answer is probably yes.

Barry2 

If you have to ask the question………

Barry

WaveyGravey

I prefer and almost always ride alone. I am not angry. Just find my lone rides more relaxing.

MikeDeason

I have no inclination to join one of these groups yet I am not, by disposition, angry. I was simply surprised by the sheer volume of early morning groups.

seypat

Those "lone" riders you see out there are not actually alone. They're riding with their 4 favorite buddies. Me, myself, I and shadow are great companions. Shadow always ditches the rainy days though.

shelbyfv

Those darn Spandex wearing racerboy wannabe Lances. The world would be a better place if they all Rode-a-bent in jorts and cycling sombrero with Foreign Legion flap.

seypat

I'm getting a Deja vu feeling for some reason. We might have heard this song before.

MikeDeason

It’s not the pro type crowd I am referencing. There are large novice groups and everything in between. I always pictured cycling as a lone endeavour but there are very few lone cyclists that on my early morning jaunts.

easyupbug 

You are entitled to your feeling about group rides. The only group rides I have really enjoyed is the "old Duffers" group casual rides.

seypat

Those groups actually inhabit the roadways and MUPs looking for unsuspecting single riders. When they encounter one, they overtake the rider and give them the Cinzano treatment. It's painful to watch. It's like something out of a Mad Max movie.

big john

Nothing wrong with solo rides but you might be missing out if you never try group rides. The key is the right group for your ability and personality. I've been doing group rides, club rides, and charity rides since the 80s. I've made some good friends and had some awesome days in the saddle, and great memories.

If you're with a group and it sucks just drop out and go it alone. Or, if you want to be alone, don't try groups.

RH Clark

I would like to ride with someone, I just can't find anyone slow enough.

DougRNS

Only you can answer that.

seypat

I think the OP is actually a CAT 6 racer in disguise out there looking for other riders to prey upon.

CAT7RDR

It is easier to ride alone.
Now. that does not make it better or worse than riding in groups.
Just more convenient.

If there was a group ride close to my home and the hours I ride, then, I would at least sample the ride to see if it is a Hammerfest or a recreational ride (more my liking).
An angry loner would manifest itself in most aspects of life, not just on a bike.

Ogsarg

I prefer to ride alone as well but feel no ill-will to people that prefer otherwise. I used to ride motorcycles and preferred that solo (or with a few other friends) as well. I would see the large groups of bikes on the road riding in close formation and think I'd prefer having an ice pick driven in to my skull to that kind of riding. They probably have no interest in solo riding and that is fine with me.

If seeing the groups makes you angry, I'd suggest finding some less crowded backroads so you can enjoy the ride.

rsbob 

Where does the anger come from? Anger at the groups or yourself and why?

You want to be introspective, and group rides are far from that unless you find, through a local bike club, like minded people who are serious about cycling, but also more relaxed in their approach. My bike club has all levels of rides, from social - slow paced but various distances - to the opposite. The social rides usually end up at a cafe or bakery for a bit of chat before returning back.

To the uniniated, what might appear to be chaotic (the exception being mass group fun rides) is actually fairly well choreographed between the riders. They all know the rules, or at least most of them, and work together to have a safe, fast, fun ride.

When I first drove a car on the highways of South Africa I thought, what the hell is going on with people passing on two lane roads down the middle of the road with cars still in both lanes going 70 MPH. Cars on each side of the road would move to the shoulders to allow passing down the middle. If there was a car wanting to pass me and there was no oncoming opening, I would move to the shoulder, approaching cars would do the same and they would safely pass down the middle. I thought it was utterly insane until I understood what they were doing. Cycling can also appear like that at times but people know what they are doing.

indyfabz

What made you picture that? Had you never seen two or more people riding together-never ever?

MikeDeason

Misapplication of the word anger as I don’t feel angry towards them. I find these large packs incomprehensible and surprising would be a better turn of phrase.

Trakhak

You're not alone. From Charles Portis's Dog of the South:

"She bought a bicycle, an expensive multi-geared job, and joined a cycling club against my wishes. The idea was that she and her chums would pedal along leafy country lanes, shouting and singing like a bunch of Germans, but from all I could see they just had meetings in the damp basement of a church."

PeteHski

I mostly train alone for practical reasons, but I love riding in a well organised peloton. It all comes down to trust in the other riders and matched ability. Then there is the social aspect of a shared experience.

Riding alone can also be nice. A sense of freedom and time-out from the rest of the world.

I would encourage you to try both as they are not mutually exclusive. You can always drop out of a group ride if you are not enjoying it.

shelbyfv

I ponder why aggressive singletons seem so attracted to this large group.