tomato coupe

My wife often reminds me how most people she encounters while riding are very friendly. The young hot shots smile, the packs of racers give a subtle wave, smaller club groups with varying demographics generally say hello. Even cyclists that are clearly in the middle of a hard workout seem to muster the energy to give you a nod. But, the old guys riding solo rarely wave, never say hello, and usually have a sour expression on their face.

OldTryGuy

Midnight Madness rides (12AM to 6AM) most everybody's asleep soooo it's SOLO for MOI

Clyde1820

Depends on the group.

Based on your description, it's sounding like there are several bunches of people who in your area do such rides. Might hook up a handful of times, to see who's out there, which group(s) might best suit you. Not all groups will be similar.

Definitely, there'll be the "hot rods" and "ego" types who will push in order to focus on the challenge and the outright exercise of it. But if there are enough people in the area at such gatherings, quite as likely there'll be another subset of people who are utterly against such an approach to cycling. (Myself, I'm one of those, as I'm in it for the basic A-to-B and light exercise purposes, not to race or challenge anyone. I haven't often done "group" rides, but the ones I've done have found me settling-in with the sub-group that best matches my own pace and approach.)

If you haven't yet done two or three such group gatherings, I'd suggest considering them. If you find a good match, with respect to goals, purpose and outlook, you might well find it's "for you" ... not as a replacement, but as an addition to whatever other riding and fitness activities you might be doing.

jonathanf2

I must be an outlier of the solo riders, because I always wave. The way I look at it, If a solo rider gets a mechanical, it will most likely will be another solo rider to help yo out! Best to stay friendly!

tomato coupe

There are definitely plenty of older guys that ride solo that are very friendly. It's just that the majority seem not to be.

NumbersGuy

An intelligent comment, an accurate assumption or a smart bicycle buying decision don’t mesh with someone named MikeDeason…..

You sir, continue to amaze with your nonsensical commentary based upon what seems to be a lot of time thinking about things and only coming up with daft theories that make no sense.

Mtracer

I ride almost exclusively solo. Mostly out of convenience since I don't have to adapt to someone else's schedule, I can start and end rides at my house, go at my chosen pace, and modify a ride as I want. I find riding sort of like meditation with the rhythm of pedaling and so on.

Like many activities, some people prefer to do them with others and some prefer being on their own. And of course, some people do both. Nothing right or wrong about either.

I'd also say I see about as many riders solo as not. And even then, I see pairs much more than larger groups.

As for the friendliness or not of other riders. Almost all riders I see and myself included, give a head bob, or take a hand off the bars and a sort of stick a hand out as a gesture to acknowledge the other rider. I'll usually offer a "have a good day" if I pass someone. And most that pass me give a short greeting as well.

Sometimes I'll notice another rider not acknowledging me. I don't read anything into that. Could be they waved just as may attention was focused somewhere else and I missed it. Maybe they were lost in thought (as I am at times) or looking at something on their bike computer. And sure sometimes I get the "I'm such a serious rider, I don't acknowledge others" vibe, but odds are that's in my head and not theirs. And of course there's the busy MUP. It's starts to get silly if you're trying to wave at everyone.

georges1

My last three MTB trail races done in the past were years with groups, we had fun, even had lunch together and we had a good dynamic. I ride solo nowadays, but when I see another solo cyclist or another pack of cyclists,I always wave. I happened two join three times in the past a group of road bike riders with whom I rode on 20 km , it was fun and interesting chatting with them, they were going fast so I was but at one moment I was was out of force so their leader got back to me and kept the group together , then we changed directions.

MikeDeason

Just coming back from a long solo ride I can safely add that I want to use the bushes when I want to use the bushes. No shame or uncomfortable conversations about the ethics of urinating in "nature"

The sheer volume of 5 am groups was a shock, a whole other world revealed while I would normally be sipping a morning coffee. Besides the "pro" type groups that race around the main roads at all times of day, I expected the city's masses would have adopted cycling as a solitary endeavour.

Koyote

Have you ever tried riding in a group?

Chuck M 

You just don't get up early enough. Before dawn I have the road to myself.

Trakhak

And so they have. For every group of 20 riders that you see in a given territory, there are easily 200 solo riders (probably an underestimate). They slip under the radar precisely because they're not in a group.

indyfabz

Either this or is all BS (Which it obviously is, but I’m not going to clue the OP in to his mistakes. All I will say is that the OP needs to work on his game.) or the answer to your question has to be “No.”

I have led many group rides and participated in many, many more. Not once did anyone ever complain about someone needing to take a nature break. Anyone who didn’t have to go soft pedaled about 100’ ahead and then waited for the rest.

For many years I led a group on our club’s century to Brooklyn. I had a special, isolated place for a group nature break. Men went down by the river. Women used the cornfield on the other side of the road. People who didn’t have to go rode ahead a bit then waited for the rest of the group,

Maybe the OP should move to Quebec province. When I went on Le Grande Tour, guys wouldn’t even go into the woods. They would simply turn their back. A few times women rode by and weren’t offended one bit.

badger1

+1

This thread is just ... weird.

I don't think the op would do well in La Belle Province. As you say, pretty relaxed attitude about everyday bodily functions such as hanging an elephant. For example, the rooms in one of our favourite hotels in Québec City is designed with everything 'open plan'. I suspect that the op is rather concerned about such things.

MikeDeason

Never have and never will. Group biking contradicts my core values of self-motivation and self-determination.

Kinda like how I know I will never like Taylor Swift as much as my 12-year-old daughter. Sure, a couple of songs may get stuck in my head but they are never going to end up on one of my playlists.

indyfabz

I have never eaten Brussels sprouts and never will. They undermine my core value of eating foods that taste good.

Which begs the obvious question: Why do you care what we think, especially if differing opinions would undermine core values of yours?

Are you beginning to see the problems with your construct and follow-ups?

Troul 

the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate... just like in the 'woods' & to group riding, just I shake it off, I shake it off.

tomato coupe

This sounds like the theme of a bad essay written for a community college philosophy class.

indyfabz

Or the bad plot of a Hallmark Channel movie.

tomato coupe

Finally, a subject we can sink our teeth into ...

shelbyfv

"core values of self-motivation and self-determination" Let's not forget self-gratification. Don't need no stinkin' others.

MikeDeason

I think the unwashed masses are reading too much into my proposition.

The thesis is and remains as follows "The sheer volume of 5 am groups was a shock, a whole other world revealed while I would normally be sipping a morning coffee. Besides the "pro" type groups that race around the main roads at all times of day, I expected the city's masses would have adopted cycling as a solitary endeavour."

Of course, this being a forum, a supposition of negativity coalesced and as Taylor so eloquently ruminates...

Troul 

. AFAF

CoogansBluff

I get burned out if I have to do only solo or only group. I need the variety.

CAT7RDR

No man is an island.
Unless he is solo cycling.