Why I Still Ride Alone 

I’m like you, I can enjoy zone 2 rides with no music or podcasts. Sometimes people ask what I think about and I seriously don’t recall. The ride was meditative and I was not bored once.

I've lost a lot of riding buddies because I just never hit them up to ride. I prefer riding alone. I'm a mountain biker and I love stopping every 5 minutes to take photos, and I love to listen to music and be to myself while I ride. Honestly, riding time for me is basically alone time "escape from the world" kind of thing.

Dude the mental part of riding alone is HUGE for me. It's like therapy. Helps me process emotions, think of video ideas, and just enjoy thinking through different scenarios. 1-2 rides alone for me a week is usually enough for me (I like riding with people too much) but those rides are very necessary to keep me going! Keep crushing it Mitch!

I'm socially anxious around other people that I don't know that well, never know what to say or when to say something. So group rides are mentally stressful for me and I'd rather ride by myself.

Safety is another reason i prefer riding solo. All of my closest calls have been on a group ride. Whether it’s people I don’t know riding unpredictably or just being unable to see objects on the road, riding in a group gets hairy sometimes

The Zone 2 training is for real. Most of my rides I am in this zone, and I ride solo on nearly every outing.

I’m 52 and only been riding a year now. I haven’t ridden in a group yet but would like to, mostly just to compare my ability to others. But like you, I can just be happy in my own head while out riding. It’s great mental therapy. Literally nothing else matters.

Did i miss the “new bike day” video?

Great video and thanks for the insights into Zone 2 training! Tried group rides and riding alone is better for me for the same reasons you've mentioned: freedom to choose time, route, pace and as you've said it's kind of calm and meditative experience.

I'm not saying what you are talking about doesn't interest me...but I like your personality and how you present yourself. Genuine, honest and someone I imagine I could chat to for hours on a ride...that you don't want me on...at all lol So Subbed! But like you, I do a lot of solo cycling for all the reasons you say, but also. 1. I don't have to focus on wheels and worry about possible crashes either into me or me into them. 2. prohours! OMG I can't stand getting up at 4.30am in the morning. That;s not sane or right. I dont' want to carry before early morning gear, morning gear and afternoon gear. I want to reduce the temperate range I'm riding in...and that means not waking up at 4 frikkin thirty am. 3. I can pick up and drop off things along the way so I don't have to try and find time to do it later. I love zone 2. I'd rather longer slower rides than quicker faster rides...though everyone else seems to be the latter so I have to bump up my hiit sessions or i'd never see friends lol Dig the vid. Look forward to more!

Of all the cycling RU-vids I follow I rarely ffwd through your content. Excellent editing and engaging content Mitch

Been racing for a bit over 30 years. Early on I recognized the value of a polarized, Z2 heavy training regimen. I've had a lot of success as a racer so I'm confident of the science. Being able to stay in proper Z2 means I'm not as tired after a long ride and can do it again the next day and through the week during big winter blocks. Being a bit on the ADD spectrum, it also allows time for my busy mind to be quiet. 5-10% of my training is club rides and I generally use those for race pace HIT. The few times I've had friends join for one of my Z2 days, it doesn't work. They often surge, half wheel then say they're tired and bail at 2hrs. It is what it is.

Dodged a group ride today for these same reasons, I knew the folks going would be smashing it at some point and Im' either getting dropped or working at threshold. I'll see them later in the year when I don't mind going quicker.

I ride less on the road these days bc the roads are not gettin better. But when i do im often solo. #1 my pace. #2 i stop at every stop sign/light. -U10

Great Video Mitch. I personally do as many Zone 2 rides as I can. Makes me feel the best. Less soreness and fatigue.

This thing with Zone 2... It's good because one can add more volume, and that's how the aerobic phase is built. Cannot add volume by always smashing...

I can totally relate to this one... Most of my rides are solo zone 2 miles without music which is therapeutic for me! Every "chill" group ride I've been on inevitably ends up being full gas by the second half, just like you said 😂

Great video! I also enjoy riding alone. Zone 2 all the way till climb hills

I do almost everything by my own, cycling, running, movies, dinner... I love myself and love hanging out by myself

Just landed back in London after an amazing week of riding bikes in LA. Was there for my friend Francis' wedding and had a few fun rides with friends and alone. I prefer the company of others as I feel more confident in traffic as a group and would love to meet you some day when I'm back in LA!

I’m all for zone 2 training if you have the volume. I think this is the biggest point that is often missed. If for instance you are doing less than 10 hours per week, you need higher intensity like sweet spot and intervals to gain fitness.

Totally agree! My fitness is up with higher and frequent PRs while enjoying lower pulse rate. Also, recovery is so much easier with Z2 training. I’ll join a group ride IF going my way, though there is always someone ready to mash the peddles in a group.

As a parent of young kids, I end up riding alone as I grab a moment when I can. Music ends up being the soundtrack to my thoughts.

Hi great video again! 😂 I jumped when I saw my comment at the beginning of the video. Love the video style please post more like this! Cheers

Great points on solo riding …. I love my group of riding buddies but sometimes need my solo rides , as zone 2 is always impossible in a group with varying fitness and competitive instinct on climbs . Also it’s sometimes good to go solo to push the pace at the other end and go flat out , with no guilt or need to wait on folk . And …for the mellow moments of course

Great video and nice bike! Can you do a review of the new Ritte Esprit? I have the older Ritte Ace. It's super stiff and transmits lots of road vibrations. I wonder if the Esprit is smoother and more comfortable? 🤔

I really enjoy your videos and your humor dude! Thanks for the great content. If you’re ever in the Beaufort, South Carolina area, we can ride alone together 😂

I've never been on a large group ride. As of last year I found two buddies and pretty much ride with them if I'm not on a solo ride. I realize how lucky I am to have that, as you said, managing larger groups becomes a nightmare pretty quickly. We were at different fitness levels when we first started riding too, as well as riding 3 completely different types of bikes: (me on fixed, one guy on a single speed and one guy on a gravel bike.) I remember feeling horrible because I couldn't keep up, and didn't want to be that guy holding back the group ride. Our single speed guy is an incredible sprinter and hill climber, easily reaches 150-170 rpm and can smash hill climbs with the roadies. Our gravel guy is basically a pseudo-roadie, excelling in everything, and my specialty is happily going on rides in excess of 70 miles whenever. 😂 We've all got our strengths and riding with them has made me stronger and faster in a short period of time. Adding one more thing, I saw a comment recently from a cyclist that said "I always compare the feeling I had (cycling) being a kid on a BMX bike. Yank that shit outta the garage, get lost, come back as the sun sets." When you have a small group you can resonate that with, solo rides become boring.

I agree,support

I love cycling and have basically done it alone my whole life. When my kids grew up, I started riding with them once in a while (when I managed to pull them out of bed). I've only cycled in a group once. The constant stops for fixing flat tires was simply annoying. Alone, I can leave any time I want, to any place I want. 360º cameras have made it possible to make great videos while cycling alone, which has become my latest hobby. And of course, I can set up a training plan that depends only on me. Thanks for the great content. I love it.

I only ride solo. Stopped w/groups last year .. for all the reasons you state. I only ride zone two anyway and find them very enjoyable. On rare occasions I do intervals.. but I don’t race, so zone2 is all that’s needed. Over time my avg speeds bump up in tiny amounts because like you said, Zone 2 builds your base.

Zone 2 is also so you can go harder on your hard days. It's basically recovery, but recovery that simultaneously improves your CV system, mitochondria, capillary density, the list goes on!

I prefer to ride alone - for soo many reasons you and others have listed. Cycling solo gives us the freedom to choose how we want to ride - length, speed, route, intensity, ect. Group rides takes away that freedom and we're stuck riding someone else's routes at someone else's pace, ect. A big part of why I cycle is to escape all of the stress and enjoy being alone - introvert here :)

I primarily ride off-road, but the same mindset applies. The freedom to stop when or however long I want can't be beat. Much easier to cater my route/intensity to my training goals than have to coordiante with others! And if I ever start feeling like I'm becoming a pretty good rider, that's when i join a group ride to re-humble myself! 😂

Yoooooo brother-Attaquer kit is 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Lovely vid this is pretty much my rides been riding 4 years i work from home and i love to ride on my schedule. I ride with a friend now and then which is also nice but always turns into race or flexing causes im a heavier slower rider up-hill due to 90kg, i tbink zone 2 is fine for average rider and i believe in the 80 20 rule. 2024 ive decided to also swim and gym along side riding.

I always ride alone. I don't like having to go at other peoples paces than my own. I like to stop to pee as many times as i need, or to take pictures. I like thinking out loud. I like to turn around if i have to 😊

zone 2 for 3-5 hours every Saturday, along with structure intervals, is what got me on the local club A ride, and able to keep on it the whole time. trying to get myself back to that right now... 😅😅

lots of zone 2 and 1-2 hard rides a week is where it's at. Lots of guys around here just do group rides and I'd categorize them as semi fast but they are generally so fatigued they can't push hard.

Love your content ! 👌🏻 what type of camera are you using to film yourself on the bike ? The quality looks awesome 👏

Zone 2 is just the cycling version of running's LSD or Long Slow Distance training, which has been practiced since at least the early 70's. But it doesn't preclude mixing it with shorter and more intense rides (or runs or whatever activity you do) and other kinds of training like weights and flexibility. It's just the foundation upon which everything else is built, part of that fitness pyramid. For myself, I generally prefer to ride and run alone, at most with one or maybe two friends. I don't have to worry about keeping up or others keeping up with me, I can ride or run the distance and route I like the way I want to ride or run it, when I want to ride or run it, I can slow down or stop to relax and regain my breath and strength or change my route as I please, plus it's meditative, which workout chats are not, even if they can be satisfying in other ways. But that's just me. But now that I've taken up indoor cycling with a smart trainer (Wahoo Core) and Zwift, after a several years long break from cycling in order to get back into good general and cycling shape, I find that riding with so many others, even if it's virtual, to be kind of disconcerting, and initially at least I'm going to look for ways to train indoors virtually by myself, both literally and virtually. I'm going to try out all the major virtual cycling apps to see which lends itself the best to solo riding. Any suggestions?

Shout out to the fixie muscling up that hill at 7:35

You go at your own pace.... and stop wherever you like.... 😊

Hey! 😊I’m also focusing on my health at the moment, and that why I’m not using that shill-tastic powdered money drainer 😊

Ah! I recognize many of those areas. Next time you're on the River Trail, try Morning Service Coffee (if you haven't already - I'd be surprised if you haven't). Less crowded than La Colombe, and excellent coffee.

This video is basically a reflection of what I do with my rides. Also great that I’m not alone in this 😂 Great insights dude!

Solo zone 2 ride is the best! You could pace your zone 2 better alone. I could enjoy this ride and no need to ask about what to think because my brain just jump from one to another based on what I see during the ride

I’m 62 years old and I think I’m a reasonably fit rider but I’ve never heard of your theory of zone 2. Ride slower at a steady pace and you get better at longer distances and fitter. The next time I go out on my bike I will give it a go. Only problem in Scotland there are a lot of hills which is a bit of a slog for me, but I still get up them without stopping. Thanks for your informative video.👍🏻🚵‍♂️ by the way I ride alone and enjoy it.

I think you need to do a separate video like a what I'm riding type thing, the Ritte looks nice, and would be good to compare it to your BMC.

Great video, how are you getting those great shots riding on your own? What cameras are you using, if you don’t mind sharing?

This may sound odd, but I find the riders I go with on group rides only like to talk about riding, particularly the latest investments they've made in equipment. I'm out for a ride to relax and get healthy, not to focus on who can outspend the other guy. So ... I mix up my rides ... mostly solo, but once a week a group ride to get in some variety.

May I ask: to make zone 2 an effective training strategy, what approximate volume are we talking about? I'd heard recently that it's not reallly worth it if you are only doing 5-7 hrs/week anyway. Thank you.

Group rides can be fun and exciting if you live in an area that has them. Sunday group rides are perfect for the working class, less traffic, more riders are off from work. Noticed how different the road bike scene has become from 20-30 years ago. Very true with zone 2!!!

95% of my rides are alone too. I love riding at my own pace, usually zone 2, and then with a nice stop in the middle. A good Saturday ride for me is 60-100 miles. If this builds into something more, I'll take it. If not, a good burger and a beer at most turnaround spots.

I started BMX racing in the late 70s while I was in elementary school. Graduated to road cycling at fifteen after I watched the Tour de France for the first time. Road cycled alone through my twenties and thirties. Got off the now-very-dangerous roads and started mountain biking in my 40s (alone). Now in my fifties (55) I only use the stationary Schwinn spinning bikes at 24 Hour Fitness. These Schwinn models of stationary bikes feels just like a road bike and I can close my eyes for two hours and sprint and climb for 30 miles. I tried doing the group spinning classes. No way. I have always rode alone.

Possibly an extrovert may find it more enjoyable to ride Z2 in a group, but I'm with you

I could probably watch a few video's to find out, but what bike is your Red one? Nice AF.

Nice video, question... Is your Z2 based effort/ride based on power (watts), heart rate or keeping both in Z2?

I blame youtube but you have a new subscriber. Keep up the great vids!

It is best to do zone 2 training solo as you're able to focus staying in that zone. I still would recommend doing group rides in your training schedule, especially if you're a rider that needs practice riding tight in a paceline (i.e rotating paceline or double paceline etc.), it's good practice that every cyclist needs which would help them be more comfortable riding in a pack.

What handlebar are you using? I'm searching for a one peace stem handlebar combo, i like the look of yours

"even though I now have friends- sorry to humble brag" 🤣 love it.

I usually ride alone, but I joined a group ride two months ago and been doing mostly flats with some incline, no hills. yesterday I went hill climbing, and had my best times, without even putting a lot of effort into it. Proof right there the group rides do improve your speed and power and endurance. and yes, it was a zone two ride. My heart rate was about 120 Nice and relaxing. I did a lot of daydreaming.

Very insightful impractical to understand. Thanks for not speaking with so much jargon like so many trainers do. How the heck are you? Is someone else filming you or using some super trick camera?

I’m 62. Only ride alone. Ridden across the USA 4x alone. Ridden across India China Europe Australia All alone. Although I did go back and Ride across India a second time With a Swiss girl.

I've never ridden with music/podcasts. Just the oppressive silence lol. I live in the Midwest, so the scenery is pretty boring, and there isn't much elevation (this makes Zone 2 training easy though). The hardest rides are the windy, cold, overcast winter rides where I hardly even see a single human being. These are what test me the most. I can get through summer group rides and centuries because there is some sort of stimuli besides pedaling (other riders, cool plants, fun stops). My ADHD brain just can't handle monotony for so long. I'm eager for the summer right now.

What camera/set up are you using for filming yourself whilst riding

What are the tires you use in this video? They look super nice.

Group gives you motivation for harder training and to go out when you're not in the mood.

My job is talking on the phone all day, so to be out by myself with no stimulus other than the bike and environment around me is bliss.

Very interesting approach but I have an argument against riding alone...it doesn't improve your ability to ride in a group. When I was young and competed, I had a hard time to feel comfortable in the peloton and very often I was dropped because I rode at the back and couldn't stay in the wheels for fear to crash. However, your standpoints are relevant for the majority of riders.

i enjoy zone 2 rides with friends, we are on the same level and have the same goal. i do solo rides, but i prefer group rides.

I am not social, don't like people. Riding alone means being alone and peaceful with my thoughts without annoying conversations. The same reason why i go alone to the gym.

New bike day? Sheeesh

Amen

I ride alone IRL and always have done, other people just ruin the ride for me...Only exception is the very "flattering" Zwift when I do a pacer ride...recently broke the 3hrs for 100km on Makuri hiding in a big peloton.... ! Riding alone is the best, I wonder sometimes how so many riders will only go out with others!!

I consider group rides to be an important part of the specialty phase of training, but everything else is solo. At some point I need to actually practice riding in a paceline, reacting to acceleration that I don't control, etc. Even if you just want to do a fondo without racing it's a good idea to have at least some group riding practice.

So I'm riding alone 99.99% of the time and most of these rides are "Zone 2 " rides, have been doing it for a few years now with tremendous results. I remember riding with a friend a few years back before I committed to somewhat of a training regimen and I could barely keep up with him. He was, and still is to this day, the king of guy who only rides in a group and enjoys "spirited" group rides. (nothing wrong with it, once every blue moon I enjoy one of those too) After about 12 months of mostly Z2 rides I was riding much faster and at a level of exertion much lower than my friend! Now it's not even funny how much faster I got compared to that starting level and literally most of my riding is done at that relatively "easy" level of intensity. I tried to convey to my friend how to get faster, he literally plateaued for the last .... many years, but some people just can't get past that perception that riding "slow" just doesn't feel fast enough (even though you're moving quite fast relative to yourself, if it makes any sense) I'm not gonna call myself a believer, but I SEE the results and can compare to where I started by virtue of having a stubborn friend. Enough rambling.

I do all of my riding on my own. To many hassles with group rides. And no ear pods in either. Just me, the bike and the road.

Nice video! Does AG1 sponsor every athlete? Lol

Yes, yes, yes. I mostly ride alone. Doing a group ride always ends up being a race. At 76 what is the point in me pushing so much. I ride for endurance. However, it does seem safer to ride with someone else or in a group. When a group passes by me on a busy rode I hang with them for a time and eventually they take off.

I am 72 yrs old and have ridden for 40 yrs solo. It definitely makes me fitter and stronger . It is too easy to sit in a group. I am not criticising the choice as some days when it is 50 km headwind I wish I were in a a group ride😂

It's important to mention that you can ride slower to get fast but only with high cadences. High cadence, slow speed equals getting faster. This type of riding used to be called spinning.

I didn't know that Sebastien Vettel cycled so much

Riding alone is a type of meditation for me once I get through the 1st hour it’s easy you just get lost in it🤔

Zone 2 is the best you can do. People think that always smashing is the thing. You forget to mention.... Is riding zone two always has to be in the small chainring?

The monotony of riding in Z2 and alone I’m finishing mentally tired. I need to go faster, feel my heart beating and exhaustion coming

Only place here in LA to do long zone 2 rides would be the LA River trail down to LB then back.

you ride alone because you have discipline to train. i ride alone because i don't know anyone else we are not the same

Someone told me you need to do a lot of zone 2 a week for it to be effective. Is that true

Yes. I can ride when, where, how hard and how long I want.

Long-ish comment incoming......In my experience, group rides are really really rare where I live. Most people are taking up triathlon and either train by themselves or go out with a small group but riding a few bike lengths apart. The traditional "group ride" only really happens at both ends of the spectrum here. Either you are an aspiring young rider that trains with similar abilities and you do a 6hr group ride in tight formation on the weekend (like the Pros) or they are an older demographic that ride at 11mph to a cafe and spend longer at the cafe than actually riding. Also, I hope nobody takes this the wrong way but there's a lot of people getting in to cycling now that have never been a member of a cycling club or they have got in to the sport later in life and not been exposed to the etiquette that comes from riding in a group. This isn't a bad thing, but in my area it does go some way explaining why some avoid certain rides or riders because of this.

When did you get a new bike? What happened to the red bmc?

I do my zone 2 training with a retirement riding group! 😂

I only ride alone because…I don’t have any friends that are also into cycling. Thanks for the flex at the beginning :’) Anyone coming across this in Boston area hmu!

When you get to my age 74 and still very active, I cannot keep up with the Testosterone fueled young us. So I end up riding alone too. As you say a zone 2 ride soon ends up a zone 3/4/5 cyclists cannot help themselves. So I get along doing my zone 2 and maybe straying into 3/and 4 as need arises.

Solo bike riding foreverrrrrr. Unless I get an invite from you 😉

Can I do just one really long Z2 ride a week or do I need to do multiple Z2 rides?

What is your camera setup in this video?

„I‘m still alone, but know I‘m fast.“