One of the reasons I commute by bike is because I can literally have it with me all the time if I want, so if someone I don't want to talk to tries to approach me, I jump on the bike and sprint away.
I'm fortunate to have been riding with, more or less, the same group of people for the past ten years. When there is a large group we split into smaller sub-groups and self segregate by skill and fitness level. None of us are youtubers so no one is setting up shots or doing anything more than casually filming features. The terrain I prefer can be pretty sketchy so I don't like riding alone when I'm on those trails, though I do ride solo occasionally. When I'm out solo it's typically more mellow or even gravel road type trails that have minimum exposure.
I ride alone most of the time. I think its from training back when I was racing, I did a lot of distance miles. At first it was just training, almost a job or a task, but then it just became riding. I rode all over Portland, mostly at night, almost always alone and in zone 2, easy going. It just kind of stuck. I still do group rides, just did one tonight with a great group on the snow, fatbiking. But the next time I ride will probably be me out in the middle of nowhere on my fat bike on some packed trail and it will be great.
Solo now for all of the reasons you mentioned. Also riding solo I am able to ride the bike setup like I want without being shamed for not having the latest and greatest in equipment.
Great topic. I’ve enjoyed both solo and group but being a roadie at the time it got to be too much, especially as the groups got bigger. Besides the hearding cats issues riders/group sometimes became so rude and inconsiderate of drivers I didn’t want to be a part of it. I’m a bike guy but… Like you I’m pretty darn happy with my own company. BTW the best cold weather cycling glove ever is the $2.99 jersey glove over a regular cycling glove. Gave up on the fancy $ stuff years ago. Though not good when wet, your rain may be an issue.
I almost always ride solo. I am that guy that says "I think I will ride 50 miles today" and then makes a 35 mile route. Then as I go along, I go down some of the side roads to see where they go, sometimes to an intersection, other times to a dead end. Then turn around and go back. This tends to drive other people crazy since they don't know where we are going, and what bike to bring. Because I will ride my gravel bike on just about anything, paved road, gravel roads, trails, fields, it doesn't matter to me. If I have to get off an push occasionally, even that's fine.
I'm going to miss living vicariously through the friendship that your channel always had, where it felt like a bunch of buds in the forest having a good old time, but also completely get the sheer amount of work that goes into every single one of those videos
Yes. I struggle with that "curated group "of friends to ride with, and it sounds lovely. Riding alone is also a critical part of my mental health. I wish I knew how to find more friends that ride, but local group rides can be absolutely reckless dick measuring contests. I have nothing to prove, I just love to ride.
Mostly solo, or with one friend and the occasional charity event. But it is nice to know there is safety in not being alone sometimes. That said, I miss Ron.
Recently came across your channel. I appreciate how hard you work on making the videos interesting and high quality as possible. I hate most peoples ride videos, yours are fabulous. Your voice over, b roll, funny questions and comments, and environment make them interesting. When you started this video I was a little worried that quality would go down without a group but your technique and style shine through! I truly dig what you do, group or no group, camping, tinkering, gear reviews, or studio tours. You are a talented storyteller!
I'm a solo rider. I like riding whenever I feel like it, time-wise, and I like not worrying about anyone's pace. Added bonus that I get to spontaneous change where I'm going mid ride.
This is one of your best videos I think. Group rides are definitely a touchy subject. I live in NYC, and theres 8 million people here nad a very active bike community, so I have the opportunity to join group rides all the time. I also will almost always encounter some other cyclists doing the same route I'm on at the same pace, and almost every time that happens, an impromptu group forms until we break to go our own way. I think riding with friends and finding the group that works for you is the best. If you can somehow ride with a group that is slightly faster than you, I think that's the optimal setup, because itll push you to go a little harder than you would normally do.
I almost always ride solo, but do enjoy an impromptu group ride, but it can be a little awkward if you're not sure if someone is into it initially. If I get passed by someone I almost always pick up the pace to see if I can hang. Thinking about it now makes me excited for warmer weather.
In my 20'a and 30's, group rides were "normal" { just out of the military] and now I'm 75, I am the only person I can get along with! As a teacher surrounded by hundreds of people daily, solitude is earned!
No way! I like your style! In England teachers hang out with other teachers talking about teaching and telling people who aren’t teachers that they’re teachers
The last group ride I did was a gravel ride about 48 miles, halfway through the ride. The guy that invited me just took off and I didn’t see him until we got back to the car and the end we did a 14 mile an hour pace and he did a 14.5 mile an hour pace, now come on was it really worth it to ride away from your friends like that? Needless to say that was my last group ride as that kind of stuff just doesn’t make sense to me, I have no problems, riding solo, I can hammer when I want, and I can just chill when I want, I love my bikes, and I love riding still to this day at 61 years old!
I loved your OMTM group ride videos because they were such a beautiful fantasy during COVID lockdowns. I knew in my heart I'd never do anything like that, but they were still inspiring. Sometimes I save the leftover bar and eat it next ride. Or forget and carry it around until it haunts my dreams. Thanks for all the creative and inspiring videos!
I rode mostly single at age 73. Not many group rides for groceries early mornings. Not many pannier carrying riders willing to carry a gallon of milk and a full bag of groceries. I love exploring, stopping and doing what i want. I've returned to spinning lower gears and feeling energized. You've summoned it all up most adequately. Though watching you and Ron tear around reminds me of rides with a good friend in the 1970s. We rode similar bikes, pedaled similar gears and we both enjoyed Fig Newtons. Love the one you're with even if it's being alone. I have half a bar in my saddle bag for the next ride. Waste not want want not.
only child (single parent) and an overwhelming amount of time by myself. when i learned to ride a bike (self taught) it open up my eyes to the rest of the world. cycling has given me a lot and taken a lot as well. i couldn't imagine my life without it. 90% solo rider.
Funnily enough, I've ridden solo (not counting events) most of my riding 'career' because that's just what I did and not enough bike weirdo friends. But lately, I've been curious about joining group rides because I'd like to find one that pushes me a bit (without dropping me). One thing you didn't talk about though is safety when riding solo. So many rides end up in the boonies without cell coverage (even road rides in the hills) that it is important to either go old school (tell a trustworthy person your plans and check in ) and/or modern (app activity tracking and/or satellite communitcatore like an InReach) to make sure you don't end up dieiing in a ditch somewhere.
Great video! I agree with everything you said, but I think cycling in a group is safer in case of an accident, mechanical problem... i keep doing group rides in some cases
Same here, slow or fast. Without the group rides, I'd miss the rich social aspect of cycling, even as an introvert (that's what my solo rides are for)! Maybe I'm just addicted to the feeling of a smoothly rotating paceline, which, IMO, is simply one of the most beautiful feelings anyone can experience! Personally, I feel that many solo riders are terrified of riding in a group, which I can understand as I certainly was in the beginning but it's hugely worth it.
Solo. I ride an old Fargo and usually can't keep up with the "weekend warriors." I too ride to get a break from people and conversations. It's my meditation. Maybe I'll ride with a friend or two but not with the groups.
I’ve become a solo rider out of necessity the past couple of years (avoiding toxic groups, good friends quitting cycling, moving far away to a sparsely populated area, etc). I do enjoy it, though.
Hey Dustin, your mates are super fun, and I have enjoyed many of your videos where you're fucking about with them on some sick ride. Sorry the love is gone a bit. I got inspired to get into gravel because of you (got my Grizl in 2023 and then did a 4 day insanity gravel group tour in Autumn up the Palouse to Cascade trail). This year gonna do STP. I think you had a huge part in getting me to do all this. Thanks mate. Hope you're doing okay, and this video isn't a sign of something bringing you down.
Dustin, Solo mostly because I can leave at 10am or 5pm - I like to lollygag, meditate at the top of mountain bike rides, go my own pace. I also ride with small group but I never race with them- people are not as good at lollygagging as me. Thanks for the vid DK! Good stuff as usual- more art videos please. Cheers, Steve aka The Talking Fly
I ride solo probably 99% of the time, mainly due to my schedule, but like some of the points you mentioned are some of my reasons for being solo. I do have a few friends that ride on the road and we try to get together one day a month, some times we plan a route, some times we don't, or better yet, we wing it by taking turns deciding which way to go at each intersection....makes for a fun or unusual ride. What's nice is that none of us are competitive cyclists, we just like to ride for fun, make frequent stops, and aren't afraid to just stop at some random store or if we're lucky, a coffee shop. I typically like riding solo on the mtn bike because I tend to just take random trails or sometimes, I have been known to just do exploratory rides in places that more than likely never see mtn bike riders, I have even gotten lost temporarily. One ride was only 14.5 miles, took nearly 5 hrs, I carried or pushed my bike at least 3 miles of that, but I had a general idea which direction I needed to go. I thoroughly had a fantastic time because the views made me forget that I was in cougar territory and on "trails" that probably weren't really trails. If I had someone with me, they more than likely would have ruined the experience by complaining 😅. Some of my riding buddies say I am not normal 🤪.
I too have given up on large group rides but will gladly go out with a few friends that have a similar pace and shared expectations on what type of ride we are doing.
I was fortunate to get hooked up with a ride leader who was passionate about teaching safe riding, i.e. calling out road hazards, cars, pulls, eschelons, etc. So now when i ride with my daughter on organized rides i can show her who she's safe to be around and who is to be avoided.
I actually got into biking thinking I would enjoy road riding and group rides. But then I got a mountain bike, tried doing group rides, and learned that I enjoy stopping a lot to enjoy just being outside and in the moment. And felt bad that I was just slowing a lot of people down. I'm not really there to break Strava times or be KOM. The only time I do a group ride is if someone else shares the same passion about being "there."
Nearly 95% solo rider here. Occasionally, I'll ride with the local randonneuring group which does allow me to split off if I wanted. The other group is actually quite massive, We Bike Detroit, with around 200 riders per event. But, that's a slow ride, and mostly about chatting with new people each ride. But for almost all other rides, solo and I love it.
I used to love group rides with few friends before two low fitness newbies joined and got their fitness really fast, within a year they were strong as us, if not stronger. But since they didn't have cycling ethics, they brought this peepee measuring mentality that I hated. No body waited for anybody anymore and since my old friends liked those kind of training races, I just quit it...
I like both but they bring different things to the party. Group rides are fun for the social aspect and helping push along where I'd normally tire out and call it day. But there's less quiet time, fewer impulsive decisions, and I just don't always enjoy it as much. I ride to get away from everything like 70% of the time, so group riding is a bit antithesis to that. And I'll admit there's an upper limit to what makes a group ride fun. MTB if it's larger than like 10 people it gets annoying to keep a good pace. Gravel/road up that number to like 15-20ish before it becomes super splintered.
Yeah, I stopped going to my club rides because it wasn't safe anymore. With new people coming in and riders I'm not familiar with their riding style, it just made it too sketchy, when all I want to do is ride. I started going solo again and loving the freedom of just going, not worrying about others, and having peace to myself. I don't have to hear others' stupid comments, I don't have to try and keep up or wait for others, I just go. I think it's best to go and have 1 or two other people to ride with that you know really well, but solo is pretty liberating and that's the feeling I want when riding....freedom.
There's great camaraderie in exploring together and suffering together. There's also something magically exciting about going full gas in a well organized paceline. That said, the main reasons I ride solo are 1) don't have to wait for slower rides or feel bad about holding up faster riders, 2) most group rides near me start in the mornings and I like riding in the afternoons or after work in the evenings, and 3) specific to gravel and MTB, I go into the trails to feel secluded and away from people, so riding in a group on trails feels counterintuitive. As we get older and gain more experience riding, we understand better what we enjoy and what we don't, and it's difficult to find people who enjoy the same things and are available to do those things with you when you want to do them.
I love this video. I stopped riding in a group years ago because I found that most of the cyclists around my area are arrogant fothermuckers. It was just an awful experience. Sadly and maybe not sadly most of the cyclists here are like that. In return I gave myself the gift of riding alone.
Got back into mtb about ten years ago. I tried it in the 90s and I would spend more time fixing the bike than riding it. So I went deep into street and park bmx for 20 something years. I had a small crew I would ride with here and there but I mainly rode by myself. I could session something for as long as I needed to figure out my lines. I ride mountain bike now by myself, same reasons that most days I like to session a section of trail or a feature till I figure out the lines or it feels right. Some days I just blast. I stop when I want, go where I want. Best days are in fall, bright colors everywhere, air is dry and cool, it’s solitude at it best epic levels.
never really cared for group rides until i started riding with the Vancouver (wa) Fixed gear guys. Absolute blast every wednesday. great dudes that love weird adventures, getting really muddy and makin me a better rider.
I cycle alone almost exclusively, 1. my ride is for me. 2. I wana ride at the speed I want to when I want to. 3. group rides often times can have that abrasive person.
Always been a solo rider. Could imagine riding with a friend, but not in a group. I walk my dogs alone, I run alone, I ride alone. Wouldn‘t have it any other way!
There’s room in the world for both. I will say I get flats almost infinitely more often on group road rides than when I’m riding by myself. I also have a history of injuring myself on MTB group rides, where I’ve only toppled at zero mph a few times when riding by myself.
Only child, grew up in the bush, always ridden by myself, love it that way. Riding alone and tinkering with my bikes in the seclusion of the shed is my meditation. I’ll go for rides with my kids that’s all good but I still take any opportunity I get to hit the trails or the road alone.
DK you've got some of the top cycling content on the tubes...thanks for that. For me variety is the spice of life...I like all of it. Big events are cool a couple times a year. If you can find a good group ride...love it, so much fun and comradery. But like you said...the wrong group...yeah I'm out. Love riding with my wife and or a couple of friends. And solo can just release you..let it all out.
Group etiquette, group dynamics, group rules, inflexible or inconvenient ride times.... no thanks. Finally gave up even trying to do rides with friends after they either cancelled on morning of the ride or made me wait for 30 minutes or more at the start because they got up late. Besides, doing my own thing without worrying about others is far more relaxing.
I used to commute NYC for work, after much experimentation (including a pair of heated gloves) and many winters I found the best combo by far for keeping hands warm was glove liners plus waterproof mittens.
Me too. Birds of a feather fly solo. I have never liked groups unless I am doing a century ride and I feel like sitting in someone I don’t knows draft for a long time and pop out front on the downhill. Yeah. I’m that guy
Amen, brother, all of the above. Well, maybe not the filming challenges, but all the rest. Part of it is 1) my innately solitary nature, 2) partly a constrained schedule that doesn't align with others, and the rest is 3) just being slower now, for a variety of reasons, a lack of consistency being primary. I also prefer a select small group of riding companions, but that's been a struggle to get everyone back on track since the pandemic. Retirement beckons, and with it the promise of consistency. I'll see where that leads.
having a small squad (1-2 solid ridebros) was perfect for me. big group rides might be fun, but most of the time it is dragging on both ends (people can't go as fast or as slow as they want) Riding with 1 or 2 bros that does shit that you also like is the best most of the time, at least for me.
Thank you for this. I've been actually feeling shame and guilt for not supporting the local bike shop and their local ride. I so want to have some regular, good peleton practice, but that just ain't happening. I do drop a lot of money in their buying gear, and I suppose that is enough. For some reason the regular group rides are on the absolute worst routes possible (I know because I ride several hours a day and have tried practically every road at every time of day). I hate to say it, but the local club just really doesn't have a clue. Most of the members are extremely affluent cyclists who ride maybe once every other week and stuff themselves into their ill-fitting skinsuits and ride their $10k bikes, slowly. I absolutely hate elitism in the sport so I blame myself for having those thoughts, but it isn't like I tell them. I feel like this video finally gave me permission to feel completely satisfied riding my own favorite route, by myself. Occasionally, I run into a group and hook up with them on the road, but there is no reason I have to join it all the time. Thanks again.
I mostly ride alone , I find it more enjoyable , I get to session features and not feel rushed . But some of my memorable rides were with a bunch of great mates . Some of my worst rides are also with other less compatible fellers . But there is safety in numbers
Although I'll miss your group ride videos I totally support you going solo more, or with a select small group. I have one person I ride with, or I go alone. I've mostly done things alone till recently because I wanted to go deeper not faster. Like you said, you can just do what you want. I'm a senior these days and with no work, rural living, no wife, riding with someone else is part social, part backup as we're in our seventies now, yeah, it happens. Anyway, " you can go your own way", da da da dit da.
Started riding to spend time with a new GF. That dropped off until recently when we started to go out with a small group ride of about 10+ entry level riders. Felt that the group ride always went to slow. Now I'm going on regular individual rides and enjoy that I can ride at my own pace without feeling like I have to keep track of where everyone in the group is. Gotta say solo is nice for pacing, but I still will make time to ride with friends and fam to keep those relationships healthy.
I regularly think about this watching cycling videos. Every time you ride by the camera, you have to place it, ride past it, and ride back to pick it up.
I ride solo because I can't find anyone else to ride with especially with my weird work schedule. Road riding I loved group riding nd found a great group my first time out and did thousands of miles with them. MTB it matters a lot less to me although it would be nice to have someone there to push me a bit harder or to help each other through difficult features.
Solo rider. Carless, so I ride everywhere in my city and ride exclusively fixed. I hate organized rides… did that for over a decade in the woods. I’m over 50 and pretty beat up so I get enough thrills in the city riding fixed and always prefer the ability to ride wherever I want whenever I want. Best way to experience your own city imo.
I totally relate to the whole growing up as an only child thing: I'm a car-carrying introvert. For the past 50 years or so, I've been a prisoner inside of my own head. Funny thing is, I'm not exactly eager to break out, or to let anybody break in. My wife of 19 years {21 if you count the two years or so that we dated) keeps telling me I should get out more. I retort with something about how terrible most (past) friends turn out to be, and that I actually do get out of the house, occasionally - to ride my bike. ALONE. 😁
i've been cycling for just 3 years, and it's been 90% alone. i discovered and fell in love with it that way, and when i started to try and join group rides, at first im really excited, but then its just that: chasing all day with my tongue out and feeling miserable or wait constantly. i love showing new places to friends though, and try to create routes for that purpose.
Strong agree on the "small curated group of like-minded weirdos" theory. Make a good friend, ride with them for the fun of it (Not to train), if it's working out consider adding the third guy. Three's a crowd, stop there save for an occasional fourth if someone has a buddy who wants to hang that day. Ride with this group for the fun and comradery, not for the workout. Do the cool destination rides and bikepacking adventures with this group. Train solo. I'm an unorthodox cyclist: I don't like lycra, I don't like clipping in, I don't record my routes, I want as few obstacles between me and getting on the as possible. Groups... Generally are not like this. There is always an unspoken dress and style code. So that alone turns me off from them, not to even speak of the pacing differences.
I have heart failure so I kind of have to ride alone and glad I do, because I'm stopping frequently to keep my pulse rate at a comfortable level, hence as you say... no one to answer to. I also like to stop whenever I see an interesting land mark or point of interest catching my eye, as I had two main reasons for cycling. Firstly to keep fit, get healthy and do something for my heart failure in general. Secondly, I.m 63 and until the age of 57, I worked in London UK mainly driving around and in that environment you get to see nothing, everything you pass is a complete blur and a rat rase that you're forever chasing, so now that I've moved to where the countryside and sea air is, I want to just stop and look around, see what's happening, see what I've missed and smell those roses and not concern my relaxing nature with the sight of cycling jerseys disappearing in to the far distance, after all I couldn't keep up even if I wanted to.
Can't tell you how many times I've rode out to the start location of a group ride only to immediately lose all interest in riding with the group once I arrive.
I have the same issue as you Dustin, I am constantly stopping to set up shots and then getting enthused and excited about the shots I've set up, no one else should have to endure that!!!!
Been a solo rider since I started riding in 2008. Only been on group rides a handful of times. I’m an introvert so getting out on the bike and away from people is right up my alley haha. But in those few group rides I did do, found myself pushing my limits more.
