Anyone else a loner and not a group rider?

[easysuper]

I normally ride with my wife as she loves to ride as much as I do as long as the weather is fairly decent. I will go out on my own when it's not the best as I am willing to ride in the rain. We live in Oregon and if you're a bluebird weather rider your season is short. I prefer riding with just her and me but we have led day rides of up to 26 Spyder's which can be a pain. We usually stay out several weeks at a time and mostly camp as the PNW has some of the best riding and camping around. She pulls the pop up and I pull a chuck wagon gear trailer with solar panels so we can camp off grid. We both love to ride, camp, and cook, and enjoy great gourmet meals when camping. We both love sitting around a campfire sipping a great cocktail or glass of wine in a comfortable chair.

 

[Wheelman]

Every Saturday, I ride with a group of two wheels for breakfast and a day ride. I find riding with a group is like "herding cats." I prefer riding solo but Saturdays are just for the friendship. Rode to Sturgis from L.A. alone last year and loved the solitude. Going to ride to the Deadwood 3wheel rally this year alone. I like to camp but the Saturday group are a bunch of lightweights and won't do overnight unless it's in a 5 star hotel. They are planning on going to Sturgis this year but they want to trailer. I'm sorry but a trailer is for a bike that is broken. What part of "ride" don't they understand? Oh well, good group of guys but I'll do my serious riding alone.

 

[gkamer]

I’ve ridden with a small group 4-5 others maybe three times that I can recall. Other then that I ride solo. For most of the same reasons most of the others have already mentioned.

When I want to stop to stretch my legs, restroom break, grab a bite to eat, whatever then I do. When I’m ready to hit the road again I don’t have to wait for anyone else to be ready. I’ll admit there’s something to say about the security about having a wing person in the case of emergency, but I’m not a big fan of the misery loves company theory.

But I suspect I'll be riding in a big group at least twice in July when I pay my respects to Deadwood South Dakota.

 

[budvoss]

I like riding alone. My favorite rides were back when i got home from Nam in 69 Id pack my little 250 x6
hustler with a sleeping pack and head out . Find a breakaway into the woods and camp for the night. Cant hardly do that anymore. Now its pack up and stay at hotels. I love exploring and always something new to see.. Riding alone is where its at for me.

 

[jbim]

I enjoy the camaraderie at stops or end of day but I prefer to ride alone otherwise because I usually don't go faster than speed limit and I don't want to slow down anyone or try to catch up with speedy Gonzales.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Group riding is tough to accomplish when an afternoon nap on the road is a top priority!

 

[MonPaul]

Looks like Bfromia and MonPaul might be the perfect riding partners for me. I can turn a 750 mile trip into 1,200 mies no problem.

Sounds good to me! I am always known for taking "longcuts" and that isn't always appreciated. And unless I am really in a hurry I won't take freeways because they are just too boring of a ride and rarely scenic (at least where I live) and my friends think that is crazy!

 

[EdMat]

Sounds good to me! I am always known for taking "longcuts" and that isn't always appreciated. And unless I am really in a hurry I won't take freeways because they are just too boring of a ride and rarely scenic (at least where I live) and my friends think that is crazy!

:2thumbs: Freeways, 2 or 3 wheels are only good when you got to get there and you're late.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Sounds good to me! I am always known for taking "longcuts" and that isn't always appreciated. And unless I am really in a hurry I won't take freeways because they are just too boring of a ride and rarely scenic (at least where I live) and my friends think that is crazy!

My observation is that Interstate 15 is more scenic than US 89 where they parallel each other in Utah.

 

[UtahPete]

My observation is that Interstate 15 is more scenic than US 89 where they parallel each other in Utah.

I'm trying to think of where that would be...?

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

My observation is that Interstate 15 is more scenic than US 89 where they parallel each other in Utah.

I'm trying to think of where that would be...?

Roughly from the US 50 junctions to US 6 junctions. 89 goes through a lot of small towns, commercial areas, and farmsteads that offer very little interesting to look at. I-15 is surrounded by sagebrush desert and mountains.

 

[UtahPete]

Roughly from the US 50 junctions to US 6 junctions. 89 goes through a lot of small towns, commercial areas, and farmsteads that offer very little interesting to look at. I-15 is surrounded by sagebrush desert and mountains.

You're right, if you're just passing through. There are some interesting towns and side trips into the mountains along the way though, if you have the time.

 

[bigbadbrucie]

Idaho.....Utah...... you’re both forgetting that “Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder”!

 

[cruisinTX]

I find small towns and farmsteads to be quite interesting and make fine subjects for my passion of photography.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Idaho.....Utah...... you’re both forgetting that “Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder”!

That's why I rather enjoy riding through desolate desert sagebrush! Strip malls don't strike me as particularly scenic! :dontknow:

On the other hand, when wife and I did a seven day tour on a narrow boat on the canals in the Midlands of England in 1989 traveling through the backsides of old factories, through the heart of villages, and through green landscapes was very enjoyable!

 

[MonPaul]

:2thumbs: Freeways, 2 or 3 wheels are only good when you got to get there and you're late.

I need to find friends like you! I feel the exact same way.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

:2thumbs: Freeways, 2 or 3 wheels are only good when you got to get there and you're late.

I agree with that, mostly. My experience last year demonstrated there can be benefits of freeway riding vs. secondary roads. I needed to get back to Idaho from Iowa because my older brother was in bad shape, but I was not going to rush the trip. Riding on the freeway made it possible to cover the requisite miles in a day without the stress of additional hours it would have taken on secondary roads. That aspect went a long way to keeping my stress level in check. I was also more assured of getting a motel on short notice since the freeways are well populated with them. For a totally non-hurried and relaxing trip the secondary roads are best, but on the other hand freeways can also be relaxing.

 

[ollicat]

I have attended a few motorcycle events and rallies and participated in some group rides over the years but very much prefer to do my riding solo. The big advantage for me is to be free to choose my route, my riding style, when and where to stop etc without having to account for the wishes and whims of others. I would guess that over my 40 plus years of riding more than 90 percent of it has been solo. My wife has never been comfortable on two wheels and her trike pillion riding is limited to the occasional half day ride.

My absolute favourite activity is a solo 3 or 4 day motorcycle (now trike) tour on curvy roads in good weather. The joy for me is taking in the surroundings and the freedom to adjust and adapt my ride to match my mood or current thinking or interests. I check in to hotels, find a local pub for dinner and spend the evening in my room reading a book or researching my next ride on my iPad. I seldom if ever watch live TV as I have no patience for the constants ads. I usually have a daily quick call or and exchange of texts with my wife but other than that I am truly solo.

I guess I am a loner by nature and don't feel the need to have company around to enjoy myself. I don't get anything out of large gatherings, cocktail parties or "small talk" I love to hike but again most of it is done solo for the same reasons as I avoid group rides. My wife is concerned about my safety on the longer more remote hikes so I have bought a GPS with a satellite communicator to make her feel a bit better about my solo trips. Yesterday I did a 14 mile hike in the mountains which took about 6 hours and only saw a couple of other hikers on the way. It was a beautiful day and and I relished the mountain scenery and peaceful solitude.

Are there others on this forum who feel the same or I am really the "odd man out"? :dontknow:

Holy Cow we are kindred spirits. Exactly the same for me!

 

[Jesster72]

I ride solo only when the weather is too chilly for my wife. Then she rides with me. All our bike trips are her and I. We have done several with 1, 2, or 3 other bikes. You have to make sure you are all on the same page before the trip begins, our 500 mile day to get somewhere may be torture for someone else in the group. Communication is key.

Large group rides are typically just charity runs. We will ride out with the masses, but quickly separate with our 1 or 2 close friends after the first stop. Safer that way, for us.

 

[ferrasr]

98% of the time its myself and my favorite passenger for over 40 years of 2 wheeled, now 3 wheeled riding. It offers the most flexibility to travel how we like and as someone mentioned having that second set of eyes as you get older is great. As for groups I only do this if I am asked to be a ride leader, or ride cleanup for rides like charity runs and local rides but this can be very stressful as you feel some what responsible for the group. You have no idea of group ride participants skill levels and in groups it just seems to bring out the stupide in some riders, causing very dangerous situations for the group. With my wife with me, being a RN we have attended to many "eventful" group rides, (why would you loan a bike to someone who just learned to ride two days ago, that was a bad one but a story for another time).