Who rides alone ?

Scotty T

Walks the walk
Always do Kowen alone...often thought about how long it would take for someone to find me on something like effing track.
We did the western loop of sparrow today, 22km and only saw three riders 500m away heading the other direction. You just never know out there, sometimes you see plenty of riders.
 

Flow-Rider

Burner
So it’s “shit out of luck” vs “lucked out shitting”...



I don’t know much about ED visits, although I guy I work with was training on Mt. Cootha for a trekking trip to Nepal with a dentist that was going too. Some mtb’ers rode by and the dentist apparently commented to my workmate “those guys have made me a lot of money”.
Yeah, a lady that I ride with smashed out her front teeth on the wooden ramps at Sugar Bag road. I broke an old crown a few years ago during a stack and I can't imagine the use of electrolyte drinks and gells doing your teeth much good.
 

Scotty675

Cable thief
The majority of my riding is at least started as solo rides. Lots of reason but main ones being I like to be on the trail early (6-7am), gets me home to family earlier, I can choose trails I ride and how far I ride and also if I’ve had a shit day and want to clear the head there is no better way than jumping on bike for a couple of hours (spontaneous rides). I always carry a phone. I have never thought about the what if I crash, if I have that thought I shouldn’t be riding. This is the same reason I don’t and never will wear a full face. If I had of got into mtb earlier I probably would of geared up more, cause I would of pushed it and ridden a lot harder (0 fear factor). These days I’d rather ride for k’s than speed.
 

MarioM

Likes Dirt
98% of mine is alone . As I`m getting back to full strength I`m going back to my remote rides for long periods of time . It`s been said a lot it`s the chance to be away from society with no noise in your head and it sure sucks when you know you have to go back to that noise . I now ride with a snake kit because the missus made me . But you can take all the precautions in the world and still something could happen .
 

slowmick

38-39"
I have a group to ride with but ride more than 50% by myself. Mostly to be as fit or fitter than the group. I hate being the little red caboose at the back - it's like riding by yourself but with added pressure and embarrassment. By the end of the today's ride i was moving barely quicker than the shadows but i was still pedaling.

I fear calling my wife to ask her to collect me from or take me to the hospital more than the crashing. Something that makes even shuttle days a solo ride.
 

cokeonspecialtwodollars

Fartes of Portingale
But you can take all the precautions in the world and still something could happen .
Completely agree it would be impossible to account for all the possibilities and would kind of take all the fun out of it at the same time. I'm often finding myself a few hours ride from the car and then even if I could make it back to the car I'd still be up to an hour away from normal phone coverage, for something like a snake bite bandaging it is going to be useless if you are still three to four hours plus from help and can't just sit back and immobilise the limb while waiting on the evac... satellite based SOS was the only thing that made sense.
 

dropotaro

Likes Dirt
I ride alone almost exclusively but most of the trails I frequent are pretty busy so I don't worry too much unless it's a mid week day ride. I have had some serious injuries whilst ridding alone and have been lucky enough to receive help from other riders. Need to find some riding buddies
 

MARKL

Eats Squid
Most of my riding is alone these days is alone , others schedules is sometimes just too hard. Been doing this for a fair while. Last year I got by a car commuting to work (T-boned by car going through red light). Was unconscious for a while, taken to hospital, hung out with doctors and nurses for the day and was eventually cleared. From the guy that delivered first aid, the ambos, the doc at the hospital I told everyone i had broken a couple of ribs. Anyway I was cleared and told I hadn't broken any bones.

4 weeks later I go for a ride with the boys have a solid but not spectacular off - expect sore no broken bones. Later that night off to hospital as I am in agony. To quote the triage nurse 'I've seen the x-ray, its pretty messed up', 4 broken ribs, partially collapsed lung etc. Longer break from riding and the Minister for War and Finance is not so understanding about solo rides any longer.

Sooo...I bought this NEW HELMET seems to work, back riding solo :D
 

droenn

Fat Man's XC President
I've not had any accidents that have knocked me out, but had my share of long walks back to the car when I've destroyed a rear hub or slashed open a tyre.

Kowen is great when you're out there by yourself. On the weekend, you'd eventually be seen - you just dont see as many riders when you're on the bike yourself (all following the same loops etc).

Next question: who sings when they ride alone?
 

dancaseyimages

Mountain bike pornographer
I've not had any accidents that have knocked me out, but had my share of long walks back to the car when I've destroyed a rear hub or slashed open a tyre.

Kowen is great when you're out there by yourself. On the weekend, you'd eventually be seen - you just dont see as many riders when you're on the bike yourself (all following the same loops etc).

Next question: who sings when they ride alone?
I ride Kowen alot alone mostly over the weekend, and Stromlo frequently, especially at night in the other parts of the year. I have been warned that if I do come off I may not be found until morning. But its the only time I can get a few laps in. The other half knows I'm out there so if I don't return home after and hour and a half shes always on the phone.
I find its harder to meet friends for rides when I just want to go out for a few hours without planning ahead etc.

To extend on that, I've met up with other riders at Stromlo, Majura, Thredbo back to Kosi and Bright who have all encouraged me to join their ride, which is always cool.
 

Stredda

Runs naked through virgin scrub
I have heaps of mates to ride with but struggle to make any weekday rides. The first stage of the Wild Mersey trails here in Tassie is only 5min from my place so the last few months I've been doing a quick 5:30am 8km lap. The Warrawee part of the network is only a small mini park, so if I did have an off there's not to big an area to search for me. Funny thing was early December I was heading out to ride by myself as usual and there just happened to be a couple of guys I knew there early as well and so we all rode together. Not long into the ride I had a big OTB and broke my collarbone. I'm sure I could have walked out ok but it was a big help having them there.
 

Scotty T

Walks the walk
I've not had any accidents that have knocked me out, but had my share of long walks back to the car when I've destroyed a rear hub or slashed open a tyre.

Kowen is great when you're out there by yourself. On the weekend, you'd eventually be seen - you just dont see as many riders when you're on the bike yourself (all following the same loops etc).

Next question: who sings when they ride alone?
Haha sometimes I sing riding in a group. There's rarely a moment where I don't have a tune in my head, but it switches off when the bike points down.

I have never had a serious injury on a mountain bike. I haven't had a bad stack on dirt in a very long time.
 

John U

MTB Precision
I nearly always ride alone. I’ll let my wife know roughly where I’m going and always carry a phone and first aid kit. If it’s extra remote I’ll give more detail a consider riding more cautiously.
If within range it’d probably be a good idea to use find my friends or something similar. I used this at the Bright 24 hour and it worked a treat. The crew knew my exact location, they knew if I’d stopped out on the course, and when I was arriving back in the pits.
 

Haakon

Keeps on digging
Did find myself not doing that drop into a gully at Sparrow yesterday... I was not feeling very coordinated and was a long way out the back!

I think this thread has jinxed me now!
 

Cardy George

Piercing rural members since 1981
Did find myself not doing that drop into a gully at Sparrow yesterday... I was not feeling very coordinated and was a long way out the back!

I think this thread has jinxed me now!
Wasn't a jinx, but I was thinking of this thread just before a stubborn tree root tried knocking my front wheel from under me just before sunrise Saturday morning.
 
Top