Is riding solo risky?

Great Thread : I just had to add my 2 cents....

There has been a lot of good info. I have ridden plenty of times solo, have had a few close calls, and use a number of precautions mentioned if / when I do Most importantly are:

1) Use common sense, be prepared and know your limits (which unfortunately is way too uncommon)
2) ALWAYS let someone now where you are going and when you expect to be back
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Currently, I prefer to ride in small groups of matched experience and fitness, however there are times I enjoy the experience of being solo and self sufficient.

But really the title of this thread is just a bit off and a minor change makes the the whole conversation much simpler.

Instead of being

Is riding solo risky?

It should have been

Is riding solo more risky?

And the simple answer to that is yes.

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As we all know, mountain biking is inherently risky to some degree and is more statistically risky than say...sitting on your couch. So, other than the case when your buddy crashes into you, and factors like you are more likely to try to impress in a group (see common sense and knowing your limits)

If you ride 100% of the time solo, 100% of the time when you crash or have some other event you will be by yourself.

If you ride 100% of the time with a group 100% of the time when you have an event you will be with someone.

The other combinations are purely the statistics that you are comfortable with.
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Life is a series of statistical events...don't become a statistic
-Me

 

Riding alone, or hiking, and whenever we go out into the wilderness can be more dangerous without a partner, especially if we wreck. From my own expierience, i've wrecked when alone, and was able to hike out of where I was. i was lucky, only an MCL tear. However, that incident made me realize that I should not take chances when alone. Riding alone is not a problem from my expierience, howevrer taking chances without someone there just in case is. So ride accordingly.:bang:

 

Is riding solo more risky?

The answer depends upon the individual. Some people take more risks when in a group. Who goes out and sessions some jumps when alone, when there's no camera, when there's no one to outdo, etc.? Some people get sucked into rides too advanced.


One more safety factor. When going away from popular trails I'll leave a map in my car with my route marked on it.

 

Nice idea. I will remember that one:beer:

 

Ahhh my old friend who I have never met in person

We think alike, definitely group dynamics can be a factor, and I think for one not affected by group dynamics solo is more risky...maybe a lot...maybe a little...but it has got to be somewhat more risky. I assess those risk and then make a conscious choice..as I am sure you do.

The Map is a great idea, I leave my route with my wife, friend etc. In addition a solo ride REQUIRES and INDY call ...I'm Not Dead Yet... upon completion, failure is subject to severe penalties.

 

And on the flip side, when riding locally during the cool season, I like to solo with only a cell phone and a water bottle. All that other junk detracts from my riding experience.

If I have to carry my bike out in the dark and the cold, it's my punishment for not doing proper maintenance and riding imprudently.

 

There's a scene in Band of Brothers where a soldier advises a cowardly Private that the sooner he accepts the fact that he's already a dead man, the sooner he can get to the business of killing. When I first started diving solo many years ago, I was constantly looking over my shoulder. It wasn't until I accepted the fact that if anything was out to get me, I would never see it coming, and if I did, there would be very little I could do about it. I went on to dive solo for many years in complete comfort. Riding alone can be approached in the same manner. Ride more conservatively when solo, don't take unnecessary risks and above all, be prepared to deal with potential problems. Afterall if a mountain lion wants to jump you, it will. Worry about that situation only when it happens. Chances are, like in SCUBA diving, when riding alone the biggest threat to your health, might be YOU.

 

There are some interesting distinctions to consider here.

The question is, what do you mean by 'risky?'

Are you more at risk of suffering an event that requires medical attention? Maybe for some people, riding in a group, the answer is 'yes.' If you're trying to ascertain whether you're more at risk of death or serious harm due to being unable to take care of yourself, then for most people the risk is virtually zilch in a group, regardless of how high or low the risk of injury is.

In fact, precisely because we feel that others can take care of us should something go wrong, we might become more lax and take more risks. So the risk of needing their help rises while the risk of dying or suffering unduly because of any given incident plummets.

 

10 times more dangerous? I'd like to know how or where you got your stats. I've been dive certified for 20 years. 15 of those years were, for the most part, solo dives. Drowning solo is no less dangerous than drowning with a buddy, or for that matter, severing your spine off a cliff--while solo OR group riding. I would dare say that aggressive mountain biking while solo is definitely more dangerous than passively exploring a reef by your lonesome...unless you happen to be a halfwit!:lol:

 

Just out of curiosity.

I plan on doing this: http://tourdivide.org/about_the_route

next year, probably solo.

Where does that put me on the STR sanity scale?

 

I don't know about the STR scale, but it puts you at the NORMAL end of my scale! :beer:

 

There's a monthly group ride of that route posted on the calendar. We'd do the ride more often but the ride takes the better part of the month. All skill levels invited by the way...

that's just ridiculous.

 

I was reading a couple months ago about a guy from NZ doing this. Came across his story while researching places to ride and riding groups/tours in NZ.

He had a great ride and did very well. I wish I could relocate the website. Him and his brother are well known in NZ and, if I remember correctly, have a well known bike shop.

 

Alone in a crowd

I read this thread this morning before heading out to San Juan. I was by myself but being SJT on Saturday, I certainly wasn't alone. In fact, I could barely park. If it wasn't for the super cool ranger writing tickets for non-adventure pass buying people I would have been skunked. Yes I said super cool because seeing my situation, he moved his truck and double parked so I could have his spot.

Anyways, to my point. About a mile from cocktail rock, I come across a rider walking down. His arm in a sling made from his Jersey. I started to think about this thread. He was with half a dozen friends, but they were of no use. Granted if he had critical injuries they could have proven helpful, and as people mentioned if a lion, bear, meth head, or saber toothed tiger was around, they could defend their buddy, BUT It was up to him to walk 6 or 7 miles out, alone. He was in good spirits and jokingly said it was a nice day for a walk.

I almost always ride alone, and the bottom line is not whether or not you are alone, but you can take care of yourself when things go wrong.

Healing vibes to the rider on the cannondale.

 

SO, not making this into a Mtn lion thread, but I feel this pic goes along with riding alone. This was taken new years day, and its about 6-7 inch in size, and fresh on the trail




They are def out there guys, take precautions<as seen in teh Mtn lion thread> keep safe while riding alone

 

Wow, if it had been my friend with the injury, I would have gone out with him, even if he didn't need my assistance. Guess that's the kind of riding buddy I am. . . and the kind of person I ride with when I ride.

 

Must have been a big dog. (Nails show in the print).

 

Out of curiosity, How likely is it to run into other bikers on the Main Divide during a weekday? On weekends it seems as populated as Whiting...

 

Of course, riding solo is risky. So is getting out of the bath tub.

 

Not very likely, but it also depends on which section of the MD. Just know where you're going before hand and you should have no problems.