Why Ride Solo? 8 Benefits!
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
- There a lot of benefits to riding in a group but there are also benefits to riding on your own. Watch the video to find my top 8 reasons to ride solo!
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I hope you enjoyed this video. If you’d like to know more about the equipment I use or about my riding, keep reading!
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Riding is my "Me Time". I don't want interruptions, distractions, or hassles.
I ride solo much more than I do in groups - but clearly it is less safe on roads with automobile traffic than riding in a group so I would not pretend to advertise it as somehow better on such roads, just sayin.
Well said!👍
Cycled on your own is the ultimate definition of freedom. Can’t picture myself cycling with group.
All I do is solo riding. It gives me the time to think about everything or nothing.
Solo riding, which I do most of the time, is my moving "Zen" meditation.
My solo rides are often very contemplative . . .I sync my breathing and pedal strokes to a very natural 6/8 rhythm. It sends negative thoughts away...and allows me to listen to what is going on around me . . I'm often tempted to post some social media crap about how good it was, and then I think . . nah, these are my memories . . .sorry, not for sharing...
Back in 1971, a 13 year old me would sneak out of the house at night and ride a flat curvy route through my subdivision in Calgary Alberta, Canada . . . I had no clue about Criteriums back then . . . I just loved how the streetlights created a shadow rider that would overtake me and then vanish in the next streetlamp . . pushing me on...and on . .. I'm so grateful for those memories . . .
Sounds great 👍
That draws a lovely image. That is such a great way of expressing your passion. ❤
@@michaelbruce1847
Michael, don’t be so selfish and share those thoughts 😂
I do exactly the same Michael, I go out to clear my head and mind and just to feel at peace in a crazy world that’s constantly a noise. I love admiring the countryside and appreciating my surroundings, often stopping to admire the views, take a picture and then in my own time set off again. Why would I be in a rush 😀
Thank you Michael for your comments, it hit the nail right on the head. 👍
Who won you or the shadow.👍😎🚴♂️
You mentioned all the reasons why I love solo riding. For me the chatting is disturbing. Nice vlog!
I always ride alone. Bike time is MY time.
I pack a small stove, a mug and some tea bags. I stop where I want, pop the kettle and enjoy MY time MY way. It's good for my physical and mental well-being.
Love it.
I like wearing just one wireless ear bud, and listening to music, and I can still hear cars and things in the other ear….solo rides are just convenient in that you can go ride at a moment’s notice when you have unscheduled free time, that’s probably my biggest reason, I never really know when I can go sometimes, so when the opportunity comes, I just go…
#dadlife that's how my riding is
Checkout bone conducting headphones such as, “Shokz”. Great sound but you can still hear your surroundings.
My solo xc mtb rides are so meditative. Ride up a hill and just forget everything and enjoy the breeze
I ride converted rail trails, and always wear headphones. Nothing to do but put in the miles and enjoy the scenery!
I'm enjoying the nature's sounds too...
Headphones could be distracting, even in the forest area. Heard of a cyclist who almost crashed into a logging truck behind a corner because he didn't hear the truck (and blamed the truck driver), or of few cyclists who didn't hear chainsaws and trees fell on them. Now, sure, depending on the area, tree felling zone should be marked with warning signs and tape, but not all do that due to the time it takes to set up and clean afterwards. They get into big problems if something happens but the cyclist has only one life. Just saying.
Too true! I ride solo all the time. I don’t have to meet up with others and decide on a route. I can cut my ride short any time I like to escape bad weather, knowing there’s always tomorrow. I don’t have to listen to other people’s BS, yet can chat for as long as I want to at a ‘coffee stop’. Riding alone is not at all anti social , why should it be? Thanks for the vid
Pure thoughts and wind in hair, freedom in soul...
For me it's wind on scalp, but yeah, 100% this.
Who has hair ?
Agree - love a group ride, but also love an early Sunday solo ride …. No pressure to leave at any particular time, ride at my own pace, no needless stopping (more and more of my rides I don’t stop these days - coffee stops are lovely, but there is a joy in doing a non-stop 100km for example) … I also ride with music these days - not so loud you can’t hear the traffic but it takes anyway the awful wind noise and passes the time a little quicker
I love 100 km solos without any break.
Pretty much all I do is Solo riding. Not too many people want to ride with an old man. I’ll put on my Shokz bone conducting headphones, a good message from Pastor John MacArthur, and enjoy my ride. Thanks for the video. Grace & Peace
You in Mass? I have the same headphones. John 3:16
John MacArthur, one of the best preachers I’ve heard. Out and about on the bike and enjoying the joy of belonging to God. 😀
Yep, 55 and banished to solo. Whatever.
Out riding - and listening to some ridiculous sky-fairy fantasies. And then thinking that the rest of the world wants to hear about your silly, repressed lack of reality.
Priceless - and exclusively an American aberation
@@Tinker1950 czcams.com/users/shortszY9SWlGBpwM?si=oJ9-4aKNC6ABubaj
Used to like group rides but these days I appreciate the lone ride as stated in the video , I go where I like when I like and in the bit of Australia I live in every ride is a treat
Thought about these headphones but I realized I enjoy hearing my surroundings (and bike) on an outing.
Shockz you can hear surrounding and music.
@@karelvandervelden8819 Agree....also, rarely does the music work with my cadence and breathing.
@@michaelbruce1847 Being a musiclover/audiophile myself I rather listen at home.
On the bike I like to hear nature (birds, winds on the leafes, a distant! barking dog, cow farts............)
Group rides are only good for maintaining friendships with riding buddies as long as things go to plan I think. Solo rides cut out all of the annoyances such as getting to a meeting point, waiting for late arrivals, waiting for mech issues to be sorted that should have been done before the ride, speed differences, getting stuck at a traffic light whilst the group disappears into the distance, having to adhere to a bad choice of route, looking bad in a social media group photo etc.
They sure do! 😃
lol truth bombs
People know the group takes off at 9:30am and one or two always show up late forcing the others to wait. That's rude. Be on time and be ready or don't bother showing up. Some people have things they need to get on with in their day.
Exactly!
Headphones is not something I would consider. I depend on my hearing to help with intersections with poor sight distance. I also enjoy being out in nature. I enjoy the wind in my ears and all the different bird calls.
True and No music. Only the nature 👍😘🚴
@@pliccut just try bone inducing headphones... is music, plus nature!!!
To each their own, but I wouldn't ride with headphones. No way.
The majority of my rides are solo due to family and work commitments preventing me from joining a local club. To be honest I enjoy the complete detachment from work and family issues and I find that time incredibly important to work on my own mental wellbeing. I often find a lunchtime ride can unpack a work or personal problem in a way that wouldn’t happen sitting in front of a computer screen.
Great point!
I’ve never ridden with a group but from what I’ve heard from people that have, it’s all about going hell for leather and there is always a clash of egos, I can go faster and longer than you etc etc etc…..hence i always ride alone.
Lovely video and thank you for taking the time to film and post.
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
Solo rides aren't immune to that either. I get complete strangers trying to race me, sit on my wheel, even trying to force me into a pothole, making arsy comments because they get jealous about my nice bike etc., all the time. On the other hand, on solo rides, I am far more likely to get sh*tty behaviours from drivers like spraying with winshield liquid, very close passes, which they wouldn't risk doing to a large group of blokes.
I’m an older rider with A fib (71)who used to do a lot of group riding but now I ride solo. I found that I have to go at my own pace. As much as my previous cycling companions say they will watch the pace , they don’t, and I end up hanging on for dear life. When I stick to my own pace I can go for ever and enjoy it, but if the average speed is say 2 km faster than my average I blow up and get no enjoyment out of it.
👍🏻 Just got back from a solo ride along the remote Siberian / China border with some epic climbs and amazing views. Solo = freedom to explore, you can stop and admire nature, you can really push or just relax when you want and plan new routes on the go. Group rides can be social or competitive and def have their place, but for me I prefer 80% solo riding because cycling for me is about exploring, not shying away from tough new routes, no group etiquette, just open roads.
That is awesome! Thanks for you comment!
@@Forest_velo my pleasure ... + bone conduction headphones are a must for me. Personal pref when doing any exercise.
That sounds awesome!! 😳😎👍🏻
@@steveindorset reality was hundreds of mosquito bites, 36 degrees with no places to restock on food and water, so planning was essential and it was so so so remote. Hell of ride 👍🏻Exhausting and rewarding.
@@mark_kirkbridewas wondering if you ever get pulled over by the Chinese border securities and ask for your Visa / passport ? 😆
I would add that riding solo there is less risk of getting involved in a crash.
Good point!
I agree 100%. I was pacing with a guy I didn't know was riding on tires that had the cord showing. When he hit a bad patch of road both his tires blew out and he went down and I did a flip right over top of him. You never really know if other people maintain their bikes. The crash ruined my bibs, my jersey, and bent the chainstay on my titanium bike. I wasn't mad at first until I saw his tires, then I realized what caused the whole thing. So you need to be careful who you ride with and the condition of their bike.
Totally agree. This is probably one of my top 3 reasons why I much prefer solo riding. It’s way safer.
😮 I don’t want to ride with your group.
Are you concerned with crashes between riders? I believe in the schooling effect, that motorists are more likely to see a group with flashy lights and bright colors than a solo cyclist. Although when solo riding flashy lights and bright colors are absolutely essential for safety.
I’m cycling around the New Forest solo by default at the moment. Only started riding at 62 last November, become a little addicted to be fair and now buying bike 3 lol! Problem I have is loads of mates but none are cyclists and fully aware that although my fitness has taken a surprisingly leap forward I’m not convinced I’m fit enough to fit in with a cycling club and meet like minded older chaps like myself. Great content on your channel by the way, learnt loads from it so far thank you.
Glad you’ve found it useful! There are clubs about obviously depends where you are! Christchurch bicycle club is one of them.
@@claytonjones5857 Grid Iron in October is an amazing event … get yourself to some events and look around to see who’s riding at a similar pace - lots of clubs have people of different ability
The best part about solo riding is that you can go riding on your own schedule.
Love riding Alone also couple times had use of headphones which after all makes me realize my little speaker is the way to go:) The reason why won't ride with Groups is I can take breaks any time I needed or I can ride for 2 to 3 hours strait. Of course there is riders who have their reasons for not ride Alone. Despite all differences both sides are right of their own. Happy Rides:)
Definitely love to listen to historical podcasts. It’s a must for me.
We Go out in a Group More For Fun, but Sometimes it's nice to venture out on your own.
I almost always ride solo, love it. It’s my time and no one can take that. I also use bone conducting headphones and I think they’re fantastic! Recommend them for anyone. You can hear the road and you can also hear whatever content you listen to. Highly recommended.
I like both group & self-supported rides. Tomorrow I’ll meet a group for the first 40 miles, then another 25 alone. I feel ‘safer’ / more visible in a group, but definitely like the freedom of solo.
as both a mountain biker and roadie, I only use earphones on a trail ride where I'm alone., and no danger of other trail users coming up to me. On the road, I use the speaker on my phone to motivate me with tunes. No worries of not hearing traffic around me.
I love solo riding!
From the Caribbean. Enjoy solo riding. Able to enjoy the scenery a lot more not to mention being able to stop and rest whenever. 😂😂
Big one for me is that you can go out when you want and from where you want. Headphones are fine providing you can still hear around you and traffic is low.
Nice ty for the motivation I like solo riding just like you said I don’t need to slow down anybody or I can go as fast as I want when I want and stop whenever I want lol
I’m 62 and just purchased a used Quintana Roo 2013 try bike , and just went to the process of stripping the paint and repaint it my way, and change the handlebars to a drop bars and old school friction stem mont shifter that way it’s easy to ride in a group but we see how things goes and like you said I just need to get there and put the miles in once you get started. It doesn’t matter how far you go. You’re gonna have to ride back and that’s the most fun, when you’re on the bike solo
Group riding always reminds me of the first grade, everyone lined up to be marched to the bathroom.
Hi Forest, great video! I also ride primarily solo. For me it's a great workout, but more importantly every solo ride is a mental health therapy session. I also use bone conducting headsets, I find it doesn't impede the important external noise and audio clues I require to cycle safely. I also use a mirror, a front light, and rear radar to improve safety, it all helps. Thanks for posting this video!
Glad you liked it!
My experience with group rides has been nothing but drama. Solo all day!👍
Good day, Sir! Safe ride/vlogging! Senior solo biker here from Philippines. GOD Bless!
Thanks, you too!
I also use ear phone but for one ear only, always on my right ear, and my left ear is free . So I could hear clearly for road awareness.✌️😉
Personally I’ve never used headphones whilst cycling. I’m lucky enough to cycle in the countryside here in the far north of Scotland and I love hearing the the birds, cows, sheep and even the sound of a farmyard machinery in the field . When I was younger I used to love tractors but not anymore. I guess that makes me a extractor fan 😂. Keep smiling and keep the videos coming. Thanks 🏴
😅
👍😎🚴♂️your an extractor fan, I used to like sheep but not anymore and every time I see one I do a ewe turn.😂👍🥲
@@markswales762 👍😅
i'm a solo rider for years. i love it
Thanks for helpful tips
I enjoy my solo bike riding, I synch w/ the beautiful nature and concentrate on my pedaling. I think that If I was going to ride w/other riders I will be pressured by trying to ride faster, go where they go, and too much pressure. Solo rider is the best! I love listening to music/podcasts.
What a nice mic, barely any wind noise. Thanks for the video.
Glad you like it!
Love your video and sentiments about solo rides. You can sometimes have short chit chat with cyclist you meet up with on your ride then you both go your separate ways. Yes bring all the stuff required just in case of problems. As a gal riding solo ride for years there has been some cyclists who have not gone prepared and need my pump. The joy of riding alone in nature and just breathing. 😊
Thanks for your comment!
A combination of being retired and the recent / enduring poor weather we're experiencing in the UK has prompted me to increasingly ride solo, partly for the flexibility. Why get wet and blown to bits on the weekend club run when it's nice and dry during the week. Funnily enough, it feels like I've re discovered the true joy of cycling and have experienced all the positive benefits you've described here. Also, to be on the safe side, I've taken out cycling breakdown cover, in case the worst happens, and I can't sort it out myself at the roadside.
If I were to mention some of the more negative aspects of group / club riding that solo spins improve on, then it would be as follows:
1. That guy (its always a man) who turns up and is way stronger than anyone in the group. They ignore the suggested pace and turn a pleasant pacy club run into a grinding smash fest. They enjoy being the big fish in a small pond and never countenance joining a stronger group, lest they have it done to them.
2. The half wheeler (see above)
3. The frequent puncture / mechanicals. Its usually the same person, who never seems to have the necessary spares or tools ( likely why they never ride solo)
4. The guy (again, it's usually a bloke) who rides erratically, often on an inexpensive machine, who occasionally crashes, or worse, brings others down, but somehow manages to stay upright.
5. The non-stop talker. They turn up and select a victim, and once riding next to you in formation, you're stuck while they unload without pausing for breath.
6. The person who requires they be the centre of attention at the cafe stop. Sometimes, this will be the same person as above but not necessarily. You might want to sit quietly or indeed have stuff you want to catch up on yourself, but no quarter is given by this dominant, self-centered individual.
I think the secret is to find "your people" and have nice like-minded company to ride with , then group riding has its benefits. Until then, solo is just fine 😂!
😅 you’ve obviously thought about it! Yes sometimes solo is a lot easier!
Haha I love this. Could easily be the premise of a cycling sitcom 😂
Reading your post has just confirmed my decision some time ago to ride solo was the right one, thanks.
For us retired persons, it's not necessary to ride weekends, as a typical week is made up of six Saturdays and a Sunday. Also, why compete with group elements? The whole point of retirement is to leave that behind. Fill a couple of water bottles, pocket some cash, and ride whenever and wherever you want.
@dlbutler I only ride weekends now if it's been raining Monday to Friday.....which happens quite a lot at the minute. I don't bother with the weekend club rides anymore. We do have a mid week ride, but that one's full of the above usual suspects 😉
I only ride solo. Unless I get a flat or get run over by a car, riding solo is drama free.
😄
I always ride alone and I would not even like ride in a group. As you say, you can do excactly as you like and why not 🚴😘👍🙋
So true. I do ride with one ear piece and listen to music. I do enjoy riding alone because I can focus on myself. With group rides they can become distracting, too much going on.
Always ride on my own now days. More freedom, flexibility and stop/start when I want. They only time I ride with others are my sons, that is it.
I love my solo riding. I did a group ride once and i had to keep stop pedaling because of the draft. Solo is much more challenging in my opinion. Also i use open ear headlphones. I can hear music and traffic too.
You do work harder on your own! 👍
I do a bit of both. But I prefer solo rides for my long, hard rides. I don’t have to worry about whether the others are frustrated about me going too fast or slow.
Since I picked up cycling, I have never ridden in a group! I usually go on long rides, and I don't like stopping here and there, waiting for others to catch up, etc. I just keep going until it's time to return.
Very informative I will take that on board
Going out this morning with my new cycling club 25 miles around the Essex countryside can’t wait hope u have a great ride out today stay safe
For me i do both. I ride with my brother and ours friend and do solo riding also. I do listening to music/podcast all the time.
Groups are cool but the first purpose to ride for your health and to get away. Personally I either listen to music or audiobooks to free your mind or to learn while exercising the body.
I do some of my best thinking while alone on the road.
I only ride solo. It's time to get out of my head, and enjoy nature, the wind, the smells, the speed, etc. Constantly talking to a group would remove all of that. Solo only!
Good vid mate.👍🏻 I generally ride solo. I don’t mind riding with one or two people. Love sportives. But not really a regular club rider. Just love the freedom of solo riding, go where you want when you want as fast/slow as you want. I would tent to use just a left hand earphone, so I can hear cars behind.
I can see by the map you’re very near me. Can you recommend any good routes in the New Forrest or anywhere that’s worth a trip? Maybe a vid on some good routes? …Been down the LBS and my order is in, so new bike day for me soon!😁😎👍🏻
There are a lot of benefits! Red shoot north of Ringwood is great going over to Brockenhurst or Lyndhurst. If you check out my Strava you’ll see some loop I do regularly! 😃
@@steveindorset get yourself signed up for Grid Iron in October - New Forest ride
See my comment above, but on reflection, I realised I'd missed someone out from my list. So in at No7 is the Snott Flinger. Again its always a bloke, often turning up on a Club Ride with a nasty head cold and a nose full of crud. They proceed to ride at the front or mid pack, and without warning blow a bolus of mucus into the fresh air. They'll make some half hearted effort to move one foot to the side, or adopt an odd crouch, lowering their head towards the handlebars before letting rip! In certain light conditions you can see the droplets heading for your face and there's often little chance to dodge the green bullet / mist of mucus. Worst still they think it's pro to blow. I once made the mistake of riding behind our aging and well respected Club Captain, whilst he blew his hooter continuously without budging an inch. I cant say here where some of it landed, but believe me it was not pleasant 😅
🤧
I wear earplugs to block out the commute of others. Mute enough to focus on what I love the most, my ride.
I use to ride with a neighbor which was cool but he always kicked my butt but now his health is bad and he don't' ride anymore so I've been mostly solo and I love it. I don't listen to anything but nature and all that is around me. I still ride with some other guy's once or twice a year and that is fun too but I prefer to ride alone most of the time as I leave early from my house and am back before most folks are up and out of the house. I always try to ride out into the wind then back with the wind, doing the opposite sucks.
I’ve done a lot of group rides. I prefer solo. What attracts me to cycling is being alone with my thoughts.
I ride solo so I don't have to follow their strict rules
I went riding with others just twice, they either want to take too many breaks or look at wildlife, that just interrupts my Zen, Solo it is!
Always push myself when solo riding. Just me against myself. spin and smash attack all the climbs. Newbie here.lol
I bring a JBL Flip on my rides. And tend to ride solo most of the time.
Headphones with good music with the scenery becomes a whole other superior experience. I rode in a group once and there were many factors which shocked me frankly. Namely egos, weird hierarchical behaviour and racing like silly little boy's when it wasn't a race. Nah man I'll be pumping my adrenaline+20% harder solo thanks 😂
I ride 98% solo for most of the reasons sighted. Best reason, I’m the leader and navigator. Always headphones but bone conduction only.
Nicely filmed i only ride solo purely because no one can stay with me so even group rides end up solo ha ha I do get excited when i find someone faster than me i know it sounds like i,m full of it but in aus there are not many fitt people .
😂👍
Solo ftw!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 just have the shokz 🎧 and ur good!
I never have used headphones. I would say my rides are like meditation, which is why if someone blows a horn at me it makes me jump 5 miles out of the seat.
😅
I just try to group ride with solo's that outpace me, pushing me to be better. I've only been riding 1 month, chasing roadies on my full suspension mtb.
I love seeing people make way for the lead cycle then turn and see me chasing them with tires twice as wide and no hands on the bars in an aero tuck with my hands behind my back.
I use a bike computer, it logs every path i take. So a group ride would easily be repeatable if i desired
😃👍
As you get older you prefer riding by oneself !
Not a fan of the ear buds. The sound I love is the meditative tone of the tires rolling against the road.
i prefer solo. I'm only doing solo all year this year.
I guess headphones are quite save as long noise canceling isn't switched on. Never ever had a surprise and the radar helps to
Solo rides I can easily choose where I slow / stop to allow drivers past when safe, ear phones ..not for me I want all my senses functioning, agree it makes you more independent on tools etc , I choose the route / pace.
Group rides you have to be very aware of everyone and don’t often get to see much of where you actually are.
Always ride solo around the forest. See you on the road some time.
K
I agree, Solo has great benefits. We are all at different levels.like your vid.makes it look as if your moving at 40 KPH -@ all the time. Maybe you are !
Yes it does but I’m not! 😂
I always listen to music when I ride
Solo all the way. You ride with someone and then they feel this need to talk to you, when all I wanna do is listen to music and get a workout in.
i want to have a bicycle but icant find a new one in morocco all we have is old or being used 😥.
Enjoy man 👍🏼
My name is used to be Anti-Social on Strava. Enough said. I always prefer the solo ride.
It cracks me up that most of the bike riders I see are all dressed up like they are pro racers and riding $10k or so bikes. Hey that's cool I guess if your young and can afford all that. I have bike specific clothes but rarely wear them anymore. I wear gym shorts and stay dry shirts, use platform pedals and wear regular shoes. I have a two year old Steel frame bike built up with Shimano 9 speed dura ace which is from the early 2000s. My steel bike is a Rivendell bike designed by Grand Peterson. I'm not a pro racer and don't pretend to be. My steel frame bike can handle 40 mm tires has a long wheel base and rides like a dream. I'm 62 and am all about comfort not speed. I average between 13 and 14 mph on 20 mile rides which isn't horrible.
I use earphones.when in the car I don’t listen for other vehicles and on a motorbike no is hearing what’s around them. Now motor vehicles have rear view mirrors so I should invest in some sort of rear view device
I've only ever done it solo!
Regarding headphones, I will never wear them if doing road rides. If I'm doing a gravel trail ride on a dedicated walking/cycling path, then yes I will wear earbuds. Roads with cars is just too dangerous, and you need to have all of your senses to be aware of your surroundings.
I always ride alone. I don’t like superficial conversations.
I only Solo ride on the Road. My time to be alone with my Dad ( God ) , I like MTB with others usually.
A man of God....Should we pass out tracks?
I also like how you can go out when you want not waiting around for said time
Can I ask what camera are you using to film this footage
Insta 360 x3. There’s a video coming out on Saturday about how I film rides!
I ride solo almost every day. It gives you the atmosphere you want. Go everywhere, do anything, for a few hours, or all day. Your choice.
Where did you get the tool kit bag from?
Hi
It’s one of these:
www.swinnertoncycles.co.uk/lezyne-luggage-road-caddy-p102860/s283757?Blisting%2Bads&cid=GBP&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD-rSisiI_hOtAHlDglIdxm1Q_VAV&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq_6F2oqnhwMVEJZQBh0gNwe6EAQYASABEgKc9PD_BwE
Solo for me. I like the solitude and time to reflect, work through things and enjoy the sights and sounds that just happen along the way. In my area, groups have a pretty bad reputation for rudeness which I want no part of and are too caught up in the trendiness of fashion, latest greatest and most expensive bikes, etc. I just want to ride and go where the trail or road takes me. And absolutely NO to headphones. Have had too many instances where folks wearing headphones are so caught up in their music, book or podcast that they are oblivious to what is going on around them and become a hazard to themselves and others.
Thanks for your comments. 👍
Riding my bike is ME TIME.
All the group rides where I live require wearing a helmet. I don't like wearing a helmet once the bugs have come out and the weather gets warmer for obvious reasons. Also I enjoy playing tunes, it's kind of rude to have earbuds in when people are trying to talk to you. Riding alone I don't have to worry about what I might run over because of someone in front blocking my view. It just seems safer to me to ride alone. Some people need to have a friend or be in a group on a ride and treat it as a social event to stop for some snacks and chitchat but I don't like to stop, I want to do my planned route and get on with my day.
It has to be very cold for me to be able to wear a helmet. I have a serious over heating issue when I cycle. I always have headaches after a ride as a result. Wearing a helmet makes this even worse. I get told off regularly by other cyclists for not wearing one. In actual fact I was an early adapter to wearing helmets way back in the 1980's, I am fully aware that wearing one can save your life,but wrapping myself in cotton wool might also make me safer in my everyday life😊 I don't ride aggressively,and I take every precaution to stay safe and be seen on the roads.
Statistics actual show some interesting results. For instance drivers tend to give cyclist not wearing a helmet more room when overtaking. And drivers and their passengers are more likely to have head injuries in a crash than cyclists,so theoretically all drivers and passengers should wear helmets for their safety. I am worried that at some point it is going to be made mandatory or even law to wear one on a bike. That worries me as it will ruin one of my greatest pleasures in life. ❤
@@atmywitsend1984 Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I want to reply to your comment about making wearing a helmet law. That would be the move that would make me stop riding bikes. I'm a big advocate for better health through riding a bike and I've given bikes to kids and relatives and promoted the those benefits and more. But all that would change if they try to change the way I like to ride. I don't force my views on other people and I hate it when they do it to me. A lot of those people are the same people that drive cars like they are in a F1 Indy race when they are just going to work or use their phones while driving, which I won't do, ever. Anyway, it's my life and I'll do with it as I please.
@charlesmansplaining Couldn't agree with you more. "Live and let live" The last few years has been more than enough for free thinkers in a life time. " You can't do this,you can't say that,you must obey ze orders" Like you I don't want any one to yield to my way of life,I just want to be left alone. I even had one cyclist tell me that I shouldn't be eligible for hospital treatment as I didn't wear a helmet. When I told him to mind his own business for shouting at me for not wearing one. I am sure these people are well meaning,but when did it become a thing to tell total strangers how to live their lives.
Any way. I enjoyed the rant,and hopefully they won't ever introduce even more restrictions to our every day lives. Enjoy your cycling mate.
How wide are those handlebars? They look enormous! 😊
😂. 42. The perspective makes the look wider.
How is that video captured? How is the camera positioned and manipulated? Wild...
Hi! Using a 360 camera…there’s a video out this weekend on how I film my rides 😃