Why I prefer to ride alone (even if I do enjoy the company)

[Ramseybella]

Just found this site and introduced myself as well.

I can agree with all above comments why We like to go Solo.

I love it period, never the less it is fun to have at least one buddy to hang with.
I come to understand our idiosyncrasies as he needs like an hour before we leave in order to leave on time (You know the ones)?
I also know every 200 miles he needs to pump on Espresso (Jeez I always forget the thermos).
And that he can't pull a 9+ hr ride in one shot, last Solo epic ride was from Santa Fe to Idaho falls straight 12 hrs.
I myself get cranky near the end of the day unless I am riding Solo then I know what to expect from myself (drink some Crown Royal in front of the campfire).

Yes I love soloing but I had one event I was glad my friend was along, my shifter linkage broke in Ouray Colorado on a Saturday around 5:30pm and no dealer.
Lucky I had tools blue Loctite enough thread left on the linkage bolt, camp ground attendant with cordless drill and bits and two old Harley riders with four zip ties!!
Drilled out the what was left of the old linkage pin dumped some Locktite and screwed two of the remaining threads into the hole and zipped it tight See results>>

[Hickey]

I like to meet up with people, but I generally prefer to ride alone. I like to ride my own pace and stop when I feel like it without any worry about how much I'm slowing other riders down.

[mxvet57]

I like to meet up with people, but I generally prefer to ride alone. I like to ride my own pace and stop when I feel like it without any worry about how much I'm slowing other riders down.

All i can say i was glad you were behind me when i hit that guard rail in Colorado.

[Hickey]

All i can say i was glad you were behind me when i hit that guard rail in Colorado.

That was scary and could have been so much worse.   /shudder/

I think I was more freaked out than you were.

[Mr_Gone]

Riding with other definitely has its advantages if someone goes down. But most of my riding buddies have succumbed to life — wives, kids, finances, job schedules, whatever — and it's just easier for me to ride alone.

Riding off-road, I wouldn't ride with less than two other guys. That's just me, though, my $0.02. If someone gets badly hurt, one guy stays with the hurt rider and the second guy rides for help.

[Tripps]

When I first started riding, I used to do the group ride poker run thing, but don't anymore. Most of my friends ride Harleys, their idea of a good ride is 30 miles down a poker straight road at 50 mph for lunch and back. But I do have one great riding buddy, Guzzi Dan, we are perfectly compatible as a team. we'll plan a ride, and have absolutely no destination in mind, sometimes I lead, sometimes he does, we end up where we end up, found some cool places, we both like historical abandoned stuff, best I can explain it. He's also my only friend crazy enough to do winter rides. We do 200 miles on a winter day, visiting little local history museums, abandoned canals, neat old buildings and stuff. And neither mind stopping for a drink once in a while to warm up, the more hole in the wall, the better.

My riding bud, Guzzi Dan

[rgbeard]

I don't often get to ride for the sheer enjoyment of it.

I commute on my Goldwing 1200 (but that's now SIGNIFICANTLY reduced with my new job.)
My wife and I take our Trophy 1200 out for 2-up fun
Lately she has her SV650, and I my Speed Triple for solo fun.

The Speed Triple has done lots of track days, but not much fun on streets.

With my new job that's changing.  I am now 100% home-officed, and the Speed Triple sits outside my office window, beckoning me to go for a lunchtime ride.

I live in the heart of some great roads in N. San Diego county, and hope to enjoy it more than I have.

[Real ZX-10]

1.  No one to critique your riding.  Granted, if I'm doing something completely stupid, I would hope a friend would point out the obvious so I can learn from it.  But, just because I may ride a little faster than someone else, that shouldn't give them arsenal to make some snide comment about it.  "You know, it would only take one old person pulling out of a church parking lot to end your day."  

2.  I don't end up with someone who rides too aggressive for my taste.  Whether it's following me too closely, passing a car the same time as me leaving no room for error, or draws way too much attention to the group by the po po, I can do without it.  You want to ride uber fast and take off, fine.  I'll catch up with you at the next stop.  Just don't do it in a manner which puts me in add'l risk.  

3.  I don't end up with someone who will ride over their limit trying to keep up with faster riders in a group.  Ride your own ride, no body is going to think any differently of you whether your fast or slow.  Just as long as we can end the day together and BS afterwards, it's all good.  I don't want to wait for the ambulance or tow truck.  I have riding to do.  Please stay within your limits.  

4.  I can stop to take a picture, piss, snack break, etc... anytime I want without the guilt of feeling like I'm being an inconvenience to the person(s) I'm riding with that day.

Granted, I could list as many or more reasons why it good to ride with someone.  For the most part, I prefer to go at it solo.

What say you?

I ride alone because I can focus, concentrate into a zone of one-ness with tire traction and situational awareness...No distractions.

Also every decision is mine. Speed, stopping, starting, Direction change...

I find this to be to be safer, and extremely satisfying.

[Kawgurl]

I ride alone. I ride my own pace. My schedule is my own. I stop when I want to stop. I ride fast when I want to ride fast. I ride slow when I want to ride slow. I eat where I want. I sleep where I want. No drama whatsoever.

Exactly.  Freedom.  

[Vfourfan]

1.  No one to critique your riding.  Granted, if I'm doing something completely stupid, I would hope a friend would point out the obvious so I can learn from it.  But, just because I may ride a little faster than someone else, that shouldn't give them arsenal to make some snide comment about it.  "You know, it would only take one old person pulling out of a church parking lot to end your day."  

2.  I don't end up with someone who rides too aggressive for my taste.  Whether it's following me too closely, passing a car the same time as me leaving no room for error, or draws way too much attention to the group by the po po, I can do without it.  You want to ride uber fast and take off, fine.  I'll catch up with you at the next stop.  Just don't do it in a manner which puts me in add'l risk.  

3.  I don't end up with someone who will ride over their limit trying to keep up with faster riders in a group.  Ride your own ride, no body is going to think any differently of you whether your fast or slow.  Just as long as we can end the day together and BS afterwards, it's all good.  I don't want to wait for the ambulance or tow truck.  I have riding to do.  Please stay within your limits.  

4.  I can stop to take a picture, piss, snack break, etc... anytime I want without the guilt of feeling like I'm being an inconvenience to the person(s) I'm riding with that day.

Granted, I could list as many or more reasons why it good to ride with someone.  For the most part, I prefer to go at it solo.

What say you?

I couldn't agree with you more.
I much prefer riding alone. I never get lonely. I don't feel like I'm holding up anybody ir riding too fast for somebody else's tastes. I ride my own pace; sometimes leisurely going thru towns but often pretty dialed up on back roads. I have nobody to please but myself.
I enjoy the company of others, but more when the day is done.

[FJRmgm]

+1 - I can ride my own bike at my own pace.