Solo ride- Am I turning anti-social?

[Elroy]

I also use an app called "Eat. Sleep. Ride." It's a ride tracker, and others can also follow your progress, but also has crash detection that you can purchase an annual subscription for, Crashlight they call it. You pre-set contacts and if it detects a crash an alarm goes off on the app and you have XX seconds (I think it's 20) to hit an "I'm ok" button. Otherwise it'll send a crash detection notification to your preset contacts and also include your precise location so they can alert emergency services. I'll probably subscribe to it if only for the purpose of the trip out to the rally. Should help ease they SO's anxieties.

[53driver]

Because I mostly travel alone and because I'm likely to be purposefully lost, I use the app GLYMPSE a lot. It gives me peace of mind and it gives those who love me peace of mind. And you turn off the "show speed" toggle.

Definitely need your speed toggled off for their peace of mind.....lolol

[BuzzzPhotos]

Yep, I love to ride solo also & enjoy the Talimena Run a lot. Normally meet my wife late in the day at her Mother's home near Mena. Generally stop at the casino in Broken Bow or the Catfish place across the street.

[STRaider]

Well, here we go again. I am supposed to go a riding trip with a dear friend, someone I have ridden many miles with, his brother, and another friend of my friend. My friend is 74 now, long retired, and is one year post severe prostate cancer treatment.

He wants to ride from Texas to Seattle, where his daughter lives, park the bikes, than go back at some point and ride hwy 1 down to California. Great idea.

We've been discussing the idea of this trip since Octoberish. My friend and his brother are "planning" the trip, since at some point the brother is splitting off and heading to Nevada. Their plan is to leave from Fort Smith (where they are from originally, not sure why they would leave from there) and go across the top of Oklahoma. That's as far as the plan has gotten. No start date, no day one hotel target, no other decisions.

When inquiring about the trip, my friend asked me to look at the "route" and see what I think. I was told his brother and a guy I don't know that are going don't ride too fast or too far daily. I gave my opinion that the road I was given didn't look like it had a lot to offer in the way of hotels if we got about 250-350 miles. We would be right around the Oklahoma/Kansas line, in the middle of nowhere. I was immediately told I worry too much, and given some long time friend ribbing about being worried the entire trip. I asked him where he had planned to stop the first night, he paused and admitted he hadn't thought about that.

We don't have one night stop planned, not a reservation anywhere, the only road given to me sucks, but I worry too much. We have no start date, no return date, pretty much all we have is an idea. I don't mind the trip evolving as we go, but a basic framework on a trip this distance would be nice, no?

My friend and his brother are retired, quite well off financially, so time and money are not issues for them. I have a business and don't get to take off all the time, so when I do, I like to make the most of it. This friend is a father figure and mentor for me, is 74, and is one year out of intense prostate cancer treatment (doing very well), and I want to do this trip, as it could be our last chance to do a major ride like this. In 2006 he and I did a cross country trip together.

I really want to make this ride with him, but am losing interest due to the lack of a plan of any kind. It's become merely a way to get his bike to Seattle so he has one there when he visits his daughter, it seéms. Riding to Seattle sounds like a blast, but I was reminded of this thread while thinking I would rather do this solo than put up with this, riding with people I don't know with different riding styles, having to make every decision by committee as we come up on it, etc.

I will make this ride, and will make the best time of it I can, as I really value the time I spend with this friend, but I will no doubt be evaluating this experience vs this thread topic. To top it off, we will be on Harleys. The brother of my friend just bought four Harley dealerships and sent my friend a 2019 Road Glide unannounced. My friend is an avid bmw guy, but now will be riding his Harley, so I will take mine. There is no way I'm leaving the f6b out of state during the summer. That is my ride of choice, and we may not get back to Seattle as soon as we think, potentially leaving a bike up there through riding season.

Sorry for the long rant, but this scenario really brought this thread subject to the forefront for me, along with the anxiety most have acknowledged comes from these scenarios, the reason most of us prefer solo rides. UGH!!!

[valkmc]

I took a bucket list solo ride a few years back. Ocala Fl. to Alaska and back. Six weeks and more than 11,000 miles. Had my own routine and did not have to compromise or change for most of the ride.

[Fourks]

I bought my bike to get away from people. But in your case I think I'd just ask if I could make all the arrangements. that way you can enjoy yourself and your friend without stressing.

[TerryDavid]

Only Been doing it for 45 years now
Love it
Ride for as long as I want
See what I want
Stop when I want
For as long as I want
Love it

[adventurous1]

Riding w/ friends for the occasional same local route and same local venues I don't mind. Again 'occasional'. Last year I experienced another summer adventure - 11K / 6 wks. (No, I'm not retired). When I do these trips, and even the solo riding along PCH or in the mtns of So Cal, it's therapy for me because it clears my mind, lets me think and these times alone let me be more creative about bus, my life, my goals, etc., etc.

On my longer journeys, I generally have 1 of the women I'm sleeping with fly into an area, then she'll ride with me for about 3 days, then drop her off at another airport along the way. The women are always blown away about how much 'they see' of nature - and their minds become much clearer. Happens 'every time'. Last year, I had 2 different ladies meet me along the way. LOTS of fun. Simple 250 to 350 mile days thru 2 lane hwys / back roads. Btw, last year experienced a locally brewed 'Pecan Beer' somewhere outside of Albuquerque (I think). Still one of the best beers I've ever tasted.

[VStarRider]

Well, here we go again. I am supposed to go a riding trip with a dear friend, someone I have ridden many miles with, his brother, and another friend of my friend. My friend is 74 now, long retired, and is one year post severe prostate cancer treatment.

He wants to ride from Texas to Seattle, where his daughter lives, park the bikes, than go back at some point and ride hwy 1 down to California. Great idea.

We've been discussing the idea of this trip since Octoberish. My friend and his brother are "planning" the trip, since at some point the brother is splitting off and heading to Nevada. Their plan is to leave from Fort Smith (where they are from originally, not sure why they would leave from there) and go across the top of Oklahoma. That's as far as the plan has gotten. No start date, no day one hotel target, no other decisions.

When inquiring about the trip, my friend asked me to look at the "route" and see what I think. I was told his brother and a guy I don't know that are going don't ride too fast or too far daily. I gave my opinion that the road I was given didn't look like it had a lot to offer in the way of hotels if we got about 250-350 miles. We would be right around the Oklahoma/Kansas line, in the middle of nowhere. I was immediately told I worry too much, and given some long time friend ribbing about being worried the entire trip. I asked him where he had planned to stop the first night, he paused and admitted he hadn't thought about that.

We don't have one night stop planned, not a reservation anywhere, the only road given to me sucks, but I worry too much. We have no start date, no return date, pretty much all we have is an idea. I don't mind the trip evolving as we go, but a basic framework on a trip this distance would be nice, no?

My friend and his brother are retired, quite well off financially, so time and money are not issues for them. I have a business and don't get to take off all the time, so when I do, I like to make the most of it. This friend is a father figure and mentor for me, is 74, and is one year out of intense prostate cancer treatment (doing very well), and I want to do this trip, as it could be our last chance to do a major ride like this. In 2006 he and I did a cross country trip together.

I really want to make this ride with him, but am losing interest due to the lack of a plan of any kind. It's become merely a way to get his bike to Seattle so he has one there when he visits his daughter, it seéms. Riding to Seattle sounds like a blast, but I was reminded of this thread while thinking I would rather do this solo than put up with this, riding with people I don't know with different riding styles, having to make every decision by committee as we come up on it, etc.

I will make this ride, and will make the best time of it I can, as I really value the time I spend with this friend, but I will no doubt be evaluating this experience vs this thread topic. To top it off, we will be on Harleys. The brother of my friend just bought four Harley dealerships and sent my friend a 2019 Road Glide unannounced. My friend is an avid bmw guy, but now will be riding his Harley, so I will take mine. There is no way I'm leaving the f6b out of state during the summer. That is my ride of choice, and we may not get back to Seattle as soon as we think, potentially leaving a bike up there through riding season.

Sorry for the long rant, but this scenario really brought this thread subject to the forefront for me, along with the anxiety most have acknowledged comes from these scenarios, the reason most of us prefer solo rides. UGH!!!

I do not think there is anything off-base with your concerns. I know I would not be comfortable in this situation either. Even if he busts your chops, I would want to have a serious conversation about your concerns and go in knowing he might laugh in your face and blow off your concerns and be okay with the risk of that happening. His response will speak volumes to how the trip will go, and will help inform your decision about what to do.

[53driver]

As a Basic Rider Course Coach, we discuss the concepts of long trip planning. Not that one has to have gas station & potty breaks mapped out to a specific minute, but gas in Nebraska "can" be scarce if you have a 3 gallon tank!

Most trips begin with a "concept" - which you alluded too.
A tentative route is agreed upon by all parties. Tentative because yes, trips do evolve as opportunities present themselves.
Then bike logistics are discussed and prepped for. Will the trip require new tires before or during? Oil changes? Any other maintenance before or during? Spare one gallon gas cans on the back?
Then a start date is cemented in place.
Then people start dropping out for various reasons - family issues, bike issues, personal health, work, etc.
Final deliberate planning should be about one week prior with those who remain standing. This would include overnight stopping points, lodging, and chow.

As you discovered, many people don't think this far ahead - especially if they think they will have cell phone signal and unlimited use of plastic along the way.
Some remote stations only take cash - and a lot of it.
Some remote "cowboy motels" only take cash too.

Best of luck.
Final thought: there is no interest like self-interest.
Cheers,
Steve