Long bike rides on your own....2+ hours...quick question

[woowoo]

I am heading out of town for the holiday weekend and it looks like I'm going to have to do my first long ride by myself (3 hours)  I'm still so new to riding (just about a year in) and I'm super nervous that I'm going to end up in a ditch and not be found for days.  I fully realized I'm a total wuss. 

Do most of you do your long rides on your own?  Should I get that Road ID app, or something else for my phone?  Please assure me that I'm just being paranoid and that you do it all the time and it will all be fine....    

[Susie]

I prefer to do long rides with my training buddies because I get bored, but when that doesn't work out, I do them solo. No biggie. It has never really bothered me.

Some of my friends are really weirded out by doing it alone, so they do a couple small loops. Instead of a big 50 mile loop, they might do a 20, a 15, and a 15 consecutively. It's sort of like doing intervals; each piece feels more manageable. It also keeps them from ever getting too far from home, which seems to make them more comfortable with it. I do that too when the weather looks iffy.

[sadlebred]

I do long ride by myself regularly. Use common sense.

1. Let someone know where you are going, the route you are taking, and what time you will be back. You could even arrange to send them a text at a certain time, so they know you are ok.
2. Carry your cell phone on your person (or jersey pocket) in case you are separated from your bike.
3. Carry ID.
4. You will be fine.

[woowoo]

May 21, 2014 11:25:56 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

2. Carry your cell phone on your person (or jersey pocket) in case you are separated from your bike.

This is a good suggestion.  Thanks for the reassurance!

[kams]

I use the Glympse app in situations like this. It shows H right where I am.

[shorewife]

I normally ride by myself and I am a bit nervous too. I have my phone with me and I have a copy of my ID and insurance card with me too.

[Deleted]

I ride by myself, I usually:
* tell my DH where I am going and when I will be back
* carry my phone on me (I use strava for tracking and it doesn't eat battery)
* take £20 in case I need to buy a refreshing beverage
* plan where I am going
* play music softly through my phone on my arm (not loud enough to not hear anything going on around me, just enough to stop the boredom of having one song in my head)

[coconutbug]

I'm like the people susie mentioned - I ride a bunch of small loops when I'm by myself. I carry my cell phone in my back pocket, with cash and ID, and I tell my H where I'm going. I did just get my Bia watch recently, so I suppose at some point if needed, I'll be able to use the SOS function.

[reginaphalange72]

May 21, 2014 11:25:56 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

I do long ride by myself regularly. Use common sense.

1. Let someone know where you are going, the route you are taking, and what time you will be back. You could even arrange to send them a text at a certain time, so they know you are ok.
2. Carry your cell phone on your person (or jersey pocket) in case you are separated from your bike.
3. Carry ID.
4. You will be fine.

Exactly this.

Also (I know I keep mentioning this, but I think it's well worth it), if you're in the market for a new watch, check out the Bia.  It has a built in SOS alert, which was one of the main reasons I got it.  www.bia-sport.com

[trigal]

May 21, 2014 11:25:56 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

I do long ride by myself regularly. Use common sense.

1. Let someone know where you are going, the route you are taking, and what time you will be back. You could even arrange to send them a text at a certain time, so they know you are ok.
2. Carry your cell phone on your person (or jersey pocket) in case you are separated from your bike.
3. Carry ID.
4. You will be fine.

This. Also, I have the Road ID app. It's pretty good.

[katinthehat]

I use glympse. Love it.

Also, carry some cash like others have mentioned just if you need to stop for a coke or whatever.

And, I don't know if you're riding on a Saturday or not, but using Strava's heat map can help show you were the most ridden routes in your area are on a Saturday. It's not perfect, but it would be a good starting point.

labs.strava.com/heatmap/#6/-120.90000/38.36000/blue/bike

[joenali]

I've used Glympse so DH can track where I am or where I'm not.

[joenali]

I'll even take a ferry by myself and ride around an island, by myself . I like it. I'm a big girl. Just like others have said , use common sense.

[woowoo]

May 21, 2014 19:32:10 GMT -5 joenali said:

I'll even take a ferry by myself and ride around an island, by myself . I like it. I'm a big girl. Just like others have said , use common sense.

I think I'm more nervous about the back country roads I'll be riding on because it's so remote.  I have NO problems riding in the city or normal trails on my own, but DH and I went for a ride on these roads and didn't see a car or another biker for probably 20 miles.  

The apps are all good suggestions.  Thank you!