Why I Prefer Riding Solo: The Freedom of the Open Road

 

A rare photo of me doing what I love most: riding solo.

Last Updated: January 25, 2026

Why I Prefer Riding Alone (And Why It Makes Me a Better Cyclist)

Quick Take: I’ve ridden well over 150,000 miles, and I still enjoy group rides now and then. But I’m a solo rider at heart. Riding alone gives me clearer thinking, steadier confidence, and the kind of quiet challenge that keeps me coming back to the bike year after year.

After enough miles, you stop pretending you’re every kind of cyclist. You learn what actually works for you. For me, it’s simple: I ride best when I ride alone.

This isn’t a knock on group rides. I’ve had plenty of fun rides with other people. But when I need the kind of ride that clears my head, strengthens my grit, and reminds me why I’m still doing this at 70? I want silence, space, and my own pace.

Solo Riding = Real Freedom

When it’s just me and my bike, the ride becomes honest. I get to ride exactly how I want:

• My pace: fast, slow, or somewhere in that “old guy grinding into a headwind” zone.
• My route: I can change it on a whim without apologizing to anyone.
• My stops: take a photo, stretch, refill a bottle, or just stare at the scenery for a minute.

And maybe the best part? No drama. No group politics. No unspoken pressure to match somebody else’s ego-driven pace. Just simplicity. Just freedom.

Meditation on Two Wheels

There’s a point on a solo ride—usually after the first few miles—when your brain stops talking so loud.

You hear the road. You feel every micro-shift in the wind. And your mind starts unloading all the junk it’s been carrying around. That’s when the ride turns into something more than exercise.

Some people meditate on cushions.
I meditate on asphalt.

If you’re a senior cyclist or a returning rider who feels overwhelmed by noise, schedules, or other people’s expectations, a quiet solo ride can feel like hitting a reset button in your head.

A Ride I’ll Never Forget

A few years back, I was somewhere between nowhere and nowhere else in New Mexico — about 45 miles from the nearest town. The desert was dead quiet. The sky was so big it felt like it could swallow me whole.

No cars. No houses. No voices.
Just my breathing and the soft hiss of tires on hot pavement.

I stopped whenever I felt like it. Took pictures. Drank water. Let the silence get inside me. That ride still sits in my bones to this day.

Rides like that don’t happen very often on a busy group ride with people talking, surging, and chasing the next town-sign sprint.

Related rides and stories you might like:

• Cycle Touring for Seniors: Tips and Tricks
• Should a 70-Year-Old Ride a Bike?
• Top Cycling Visibility Tips for Riding in Traffic and Low Light

The Good, the Bad, and the Competitive Side of Group Rides

Group rides can be great — in theory. The best ones offer encouragement, shared effort, and maybe a good coffee stop at the end.

But too often, there’s that one guy.

• The guy who treats a casual Saturday ride like a time trial.
• The guy who sprints every hill to “prove something.”
• The guy who turns what should be a relaxing ride into a silent race that nobody agreed to.

Good for him, honestly. That’s his ride. It’s just not mine.

I’m not out there chasing a trophy or a social-media flex. I’m in it for the journey, not the rivalry. I don’t need a ride to feel like a competition for it to feel meaningful.

I’m Not a Racer. I’m a Tourer.

I get my challenge from distance, not speed.

Give me:

• A 50-mile headwind in West Texas,
• A slow, grinding climb in New Mexico,
• Or a long, lonely stretch of highway with nothing but me and the sun,

and I’ll show you what a real challenge feels like.

Those rides beat you up a little, but they also give you something no race ever will: quiet confidence. Every time I make it to the end of a tough day, I’m reminded why I ride.

None of that requires another cyclist next to me.

Riding Alone Without Fear (What Actually Helps Me at 70)

I’ll be honest — even after 150,000+ miles, I still feel fear sometimes. Traffic. Falling. Losing control. That never fully disappears.

What has changed is how I manage that fear. These are the specific items I use to stay confident, comfortable, and willing to keep riding — especially on solo rides. You don’t need all of them. Start with one that addresses your biggest worry.

• A Helmet You’ll Actually Wear (If Fear Is Holding You Back):
  Giro Fixture II MIPS — the helmet I ride in at 70. Comfortable, not bulky, and it gives me peace of mind every time I roll out.
• Seeing Traffic Without Twisting Around:
  Take A Look rear-view mirror — the mirror I’ve used since 2014. It lets me see what’s coming without constantly looking over my shoulder. This one change alone removed a lot of my anxiety on quiet country roads.
• Early Warning When Cars Are Approaching:
  Garmin Varia — the newest safety addition to my bike. It alerts me to traffic long before I hear it, which gives me time to settle, hold my line, and stay calm.
• Comfort That Keeps You Riding Next Week:
  Thinner-pad bib shorts — the ones I wear. Overly thick pads aren’t better for everyone. Comfort matters because discomfort is one of the fastest ways people quit. Prefer a thicker pad? This option works well.
• Hand Comfort and Better Control:
  HTZPLOO padded gloves — my everyday choice. Better grip, less hand pain, and more confidence on the brakes — especially when riding alone.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. I only link to gear I actually use because trust matters more than clicks.

The Best Part About Cycling: You Get to Choose

That’s the real beauty of cycling: you get to choose the kind of cyclist you want to be.

• If you love the social side of group rides and café stops, ride that way.
• If you thrive on racing and numbers, go chase all the segments you want.
• If you’re happiest grinding out miles in the quiet, far from the noise of the world — welcome to my tribe.

There’s no “right” way to ride. There’s only your way.

So, What About You?

Do you prefer the company of a group, or the quiet of a solo ride?

I’d genuinely love to hear how you ride and why. Drop a comment below and share your perspective — every cyclist has a story, and yours might encourage someone else to ride their own way too.

FAQ: Solo vs Group Riding

Is it safe to ride alone as a senior cyclist?

It can be, if you plan ahead. Tell someone your route, carry a charged phone, use bright lights and reflective gear, and ride routes you know. A mirror and a good rear light go a long way toward staying aware of traffic.

Will I get stronger riding solo or in a group?

Both can make you stronger in different ways. Group rides can push your speed; solo rides can build grit, endurance, and mental toughness. I’ve built most of my long-distance fitness alone.

What if I like both?

Then you’re in the sweet spot. Use group rides for fun and social time, and sprinkle in solo miles when you need peace, focus, or a personal challenge.