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For some, riding is a social event. For others, an escape from having to socialize.For me, motorcycling is meditation. The engine sings a mantra and the mind empties of thoughts not necessary to steering around the curves or pondering the zen of the scenery..... I have on rare occasions enjoyed a group ride, but adjusting my pace to the lowest common denominator and surrendering the ability to veer off the planned route takes some of the fun out of it.
Here is another aspect of riding (and especially touring) alone.You are much more approachable when stopped for a break or a meal than if you are with a group. I have regaled a restaurant full of locals with stories of the road because they are amazed that someone would venture so far from home alone and on two wheels. Many of them have never ventured further than the next county their entire lives.
I love to poke around on remote roads all by myself. Nothing feels more free. Once I'm on the bike I don't want to stop. My bikes have never let me down. I've been to some amazing spots I couldn't have found if I tried. KJ
'good point & quite correct. When you are traveling in a clump you tend to stick to the clump and people tend to avoid you. When you are solo you are much more approachable and people tend to strike up a conversation much more easily. A solo rider with plates from a few thousand miles away tends to capture people's imagination, at least it has with me. They want to know where you are headed and why. Flying over a place only gives you a rough idea of what it's about. Driving gives you a ground level view but unless you get off the interstate and actually talk to folks,it's only partial. Riding solo on back roads let's you smell, taste, and feel a place & talking to the indigenous population helps you to understand its rhythms.
The thread is about riding in solitude?To me that doesn't necessarily mean riding alone, it means riding with only the noise of the road and the motorbike...NO music ,news, or phone, etc. Just your thoughts. I'm at a loss to understand why people these days have to have something blaring in their ears.Where else in you life do you have the opportunity to "turn it off" (even in an auto/truck).Try it , you may be pleasantly surprised.My .02c
i prefer to ride alone especially when touring , like others have said the freedom of going where you want at any speed you desire, and to be totally in charge of your life and what can come to me is the essence of freedom .I have done rides alone where i follow the sun, if the weather turns bad enough i find another way i have found some pretty lonely roads doing this and some great adventures like we say its the journey and not the destination .Occasionally i will travel with an old riding buddy or with my girlfriend as a passenger , it can be great as long as you both can accept compromise .I avoid larger groups or rallies unless its for a short period of time , not my thing and i rather be just riding
I'll be going on a short tour of Morocco with my brother-in-law on motorbikes in late January. It'll be the first time I ride with him. (He's coming over from NZ.) and am looking forward to it a lot. I'm also looking forward to the 5 hour solo ride down to Málaga from Madrid to meet him. It'll be a time of meditation, as I'll have no bluetooth in my helmet - just my thoughts for company. I'm not that interesting a guy, but I don't need much to entertain me.
All due respect but I can't see how you can get any quality thru ear buds and it HAS (seems to me) be all full volume to even hear anything over road, wind and moto noise.Guess I'll just NEVER "get it".....I'm OK w/that....
Thank you Paul for your kind offer...BTDT.I do some of my best thinking alone in my thoughts and..gulp singing. I rarely even play the radio while driving or..... shaving (another thought provoking activity.I like concerts for music..live.Try and get away from the noise of modern life as often as possible, it just a distraction to me...To each his....:-)
All good Mike! Speaking of concerts....The Rolling Stones are coming to the States next year...booked to see them now in Houston in April and in Chicago in June, should be a blast! Looking forward to seeing to a raucous couple of shows, might even do a 2nd show in Chicago...
The thread is about riding in solitude?To me that doesn't necessarily mean riding alone, it means riding with only the noise of the road and the motorbike...NO music ,news, or phone, etc.