Alone or with Company ?

Bugbear

Bugbear

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Vienne, France. The sunny bit.
I am retired (limited funds) but do manage at least three tours a year with a group of friends (all expats), usually camping and usually somewhere in france/spain.

After reading various reports on here I keep thinking about doing a solo trip. I have no idea if I would enjoy it or not and would, therefore, welcome any ideas/advice and suggestions on solo travel.

Gary.
 
It will give you total freedom and that alone is a huge attraction. If you have no idea what it would be like then do it, then you WILL know.

Whilst people have their contacts, friends, family, ultimately we walk this land alone, why not ride it alone? You've done the travelling with friends thing, now experience travelling alone and be liberated. :thumb2
 
I personally wouldn't tour alone as I think its great to share your experiences , the stories are never as good when telling others who weren't there :blagblah

also if you have any problems its good to have some one else s slant on it :beerjug:

or perhaps do a little trip in UK say 2 or 3 days and see how it goes :rob
good luck :thumb2
 
Richie B said:
I personally wouldn't tour alone as I think its great to share your experiences , the stories are never as good when telling others who weren't there :blagblah

also if you have any problems its good to have some one else s slant on it :beerjug:

or perhaps do a little trip in UK say 2 or 3 days and see how it goes :rob
good luck :thumb2
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I would interject here - it's not about the story, it's about the experience.
 
You are a grown up. You live, retired in France. Ride out of your house on your own for a day, a week, 10 days, a fortnight (or however long you fancy) to see if if you enjoy your own company.

If you do, great.

If you don't, pack up, ride back home and never ever do it again.

Either way, you'll find out if YOU like it or not. How any of us are meant to know if YOU will (or wont) enjoy it is a mystery beyond reason.

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On the off chance that some tender soul thinks that reply is too blunt....

Think about what YOU might like to do on your own, that your riding companions wouldn't do. For instance, do you have a burning desire to see the Cathar castles, or the Alps in springtime, or the autumn colurs of the Ardennes, or windmills in Spain, or the Tuscan hills..... The potential list of things goes on and on and on. It can be as long or as short as YOU might like to make it. Now is your chance to do it. Seize it, next time may be too late.
 
Wapping said:
You are a grown up. You live, retired in France. Ride out of your house on your own for a day, a week, 10 days, a fortnight (or however long you fancy) to see if if you enjoy your own company.

If you do, great.

If you don't, pack up, ride back home and never ever do it again.

Either way, you'll find out if YOU like it or not. How any of us are meant to know if YOU will (or wont) enjoy it is a mystery beyond reason.

--------

On the off chance that some tender soul thinks that reply is too blunt....

Think about what YOU might like to do on your own, that your riding companions wouldn't do. For instance, do you have a burning desire to see the Cathar castles, or the Alps in springtime, or the autumn colurs of the Ardennes, or windmills in Spain, or the Tuscan hills..... The list of things goes on and on and on.... Now is your chance to do it. Seize it, next time may be too late.
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Couldn't have put it better myself. :thumb2

I enjoy travelling on my own. More often than not, when you get to wherever you are going, you will end up talking bollocks to somebody in the bar/campsite etc. People are more sociable than we give them credit for.
 
Wapping said:
You are a grown up. You live, retired in France. Ride out of your house on your own for a day, a week, 10 days, a fortnight (or however long you fancy) to see if if you enjoy your own company.

If you do, great.

If you don't, pack up, ride back home and never ever do it again.

Either way, you'll find out if YOU like it or not. How any of us are meant to know if YOU will (or wont) enjoy it is a mystery beyond reason.

--------

On the off chance that some tender soul thinks that reply is too blunt....

Think about what YOU might like to do on your own, that your riding companions wouldn't do. For instance, do you have a burning desire to see the Cathar castles, or the Alps in springtime, or the autumn colurs of the Ardennes, or windmills in Spain, or the Tuscan hills..... The list of things goes on and on and on.... Now is your chance to do it. Seize it, next time may be too late.
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Well I don't see that as too blunt Wapping :thumb

I understand the concept of just getting out there and doing it but was really looking for the +'s and -'s from those in the know.

I have ridden bikes for what seems like a millennium but have never done any more solo than a day out for coffee etc.

A few years ago I wouldn't have thought twice about this but old age does strange things to your mind ..............:eek

Get the maps out, I guess ;)
 
Bugbear said:
Well I don't see that as too blunt Wapping :thumb

I understand the concept of just getting out there and doing it but was really looking for the +'s and -'s from those in the know.

I have ridden bikes for what seems like a millennium but have never done any more solo than a day out for coffee etc.

A few years ago I wouldn't have thought twice about this but old age does strange things to your mind ..............:eek

Get the maps out, I guess ;)
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Too late to turn the clock back but if you wouldn't have thought twice then what happened to the solo journey?

The pros and cons are too many to list. Freedom of decision vs compromise (not doing what YOU want to do when you want to do it is a good starter.
 
JayC said:
It will give you total freedom and that alone is a huge attraction. If you have no idea what it would be like then do it, then you WILL know.

Whilst people have their contacts, friends, family, ultimately we walk this land alone, why not ride it alone? You've done the travelling with friends thing, now experience travelling alone and be liberated. :thumb2
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Brilliant advice

On the first day of my trip in Sept I rode alone to meet the rest of the group

I stopped in the services in Luxembourg, got chatting to two Belgian lads on bikes, whilst we ate lunch on the picnic benches

They slowed progress but in a good way as we chatted for 45mins

You meet more people riding alone & that is the experience not the story
 
The pluses and the minuses lists can be as long or as short as anyone wants to make them. Not least all you'll end up with are lists, which you can probably make yourself.

For example:

Having nobody readily to hand to chat to over a mid-morning coffee stop in St Insane de Lost may be a plus on one bod's list but a minus on another fellow's. One possible scenario, two different levels of satisfaction. Which list do YOU put it in?

But, now you have decided if it's a plus or a minus, there is a bit more. Having the luxury of YOU deciding to stop in St Insane de Lost, as opposed to the next town, the one before or not stopping at all until lunchtime is (or should be) a plus.

So that is the answer. If you think you'll enjoy the chance to make decisions on your own, without lists of possible consequences or levels of satisfaction for each action, then now is your chance to take it. If you don't or can't, let it pass. Though you may not get another go, hopefully living long enough to regret it, as the alternative is worse.

Me? I have done thousands of miles of both. Each has its merits and faults. One day I might have liked to have stopped to see something but (mindful that there is a group that probably wants lunch) I don't stop. Another day, I will stop, thinking stuff their rumbling stomachs for twenty minutes. That it turns out that they too wanted to stop to see whatever it was, was just one possible outcome.... Or maybe the Shrine of St Insane was not more pressing than Croque Monsieur? That's what it boils down to in the end.... Choice. Now, make yours. :beerjug:
 
Hi Bugbear, my twopence worth,
I have toured on my own, also retired, and my view is that whilst travelling on the bike, you are essentially alone inside your helmet anyway. Plus you are not always looking out for your mates ' after that stolen overtake etc' , you stop when you like , when you need fuel, take a pic.
My counter to this is when you end up where ever and are having a pint or something to eat, much better with friends in these circumstances. Yes there may be someone to talk to but the craic is not the same. As long as you are prepared for this then touring alone does have said advantages.
 
And.....breathe....

JohnnyBoxer said:
Brilliant advice

On the first day of my trip in Sept I rode alone to meet the rest of the group

I stopped in the services in Luxembourg, got chatting to two Belgian lads on bikes, whilst we ate lunch on the picnic benches

They slowed progress but in a good way as we chatted for 45mins

You meet more people riding alone & that is the experience not the story
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And did those Belgians get a word in edgeways during that 45 minutes?:augie
 
Bugbear said:
................ A few years ago I wouldn't have thought twice about this but old age does strange things to your mind ....
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Speaking as an old(ish) person I fail to see what age has to do with it I'm afraid, although this is possibly just a joke statement.
I have, to date, always toured on my own although that may well change in the future.

Bugbear said:
.......I understand the concept of just getting out there and doing it but was really looking for the +'s and -'s from those in the know.........
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I'm unsure if I'm really in the know but the plusses are -
Go at your own pace. This can be an important plus as you'll have read, and probably experienced, riding quicker than you are comfortable with simply to keep up. This does not happen with all group riding of course.
Stop where and when you like.
Have a day off if you want to and go for a train ride or tour round a castle or whatever takes your fancy.
Meet more people because if you're in a group then your off bike time is also spent in the group. I read that somewhere.
Anyway, simply give it a go. What's the worst that can happen ?
 
Here's an idea that might work.

You live in a not unattractive part of France. You enjoy camping and don't want to spend a fortune. Great, lots of bods on UKGSer do and think the same.

Go away for a week or two, riding about on your own, working out what might make a good jaunt to invite unknown bods along on. If you hate the experience of being alone for two (or shorter) weeks, cut it short and shelve the whole idea.

But, if you have enjoyed it, found some good places to camp, things to see, roads to hoon or bimble down, trains to ride on, castles or pigsties to see ( or avoid)....... the possible list of possibilities is endless, then put a suitable little invite into the Open Invite jaunts section. Penny to a pound says you'll get some punters along.

You'll have learned whether solo touring is for you and you'll have created the possibility of a holiday opportunity for someone else. Everybody wins and you more than most.
 
Bugbear, I am in a similar situation, having toured in Europe for some years but always with other people (but I don't have the good fortune to live in France).
I retire next month, and I have decided to try some solo touring - I will probably try west coast of Scotland to start with, then if I enjoy my own company further afield, but I cannot imagine me going outside of Europe.
Anyhow, I have bought a tent ( I never enjoyed camping when I was young, so who knows how I will cope with it now), plus a set of panniers, so I am committed to trying it at least once - roll on the better weather.
 
stroller said:
.............Anyhow, I have bought a tent ( I never enjoyed camping when I was young, so who knows how I will cope with it now), plus a set of panniers, so I am committed to trying it at least once - roll on the better weather.
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Now my 50 pence here says that you won't enjoy it.
You have bought a tent although you never enjoyed camping when you were young.
I agree totally with that last sentence.
And that's why I stay in hotels.
But enjoy and please prove me wrong.
 
Thanks for all the interesting & helpful replies.

I am going to give it a go and as been said, if I don't like it I can always go home :P

I take the point that 'solo' travellers can meet interesting people but I'm not sure if I could cope with some nubile 'young thing' chatting me up in a bar (probably best to knock up a prompt-sheet) should the need arise :D:D ;)

stroller: As someone who regularly camps and suffers with arthritis I would suggest you invest in a good self-inflating mattress. It will make all the difference. :thumb
 
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