Solo Touring

[theoneandonly]

i always go on my own , fast when you want, ,or slow if you want . camp where i want , i pick trees,water,mountains , i try and have 2 of the three. i love to camp in the middle of nowhere . just get out of sight . i start by 10am finish by 8pm . i take a camo tarp to hide the bike , and a 1 man tent cos it's small i try and avoid the "english abroad " except if they are on BMW's in a McD's in France, in which case, approach, and give the "tosser wave " . avoid m-ways , take the road less travelled. on your own you don't have the presure of getting other people lost when you miss a turn , or take the wrong road , zoom the sat nav out and get back on your route 10 miles down the road.
it helps if you are comfortable on your own too. i don't need other people .

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I did 3 months touring the US and Canada on my own back in 2005 and loved just about every minute. For reasons I won't bore you with I needed to get away and get some head space and I have to say it changed my life.

I love riding and doing trips on my own because you are free to do as you please which is a great thing. Saying that, it's good to have a rough plan of where you want to go and what you want to see and be prepared to make and accept last minute changes and there are some great tips already posted here.

Saying that, I organise trips in the US and we run with 10 bikes maximum so the group sizes are very manageable. I thoroughly enjoy those trips and organise everything from the shipping to the motels and it's hugely satisfying.

Give it a go as you'll really enjoy it.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

And another who enjoys solo touring. Contrary to what somebody else posted I'm able not to push on, rather I can stop wherever I want to, whenever I want to to for as long as I want to. You get up at a time that suits you,linger over breakfast for as long as you want to and eat where you want to.
I did the WAW in September 2019. I started in Co. Donegal and went anti clockwise for a week. I expected to do Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway but because I was on my own and the scenery was so stunning I only got as far as Sligo town. If I'd been with other people I'd have been conscious that I'd have been holding them up.

 

[Arsey]

Most of my trips are solo .
So many benefits such as leaving when you’re ready in the morning - in a group there’s always a faffer who is last to be ready every morning .
Quick fuel ups rather than waiting for 6/8 bikes to use 2 pumps .... the list goes on .

 

[Deleted account 220319001]

And another who enjoys solo touring. Contrary to what somebody else posted I'm able not to push on, rather I can stop wherever I want to, whenever I want to to for as long as I want to. You get up at a time that suits you,linger over breakfast for as long as you want to and eat where you want to.
I did the WAW in September 2019. I started in Co. Donegal and went anti clockwise for a week. I expected to do Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway but because I was on my own and the scenery was so stunning I only got as far as Sligo town. If I'd been with other people I'd have been conscious that I'd have been holding them up.

Slightly off topic but may I ask where you actually started ?

 

[Deleted account 220319001]

I've left two separate European Alp trips due to fall outs and fucked off on my own, one from the middle of Switzerland the other from southern Germany, not been on a multi bike tour since.

 

[Monsieur]

I've left two separate European Alp trips due to fall outs and fucked off on my own

If your persona is similar to the one you show on here can’t say I’m shocked by this

 

[Deleted account 220319001]

If your persona is similar to the one you show on here can’t say I’m shocked by this

It was with people I actually know, like and give a fuck about

(now lets not turn this thread in to all about me and the person I am, it's boring)

 

[Deleted account 210901001]

Go solo.

You get to hang out all day with the person you admire most in the world

 

[G&T]

I’ve never been on a group trip - well until one got cancelled this year. But for Solo I can tell you when you’re single you mingle. Use booking.com or other to book your next day's hotel, buy a paper map for the big picture, plug your destination in to your satnav and away you go - all the time in the world.

 

[brut33]

When I got sick of riding in large groups for two weeks I decided on a solo trip and found it very gratifying.
Gloriously self indulgent, do what you want when you want, and best not to over plan as there's no need to.

Go for it.

 

[stever1]

I regularly go off on my own.....as you say.... ride when happy, sleep when tired......

I only ensure one thing.... I take a couple of good books.... in the evening you when you sit with a beer and a meal, you can sit and quietly read......I love it... if when circumstances allow you get to strick up a conversation.. then the book can be placed to one side....


And your Irish........ so you will never eat alone....


I’ve had some cracking evenings meeting up with people and joining their group

Totally agree with that. I also take my iPad and earphones so I can listen to music on an evening

 

[stever1]

Thanks for all the replies, extremely helpful, i must admit to being shocked at the replies, I for sure expected everyone to say don't go solo, I spoke to 1 rider mate who tours most years and he was very much against solo touring. But each reply has helped. I have a planned route, its like 1000 miles so wont be under any pressure at all and if i finish early well northern Italy(ducati and possibly ferrari) would be great or i guess the scenic route back to the boat is certainly an option

A lot depends on your personality. If you’re happy with your own company, solo is fine. Some folk like groups and tend to “party” more as part of the experience.

 

[markyparky]

I have always travelled solo on my bike. Never been one for group rides in fact only one friend has a bike.
I love the ability to stop and start when you want and do things in your own timeframe. I've done loads of travelling all over the UK and Ireland as well as a couple of trips to Switzerland.
Unless whoever you are travelling with has exactly the same tastes as you (and bladder size) then you'll have a great time

 

[Deleted account 220319001]

I'm all sorted for my next solo adventure.

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

I always used to laugh if I was away in a group because there’d be all sorts of snide comments on the ferry about having to wait for the smoker every time we stopped but it was inevitable that my version of refueling which was petrol then coffee and a smoke taken outside at the same time inevitably meant I was ahead of the others who’d sit around a table inside gassing for 30 minutes every stop.

I like riding abroad on my own because I can turn up any road I want to and if I want to stop and have a beer at 4pm when I use booking.com to choose my final destination for the day nobody can complain.

 

[stever1]

I'm all sorted for my next solo adventure.

You do know you can ride the bike don’t you ?

 

[Monty B]

IUnless whoever you are travelling with has exactly the same tastes as you (and bladder size) then you'll have a great time

I've done 4,000 miles a year with my mate for last ten years.

We live 60 miles apart and take turns to get to each other, or meet halfway (ish) if just a day out, otherwise, for European trips, depends how we cross the water, but bacon sarnie at home, then only stop for fuel (same bike) to get to our first accommodation usually.

Each day, we usually have an end destination, but if either of us is tired, or whatever, we just stay in the closest town to where that is. We eat, drink, wander, plan the next day and as we've been mates for ever, it's always a pleasure.

For the first time in all those years, we invested in comms and did Northern Ireland recently - it was really weird speaking between stops, but once used to it, it was brilliant.

 

[Deleted account 220319001]

You do know you can ride the bike don’t you ?

Oh, no flies on you eh

 

[Deleted account 220319001]

For the first time in all those years, we invested in comms and did Northern Ireland recently - it was really weird speaking between stops, but once used to it, it was brilliant.

I would say comms has been the best tool for travelling away in a pair. I used to slag off comms before but they are so handy on day rides that saves having to pull over and shout to say you need a piss/fuel/food.