I often ride with my imaginary mates, that were very real back in the 70's. I rode with Olympians, Silver Star recipients, and a couple of State Champions. They are mostly gone now, but certainly not forgotten. Even though they cannot help break the wind on my solo rides today, they sort of do help, with their lasting inspiration.
Great tips and advice Martin, lovely scenery, always great to stop for a coffee/snack. In the UK i would stop for a brew up with my little stove for lunch, and then maybe on an all day ride stop at a cafe later in the afternoon, but no allday rides in July/August here in Spain it's too hot. So my tip is to carry a folding seat pad, and a big needle to dig out any thorns from the inner tube, thanks for sharing 👏 👋
Great tips, Philip. Funnily enough I've been pondering whether to get a little seat contraption of some sort for multi day rides. I remember a few years ago being in Madrid in August ... wow, definitely not a place for all day riding at that time of year. Thanks for the comment! 🙂
The point I'd like to emphasize is that if things get bad you should abandon your plans and head back home. You may not feel good, conditions may have changed from when you started out, you may have a slight mechanical problem - you don't have to completer your objective - the lanes, hills and countryside will still be there for another day - and remember you can back-track - go home the same way as you came - nobody will know and nobody will care - just get home safely. Thanks for the videos.
Thanks, Brian. That's a really good tip. I'm finding as I get older I'm much less fixated with that 'I've started so I'll finish, whatever the cost' mentality. It's good to have a bit of grit and determination to see you through - especially when out touring - but you're so right, it'll all be there for another day. Happy cycling!
I occasionally ride solo and I'd echo, take some tools! I also take some form of identification in paper form. I don't have a brilliant sense of direction and usually use the phone. Batteries do go flat and if I'm in an area I don't know I take a paper map. The phone going flat is the reason for taking some identification in paper form. Finally, take time to stop and take in the countryside, It's why I get on the bike. Thanks for your thoughts and the video of beautiful views.
Phones and GPS are great (and pretty bombproof with battery saver modes and topped up with spare power banks etc.) but you don't get failsafe like a physical map, do you? I also find with the tech solutions you get the route but a very poor sense of where you are 'overall', i.e. what's in the wider area around you. I know you can zoom out and all that but not quite the same as perusing a map.
@@onemorecyclist I think it's made my sense of direction worse. If you look on a paper map you straight away get an idea of where you are in relation to other towns. Following a gpx route makes life easy and you don't have to keep stopping when faced with a junction but you lose that sense of where you are. I'm very grateful for your videos and wonder how much time you add to a ride and how much time spent editing?
@@colinwellman9480 thanks, it's great to have a few people following along and enjoying the videos! It definitely adds time to the rides but on the rides where I film I don't really think about it, it's just 'being outdoors' time, whether peddling or stopping to set up a shot etc. It's a trade off though and I'll often not stop and film something as it would take a bit too long/too much faff and distract from the overall flow of the ride. Editing time varies wildly; this one maybe an hour or so but some videos take much longer, especially if I'm using trying to figure out something in the software that I don't know so well. All good fun and as long as that remains the case I'll keep trying to make (better) videos! 🙂
Thanks for another sensible useful vlog,just two things i would add are i wear a safety lanyard with all my health and emergency contact details on . I also recommend joining ETA a cycle rescue service for £24 a year they will take you and your cycle home or to a train station, they don't carry out repairs. It also covers unlimited callouts, free legal advise, 90 days cover in Europe , cover for punctures , Taxi home service were you book a taxi and they will reimburse you. The recovery service is from any road in Britain 24/7. I have nothing to do with this company other than being a member , and find the peace of mind invaluable as i always ride solo, kind regards Bob
Great info, Bob. Thanks very much for sharing. I have the standard British Cycling insurance but have always wondered about breakdown type cover for bikes (although never looked into it). Good to now have ETA on the radar! Happy cycling! 🙂
Very good tips. My main one is music. I know some people frown upon it. But I don't really care lol I have my own playlist for when I ride, and it really does help.
Thanks for the comment. My running playlist got me through a ton of marathon training runs back in the day. Let the frowners keep frowning and happy cycling! 🙂
I have TPU inner tubes, the spare tubes are small and compact. I also use Michelin or Kenda tires, I know I can remove and replace them with just 1 tire iron, easily and quickly. Not so with Continental tires, which always frustrate me.
Good to know you can get the tyres of if you need to. I struggle a bit with the Schwalbes but have removed them a few times at home so know it's at least possible when I'm out on the road- not that they have ever punctured ... ever! 🙂
In addition to tip #1 I carry a plastic Parkrun card which has name, ICE phone contact and any medical conditions, just in case the mobile gets damaged beyond use. Happy soloing.
Garmin connected to your mobile phone and enable tracking. Set up two contacts for emergencies and the Garmin will message them if you have an accident. Garmin Varia radar system to track vehicles behind you.
Sounds like a really handy feature on the Garmin there. Live tracking and PLBs can be great bits of software/kit to use. Thanks for the comment and happy cycling!
I often ride with my imaginary mates, that were very real back in the 70's. I rode with Olympians, Silver Star recipients, and a couple of State Champions. They are mostly gone now, but certainly not forgotten.
Even though they cannot help break the wind on my solo rides today, they sort of do help, with their lasting inspiration.
Gone but not forgotten, indeed. Lovely comment, Frank. Thank you!
Great tips and advice Martin, lovely scenery, always great to stop for a coffee/snack. In the UK i would stop for a brew up with my little stove for lunch, and then maybe on an all day ride stop at a cafe later in the afternoon, but no allday rides in July/August here in Spain it's too hot. So my tip is to carry a folding seat pad, and a big needle to dig out any thorns from the inner tube, thanks for sharing 👏 👋
Great tips, Philip. Funnily enough I've been pondering whether to get a little seat contraption of some sort for multi day rides. I remember a few years ago being in Madrid in August ... wow, definitely not a place for all day riding at that time of year. Thanks for the comment! 🙂
Stunning scenery, I did most of my cycling on my tod, just how I like it. Great video.
Thanks, Matt. Solo or at a push, very small group is my preference. Never really enjoyed the larger group rides. 🙂
The point I'd like to emphasize is that if things get bad you should abandon your plans and head back home. You may not feel good, conditions may have changed from when you started out, you may have a slight mechanical problem - you don't have to completer your objective - the lanes, hills and countryside will still be there for another day - and remember you can back-track - go home the same way as you came - nobody will know and nobody will care - just get home safely. Thanks for the videos.
Thanks, Brian. That's a really good tip. I'm finding as I get older I'm much less fixated with that 'I've started so I'll finish, whatever the cost' mentality. It's good to have a bit of grit and determination to see you through - especially when out touring - but you're so right, it'll all be there for another day. Happy cycling!
I occasionally ride solo and I'd echo, take some tools! I also take some form of identification in paper form.
I don't have a brilliant sense of direction and usually use the phone. Batteries do go flat and if I'm in an area I don't know I take a paper map. The phone going flat is the reason for taking some identification in paper form.
Finally, take time to stop and take in the countryside, It's why I get on the bike.
Thanks for your thoughts and the video of beautiful views.
Phones and GPS are great (and pretty bombproof with battery saver modes and topped up with spare power banks etc.) but you don't get failsafe like a physical map, do you? I also find with the tech solutions you get the route but a very poor sense of where you are 'overall', i.e. what's in the wider area around you. I know you can zoom out and all that but not quite the same as perusing a map.
@@onemorecyclist I think it's made my sense of direction worse. If you look on a paper map you straight away get an idea of where you are in relation to other towns. Following a gpx route makes life easy and you don't have to keep stopping when faced with a junction but you lose that sense of where you are.
I'm very grateful for your videos and wonder how much time you add to a ride and how much time spent editing?
@@colinwellman9480 thanks, it's great to have a few people following along and enjoying the videos! It definitely adds time to the rides but on the rides where I film I don't really think about it, it's just 'being outdoors' time, whether peddling or stopping to set up a shot etc. It's a trade off though and I'll often not stop and film something as it would take a bit too long/too much faff and distract from the overall flow of the ride. Editing time varies wildly; this one maybe an hour or so but some videos take much longer, especially if I'm using trying to figure out something in the software that I don't know so well. All good fun and as long as that remains the case I'll keep trying to make (better) videos! 🙂
Thanks for another sensible useful vlog,just two things i would add are i wear a safety lanyard with all my health and emergency contact details on .
I also recommend joining ETA a cycle rescue service for £24 a year they will take you and your cycle home or to a train station, they don't carry out repairs.
It also covers unlimited callouts, free legal advise, 90 days cover in Europe , cover for punctures , Taxi home service were you book a taxi and they will reimburse you. The recovery service is from any road in Britain 24/7.
I have nothing to do with this company other than being a member , and find the peace of mind invaluable as i always ride solo, kind regards Bob
Great info, Bob. Thanks very much for sharing. I have the standard British Cycling insurance but have always wondered about breakdown type cover for bikes (although never looked into it). Good to now have ETA on the radar! Happy cycling! 🙂
Very good tips. My main one is music. I know some people frown upon it. But I don't really care lol I have my own playlist for when I ride, and it really does help.
Thanks for the comment. My running playlist got me through a ton of marathon training runs back in the day. Let the frowners keep frowning and happy cycling! 🙂
I've solved alot of computer problems while out on a long one. Ran a computer networking and repair company in the 90s in Dallas Fort Worth.
Yes, I think many a problem can be puzzled through when out peddling. :)
I have TPU inner tubes, the spare tubes are small and compact. I also use Michelin or Kenda tires, I know I can remove and replace them with just 1 tire iron, easily and quickly.
Not so with Continental tires, which always frustrate me.
Good to know you can get the tyres of if you need to. I struggle a bit with the Schwalbes but have removed them a few times at home so know it's at least possible when I'm out on the road- not that they have ever punctured ... ever! 🙂
In addition to tip #1 I carry a plastic Parkrun card which has name, ICE phone contact and any medical conditions, just in case the mobile gets damaged beyond use. Happy soloing.
Good tip, Ian and probably even more accessible than details on a phone (and no battery issues etc.). Thanks for the comment!
Garmin connected to your mobile phone and enable tracking. Set up two contacts for emergencies and the Garmin will message them if you have an accident. Garmin Varia radar system to track vehicles behind you.
Sounds like a really handy feature on the Garmin there. Live tracking and PLBs can be great bits of software/kit to use. Thanks for the comment and happy cycling!
I always carry a couple of gels in the back pocket just in case.
I'm on the mini Soreens at the moment! 🙂Good tip, thanks Joe!
@@onemorecyclist Mmmm yes they're really tasty. Good call 😃
Have a back up plan by telling people where your heading so as to make recovery easier if thing go wrong.
Thanks, John. Good tip, especially if going a bit off the beaten path.