Tips for Mountain Biking by Yourself – Solo Riding Tips

There will be times that you want to go hit the trail solo and go on a mountain bike ride all by yourself. Typically, we like to ride with at least one other person so that we have help in the rare event that something disasterous happens, but the reality is that we are going to mountain bike by ourselves from time to time. As you start to get ready for your next solo ride on fresh singletrack, take a look at this list to make sure you have all of the basis covered before you hit the trail. This list becomes increasingly important on less trafficked, more remote trail locations.

  • Do you have everything with you? – Take a look over this post – 14 Must Have Items for Every Ride – Make sure you have everything you need before you hit the trail. Once you are miles away from your car, you are your only support with every spin of your cranks, so it is a long way back if something happens and you are stuck without supplies.
  • Have working knowledge of simple maintenance – You do not need to know how to completely assemble your mountain bike, but you should know the necessities that will get you home safely. You should know how to change a flat, fix a broken chain, adjust the derailleurs, tighten bolts, etc. If a chain breaks on a technical climb, you are the only one that is there to fix the chain, so it needs to not be your first attempt.
  • Eat before you are hungry and drink before you are thirsty – On a solo mountain bike ride, you need to stay on top of your hydration and nutrition. By drinking before you are thirsty and eating before you are hungry, you keep your body fueled up for the ride and prevent crawls back to the car. In all reality, if you start to feel hungry or thirsty, your body is already depleted and it is almost too late. Make a conscience effort to really watch your intake as you ride to prevent dehydration and lack of fuel related cramping or fatigue.
  • Bring extra water and food – This tip goes hand and hand with the riding tip above. When you go on mountain bike rides by yourself, bring extra water and food just in case. You will be carrying a little bit of extra weight, but the necessary food and water will be there in case something bad happens. If you wreck or get lost, this little bit of extra weight can be a lifesaver.
  • Map or Garmin – If you are not 100% completely sure where the trail system leads, you need to have a map or GPS device like the Garmin Edge 705. A great day out on the trail can be ruined by getting lost out in the woods.
  • Take it easy – As much as we all want to hit every obstacle and sweet section of singletrack at full tilt, when you are riding by yourself you need to dial it back and take it easy. This does not mean that you can’t ride hard and you might as well get out the cruiser bike, it is just smart not to hit that huge tabletop top on the downhill run. Do you really want to be stuck in the middle of no where with a broken ankle and no help? It is worth enjoying the ride but keeping your ego in check to make it back to the car safely.
  • Bring your cell phone – Ride in an area that has cell coverage and bring your cell phone. If you wreck and can not move, it is your lifeline to the outside world.

Riding your mountain bike on the trail by yourself can be one of the best rides you have ever had, or the worst day of your life. By keeping these things in mind as you head out on your next solo mountain bike ride, you will be able to keep it enjoyable. When I am out on my solo rides, I find that I get some of my best thinking done as I enjoy the fresh air and the sound of my tread ripping up the dirt. There is something that is completely surreal and calming about getting out and putting some solo miles in, so enjoy the experience and keep it safe.

Bonus Tip: Double and triple check that you have your keys in your pack and secure before you lock your vehicle. It is always a good idea to have a hide-a-key available as well.

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