8 Tips When Going Out for a Solo Ride

CEBU, Philippines — Riding alone is like a catharsis of oneself from everything you have been in contact with in your world before you hopped on your bicycle. There in nothing like pure ecstasy when I am out riding alone, and even if traffic is is bad and noisy, I still find the peace that I cant get when I’m at home or at work.

If you are new to cycling and want to ride alone, here are a fe things you should do.

1- Wear visible clothing.

A recent survey I saw on Facebook from Cycling Today said that green is the most visible color followed by white, yellow, red and blue. Black was considered invisible. But I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a neon green jersey, no way. In fact, my favorite color is black, which brings me to the next tip which is…

2- Use Blinkers when you ride early in the morning or at night.

It doesn’t matter if you wear neon green at night, because you won’t be seen. Using a powerful blinker is a must when riding in the dark. Blinkers are very cheap now so I can’t see any reason why you wont use them.

3- Bring emergency money.

The late Mark Ylanan, a good friend of mine, and who loved to ride alone, wasn’t the most expert person when fixing a flat tire. His secret was to bring extra cash so that of he gets  a puncture, he would hail a taxi to bring him home. If you get the hunger knock or simply crave for a cold cola, then the money would be most useful.

4- Put emergency money inside the handlebars

This is very important because it’s not all the time that you remember to bring money. What if you’re one hour into a ride and you stop to grab a a bite and then you remember you forgot to bring your little wallet?

5- Bring a spare tube, patch kit, hand pump and a multi-tool.

These are the basic emergency kit that you have to take with you when you ride. Theres nothing more frustrating and lonely than being stranded in the middle of nowhere, no habalhabal in sight, a a flat rear tire! Or what if you have a broken chain  in Aloguinsan?

6- Bring an energy gel/bar

Training is more efficient if you follow a trading regimen. But if you get hungry during km 80 of a 100km ride, then you’d lose interest. Having a snack in your back pocket can help you from getting a “bonk”.

7- Bring a fully charged cellphone.

Make sure that the number of the emergency contact person should be first on the phone book. If the persons’ name is Tony, then add 1 to make it “1Tony” to put his name first on the phone book. Keep that GPS function on.

8- Tell someone where you route is.

Tell your best friend (wife, husband, lover, neighbor) where you are going and what time you are supposed to get back home. At least  if you are out there injured and alone, someone would put an APB on you.