The Philosophy of Riding Solo: The Freedom and Solitude of Riding Alone

Group riding has its appeal—the shared rhythm, mutual encouragement, and the fun of chatting and laughing. But there is a way of riding that no group can offer: riding solo.

What Riding Solo Feels Like

The first time I rode a long distance alone was at 5 AM on a weekend morning. Without telling anyone, I rode up Yangmingshan.

The road was still in darkness, with halos of streetlights flashing past one by one. No one was talking—only the sound of tires, the sound of shifting gears, and my own breathing.

It was a strange sense of freedom—no one waiting for you, no one rushing you; the pace was entirely up to you.

The Unique Experience of Riding Solo

An Opportunity to Talk with Yourself

Modern life is full of distractions. Phones, social media, work notifications… We rarely have the chance to sit quietly with ourselves.

Riding solo offers that opportunity.

Especially when climbing a long hill, while the body is working, the mind becomes clear. Many creative ideas and answers are found on the slopes.

Questions I have pondered while riding solo:

• Why did I choose my current career?
• What matters most to me?
• Is this relationship worth continuing?
• What will I look like five years from now?

These questions are always postponed in daily life, yet they surface naturally when riding.

Deep Engagement with the Environment

When riding in a group, attention is scattered across interactions with companions. When riding solo, the outside world becomes clearer.

• The scent of wildflowers by the roadside
• The sound of a stream flowing
• Farmers working in the fields
• Faded murals on the walls of abandoned houses

These details are often missed during group rides.

Complete Autonomy

Stop whenever you want, go fast whenever you want, go slow whenever you want, change the route whenever you want.

This kind of complete autonomy is actually rare in modern life. Our schedules are mostly determined by others or external events. Riding solo is one of the few experiences that is “entirely under your own control.”

The Challenges of Riding Solo

Safety Concerns

The biggest practical risk of riding solo is safety. When riding alone, if an accident happens, it may be a long time before anyone finds out.

Safety principles for riding solo:

1. Inform family or friends of your route and estimated return time
2. Carry a phone (keep the battery fully charged)
3. Carry a first-aid kit
4. Do not push to your limit on remote sections of road
5. Consider using GPS tracking sharing (such as Strava’s Beacon feature)

Psychological Challenges

Riding solo can sometimes bring an unbearable sense of loneliness, especially in the latter half of a long-distance ride.

On the third day of a long solo ride, I once found myself by the roadside in an unfamiliar small town, suddenly struck by a deep loneliness. I really wanted to call someone, but I didn’t know who to call.

It was a peculiar emotion—lonely but not sad, wanting to connect yet not wanting to break the silence of the moment.

The Need for Self-Motivation

Without companions to pull you along, it’s easy to give up when climbing. You need a stronger mechanism for self-motivation.

My psychological techniques for riding solo:

• Set small goals (ride to the next bend, then to the next bend)
• Play music you like (selectively)
• Decide on a reward in advance for after you finish
• Remind yourself: the difficulty of the moment is for a better version of yourself

The Ritual of Riding Solo

Riding solo gradually develops into personal rituals that give every departure meaning.

Before Departure

Choose a meaningful departure time (around sunrise is my favorite), prepare supplies you enjoy (not just functional, but also food that makes you happy), and write down the intention for this ride in a journal (an idea, a question, or simply “clear my mind”).

On the Road

Don’t answer any calls (unless urgent), don’t check social media, and allow yourself to be fully immersed in the riding experience of the moment.

After Returning

Record in the journal: what did today’s ride give me?

This ritual makes riding solo more than just exercise—it becomes a conversation with yourself.

How Riding Solo Changed Me

Five years of riding solo has made me someone who can be with myself better.

I no longer need constant external stimulation to feel fulfilled. I can find contentment in quietness and have a clearer understanding of my own needs and feelings.

These changes have permeated my work, relationships, and overall quality of life.

For Friends Who Want to Try Riding Solo

Start with a short ride. For your first solo ride, choose a familiar route and ride for just 1–2 hours. Feel that sense of “being only with yourself.”

Don’t wear earphones (at least try it once). Let the sounds of the outside world and your own thoughts be your only company.

Give yourself a question to take on the road. What do you want to think about on this ride?

Riding solo is a practice—the practice of being with yourself. In this era, it may be one of the most important abilities of all.

Related Reading

• Solo Riding Meditation: The Mental Practice of Riding Alone
• Riding Solo vs. Riding in a Group: A Psychological Analysis of Solitary Challenge and Group Dynamics
• The Solitude and Self-Discovery of Cycling Travel: The Psychological Growth of a Solo Island Tour
• Riding 200 km Alone: The Solitude That Distance Brings, and What Solitude Brings