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Traveloka PH

06 Dec 2016 - 5 min read

Tips for Solo Female Riders by Kara Santos of Travel Up

By Kara Santos

“You’re riding alone? It’s dangerous to go alone!”
I hear that a lot from well-meaning strangers whenever they see me riding on my own --it doesn’t matter whether I’ve driven all the way to a remote province or just enjoyed a breakfast ride at a nearby weekend destination

While it’s always safer to ride with a companion or with a group, it’s not always possible to have someone with you. Every rider knows that sometimes the mood to get on your bike and drive into the sunset just strikes you. And it’s not always that someone will be willing to go with you when this happens. Sometimes too, you just want to drive alone.

Similar to traveling on your own, the great thing about riding solo is that you’re not pressured to go fast or slow just to keep up with the rest of your group. You can drive at your own pace and be in control of where you want to go and when you want to stop or continue. Here are a few tips for those who want to try this kind of adventure:

1. Explore nearby destinations

BATANES

The easiest way to get started is to ride to nearby destinations.

The easiest way to get started is to ride to nearby destinations. Pick familiar routes, places where people go to often so that you’ll have access to any sort of help if something goes wrong. There are a lot of scenic road-trip destinations just a couple of hours away from the metro, including the wind farm in Pililla, Rizal; the waterfalls in Tanay and the Sierra Madre mountain range. Short, scenic rides will encourage and prepare you to explore more destinations.

2. Pick safe destinations

BATANES-ISLAND

Islands like Batanes are safe destinations and are the best places to drive.

If you’ve already reached your destination and have some free time, rent a motorcycle to get around. Small island provinces are the best places to take a spin with your rented ride. I’ve ridden solo around in Batanes, Bohol, Siquijor, Biliran and Siargao without any problems. Of course, it helps that these places are tourist-friendly where not a few shops actually offer motorcycle rentals. I love riding around these small island provinces because there’s zero traffic, the provinces are compact, easy to navigate and you can visit a lot of roadside attractions in a day. Other islands ideal for motorcycling include Camiguin, Cebu, Dumaguete, Romblon and Catanduanes, to name a few. Save the remote exploration and multi-day rides for when you are riding with companions.

3. Don’t rush

INFANTA-QUEZON

If you're new to solo riding, don't be afraid to take it slow.

If you’re new to solo riding, don’t be afraid to take it slow. Drive defensively, be patient and just enjoy the ride. There are some riders who feel the need to counterflow and overtake every bus and truck on the opposite side of the road like a maniac. But if you’re just getting started, always err on the side of caution. It’s not a race. You’ll get to your destination eventually. Unless you’re part of some endurance challenge, there’s no point driving for 12 hours straight without stopping. You have to rest every so often to stretch your legs and to give your motorcycle a break so that it doesn’t overheat.

4. Get to your destination before nightfall

SIQUIJOR

Make sure your ride ends by nightfall.

Start your ride early and end it early. For multi-day rides, break down your route in chunks so that you get to a designated pit stop or hotel before nightfall. More road accidents happen at night, so avoid this if you’re driving alone. You can always make up for lost time in the morning. For accommodations, pick establishments in a central location and those that have secure parking. You can easily search for hotels and book rooms online using apps like Traveloka.Traveling by motorcycle is not just about the distance traveled in kilometers. When you allot time to enjoy other aspects of travel, including the destination itself, food, culture and people, you end up enjoying your trip more.

5. Let someone know your plans

QUEZON

When riding solo, be sure that somebody else knows your plans.

One of the biggest challenges of riding alone is that there is no one to help you if something goes wrong. Even if you bring a phone, there are lots of places where there’s no network coverage.When riding alone, let a friend or family member know your destination, the time and dates your are traveling, especially the moment you have arrived safely in the place. Carry identification cards with you in case of emergencies. Ask your friends to check up on you especially if they haven’t heard from you after a certain number of hours or days.

6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Don't be afraid to ask for help when you're riding solo.

Don't be afraid to ask for help when you're riding solo.

Throughout my rides, I’ve found that locals are generally very helpful --from providing directions to giving insider tips on where to go, helping out with mechanical trouble, kickstarting my bike, offering free food or just simply taking my photo somewhere along the road. People are inherently good. Of course, there will always be a few bad seeds along the way. This shouldn’t stop you from traveling solo though. The rewards are usually worth the risks.

7. Trust your intuition

If something seems a little “off,” or the road ahead looks a little steep or treacherous, best to turn around. Go with your gut feel, because it’s usually right. If it looks like it’s going to rain hard and the roads are too steep or slippery, it might be better to turn back or take shelter than insist on pushing through. You may miss out on something, but there’s always next time. Use your common sense. At the end of the day, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Ride on!

For more travel stories, visit the author’s blog at www.traveling-up.com

If you're planning on taking a road trip of your own,and planning where to stay, discover cheap hotel deals and cheap flights from carriers like Philippine Airlines, AirAsia, and more with Traveloka!

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