How many people do you like to tour with?

[Pickled Onion]

Solo, always.

I don't think anyone else would wish to do the kind of crazy stupid touring I do. If there were, I would not want to be associated with such a crazy stupid cyclist.

I seem to remember being awe of some tour you did a few years back in Eastern Europe - Romania, was it? Can't remember now, but it all looked very impressive.

that one was only mildly stupid 

[JenM]

Over the years I have done a number of big organised tours which, on the whole, have been good fun. The advantage of these tours, for me, is that all the tough decisions have been made for you and you are free to ride and socialise (or not) during the day. There is also the reassurance that if anything goes wrong there are people to sort it out. However, these things come at a cost and, on the whole, were something I could justify when working full time.

With the internet, researching and organising tours are now much easier I now prefer the freedom that cycletouring on your own gives you. Whilst I do sometimes miss the social side, being on your own means locals are much more ready to invite you in for coffee / chat etc. and there is more freedom to change plans etc.