What time do you wake up for your commute? and when do you start work?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 882
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From: Suburbia, Ontario
Bikes: Specialized FSR
What time do you wake up for your commute? and when do you start work?
As i've been reading the forums, I keep reading about people who have their 5, 10, 15, 20 + mile commute.
My commute is 6.5 km (one way)
13km both ways Roughly 8 miles.
I have to wake up at 6am, eat, shower, have breakfast, and leave the house at 7am so I can be at work for 7:30.
I can't imagine if I had a 20 mile commute, what time I would have to get up.
Or if I started work at 8am, i'd have to be at work for 7....
how do you early risers do it? How do you start work at 8am, and travel 22 miles to get there? What time do you hit the sack?
My commute is 6.5 km (one way)
13km both ways Roughly 8 miles.
I have to wake up at 6am, eat, shower, have breakfast, and leave the house at 7am so I can be at work for 7:30.
I can't imagine if I had a 20 mile commute, what time I would have to get up.
Or if I started work at 8am, i'd have to be at work for 7....
how do you early risers do it? How do you start work at 8am, and travel 22 miles to get there? What time do you hit the sack?
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,373
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From: Columbus, OH
Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc
5:00am - back home with dog, make lunch, get dressed to ride
5:30am - start riding. 10.75 - 12.5 mile one-way depending on the route I take.
6:00 - 6:30am - arrive at work. Depends on the weather. Yesterday I could only manage 10.5mph average through 5" of unplowed snow.
~6:45am - breakfast
7:00 - start work
I go to sleep at 10:00 - 10:30pm.
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#3
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,963
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From: Sunnyvale, CA
Bikes: '84 Centurion Accordo RS, '06 Gary Fisher Marlin, '06 Schwinn Fastback 27, '06 Litespeed Teramo
My RT is about 22 miles when its raining and 28 miles when its nice out. 
I usually go to bed around 10:30 pm and get up at 5:30 am. I brush my teeth, change my clothes, grab my lunch and be out of the door at 6 am.
I arrive at work around 7 am, 20-30 minutes stretching + core workout. Shower, change into work clothes and be at my desk 5 minutes to 8 am.
I usually try to make up for the lack of sleep on the weekends. Unless I have a ride planned then I try to take it slowly on some of the weekday rides to save my legs.
Coffee helps a whole lot too.

I usually go to bed around 10:30 pm and get up at 5:30 am. I brush my teeth, change my clothes, grab my lunch and be out of the door at 6 am.
I arrive at work around 7 am, 20-30 minutes stretching + core workout. Shower, change into work clothes and be at my desk 5 minutes to 8 am.
I usually try to make up for the lack of sleep on the weekends. Unless I have a ride planned then I try to take it slowly on some of the weekday rides to save my legs.
Coffee helps a whole lot too.
#4
Body By Nintendo
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,187
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From: Videogames ruined my life. Good thing i have 2 extra lives.
Bikes: Giant TCR2, Giant TCX, IRO BFSSFG SE, Salsa Casseroll, IRO Rob Roy.
Alarm goes off at 3:00am, i'm up at 3:30am at the latest. Showered, dressed, and out the door by 4:00am. 4.5 miles to the train station, on the train at 4:43am. At my destination at 5:40am, another 2.5 miles to work where i need to be clocked in by 6:00am.
I get off work at 2:30pm (i change into my cycling clothes at 2:15pm), i'm down to the street and ready to ride by 2:45pm (i work on the 16th floor and the elevators take a while sometimes). Same 2.5 miles back to the train station, train leaves at 3:20pm, i'm back to the home station at 4:20pm, and i take a slightly longer (but safer) route home so it's almost 6 miles home. I get home at 4:45.
If i'm biking to work the next day i'm usually in bed around 9:00pm. If i drive, i go to bed at 10:00pm.
I get off work at 2:30pm (i change into my cycling clothes at 2:15pm), i'm down to the street and ready to ride by 2:45pm (i work on the 16th floor and the elevators take a while sometimes). Same 2.5 miles back to the train station, train leaves at 3:20pm, i'm back to the home station at 4:20pm, and i take a slightly longer (but safer) route home so it's almost 6 miles home. I get home at 4:45.
If i'm biking to work the next day i'm usually in bed around 9:00pm. If i drive, i go to bed at 10:00pm.
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 315
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From: Twin Cities, MN
Bikes: 1987 Denti w dura ace (road)/ "cheap" Jamis (mtn)
Up at 5:50, out the door around 6:30. 10 miles to work. I get there anywhere from 7:15 in the summer to 7:30 in the cold part of winter. Start class at 8 most mornings. In bed roughly 11 or 12.
On the cold mornings I am in the shower a long time. Don't think that's as critical in Florida.
On the cold mornings I am in the shower a long time. Don't think that's as critical in Florida.
#7
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,096
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From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: IRO Model 19, Surly Crosscheck, 1989 Arnie Nashbar, Cannondale CAADX, Niner Air 9
Wake up at 5, 20 minutes or so in the shower, get dressed, pack backpack, on the road by 5:45, arrive at work by 6:15, 6:20, change and at desk by 6:30 or so. That's pretty much the ideal scenario. Since moving into our new place I've struggled with sleep and waking up on time. Worst cas scenario; everything is push back by 15-20 minutes.
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 22
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Downtube 8H, Surly Troll
I have to say that getting-up-in-the-morning thing is one of the factors that determines my (lack of a) morning bike commute. Commute time taking the bus is about 30 minutes on one route, 50 on another. Biking is about 40-45, maybe longer given that there's a little more climbing going to work than coming home. Problem is that I don't wake up hungry. That usually kicks in after a couple of hours, so I can get up about 6:30, be at the bus stop by 7:30, and be at the office at 8:00 with an empty stomach, but breakfast in hand. If I try and bike without eating first, that doesn't work so well. So if I were to bike in the morning, I'd have to allow extra time for eating, which I'd be disinclined to do if I didn't get up extra early to allow time for getting hungry, add on a slightly longer commute, and I'm probably getting up at 5 or 5:30. Add on the problem of no showers at work and me sweating like a fiend even on my mild, 5 mile commute. No thank you. I'll take the bus.
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,947
Likes: 1
From: Absecon, NJ
Bikes: Puch Luzern, Puch Mistral SLE, Bianchi Pista, Motobecane Grand Touring, Austro-Daimler Ultima, Legnano, Raleigh MountainTour, Cannondale SM600
5.5 mi. commute
6:45 am wake up, glass of juice, shower, dressed, pack bag.
7:35 am out the door.
7:55 arrive at work, change into work clothes, have banana & coffee.
6:45 am wake up, glass of juice, shower, dressed, pack bag.
7:35 am out the door.
7:55 arrive at work, change into work clothes, have banana & coffee.
#11
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
My commute is usually about 22 miles roundtrip, 10 in the morning and 12 going home. My alarm goes off at 5:30 am. After I get up, I eat breakfast, read some of the paper, watch the weather on TV news, and then get dressed and pack up my bike gear. Hit the road usually about 6:30 am and arrive at work about 7:15 am. Boot up my computer and check a few emails while I'm cooling down, and then take a shower and get dressed. Usually back at my computer working about 7:30-7:40 am. I leave work about 4:30 p.m. and take a slightly longer commute heading home.
#12
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,798
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From: Highland Park, NJ, USA
Bikes: "Hildy", a Novara Randonee touring bike; a 16-speed Bike Friday Tikit; and a Specialized Stumpjumper frame-based built-up MTB, now serving as the kid-carrier, grocery-getter.
3.1 miles. Wake at 5:45, get to the carpool by 6:45, at work by 7:20 - 7:30. On the rare ocassions I bike the entire 18 miles, I leave the house at 5:30, getting up at 5. Haven't done that for a while, though.
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#13
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 113
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From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Langster, CROSSxCHECK, SteamRoller
Up at 5:50
Leave house at 6:55
Get on BART at 7:03ish (P Hill Station)
Get off BART at 8:15ish (South Hayward Station)
5.2 miles ride to work
Get to work at 8:35ish
Start work at 9.
Leave house at 6:55
Get on BART at 7:03ish (P Hill Station)
Get off BART at 8:15ish (South Hayward Station)
5.2 miles ride to work
Get to work at 8:35ish
Start work at 9.
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,603
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From: northern California
Bikes: Bruce Gordon BLT, Cannondale parts bike, Ecodyne recumbent trike, Counterpoint Opus 2, miyata 1000
I have 13 miles to go. I allow an hour for that. Then half an hour to get up, dress. eat. and load the bike. I add another half hour safety margin in case of flat tires and to change when I get to work. Two hour total. When it is raining I take the bus most of the way which adds another half hour.
Another time when I had a 20 mile ride to work I needed one and a half hours to get there and put in another hour for before and after so 2 1/2 hours. 1 3/4 hours getting home due to headwinds in that direction.
Another time when I had a 20 mile ride to work I needed one and a half hours to get there and put in another hour for before and after so 2 1/2 hours. 1 3/4 hours getting home due to headwinds in that direction.
#15
Trans-Urban Velocommando
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,400
Likes: 0
From: Lenexa, KS
Bikes: 06 Trek 1200 - 98 DB Outlook - 99 DB Sorrento
05:00 - Wakey, Wakey!
05:05 - Check weather
05:10 - Get something resembling clothing on. This time of year, my thermal base layer. My apartment is cold.
05:15 - Start boiling water while getting my day's riding clothes assembled
05:20 - French Press my coffee
05:30 - Once-over of my bike and stuff I've got packed.
05:35 - In the winter, relax till 6:00. In the nicer weather, head out on my bike.
06:00 - In the winter, ride to the bus.
06:35 - Arrive downtown either way (bike or bus). Then it's a swing by the coffee shop for a few minutes before work. I arrive at work before 7, and try to get to my desk at 7.
05:05 - Check weather
05:10 - Get something resembling clothing on. This time of year, my thermal base layer. My apartment is cold.
05:15 - Start boiling water while getting my day's riding clothes assembled
05:20 - French Press my coffee
05:30 - Once-over of my bike and stuff I've got packed.
05:35 - In the winter, relax till 6:00. In the nicer weather, head out on my bike.
06:00 - In the winter, ride to the bus.
06:35 - Arrive downtown either way (bike or bus). Then it's a swing by the coffee shop for a few minutes before work. I arrive at work before 7, and try to get to my desk at 7.
#16
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Wake up at 5:15 or 5:30
Take dog on 3-4 mile run
Shower, eat, get dressed, out the door by 7:30
One mile ride on my folder to catch 7:40 train in Baltimore
Into DC by 8:40
1.5 mile ride from station to work, start work by 9:00
Take dog on 3-4 mile run
Shower, eat, get dressed, out the door by 7:30
One mile ride on my folder to catch 7:40 train in Baltimore
Into DC by 8:40
1.5 mile ride from station to work, start work by 9:00
#17
Mad bike riding scientist




Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,141
Likes: 6,202
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Alarm goes off at 5. I wait until the second alarm at 520 and turn it off and the cats walk on my head until about 530. I shove them off and drift until 540 at which time my wife yells "Oh *****! Get up we'll be late!"
Breakfast, read the paper, finish the funnies and out the door by 630...or that's the plan. Out the door by 635...okay, closer to 640...in to work by about 755. To my desk by 820
Winter everything slips about 5 to 15 minutes late. In the summer, I'm closer to on time...only 5 minutes late
Breakfast, read the paper, finish the funnies and out the door by 630...or that's the plan. Out the door by 635...okay, closer to 640...in to work by about 755. To my desk by 820

Winter everything slips about 5 to 15 minutes late. In the summer, I'm closer to on time...only 5 minutes late
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#18
Laid back bent rider
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,134
Likes: 0
From: Burien, WA
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro 20
Wake up at 5, bike is loaded and I'm starting the ride at about 6. Hour and 10 to an hour and 20 to go the 14 miles in (including traffic lights, trains, etc.) puts me in the basement garage just after 7. Down the street to the gym to shower and change puts me back at the building right around 8, give or take.
Work all day. M, W, & F do 1-1.5 hours strength training in the gym at lunch.
Leave work when I'm done -- between 5:30 and 7:30. Ride home is the same 14 miles, but this time the 2.5 miles I rode down in the morning is up. Takes me an hour and 20 to an hour and 40, depending. I get into bed just after I hear the weather on the news, about 10:15.
Work all day. M, W, & F do 1-1.5 hours strength training in the gym at lunch.
Leave work when I'm done -- between 5:30 and 7:30. Ride home is the same 14 miles, but this time the 2.5 miles I rode down in the morning is up. Takes me an hour and 20 to an hour and 40, depending. I get into bed just after I hear the weather on the news, about 10:15.
#19
Geezer Clyde
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Bristow, VA
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Specialized Sirrus, Specialized StumpJumper, Giant Cypress,
4:00 - Awake + breakfast + dress + load/prep bike
5:00 - depart for 18 mi commute to office
6:15 - shower at office + change
6:40 - at my desk
5:00 - depart for 18 mi commute to office
6:15 - shower at office + change
6:40 - at my desk
#21
Seņior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
It depends entirely on time of year, what else is going on in the schedule, whether I'm going to be working OT that day, etc.
This time of year, I'm working a couple of hours of OT a day but I like to be home around when the kids get home. I go to bed around 10PM, wake up at 4AM, get my food ready and in the bag, get on the road around 4:30, in to work around 5:15 (11 mile trip in the winter = 45 minutes). Once there I cool down for a bit while reading my email, then shower, get changed, eat my breakfast and get to work. I try to leave around 3PM.
I typically spend about 2 or 3 minutes in the shower, unless I'm shaving, in which case it's 5, but I turn the water off while I'm shaving. I don't know what they hell I'd do in there to take 20 minutes. Dressing is about 2 more minutes. Typically I'm back at my desk and dressed about 8 minutes after I left to take the shower.
I don't really have to be at work at any special time. I usually put in another hour or so, 10 minutes at a time, during the evening, logged in from home and checking on systems.
This time of year, I'm working a couple of hours of OT a day but I like to be home around when the kids get home. I go to bed around 10PM, wake up at 4AM, get my food ready and in the bag, get on the road around 4:30, in to work around 5:15 (11 mile trip in the winter = 45 minutes). Once there I cool down for a bit while reading my email, then shower, get changed, eat my breakfast and get to work. I try to leave around 3PM.
I typically spend about 2 or 3 minutes in the shower, unless I'm shaving, in which case it's 5, but I turn the water off while I'm shaving. I don't know what they hell I'd do in there to take 20 minutes. Dressing is about 2 more minutes. Typically I'm back at my desk and dressed about 8 minutes after I left to take the shower.
I don't really have to be at work at any special time. I usually put in another hour or so, 10 minutes at a time, during the evening, logged in from home and checking on systems.
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
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#22
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Silver Spring, MD
Bikes: '07 Lemond Sarthe, '85 Cannondale ST500
I ride the 45 mile round trip about 3 days/week. I always pack the bag/lunch the night before.
5:45 Alarm goes off
6:00 Out the door
7:30 get to work, shower, shave, ...
8:00 start working
5:00 get on the bike ...
5:45 Alarm goes off
6:00 Out the door
7:30 get to work, shower, shave, ...
8:00 start working
5:00 get on the bike ...
#23
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Vienna VA (DC metro)
Bikes: 2014 pinnarello FP Due, 1990 Pinarrello Triveso, 2007 Fuji Cross Comp, 1984 Trek 520
18.5 miles one way (19 if I go 14th st bridge)
5.30-- up and at 'em (morning bombing run, breakfast)
6.00-- out the door
7.15-7.45 at work depending on the weather. And how I am feeling (I get caught up in thought a lot and coast...)
7.50 @ gym, (shower, shave, twice a week core workout)
8.15-8.45 at the desk (have flex time and depends on the core workout day)
in bed 10(10.30)-ish
5.30-- up and at 'em (morning bombing run, breakfast)
6.00-- out the door
7.15-7.45 at work depending on the weather. And how I am feeling (I get caught up in thought a lot and coast...)
7.50 @ gym, (shower, shave, twice a week core workout)
8.15-8.45 at the desk (have flex time and depends on the core workout day)
in bed 10(10.30)-ish
#24
6:00 - alarm. I jump out of bed on the 1st or 2nd beep
6:07 - out the door. Clothes are laid out night before. all i do is brush my teeth & throw on the clothes.
6:35 - arrive at work. Change, maybe quick shower if very schvety, coffee for breakfast.
6:40 - working
Quitting time is "when the job is done" - anytime between 3pm and 2am the following day
I fail to comprehend you folks who dilly-dally around the house for an hour or more before leaving. I'd rather sleep more and wake late as possible!!
6:07 - out the door. Clothes are laid out night before. all i do is brush my teeth & throw on the clothes.
6:35 - arrive at work. Change, maybe quick shower if very schvety, coffee for breakfast.
6:40 - working
Quitting time is "when the job is done" - anytime between 3pm and 2am the following day

I fail to comprehend you folks who dilly-dally around the house for an hour or more before leaving. I'd rather sleep more and wake late as possible!!
#25
Artful Dodger
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
I've changed my morning routine to eliminate many of my old "rituals" that slowed me down. First, I prepare as much as possible the night before. Before going to bed I lay out my commute clothing and pack my work clothing and any other items going to work into my backpack, attach pack to the bike's rear rack. Prepare coffee machine programmed to start 15 minutes before I wake. When I wake, I brush my teeth and shave, get dressed, make a piece of toast and drink a cup of coffee. I wake at 6:30 and leave at 6:45, taking a second cup of coffee w/ me for the ride. My 9-mile commute takes approximately 50 minutes (oregon hills). I shower at work and start work by 8:00. At my old office, I would bathe with a wash-cloth at work (showering the night before).





